The Lyons Planning and Community Development Commission (PCDC) held a Comprehensive Plan Update workshop with the Board of Trustees (BOT) early Monday evening, and then opened it up for a public hearing. The early portion of the night’s agenda was similar to the last workshop; both sides wrestling over whether to use words like “privatize” or “outsource.” Important, but not terribly gripping. The one-hour workshop ran about 90 minutes, then after a short break, the public hearing began.
First up was Steamboat Valley Road resident Roger Flynn, he was concerned with the potential negative impacts on his neighborhood if a large tract of land north of the present development were to be annexed into town and zoned residential. Presently the tract of land is in Boulder County, and can only have one dwelling per 35 acres. The members of the PCDC assured Flynn that were the property in question to come into Lyons, it would be zoned agricultural, and thus be low density. This seemed to assuage Flynn’s fears, until Town Planner Danna Ortiz piped up that “cluster” development could be allowed. A discussion then ensued between Flynn (a lawyer) and Ortiz (a planner) as they tried to put a fine point on the definition of “cluster” versus “density;” never a receipt for brevity. Flynn returned to his seat a while later, not necessarily completely assuaged.
Pat Ward took the dais next, and voiced his frustrations with the wording in the Comp Plan, which spoke to promoting and enhancing the use of bicycles in Lyons. Ward noted that if the riders were to be afforded the rights of an automobile driver, then they should be expected to obey the rules of the road. He cited numerous instances he had witnessed when “gangs” of bicyclists disobeyed signage, lights, and impeded traffic flow, and he questioned why Boulder County Deputies failed to issue tickets to the offenders. Ward went so far as to say, “These people don’t belong in Lyons. They certainly don’t belong in the foothills around Lyons.” He also questioned exactly who would have to foot the bill for all these proposed amenities for bicyclist. His guess was the taxpayers. Ward found a kindred spirit in Commissioner Dave Goranson, who admitted that he too was frustrated there was no “vehicles for taxing” bicyclists similar to those imposed on drivers (license and registration), but he noted “Being frank and honest, nothing can be done until you (Ward) and like-minded citizens elect BOT members who feel the way you do.” Ward thanked him for his frankness and honesty.
Mike Whipp suggested that in addition to studying why so many businesses in Lyons fail, consultants might consider looking into why so many annexation proposals fail. By Whipp’s count, upwards of 85 percent of the annexation proposals in recent years have been rejected. He suggested the Town look at the one or two that passed to try and find clues as to their success.
Rick Breeze felt a little differently on the annexation issue. He feared that the PCDC was including language in the Comp Plan that would weaken or eliminate the “annexation vote code” which allows for a referendum by the voters for any proposed annexation of more than five acres. He suggested that perhaps the reason various annexations failed was because of incomplete plans, bad ideas, and a lack of perceived transparency. He added that there was no reason a well thought out plan, which benefited the public, should expect to fail. Because the latest draft to the Comp Plan was only available to the public earlier that day (Monday, March 8), Breeze beseeched the Commissioners not to adopt the plan that night, but rather allow for more public input. The Commissioners found some middle ground, they closed the public hearing, and they tabled the vote until the next PCDC meeting on March 26. The meeting was then adjourned.
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