If you are opposed to allowing (and encouraging?) future development of accessory dwelling units in the historical district, come to the City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 15 and voice your opinions. My objections are: 1) The population density of Durango is already too high. And it is already diversified. 2) Real estate values will, in the long term go down, not up. People do not like and will not pay high prices for being crammed together. There may be short-term benefits if the proposal now before the council is adopted but in the long term, the overuse of utilities, lack of parking, increased noise, more garbage cans, overcrowding, etc., will most likely lower real estate values and the stability and desirability of the neighborhood.

3) The argument that we need affordable housing right downtown has no merit because Durango has a great public transportation system. Everyone can’t live in the historical district. There are many opportunities to build more apartments close to town and ADUs are legal in the Three Springs area, which needs further development to justify the utilities that the town provides to them. 4) To allow and even encourage more ADUs is an outrage. People bought properties here thinking that they would have privacy and some space and their current view and sunlight. My biggest objection is the council seems to think nothing of changing the rules in the middle of the game. They just allowed a variance for the proposed hotel on Second Avenue. They now are all of a sudden allowing additional ADUs. Who knows what will be next? 5) A 5,000 square-foot lot size for EN-1 is just too small and allows too many new ADUs. Speak out now before it is too late.

Betsy Norton

Durango