Latest on Downtown Durango Next Steps

Some downtown Durango merchants are concerned about the impact of construction related to the Next Steps project. According to City Staff, the proposal does not include tearing up the sidewalks. The sidewalk widening proposed in the project will be utilizing new material integrated with the existing sidewalks. As for street construction, staff is working with

Recent Decisions Made By Durango City Council

On April 22nd, the Durango City Council voted 4 to 1 to have City Attorney Mark Morgan give a full analysis of proposed state legislation (SB 193) that would give tribes absolute jurisdiction to approve or deny annexation requests of property located within the exterior boundaries of a reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe.

3 Housing Related Bills We’re Watching and more…

Housing HB 1099 – Defendant Filing Fees in Evictions – House Third Reading Laid Over Daily – No Amendments. CAR Supports. HB 1175 – Local Governments Rights to Property for Affordable Housing – Senate Local Government & Housing Committee hearing April 25. Colorado Chamber of Commerce Opposes. Colorado Competitive Council wants to Amend. CAR is

What’s Happening with Downtown’s Next Steps?

The City of Durango hosted a public meeting March 14th for the preliminary design of the 600 and 700 blocks of downtown Durango. According to staff, the intent of the project is to improve accessibility, expand pedestrian space, and improve safety of downtown Main Avenue from 5th Street to 14th Street while maintaining the historic

Durango Community Development Updates and Potential Changes to LPC Code

Durango Community Development Updates In March, Durango staff hosted Development Review Roundtables to discuss procedures, anticipated advancements, and opportunities for collaborative projects.  Updates to the Fair Share Program will be finalized later this spring. The Durango Community Development Commission approved amendments that update and modernize the regulations, but they still face City Council approval. Updates

Deceptive Trade Practices Bill and other Bills We Are Watching

CAR opposes HB 1014, Deceptive Trade Practice Significant Impact Statement.  According to Capitol Connection, the bill aims to reduce the level of evidence necessary to establish a sufficient impact to the public to any amount and would leave businesses vulnerable to deceptive trade claims under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Unintentional, mistaken, or errors of

Durango-La Plata County Airport has a record year

2023 was officially the busiest on record for airline passenger traffic at Durango-La Plata County Airport, with 431,828 passengers corresponding to an 8.7% increase over the prior record set in 2021. Total airline traffic was also a significant 17.7% higher than passenger traffic in 2022. Record passenger traffic comes as construction on the first phase

Right to Remedy Construction Defects and Other Bills We Are Tracking

CAR supports SB24-106, concerning legal actions based on claimed defects in construction projects. CAR staff is working in support of the bill through a coalition of like-minded organizations called the Homeowner Opportunity Alliance. The bill will help to increase the supply, quality, and accessibility of affordable housing units and will create more opportunities for Coloradans