Public meetings in May could be the last hurdles before construction starts on a proposed 157-lot luxury RV Park on 54-acres along the east side of U.S. Highway 550, just north of Purgatory Resort.
According to Mark Reavis, planning director for Silverton and San Juan County, San Juan County Commissioners last week unanimously approved a preliminary plan for Phase 1 of the project, which calls for 61 lots on about 20 acres.
If the developer submits all remaining documents to the county by May 1, there will be two public meetings next month that will review and potentially finalize Phase 1 of the project. The meetings will offer the opportunity for public comment.
At 7 p.m. May 16, the San Juan County Planning Commission will meet at the San Juan County Courthouse, 1557 Green Street, in Silverton. Planning commissioners will likely provide a recommendation on the project to San Juan County Commissioners. Public comments are slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. May 24, the San Juan County Commissioners are slated to take a final vote on Phase 1 of the project at the San Juan County Courthouse. Public comments will be received at 7 p.m.
The project, known as the “Hearthside Luxury Motorcoach Resort” has drawn criticism in recent months because of its size and density, as well as the potential loss of Nordic ski trails.
Neighbors in the adjacent Cascade Village, especially, have said the RV Park will adversely impact property values, destroy the landscape and betray previous master plans that called for less dense development.
Craig Rose, a co-developer for Hearthside, said company officials have met with residents in recent months to try and quell concerns.
“I think, over time, they’ll be able to feel better about it as we develop,” Rose said. “I think the visuals will be very pleasing and augment other real estate in the area.”
Tom Holcomb, president of the Durango Nordic Ski Club, previously said the RV Park would eliminate a significant portion of the Nordic center’s trails on its northern edge.
On Wednesday, Holcomb told The Durango Herald subsequent talks with the developer to try and preserve some of the Nordic Center – which has been in existence since 1954 – have been positive.
He said the developer has promised to provide a connection to the Nordic center’s northern loop. Nordic skiers will continue to be able to use certain trails on private land, but that will be reviewed as new phases of the project are built.
“I would applaud the motorcoach development for sitting down with us,” Holcomb said. “It’s not quite as far as we’d like it to go, but we are committed to having a good relationship with them and showing them it’s a benefit for their property and future residents up there.”
Holcomb said more than half the Nordic center’s trails are in San Juan County – on private land that is subject to development.
“Our goal is to secure as much of the trails as possible,” he said. “We don’t want to operate at the whim of a private property holder, and we had hoped the county would help enforce this goal.”
The RV Park land is owned by Durango Mountain Holdings, which over the years has leased the land to the Nordic Center. Durango Mountain Holdings is seeking to sell the property to Hearthside, the sale of which is dependent on the approval of the project.
Reavis said the proposed plan meets the county’s development requirements, and urged all concerned parties to work in collaboration with the developers.
“It will be to their advantage in the long run,” Reavis said. “You can’t demand something on private land that’s being sold. Hopefully, there’ll be a compromise there.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
