A high-end “glamping” company has its sights set on property north of Mancos.
It’s unclear how many acres they’re after.
The posted public notice at the property says “141 acres, more or less,” though the company’s application for acquiring the land says “a 346-acre parcel.”
Acreage aside, neighboring property owners have expressed concerns of the proposed “glamp sites” as a “full-blown commercial operation.”
What the company, Under Canvas Inc., has applied for is a high impact/special use permit at 12695 Road 40, property that is zoned ag-residential.
“With the development of each camp, Under Canvas’ goal is to take a minimalist approach, limiting the impacts of development and use of resources to create an ecofriendly outdoor experience,” its application reads.
The proposal is up for review at a Planning and Zoning meeting on March 13 at 6 p.m.
The outcome of that meeting will be a recommendation for or against the development; the final decision on whether or not to approve it is up to the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners, said Planning and Zoning Director Don Haley.
“There are objective and subjective parts of the land use code,” Haley said. “We don’t make decisions on the subjective parts.”
At present, Under Canvas Inc. has eight “safari-inspired tent” sites across America, from Acadia National Park on the East Coast to California’s Yosemite in the West. Each night, glampers pay anywhere from $250 to $900 to stay in one of their tents.
It develops near national parks because it aligns with the company’s core values, like how “providing opportunities to immerse in nature foster environmental consciousness,” and “being outdoors inspires.”
The land near Mancos is attractive then, because it’s “only 10 minutes from town, with its art galleries, breweries and restaurants and 18 minutes to Mesa Verde National Park,” its application reads.
Under Canvas also has tents in Moab, a development that was highly contested in 2021.
A June article from The Salt Lake Tribune that year cites critics’ concerns that such developments “have found a way to sell accommodations at luxury hotel prices while bypassing zoning, safety and fire mitigation standards … all while putting pressure on remote areas outside of developed towns and cities.”
Over 3,000 signed a petition against the site near Looking Glass Rock in Moab.
The land in question belongs to Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and they decided to lease it to the “resort” company despite the aforementioned concerns.
A spokesperson for SITLA quoted in that article said that Under Canvas was “deemed the best partner for use of those parcels.”
They went on to underscore “the company’s emphasis on land preservation, low-impact approach to development, focus on allowing everyone to enjoy the outdoors and region, and economics” as their reasons for approving the development.
Neighboring properties to the company’s proposal in Mancos echo the same concerns from critics years ago in Moab, specifically when it comes to fire risk and water use.
The public hearing on March 13 will be in the county commissioner’s hearing room at 109 W. Main St. in Cortez.
