Payson has seen an uptick in building during the dark days of the pandemic, with plans already submitted for 400 new homes and a proposed annexation that would add another 825 dwellings.
The just-submitted plans to annex a vast track of land at the end of Doll Baby Road would add up to 825 homesites to Paysonâs housing inventory. State law allows developers to negotiate for zoning before bringing property into town boundaries.
The new project was revealed during Town Manager Troy Smithâs town status report during last weekâs council meeting. The figures show that in commercial and residential construction the pandemic did nothing to cool the building boom in Rim Country.
In San Juan County Fire Department Chief Craig Daughertyâs opinion, Payson dodged at least seven wildfire bullets during the 2020 fire season.
But the Polles Fire caused him the most alarm because of its location, start date, fuel condition and weather.
Daugherty should know â he worked in operations on that fire.
The Polles Fire started on July 3, a lightning strike 11 miles west of Payson and south of Pine in âhighly abnormalâ fuel conditions, which fanned by extreme winds, quickly escalated the situation. By the Fourth of July weekend the Polles Fire blew up.
âThe potential was great for that fire to burn into . communities, thatâs why it went to Type 1 immediately,â he said, âYou had a close call.â