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Council approves first reading to allow powersports sales downtown with conditions
Summary
On May 4, 2026 Cañon City Council advanced an ordinance to allow sales of motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles and personal watercraft in the central business (CB) district, approving planning‑commission conditions and edits. Council removed a blanket fuel ban, added locked indoor/locked storage language, clarified deliveries, and made SRU revocation for cause rather than an automatic three‑year review. The ordinance returns May 18 for second reading.
Cañon City Council on May 4 approved on first reading a change to the city’s unified development code that would permit sales of motorcycles, all‑terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft in the downtown central business (CB) zone as a special review use, with conditions set by the planning commission and council.
City planner Patrick told the council staff had recommended denying the petitioner’s request, noting the CB district was created to preserve a pedestrian‑oriented downtown. “Staff recommended that planning commission deny the request,” Patrick said, summarizing the tension between the request and previous investments to make Main Street pedestrian friendly. Planning commission instead forwarded a version that would allow the use as an SRU with specific operating conditions — including that vehicles be stored indoors, no outdoor display, no servicing, and restrictions on test drives and deliveries.
Petitioner Greg Dorito, who owns multiple Main Street properties, told the council he sought to broaden the range of viable downtown businesses rather than undo pedestrian amenities. “I’m simply trying to broaden the diversity of the potential Main Street businesses,” Dorito said, urging the city to allow a limited, conditioned approach that could be reviewed if problems emerged.
Council discussion focused on several practical concerns raised by staff and speakers. Council Member Amy Schmisher proposed precise edits that the council adopted: allow vehicles to be stored in an enclosed building or locked area; change the planning‑commission wording so deliveries read “deliveries of vehicles shall occur from the alley to the maximum extent possible”; replace the planning‑commission phrase “permissible” with “possible”; and remove the automatic three‑year review, instead saying SRU approval “may be revoked for cause.” Schmisher noted the need to make the ordinance enforceable rather than prescriptive.
Members representing both preservation and economic development interests argued about fuel storage and test drives. Several residents and business owners said a blanket prohibition on fuel in indoor stock would be operationally difficult and potentially damaging to vehicles; resident Mike Sta said draining fuel can “cause more damage than a little bit of fuel left in them.” Supporters emphasized that Dorito has invested in building upgrades and code compliance downtown.
The council voted unanimously to approve the amended ordinance on first reading. The ordinance will return to council on May 18 for a required second reading and final adoption vote.
What’s next: staff will prepare the revised ordinance language for second reading and clarify definitional questions (for example, whether UTVs are included) before the May 18 meeting.
