On March 13, the Montezuma County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denying a request from Under Canvas for a High Impact/Special Use permit to develop an agricultural/residential zoned property with access to County Road 40 in Mancos. The vote was 3-2 and came after nearly two hours of comments from area residents, all opposing the development. The permit request will now go to the Board of County Commissioners for their consideration.
With the proposal for 75 rental units (tents), with individual bathrooms and housekeeping and laundry services, a restaurant and developed roads, this development is obviously more suited to commercial zoning.
Commissioner Doyle justified his dissenting vote by noting the County’s need for tax revenue, commenting that more than half Montezuma County’s revenue comes from Kinder-Morgan and that revenue from them could be slipping.
I suggest that the county look to attract appropriate commercial enterprises to be installed on commercially zoned land in order to fill its coffers.
Allowing this project to go forward at this location would not only degrade the local environment and infuriate the current neighbors, but it would also set a dangerous precedent in which county residents could never be certain of what will be allowed in their agriculture/residential zoned neighborhoods.
Thank you, P & Z, for concluding that this project on this particular property is not in the best interests of the community. I sincerely hope the Board of County Commissioners heeds your recommendation and denies this permit.
Anne Benson
Mancos
