Pony Express Village RV-conversion plan tabled amid requests for fuller site plans and screening

Developers seeking a special-use permit for Pony Express Village, LLC asked the council to permit Phase 1 of a project that would convert three existing mobile-home pads into up to 69 RV spaces (three per pad) and provide on-site management, restrooms and trash service. Dean Stevenson, representing the applicant, described the Phase 1 concept as transitional workforce housing intended to serve construction and mining workers.

Stevenson told the council that jobs associated with local projects often pay well and that the temporary RV park could also generate transient‑lodging tax revenue; he estimated that transient‑lodging taxes from such a facility could be "easily $150,000 to $250,000 per year." Council members expressed concern the application lacked full engineered site plans, requested clearer screening solutions between the proposed RV spaces and adjacent residences, and asked staff to study water and wastewater impacts. After questions from Councilman Omar Lopez and others, the council tabled the application pending a complete site plan and further technical information.

Why it matters: The proposal intersects housing, tourism revenue and local infrastructure capacity. Developers described the proposal as meeting near-term workforce needs; residents and councilmembers asked for clearer mitigation for noise, sight lines and utilities before the council acts.