November 30, 2017 / Modified nov 30, 2017 4:37 p.m.

Patagonia Town Council Opts to Limit Truck Traffic

The ordinance limits businesses to no more than 50 round trips per day.

In an attempt to reduce the amount of heavy truck traffic from major businesses, the Patagonia City Council approved a traffic ordinance Wednesday night with a 4-1 vote.

Community activist Carolyn Shafer said the movement of hundreds of trucks through the small town every day is problematic, creating a range of concerns from safety to road conditions.

"This, to me, is primary about holding these companies responsible to the highest level of environmental protection for the people," Shafer said.

Arizona Mining, a Canadian firm, is drilling in the Patagonia Mountains and uses roads that cut through the town.

Shafer filed a citizen's complaint in June of 2016 against the mining company for exceeding a previous truck ordinance.

A month later the council met and voided that previous ordinance, creating a new one that Shafer says was more diluted.

Shafer says the traffic ordinance they passed last night was to strengthen the diluted one.

"That will create a limit for any business that comes into this town of no more than 50 round trips for a total of 100 trips per day," Shafer said.

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