A commercial laundry venture on North Monty Street has stalled, frustrating a Mancos businessman.

After a half-hour public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, town trustees tabled a rezoning request, citing multiple issues had yet to be addressed at the proposed laundry site. The news left capitalist Terry Morris exasperated. He’s invested more than $20,000 in the proposed business venture.

“What do you think?” Morris replied when asked if he was frustrated due to the delay.

Morris added that he had worked for more than six months to open the new business, reiterating that he’s ready to move forward.

The business venture initially stalled on Dec. 16, after the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission questioned whether the site was located too close to adjacent mobile homes and whether an existing private road would meet town specifications when transitioned for public use.

No one spoke in opposition to the proposed rezoning request this week.

Town Administrator Andrea Phillips told trustees that an engineering survey at the proposed site had yet to be completed. The town must also decide if developers will be required to pay an exorbitant public space fee.

Phillips explained that the town’s current fee in lieu requirement to enhance public space as a result of development was five times higher than surrounding communities.

“I hope the trustees will take a look at this fee,” Morris said during Wednesday’s public hearing.

It’s been more than a year since the 1,300 residents of Mancos had a commercial laundry business. The the town’s former fluff and fold was closed in the fall of 2014. Today, that structure houses a marijuana dispensary.

The proposed laundry site is located in a current residential zoned area north of U.S. 160 off Monte Street.

tbaker@the-journal.com