Wednesday, November 16, 2022
The Call to Public heard four comments, all in opposition to the current use permit proposal of Ron Ochoa for the Paseo Verde project, now described as an ‘eco lodge.’
Randy Heiss voiced concern about offsite impact of the project, pointing out that the County’s Planning and Zoning Commission had requested a meeting with the developers which has not yet happened. Councilor Stabile added that the Town had required engineering approval of the access road, an extension of 4th Ave., and that the developer had produced no plans to date, nor answered the Patagonia Volunteer Fire Department’s letter stating that the access road was inadequate for fire prevention, beyond stating the access road would be done to code.
Neighboring owner Nancy McCoy suggested tabling the action because of inadequate specificity.
Chuck Klingenstein, a land use planner with experience in resort projects, spoke of the lack of information presented thus far, the unsupported use of terms like “eco” and “environmental,” known as greenwashing, and of the need for not rushing through a complex process like this.
Later, when Ron Ochoa presented the project, with the aid of his project manager Dan Leach, it began to become clear that they were downscaling the request to a nine-room lodging place, withdrawing prior proposals for casitas, a microbrewery, and perhaps an amphitheater, now saying those elements might be “way down the line.”
Mayor Wood asked if the current meeting was Mr. Ochoa’s first discussion with the community. Ochoa said ‘yes,’ so it was recommended to him that he form a working group of stakeholders for the community, to which he seemed receptive. Councilor Finch asked about the identity of the nominal property owner, Heather C Bochon, Trustee for The Patagonia Property Trust, with a taxpayer address of record at a residence in Edmonton, Alberta.The question was not substantially answered.
Other issues in this proposal involve sediment washing into Fourth Avenue, wells, sewage, parking and traffic. The proposed action was tabled for revision, as a potential future agenda item.
The Patagonia Art Walk’s revised park use and fee payment plan was approved. The event will go on in the Town Park as planned, for Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-26.
Zander Ault presented a review of the Spirit World 100 gravel cycling event held Nov. 3-6 in the town park and other town spaces.
The Thursday dinner was a bit disrupted by rain, but together with beer garden receipts, $12,500 was raised for the AZ Trail organization. The Saturday concert, and other related events functioned smoothly, according to Ault. Counting the 250 riders, about 420 visitors total were estimated to have been in town for the event.
Emergency planning had been done with Patagonia and Sonoita Fire and Rescue departments, and the only reported injury was a sprained wrist. Ault also briefly mentioned plans for next year’s event, with no major changes envisioned