Superior Town Board Rises To The Challenge
I’ve noticed lately that there seems to be a lot of controversy, and even more disturbing, much misunderstanding, over the potential land swap deals between the Town Of Superior and Richmond Homes.
I’ve read comments from Superior residents in both the Boulder Daily Camera, and also the town’s local email forum. I’ve spoken with several local residents, and even some officials from the town. What strikes me most is how it seems that so many people have a sense that their personal issue or agenda should prevail in a decision that affects a very large part of the community.
Most troubling of all is when I hear people make statements about such matters and they have their facts wrong. The town board has not made any agreements behind closed doors, there is no intent towards commercial development on either of the two parcels in question, and the Superior area does not have an excess of real estate inventory for sale, but rather, inventory levels are at an all-time low.
I’ve always had the impression that the town board is acting responsibly to look at all facets of each decision it makes. When one of us has an issue with proposed land use, and gets caught up in how it will affect them personally, because perhaps they live adjacent to one of these parcels, then I think the issue changes from one of a town-wide concern, to one of a personal nature.
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Here are some possibilities we have to consider with this issue:
If the current board doesn’t approve the current deal on the table and we wait until 2014 when the BVSD option on the 11 acre parcel next to Eldorado K-8, the town board in place in 2014 could still approve the exchange and allow homes to be built on that 11 acres. So, keep in mind, the new board could approve this same arrangement anyway.
Another point worth considering is that if no action is taken, and we wait until 2014, to see if BVSD let’s its option expire, the new board could vote to re-zone the land. It could be re-zoned to allow multi-family, high-density in which case, there would definitely be a change in the climate of the neighborhood. It’s simply a possibility.
We need to remember that while no current plans are in the works to make such zoning changes, we don’t know what future pressures might be in place which would require this action. If a future town board saw a need, they could re-zone, and it’s essentially a unilateral decision for them. That is, it isn’t something we vote on folks, it’s how the town runs smoothly as part of a representative governing body.
In the current economic scenario, some of our experts are paying attention to the cash flow concerns which might become more apparent for the town. As an example, if Superior were to lose the tax revenue of one or more large retailers, specifically Costco, the Superior Town Manager stated at the last meeting that residents could see a potential hike of property taxes to compensate for such a loss. How much you ask? Fasten your seatbelt… if we lost Costco due to a recession/depression, the town manager said it would take a property tax increase of about 300% to make up the difference.
If the current deal isn’t attractive to Richmond, and they decide not to move forward with building homes on that site, the town will likely use the site as some type of public facility. It could be a library, recreation center, or some other public building, but that’s the current consensus. The impact of such a facility would probably have much more effect on the nearby residents in terms of traffic, and other neighborhood congestion, than an infill project of single-family homes.
Based on what I’ve seen in other communities, public buildings are usually a high impact zone. Is that what we want next door to Eldorado?
Let’s not get our undies in a bundle just yet. These are simply different scenarios that are worth considering. And, I believe Superior residents need to think about looking at the town, and it’s future, from the 30,000 foot view, as the mayor and town board work hard to do for its residents.
Whether you’re looking for a new home for yourself, or a great investment opportunity, homes in the Rock Creek neighborhood of Superior, CO might just fit the bill for you. Call or email me now to get more info or feel free to make a comment below to share your thoughts.
–Zachary Epps, full-time professional Realtor® and EcoBroker® RE/MAX Alliance Boulder
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