With the calendar now flipped to 2024, it is now time to consider the news the new year may hold. Of course, the year will bring unforetold events. But there are some stories that readers can expect to see grace the pages of The Durango Herald.
Certainly, the November election will garner interest. With a heated race for the presidency atop the ballot, exciting races at every level of government can be expected. Two seats on the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners are up for grabs, and a race is brewing for the state’s 59th House District seat currently held by the term-limited Rep. Barbara McLachlan.
U.S. Rep Lauren Boebert made the bombshell announcement last week that this would be her final year serving as the representative of the 3rd Congressional District. She will seek election in the 4th District next year, where she has a better chance of winning, leaving a crowded field of candidates vying for her seat.
Beyond elections, the region can expect to see big advancements this year. Housing growth and infrastructure development will continue, although local governments are bracing for a possible recession.
Here are some stories to keep an eye on throughout 2024.
Durango Community Development Department to make its move
City staff members inside the Durango Community Development Department are spending their final weeks at River City Hall before the department moves to the former Durango School District 9-R administration building in mid-January.
Community Development Director Scott Shine said staff members have dealt with leaky ceilings and inadequate meeting spaces at River City Hall, and just about everyone in the department is ready to get out of there.
“It’s been exciting to think about the possibilities up there and how to activate that space,” he said. “This is obviously a small first step into what that overall campus is going to be. We’re excited to get in there, feel it out, learn about the space, learn how it functions and then work with the rest of the organization to revise the main building.”
The move is possible, thanks to an agreement between the city and Durango Fire Protection District to trade ownership of River City Hall and the former 9-R administration building.
Community Development is physically moving to a new location, but it’s also making figurative moves forward with a new Community Development Commission slated to take over responsibilities of the city’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board. It’s also making changes to its Fair Share inclusionary zoning program and minor code amendments to the land use development code.
Shine said the city will rely on the new Planning Commission to help revise the city’s comprehensive plan, housing plan and design guidelines.
“We want to use that commission to go through those documents, update them, engage the community and really get a clear vision of where we’re going as a community,” he said.
City Manager José Madrigal said public concepts for a civic center where the former school administration building are expected be presented to the public in early 2024. Eventually, there will be plans to move the Durango Police Department and offices at City Hall to the new location.
Work to continue toward creating more workforce, affordable and attainable housing
The city of Durango’s Community Development Department secured 229 affordable and workforce housing units across a variety of projects in 2023, meeting about 63% of its commitment to Proposition 123 with the Best Western motel conversion.
Durango Housing Innovation Manager Eva Henson says she is optimistic improvements to development review processes and innovative housing programs will position the city to net even more housing stock in 2024. And the necessary political will to get it done is evident on City Council.
Henson said one workforce and affordable housing project she looks forward to this year is the Durango Crossings development, a project by Durango resident Ken Trujillo that would bring more than 100 new units to the even-numbered addresses between 1480 and 1540 on Florida Road.
Another project Henson is excited for is a Twin Buttes parcel development at the former Animas High School building. The city is partnering with Elevation Community Land Trust and developer Fading West to add 30 more affordable homeownership units to the city’s inventory.
Shine said his department is interested in using land trusts for more housing projects, as is the case with the 30-unit Twin Buttes project.
“We’re also looking into that over in Three Springs,” he said. “I think that’s another huge opportunity where we’re helping to pay for some of the infrastructure, design.”
Shine said Community Development will also implement new, modernized design review and permitting software about mid-year, making communication with developer applicants easier and making it more convenient for developers and the community to keep track of projects in the pipeline.
Bike park to undergo construction at Durango Mesa Park
The city of Durango and the Durango Mesa Park Foundation made local history last summer when they celebrated the opening of several demonstration trails in Durango Mesa Park. But that was just the beginning.
The grand plan for Durango Mesa Park involves a number of amenities, including a bike park, dog park, BMX facility and flexible event spaces.
In June, former Durango Parks and Recreation Director Ture Nycum said the city has about $3.5 million earmarked for construction of the bike park this year in addition to a turn lane and improvements to a nearly 2-mile long access road connecting Colorado Highway 3 to the top of the park.
The park and its amenities are projected to open fully to the public in 2025.
Homicide trials
At least three homicide cases are expected to go to trial this year in La Plata County.
One involves Nicolo “Nico” Tonelli, 24, a La Plata County man who is suspected of fatally shooting Jamison “Jmoe” McMaster, 27, after a wild night of infighting among former friends. The shooting death occurred in November 2022.
A second involves David Hendren, 38, who is charged with first-degree murder on suspicion of fatally shooting Larry Fuller, 49, on Jan. 1, 2009, in the 300 block of Goddard Street in Ignacio. Investigators pieced together bits of information obtained over a 14-year period to finally make an arrest.
The third case involves Luis Raul Valenzuela, who is accused of fatally stabbing a pregnant 28-year old woman south of Durango. The victim, Raeanna Burch-Woodhull, 28, was in her second trimester at the time of her death.
New Durango municipal judge
The city of Durango hired a new municipal judge in December 2023.
City officials hope Matt Margeson will bring more continuity to the bench, which previously had two part-time judges. It is their hope a full-time judge will do more to address repeat offenders, gain better compliance for court appearances and establish a specialty court to address addiction issues.
The court has been a revolving door for some low-level offenders with addiction and mental health issues, which takes up court resources and puts people back out on the street without any help or consequences.
District attorney election
Voters in November will select a new district attorney for the 6th Judicial District – which includes Archuleta, San Juan and La Plata counties.
Current DA Christian Champagne will be completing his second term and is term-limited.
So far, two Democratic candidates have announced plans to run for the seat: Sean Murray, who is serving as assistant district attorney in the 6th Judicial District, and Jason Eley, a former Durango defense attorney and current assistant district attorney in Montezuma County.
Possible new school being built in Three Springs
During Durango School District 9-R’s joint meeting with the city of Durango on Aug. 23, there were discussions about the possibility of building a new elementary school in Three Springs, according to the city of Durango’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
Durango school district spokeswoman Karla Sluis said the district’s Long Range Planning Committee will make a recommendation about a facilities plan in January.
Three Springs is supposed to experience substantial growth over the next few years based on development plans.
Impact Career Innovation Center grand opening
After just over a year of construction, Durango School District 9-R’s Impact Career Innovation center will have its grand opening on Jan. 24.
The $10 million building features the use of natural light through skylights. It is two stories with a makerspace, breakout rooms and a pitch room upstairs. The bottom floor includes a common area, a cafe and rooms for students to collaborate.
During the Jan. 24 event, there will be an Indigenous blessing, and it will be an entirely student-led event. The ProStart Culinary team at DHS will prepare and serve food; and students will share music, fashion, tours, videos and interactive demos.
“Our students are bringing the ‘stoke factor’ to this event – that delightful mix of fun, curiosity and enthusiasm,” said 9-R spokeswoman and event coordinator Karla Sluis. “We have several committees of students working together, and they get to learn about event planning by doing it hands-on, from start to finish. This experience is exactly what Impact is about.”
REI Construction
After months of speculation, Recreational Equipment Inc. formally announced in June 2023 it will open a Durango location in spring 2025. Construction will continue throughout 2024.
The roughly 22,000-square-foot store will be located at the northwest corner of Turner Drive and U.S. Highway 550 in Bodo Industrial Park.
“We have long been interested in joining the Durango community. Despite the closest REI store being over 100 miles away, we have nearly 9,000 active members in the area,” REI Regional Director Janet Hopkins said in a June news release. “We look forward to being a resource to all and partnering with nonprofits doing incredible work to protect natural places and create belonging in the outdoors.”
Construction is headed by Barclay Group, a development company based in Phoenix.
Nissan Dealership update
In October, Stephanie Morris Nissan closed its doors abruptly.
Customers came forward claiming the dealership was involved in shady business practices, including felony forgery. Durango Police Department investigated the matter, but did not find substantial evidence to move forward with charges. This was in addition to the business becoming delinquent on its taxes.
However, because of an abundance of complaints from area residents, the District Attorney’s office reviewed DPD’s investigation. What were the findings of the DA’s office? Stay tuned.
Bonita Peak Mining District
Construction on a solid mine waste repository north of Silverton is not yet done, but it is nearing completion. The Environmental Protection Agency intends to finish the project in 2024 and begin filling repository with waste from the Gladstone water treatment plant near the Gold King Mine.
Affordable housing
Silverton is moving forward with plans to build more affordable housing for its workforce. The town is building another affordable housing unit this year. In 2023, officials announced they had purchased a 1.24-acre parcel known as the “Zanoni property” with the intention of building more affordable housing. The site is a brownfield will be remediated before construction this year.
More wolves
Well, wolves won’t just make big news in 2023. Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves on Dec. 18 and another five on Dec. 22. But more may be coming in 2024.
The state plans to release 10 to 15 wolves annually over the next three to five years.
Where, exactly, CPW will find its remaining wolves is an open question. Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming have all declined Colorado’s requests to share their populations.
Questions about how the wolf population will fare are also abound. Ranchers sued to stop the release at the 11th hour, however, their attempt was unsuccessful. Still, the level of interaction between wolves and livestock will remain an open question for some time.
A new county health department
After 75 years of service, San Juan Basin Public Health dissolved on New Year’s Eve. But from the ashes arose La Plata County Public Health, offering the same programs out of the same building.
The department assumed responsibility for public health services on New Year’s Day.
La Plata County officials are optimistic the new department will continue to provide the same caliber of care as SJBPH. Many of the department’s staff, including the deputy director, are SJBPH veterans.
Hiring a permanent director is, arguably, the county’s next big step. The interim director, Tracy Anselmo, is a contractor hired on a temporary basis. Filling the role caused some drama last spring, after county commissioners seized hiring control from the board of health they had appointed to the task.
As of New Year’s Day, the board of health is once again the governing body over the new department and will be responsible for hiring a public health director.
“This is truly a celebration of a lot of work, of a lot of dedication and commitment, (and) a lot of effort that has gone into building a health department from the ground up,” County Manager Chuck Stevens told the incoming staff at a welcome fair in early December.
Planning projects
Planning on submitting plans to the La Plata County Planning department? You aren’t alone.
The Community Development department is under new leadership after months of turmoil, with Lynn Hyde at the helm. She joined the department at the end of July.
Planning is often ruffling feathers; developers feel the process is too slow, expensive and cumbersome, while neighbors to large projects sometimes espouse vociferous arguments against proposals, which are often directed at planning staff members.
The Hesperus Solar Project was booted out of the queue after missing an application deadline at the end of October. Internal emails between Hyde and the project’s leaders revealed some contention over the call to consider the application “withdrawn.” Despite the stumbling block, the county is likely to receive another application, although the timeline remains unknown.
The proposed luxury RV park in the Animas Valley is the other controversial proposal currently in review. Scott Roberts, the applicant, submitted plans to the county at the end of August, and now planners are working through them. It seems likely that the project may come up for review in the next calendar year.
Recovery residences on the way
The SouthWEST Opioid Response District, a district composed of five adjacent counties in the region including La Plata County, will invest nearly $1 million in recovery housing for people in treatment related to substance use.
The money comes from SWORD’s share of the state’s settlement with manufacturers and distributors of opioid pharmaceuticals. In an area with limited treatment resources, the recovery housing will provide a sober living space for people seeking treatment.
Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences also plans to open up four sober living homes within the next year. CARR expects to create separate homes for men and women in Montezuma and La Plata counties.
