Dear Readers and BOT,

I believe that being able to vote on annexations is a fundamental right of taxpayers being allowed to decide if more development is worth higher taxes and fees.

Studies have shown that residential development must be subsidized, it does not pay its own way. Residents must be allowed to decide if they want taxes and rates to increase to pay for major expansion and population growth. Due diligence requires you to provide us with accurate estimates of those additional costs; each annexation’s cost versus in-fill. For example, developing the Old Town Shop site versus an annexed property outside of town.

Studies have demonstrated that infill development is far less expensive than extending utilities and improving roads, that is why it is encouraged. The environmental overhead of in-fill is also lower in terms of things like vehicle miles traveled.

There are millions of dollars available from the state and Boulder County for guaranteed affordable, energy efficient in-fill housing. Tungsten Village is a great example of guaranteed in-fill affordable housing. Please determine if similar funding is available for annexations.

Nederland already has some of the highest rates/fees for water and sewer. Our sewer capacity is being used up rapidly. Raising taxes and fees on current residents to pay for more people to move here, and for “affordable” housing that isn’t contractually required to be affordable in perpetuity, should be the decision of all taxpayers and rate payers. Rather than making large annexations an automatic ballot issue, expecting people to have to pass petitions to have a vote is burdensome for working people, to say the least.

The majority of the BOTs I served on for the past five years felt annexations of more than 5 acres should be voted on. This current BOT has good intentions but decisions being based on a flawed annexation survey that was not scientifically conducted. It was haphazard with minimal information as to what is at stake in terms of being able to vote on additional costs.

BOT members, please vote with fellow BOT member Ms. Corvalan to preserve taxpayers rights, and allow a vote by all taxpayers on annexations over 5 acres. We have been able to avoid explosive growth and sprawl and the costs that go with it with community based decision making, let’s continue to do so!

Thank you for your efforts on affordable housing and for further consideration fo the annexation policy.

Alan Apt

Nederland