Growth vs. Resources: Collision course with the future?
League, Town hosting May 2 Estes Valley forum
On Tuesday, May 2 the League of Women Voters and the Town of Estes Park will sponsor a Forum on the Future that will examine the potential clash between growth and resources. The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Town Board Room and will feature a distinguished panel of three experts. The forum is free and open to the public. No registration is required and questions from the audience will be welcome.
OK, the experts will be here. It’s time they were asked a few questions relevant to Estes Park and those who live here:
Home values in Estes Park have averaged an increase of 4.5% each of the past 6 years. Why haven’t we kept up with the rest of Colorado if our resources are indeed diminished?
Of the land mass surrounding us, between the National Forest, the National Park and the Estes Valley Land Trust (“protecting” over 5,000 formerly “usable acres” to “useless acres”) where will our growth come from?
Without adequate housing for middle income families, what is the long term prospect for the demographics of the Estes Valley? Will we end up seeing 50% service workers and 50% retirees? No schools (currently about 200 families home school).
Seeking sustainable tourism development and understanding the impact of tourism is an important thing to discuss. How does Estes Park differ from Summit County tourism towns and what plans and policies should Estes Park develop to grow our economy?
What is the tax base for the long range planning while we suffer losses in retail tax collections, restaurant tax collections and a burgeoning infrastructure increase in both town employees and their ridiculous salaries? How can we even continue at our current levels?
If we have a part time economy, doesn’t it make sense that we have a part time town government? Wouldn’t reducing government, not growing government, be a practical solution to decrease costs?
Go to this meeting and ask the questions. What we need is not theories, but solutions that apply to Estes Park. The experts will be here, ask them!
