JOANN KALENAK, SENIOR BLOGGER, DCCR — Paonia Trustees will hear a petition to annex a Delta County parcel on Samuel Wade Road just north of and adjacent to West Elk Wine & Spirits in Paonia on July 9.
Developers Vaquero Paonia Partners LP approached the Town of Paonia earlier this year about the possibility to annex the parcel with a C-2 zoning designation. While the parcel currently is in unincorporated Delta County, an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the county and the Town of Paonia dictates that the town be provided the opportunity to be the “decider” given the proximity to its border. The Town has the option to annex the parcel and the IGA encourages Trustees to do so.
Delta County Public Information Officer, Darnell Place-Wise told DCCR, “Delta County is not processing this application as it is being processed by the Town of Paonia. Delta County has no involvement….”
In a flurry of social media posts, local residents expressed concern about the lack of public information around the project and questions about the review, notice and public participation process. Many residents believe that the end goal is to build a Dollar General Store at the location.
“If they (Paonia Board Trustees) accept the (Vaquero) petition, a public hearing will be set to discuss the annexation of the parcel with a C-2 zone. To whom the developer may or may not lease to will not be part of the discussion,” Paonia Town Administrator, Ken Knight, told DCCR.
Sources who asked not to be identified, tipped DCCR to a subcontractor bid request (RFP) advertised by Stout Building Contractors, a Utah-based company. The RFP titled: “Paonia CO, Dollar General, Delta County, Colorado” notified potential bidders saying that “Stout Building Contractors is excited to announce the opportunity to bid on another ground-up Dollar General.” Bid documents found on the company’s website contain extensive architectural plans with details about the store’s more than 9,000 square-foot layout, a site survey, proposed set backs and material design.