Alamosa commissioners grant limited extension for Dune Glamping special-use permit, 2–1

The Alamosa County Board of Commissioners on March 25 approved a limited extension for Dune Glamping LLC’s special-use permit, extending the authorization to use the site as a campground until July 4, 2026. The motion passed 2–1, with Commissioners Arlan Van Ry and Vern Heersink voting in favor and Commissioner Lori Laske opposed.

The extension clears the way for the applicant to continue on-site work while the county and applicant resolve outstanding inspections and permit issues. Land Use Director Richard Hubler summarized the file history, saying the permit was originally approved in November 2022 with ten conditions and that at least one dome was required to be built by April 10, 2025. Hubler said building permits for dome foundations and a septic system were issued but that a dome permit subsequently expired and the septic system is awaiting engineer certification following a March 6 inspection.

Applicant Susannah Barnes, participating by Zoom, described multiple contractor setbacks — including redoing dome foundations and a subcontractor declining to sign a 32-page contract — and said about $700,000 has been spent to date. "We have spent a little over $700,000 so far," Barnes said, and asked for time to complete work so the site could be open by Memorial Day. Commissioners heard that electrical and plumbing work had been completed for several domes and that SLV Rural Electric installed a transformer and junction box in late March.

Commissioner Laske opposed the extension, saying repeated deadline extensions have been a pattern on similar campground projects and that an incomplete project could become an eyesore. Van Ry said his concern was what would happen to work already completed if the permit expired, and Heersink expressed a preference to avoid forcing an abrupt stop to work that could leave the site unfinished.

During public comment Terry Hammond urged caution, asking what would happen if the extension were denied and saying the partially completed domes harmed the view. Hubler noted that without an active special-use permit the applicant would lose the right to operate the campground as previously approved and that the septic work would be required for almost any future use of the parcel.

The board’s approval in the regular meeting portion follows a full public hearing recorded in the meeting packet that included the staff report, the applicant’s letter, site plans and prior resolutions (including amended Resolution 2022-SUP-8). The hearing record shows staff did not make a recommendation at this hearing and that the applicant did not submit a specific recommended extension date in advance; Commissioners adopted July 4, 2026 as the deadline in the motion.

The extension leaves outstanding technical items: final engineer certification for the on-site wastewater system and completion of inspections tied to the expired foundation permit. The county’s minutes note the Land Use Office will rely on the audio record should any discrepancy arise in interpreting the Board’s intent.