Photo: The northwest corner of a 100-acre parcel facing Highway 160, platted in the early 1990s and still vacant… but possibly the site of future development?
“There is a perceived, or claimed, conflict… a potential conflict of interest, that I want to clarify on the record, regarding Chair Medina and the fact that she’s a licensed real estate agent.”
It’s June 18. Archuleta County Attorney Todd Weaver stops momentarily to clear his throat. The three Archuleta County commissioners — chair Veronica Medina, and commissioners Ronnie Maez and Warren Brown — are seated on the dais, preparing to vote on extensive changes to the County Land Use Regulations, regarding vacation rentals. Short-Term Rentals. STRs.
Attorney Weaver asks Chair Medina if she held any financial interest in any STRs in the community, and she states she does not.
“And your real estate license is with EXIT Realty, here in Pagosa Springs, correct?” he asks.
“That is correct,” Commissioner Medina responds.
“And do you have any ownership interest in that brokerage?”
“I do not.”
Attorney Weaver asks a few more questions, and then gives his opinion, that Commissioner Medina would not see a personal financial benefit from amendments to the County’s STR regulations, and thus does not have a legal “conflict of interest” under Colorado law if she chooses to vote on the proposed changes to the Land Use Regulations.
I haven’t been able to attend all of the BOCC meetings this year, but I believe this June 18 meeting was the first time Commissioner Medina stated publicly that she is a real estate agent with EXIT Realty Home & Ranch, here in Pagosa Springs.
I don’t recall hearing her state her relationship with EXIT Realty at an earlier, June 4, BOCC meeting — although it may have been a good idea to make such a statement, at that meeting, considering how things are now playing out. She did mention that she is a real estate agent, in general terms, but did not specifically mention her relationship to EXIT Realty. That may have been a mistake on her part.
A video of the June 4 meeting is posted online. The conversation related to EXIT Realty and future taxpayer expenditures took place during the last twenty minutes of the video.
At that meeting, the BOCC heard presentations from two people regarding possible locations for a future County administration building. Dan Sanders had offered a location in the existing Aspen Village subdivision — a centrally-located mixed-use subdivision with streets and infrastructure, but which is still about 70% vacant, in spite of being created in 2006.
The other offered parcel was located in an undeveloped 100-acre property about a half mile west of Aspen Village, facing on Highway 160. The property is currently for sale, and is being offered by real estate broker Shelley Low, who also appeared at the June 4 meeting. As we note in the image above, Ms. Low is one of the franchisees for EXIT Realty Home & Ranch. Ms. Low was an avid supporter of Veronica Medina when she ran for the District 3 commissioner seat in 2022.
So let’s set the stage, on June 4. Aspen Village is offering a suitable property for the proposed County building, with streets, sidewalks, water, sewer, and a nearby Walmart store.
Shelley Low is hoping to sell a 100-acre parcel across from the Pagosa Springs Medical Center to an experienced developer named Doug Dragoo, and she has proposed the new County administration building as the “anchor tenant” for Mr. Dragoo’s proposed development, which would be similar in size to the existing Aspen Village subdivision. Mr. Dragoo is proposing to build dozens of “affordable” housing units, using Colorado state grants — assuming the County will agree to locate its new admin building on the parcel near South Pagosa Boulevard.
The currently-vacant parcel in question:
As the BOCC discussed these two possible sites, Commissioner Medina suggested that the offered vacant parcel in Aspen Village is a fine location, but that it would “better serve businesses that need that frontage exposure…. I think we would be taking a piece of property … that could have a better use with different type of a business…”
She agreed with Commissioner Brown that the two offered properties are generally equal… but said she prefers the parcel offered by Ms. Low and Mr. Dragoo. The County would be an “anchor property to start some development that we absolutely need in this community which would then drive sales tax, also drive other small businesses to start and then also have those … other services available for locals.”
A comment here. Ms. Medina is correct in stating that our community “absolutely needs” certain types of development. In particular, we need workforce housing, and Mr. Dragoo has been telling the BOCC that he plans to build workforce housing on the 100-acre parcel, since at least May 21. He just needs an “anchor tenant” to get the project moving. Given that the parcel has no streets and minimal infrastructure.
Whether Pagosa Springs “absolutely needs” another 100-acre mixed-use subdivision that will sit mostly vacant for 20 years may be a question for taxpayers to consider.
Commissioner Medina: “We’ve definitely done our homework individually, with the County Attorney, County Manager and staff… Staff has been crucial in finding out information for us…”
She thanked both Mr. Sanders and Ms. Low.
“Again, my thought is just looking at that possible impact for the community overall, is kind of where I’m landing, but thank you both for your time.”
Commissioner Maez stated that he was “thinking a little more” about the issue. He stepped outside the meeting room with Attorney Weaver for several minutes, and when he returned, he asked Ms. Low and Mr. Sanders if they would consider lowering their offering price. Both replied that they would not.
Commissioner Medina, appearing somewhat impatient with the pace of the decision, asked for a motion. When neither of the other commissioners immediately offered a motion, she began making a motion herself. Commissioner Maez interrupted her, stating that he didn’t think it appropriate for the BOCC chair to make the motion, and he added that he was ready to make a motion.
Commissioner Medina: “OK, I just didn’t want it to die for lack of a motion…”
Commissioner Maez: “It wouldn’t die.”
Commissioner Brown: “I was being patient.”
Commissioner Medina: “I’m over patient. Let’s get it going, guys.”
Commissioner Maez then moved to direct staff to negotiate a letter of intent, for the “purchase of property at X West U.S. 160” and bring the letter back before the BOCC for final approval. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Brown and all three commissioner voted in favor.
It was that particular June 4 vote by Commissioner Medina, to have the County government move towards purchasing real estate, represented by the company she works for, that caused the problem.
The problem being, a citizen petition now being circulated, seeking to recall Commissioner Medina.