Email from our readers:
Welcome to Estes Condoville, CO.! Whom are we running this town for? It surely isn't the local residents! Building condos everywhere does not make a community. There are too many vacancies as it is and selling out Estes Park to developers to build more condos does not make any sense. We are becoming a community of 2nd homes and summer residents and they do not contribute a thing to us being a community. But the Town (and EPURA) would rather get tax money from these places. The Town Manager, so-called Town Planner, and the Trustees/Mayor sit idly by and sell out this place and do absolutely nothing. These elected officials should be looking out for the residents and town - not developers and out-of- state owners! Developers gladly build these condos, make their millions, and we are stuck with the results. Town government approves these projects but I have yet to see any Town Manager or Supervisor retire and stay here. They are content to make their huge salaries, destroy Estes Park, then move elsewhere. It is a wonder the people here put up with this or their huge $7 million annual payroll for 110 permanent employees!
In 1997, I proposed establishing "Impact Fees" on developers and putting this money into a special fund- for such things as roads, Fire & Police Protection, schools, etc. But no Trustee wanted to touch it since it might require them to have a backbone and do something constructive. At least this would have given back something to the community.
Trustees should get involved! You shouldn't have 2 different sources approving building projects - the so-called Planning Commission approves projects, Town Planner Bob Joseph approves developments. Variances are the norm here when they should be the exception. The Comprehensive Plan is a joke because the town does what it wants, regardless of public input. It carries no weight whatsoever except when it benefits the government!
The elected officials should be concerned not only about this overbuilding of condos but also about the disappearance of Commercial property. We need another grocery store chain! We need to stop changing commercial property to multi-family and letting these developers build condos- such as Rich Willie did on both sides of HWY 34 (and with variances that they authorized him).
Now, I have learned that the daughter of the late Ola Stanger is planning to build a huge 150 condos project behind Grumpy Gringos toward the lake. Plus they will be 2 stories high effectively blocking more views! Why are our Mayor/Trustees sitting idly by and watching Estes Park being destroyed? The citizens here should be contacting everyone of these elected officials and letting them know we care about our town and want some restrictions on development.This overbuilding is insane! Bad enough we do not have the infrastructure to accommodate all these people if they all decide to live here year round!
Mayor, Trustees, and Town Officials- you work for us, not developers or out-of-staters! Begin protecting and preserving Estes Park - not OUTSIDE of Estes Park, like the H-P property off Pole Hill!!! Why sell Lot 4 (in front of the Stanley Hotel) and invest in open space OUTSIDE of Estes Park? We know developers have rights but how about rights for your present local residents???
Patrick Cipolla
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I am quite disturbed to learn you have been successfully coerced to discontinue your comments option as part of your Blog. I have never heard of this, in any part if this or any other country.
For a town that purports to represent itself as a superior model of democracy, high morals, ethics, and champion of the Constitution, this comes as the highest form of totalitarianism.
Shame, shame, oh so bloody shame.
Mr. Justin…: You raised your eyebrows at the mere mention of anarchy. Well, here it is! Enjoy your strange bedfellows.
Norm Pritchard
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Take a look at some of these. New for 2007- Assist. to Repola ($90,000), Town Clerk and ASSIST. Town Clerk, plus Executive Secretary.
over $13,000 for Catering to these PUBLIC SERVANTS
$1 million to the General Fund from Water co.
$1 million to the General Fund from Power & Light.
Same ole, same ole. What do these Trustees ever look at??
You might some of this interesting.
I requested a copy of the Detailed Budget Book but they wanted to start charging me $25. But I refused and instead look at it online!
Patrick Cipolla
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More EPURA please!
Intrested (please do not use my name- I do not need the town to come after my property!)
Send you thoughts, information or opinion to: estesparkian@yahoo.com
