Lyrics from “Big Yellow Taxi” by singer Joni Mitchell ring in my ears as I ponder the potential results of the planning application submitted to La Plata County by Roberts Resorts proposed for the Animas Valley on Trimble Lane. The application describes 137 Luxury RV sites and 140 cabins.
Think about the impact of those numbers. As a longtime RV user, I know the average occupancy of RVs and cabins is three to four people, totaling about 1,000 people there. I also know that daily turnover in such resorts is about 25%. Daily, this yields 35 RVs, most with towed vehicles, plus 35 vehicles from the cabins, or 70 total. Turnover occurs from 8 to 11 a.m., leaving, and 3 to 6 p.m., refilling.
The impact of vehicles moving and people using water, sewage and roads is huge. Will Animas water have enough for emergency use, with its greatly increased use, in case of wildfire? Can Hermosa sanitation really handle the increased sewage? What about roads and the adjacent bridge? Can the Animas River and downstream landowners stand to be hammered by so many people fishing and rafting? What about the effect on the elk and deer populations? Finally, what about the viewshed and tranquility for which many of us moved to the valley? All these questions and more keep me up at night!
Don’t let the rest of the song lyrics come to pass: “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Fight this proposal before it is too late. Check out www.AVACDurango.org
G. Sam Foster
Durango
