The Mancos Town Board on Wednesday heard a request by Riverwood RV Park to remain open year-round. Board members , citing existing municipal code and the need for a public hearing.
The developers’ agreement with the town specifies that the park may operate May through October, but RV park representatives Dugan McDonald and John Harris said customers are asking for an extended season.
Mancos’ municipal code limits customers at RV parks to stays of no more than 14 consecutive days and 21 days per month. Trustee Cindy Simpson said limits on the length of customers’ stays and the park’s season were intended to keep the campsites from becoming long-term residences. Town staff and trustees conceded that code enforcement has been lax.
Mayor Ellen “Queenie” Barz and Town Administrator Heather Alvarez said a change in the park’s six-month season should be preceded by a public meeting and public comment.
After considerable discussion, the board took no action, meaning that the park will close at the end of October.
Also on Wednesday:
Administrator Alvarez asked the board for permission to apply for a $25,000 grant from the Department of Local Affairs to continue the planning process for the Paths to Mesa Verde trail, which would connect Mancos to Mesa Verde National Park and Cortez. The planning process has been underway for about four years, and Trustee Ed Hallam expressed concern about the cost of the process and the source of funding for the would-be trail. Alvarez encouraged the board to stay the course with the project.The board canceled its Nov. 28 meeting and passed a resolution in support of Proposition 110, which would authorize a .62 cent sales tax increase to fund state, local and alternative transportation projects. The proposal is on the statewide Nov. 6 ballot.