May 7th was the first reading of an ordinance to update the Land Use and Development Code regarding the Fair Share (Inclusionary Zoning) Program. Key objectives include: Extending the program to include rental developments Incentivizing developers to construct units rather than paying the fee in lieu Simplifying the program Durango City Council approved a resolution
All passed bills Polis has until June 7 to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature. Energy & Environment SB24-214: Implement State Climate Goals – Concerning the implementation of state climate goals, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation. SB24-229: Ozone Mitigation Measures – Concerning measures to mitigate ozone pollution in the
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
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.
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
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 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
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
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
La Plata County is planning to update its Land Use Code (LUC) in 2024 to include a chapter on affordable housing. According to Director of Community Development, Lynn Hyde, it may take the help of a consultant to develop an affordable and workforce housing chapter for the LUC. It will cover topics such as building