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Downtown marijuana lights debate

City councilors to decide on recreational pot locations

When Alison Dance had some concerns about the parking situation in the alley behind her Second Avenue restaurant and wine bar, she went to speak to the owner of a medical marijuana dispensary that draws steady traffic to the alley.

It didn’t go well.

“They called the cops on me,” she said. “They got a restraining order on me for walking in the door and wanting to talk to the owner.”

As the Durango City Council weighs whether to allow recreational marijuana shops in downtown, councilors and business owners are eager to avoid upsetting the profitable status quo in Durango’s historic Central Business District.

A majority of the council appears ready to bar recreational pot shops downtown but allow the businesses in other areas within city limits.

The message seems to be: You can have your pot in Bodo Industrial Park, but keep it away from downtown.

Councilors are under heavy pressure from Main Avenue business interests to bar recreational pot shops downtown. Some fear any changes that would affect downtown Durango’s property values or status as a tourist draw.

For Dance, who owns Eno wine bar and Cyprus Cafe at 723 and 725 East Second Avenue, the dispute with the dispensary, Santé Alternative Wellness, had to do with parking.

Santé has no parking spaces, but according to Dance, that doesn’t keep Santé’s customers from parking in spots belonging to her business or simply parking along the alley. Dance said she has no strong opinions on marijuana businesses in general.

“The dispensary back there is a drag,” she said. “It’s not really because it’s a dispensary. It’s because they don’t have a parking lot.”

Attempts to reach Santé co-owner Ron Guffey for comment Wednesday were not successful.

Doug Boykin, whose Incognito Salon is Santé’s closest neighbor, credited the dispensary with installing air filtration to allay his concerns about marijuana odor – concerns he aired to the City Council in 2012.

But he acknowledged parking is a problem.

“People (come) in and out quick, parking wherever they want,” he said. “They technically have no parking.”

Durango’s other dispensaries, which stand to be first in line for recreational sales when the City Council ends its moratorium, are outside of downtown. Santé appears to be most vulnerable to a downtown ban, which could prohibit the dispensary from adding recreational pot to its business model.

The City Council hopes to have regulations that allow for recreational sales in place by the end of June, when the city’s moratorium expires. The regulations could preclude selling recreational marijuana downtown.

City councilors said they’re trying to balance the wishes of voters, who overwhelmingly approved legalized marijuana, with the risk of upsetting the status quo downtown. Some business owners have made clear that pot shops in downtown are unacceptable.

“We’re hearing from the business owners and the property owners downtown that that’s not what they’re looking for,” City Councilor Christina Rinderle said.

Councilor Dean Brookie agreed, saying downtown pot shops could conflict with Durango’s image as a family-friendly community for residents and tourists.

Brookie said he doesn’t have a strong personal opinion. He recently visited Telluride, which legalized recreational pot Jan. 1.

“It seemed to be working for them up there,” he said. “I’m not totally opposed to it, but I certainly respect the opinions of the people who have made the investments (in downtown Durango).”

Some point to the possible benefits of increased foot traffic from visitors looking to get high on Colorado’s supply.

Tom Corrado, who operates the food cart Good On the Bun at 1101 Main Ave., said recreational marijuana could increase tourism.

“I think it could be good for tourism. It could be good for my business here,” he said.

Corrado said he’s often asked where to buy pot by tourists – in one example, “a car full of dudes” – who come after seeing national media coverage of Colorado’s marijuana legalization. They leave disappointed to learn of Durango’s moratorium.

“I get asked at least 20 times a week, Where can I buy pot?” he said. “And they’re driving here from Mississippi, they’re driving here from Texas.”

One visitor, Dean Ellsworth of Bloomfield, N.M., said he brings his family to Durango for the historic character. He’s wary of allowing pot shops downtown.

“I wouldn’t think it’s good,” he said. “Down here, in the historic district, I don’t think it’d be appropriate.”

cslothower@durangoherald.com



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