Monday, April 17, 2006

BAYFIELD: The much anticipated growth boom in Bayfield may have hit a speed bump. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment has issued a cease-and-desist order against the Bayfield Sanitation District. The order prevents the district from issuing new sewer taps for Bayfield and surrounding areas. It also prevents the town from issuing building permits that would result in more waste flowing into the district's plant. The order was issued at the request of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe which complained that the district has exceeded capacity and polluted the Los Pinos River. The tribe takes its drinking water 1.5 miles downstream from Bayfield. The sanitation district is a special district and is not owned or operated by the Town of Bayfield. How long the cease-and-desist order remains in effect largely depends on what the state will require and how quickly the sanitation district moves forward with expansion plans.

There are about 625 homes in Bayfield. The Town Board has approved more than 400 new homes. Building permits must be issued before construction can begin. That can't happen until the order is rescinded and we don't see that happening any time soon. Our area is growing. Until the sanitation district problems are resolved the growth has to occur in areas not served by the district such as Forest Lakes; thereby creating a upward pressure on lot and home prices.

http://HomesInDurango.com / http://RealEstate-Durango.com

No comments: