A proposed 157-lot luxury RV resort is on hold because of a contract dispute between the landowner and would-be developers, according to San Juan County administrator Willy Tookey. The proposed project would be on 54 acres along the east side of U.S. Highway 550, just north of Purgatory Resort.
On Tuesday, Tookey said a disagreement between the two entities regarding the contract to purchase the land has put the project on hold. He did not, however, know the particulars of the conflict.
Representatives with the landowner, Durango Mountain Holdings, did not respond to requests for comment.
Craig Rose, a co-developer with Michigan-based Hearthside Grove, declined to comment on the specifics of the contract dispute. But he said the company is still planning to purchase the property with the intent of starting development in summer.
“As you get near the finish line of any project, sometimes you have delays,” Rose said. “I wouldn’t say (the dispute) is significant at this point.”
Regardless, the process for approval of the luxury RV park, as far as San Juan County is concerned, is on hold until those issues are resolved and the developer can submit the final planning documents.
Hearthside was required to submit all remaining documents related to the project by May 1 in preparation for two public meetings this month in front of San Juan County Planning commissioners and San Juan County commissioners.
“We will wait and see what happens,” Tookey said. “Once they submit all the information to us, we’ll reschedule those public hearings. But we’re on hold one way or the other until we get word. It’s in their ballpark.”
The project, known as Hearthside Luxury Motorcoach Resort, has drawn criticism since plans were released last fall related to the development’s size and density, as well as the potential loss of Nordic ski trails.
Over the years, Durango Mountain Holdings has leased land to the Durango Nordic Center, a significant portion of which would be eliminated with the sale of the land and development of the RV park. The developers, as well as San Juan County commissioners in support of the project, say the project would provide a substantial boost to San Juan County’s economy, both in summer and winter tourism, as well as property values.
According to previous reports, the sale of the land to Hearthside is dependent upon San Juan County’s approval of the project.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
