Letter from Charlie Green
Development – May 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
Editors:
Regarding Pagosa Springs’ future [“Another town that doesn’t want to be like Aspen,” April edition], the last time I passed through the town some years back, my immediate reaction was “Woodland Park Southwest.” Same strip malls and commercial development along the highways. But now that is changing with an influx of big money. By the time this is published, the Mayor’s race, essentially a referendum on development, will be decided. The long-time incumbent, Ross Aragon, unabashedly supports the growth.
But my feeling is it really won’t matter how the election comes out; the development will simply move outside the city limits (some, like the Pagosa Lakes development, are already in the county). This would make any development unlikely to be orderly but Pagosa Springs itself would still suffer the consequences.
In light of all this, my answer to “What does Pagosa Springs want to be when it grows up?” is “Breckenridge” if the voters reject development. If the citizens embrace and control growth they could become more like “Frisco.” Either way, when a 35-acre tract is a “bargain” at $250,000, this isn’t some “sleepy rural town” anymore.
Charlie Green
Texas Creek