All of the city’s long-established and cherished neighborhoods will be affected by this decision, and it will have long-standing consequences for all of our residential neighborhoods.

All residents of Durango, no matter what neighborhood you live in, are encouraged to speak at the public hearing at the City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday or you may write or email City Council at durangogov.org. Written comments/emails must be received by council by 4:30 p.m. Maonday, the day before the meeting.

It is important that we join together to preserve the highest quality of life for our residents who have invested much, worked hard and sacrificed in order to live in our great neighborhoods. We wish to continue to build community that supports the similarities among our various neighborhoods, instead of creating division among us. We must control creeping commercialism, which would invade our residential neighborhoods and forever change the nature of residential living.

A healthy balance of residential and tourist dwellings must be maintained if we are to ensure the continuation of the backbone of Durango – our residential neighborhoods.

I ask that you please support the proposal that allows for no more than 3 percent of residences in any given neighborhood to be vacation rentals; no clustering of vacation rentals allowed; and strict, consistent, enforcement by city officials.

Paula Akin

Durango