It\u2019s been more than a year since the 1,300 residents of the small rural town east of Cortez had a commercial laundry business. The town\u2019s former fluff and fold made its last spin closing in the fall of 2014. Today, the structure houses a marijuana dispensary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since we\u2019ve had a laundry mat,\u201d said town administrator Andrea Phillips.<\/p>\n
At a Mancos planning and zoning meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16, P&Z commissioners granted a conditional recommendation to move forward with efforts to rezone portions of the Paquin-Albert minor subdivision. If the residential area north of U.S. 160 off Monte Street is ultimately approved for business use, the hope is to transition a current campground laundry facility into a commercial enterprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis town needs a laundromat,\u201d said P&Z chairperson Cindy Simpson.<\/p>\n
According to Phillips, Jim Paquin and other business partners purchased the equipment formerly used in the town\u2019s lone laundry mat. More than $20,000 has already been invested in the proposed business venture.<\/p>\n
P&Z officials raised numerous concerns about the project, including whether the site was located too close to adjacent mobile homes and whether an existing private road would meet town specifications when transitioned for public use.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve told them that they can\u2019t open yet,\u201d Phillips advised P&Z officials on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The zoning question now heads to the town board for an official decision.<\/p>\n
In other news, P&Z official John Barton requested a discussion at Wednesday\u2019s meeting regarding what types of manufacturing facilities should be allowed along the town\u2019s limited highway business district. He raised his concern after a marijuana production facility showed interest in opening near the P&D Grocery.<\/p>\n
Barton indicated that he objected to manufacturing facilities that didn\u2019t provide direct sales taxes to the city. Simpson said she didn\u2019t care what type of manufacturing was allowed as long as the businesses followed design guidelines to ensure the town\u2019s aesthetics.<\/p>\n
P&Z officials ultimately punted the hot button topic to the town board. No official action is expected until after the town\u2019s election in April.<\/p>\n