On January 11, 2019 the Town of Patagonia received an Application for Use Permit from Red Mountain Ranch LLC, a subsidiary of the mining company South 32. Red Mountain Ranch owns a 27-acre property off Harshaw road, and proposes to build a concrete parking lot, mobile (non-permanent) restrooms and a guard shack. The proposal is to use four acres of the 27-acre property and was submitted with a site plan. 

Next to the parking lot there is also a large area marked as Holding Area for Site Delivery. This entire area will include six light poles, parking for 150 vehicles and perhaps shuttle buses. 

At a community meeting on March 9, 2019 the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA) shared details of the use permit and concerns for town residents. Concerns included the lighting, continuous use of the site, traffic, deliveries, storage, and the potential presence of hazardous materials. 

The Use Permit was deliberated in an open hearing of the Planning and Development Committee at 7 p.m. on March 26. They will forward their recommendations to the Town Council, which intends to hold its open hearing on April 10 at 7 p.m. Both these open hearings are opportunities for residents of the town to participate in this process.