by Carol Dunn
LA VETA- On a vote of five to two, the La Veta Town Board rejected the preliminary plan application by Grandote Golf & Country Club for redevelopment of Lots 28-35 and 37-38, Filing #1. Many a furrowed brow accompanied the discussion, which was contentious at times. Citing the increase in the platted density from 83 lots to 93 lots as its reason for rejection, Mayor Mickey Schmidt elaborated, “This is a back door plan to increase the number of lots on the same land.” Several trustees also expressed their concern that the developer expects a plan review and decision while the Town is being sued over maintenance of the subdivision’s streets. Mayor Schmidt referred to the situation as “an affront.”
As part of the committee reports, Trustee Dale Davis stated that the preliminary bid sheet will be out next week for the sidewalk improvements project. Mayor Schmidt reported that surveyors have done some follow-up work for the pending water project. The Town Board asked for recommendations from the Tree Board for ways to rejuvenate the Museum grounds. Mayor Schmidt also reported that he attended the recent Cucharas Sanitation and Water District meeting and requested that they withdraw their objection to the Town’s Water Court case. He stated that the main concern expressed by the CSWD’s attorney is the computation of consumptive use.
Mary Jean Fowler, of the Historic Preservation Society, reported that the report of a 1980 survey of 200 historic buildings in La Veta has been obtained and will be available for public reference in the HPS office, located in the La Veta Community Center. A recent photo project will put historical photographs of the area on a disk, which will be available in the La Veta Public Library. A new book, “La Veta’s Interesting Buildings” will also be available in the Library.
Next Town Board meeting will be July 1 at 7:00 pm.
