Despite official approval, Erie’s future needs vote

We have traffic studies, impact fee reports, open space goals, parks and trails evaluations, economic models and a growth management policy. We have a recently updated comprehensive plan, a water distribution plan, a water acquisition plan, a water storage plan, a raw water plan, a treated water plan, a waste water plan, a transportation plan, a parks and rec plan, a downtown revitalization plan, capital improvement plans and a staffing plan. I haven’t read for pleasure in years.

Erie’s achievements in a short period of time have been prodigious. Less than 10 years ago, we were a community that couldn’t manage basic infrastructure services. The streets weren’t paved, we didn’t have 24-hour police protection, the waste-water plant was out of compliance, the water treatment plant was out of date and our town hall was a condemned building.

All that has changed. A large part of that achievement was our staff, consultants, studies and plans. Proficient people working with professional tools have led Erie to a new way. Not only have we conquered our infrastructure problems, we now have a recreation program, are breaking ground for a senior housing project and have refurbished and built new town facilities. We have two Smart Growth Awards from the Governor. We are the only municipality in Colorado to charge an open space impact fee. We have land use agreements with most of our neighbors. We have accomplished much.

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So with a terrific track record like that, the expert staff, informed officials and the many tools at our disposal, why would Erie put a development proposal to a vote of the citizens? That is exactly what the Board of Trustees has done. After a year of examination, negotiations and hearings, the proposed Northfield annexation went to election on Dec. 14, even though the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to annex Northfield. As one citizen put it, “Don’t we elect you to make those decisions for us?”

The reason I supported putting the Northfield annexation before the citizens is it occurred to me that what we are talking about is an initial direction that precludes all the studies, experts and plans. I know where I want to take Erie. I want it to be a full-service community, where people can work, recreate, shop and live in the same area. I’m not sure if the majority of citizens want the same thing I do. The vehemence of the opposition raises questions in my mind. Even if you put aside all the half-truths and spurious arguments, you have to believe that some force drives those who are willing to employ such tactics. The government, especially in a small town, should reflect the will of the citizens.

There are many ways to discern where the citizens want to go. There are personal communication, public hearings, open door policies and participation in civic organizations. I do all that and more. At one public hearing, only two of the more than dozen people who spoke against Northfield had Erie addresses. At the same time, I see “No Northfield” signs sprout up on some houses where I never thought such a sign would appear. It is difficult for me, as an elected official, to know where the citizens of Erie want to go.

Every proposal has pros and cons, but what tipped the scales for my vote in favor of Northfield was the proposed urgent-care center and doctors offices in a community that currently has only a chiropractor. I also liked the 78-acre park site where we could build ballfields and a rec center. I also see the size of Northfield as a plus. It is a huge annexation, and that is both an asset and liability. While the impact on traffic counts will be large, I believe we can control that with transportation planning. On the other side of the coin, it is difficult to extract three school sites from a series of 100-acre annexations.

I am looking to this vote for a mandate to lead Erie where it wants to go. I don’t think that I should regard all the specialized knowledge accumulated over the last 14 years as the direction for Erie. If Erie citizens prefer a lower level of services, if they don’t want a rec center and retail opportunities, I should be reacting appropriately. I always took it as an icon that Erie should take control of its planning area to realize the benefits of the development and enforce our standards. I’m looking to this vote to tell me if that isn’t true.

Vic Smith is the mayor of the town of Erie. The Dec. 14 vote was held after The Business Report went to press for its Dec. 17 issue.