Dear Editor,

Regarding the issue of annexations to the Town of Nederland: I strongly believe that the residents/taxpayers of the Town should have a say in whether land gets annexed or not. I agree in large part to the comments quoted in the last issue of The Mountain-Ear by Trustee Corvalan regarding when an annexation should be voted on by Nederland residents. Her criteria were “…larger than 5 acres and/ or a density higher than adjacent town land use.”

I believe that density is the key criteria in this issue. For example, a 5-acre annexation with a single family residence is fairly benign, whereas a hypothetical 10-acre annexation for a 50-unit motel or hotel with a swimming pool could be large enough to cause expensive additions to the water and/or sewer facilities. That large an annexation can have traffic and environmental impacts as well.

I for one want to vote on annexations that have that kind of impact. I know that the Trustees have given this issue much consideration, and urge them to consider the impacts that future annexations can potentially have on taxpayers, and to give the taxpayers a say on whether an annexation should go forward. I urge Nederland residents who did not participate in the survey that the Town conducted to make your views known to the Trustees before their next meeting on December 6. I understand that the annexation ordinance will be continued as an action item at that meeting.

To comment to the Trustees: go to https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/ contact-a-board-or-commission

Bill Ikler

Nederland