Dear Editor,

I’ve lived up here for 40+ years, and witnessed many ups and downs. As a civic-minded participant in town affairs, I’ve been privy to many changes. In my opinion, the Town of Nederland is currently in the worst position as an entity that it’s sadly ever been in. In my imaginary world of future Nederland, that I probably won’t see in whole or part in my lifetime, I’d like to share my futuristic vision. Not in any particular order.

The Black Forest building is torn down and a 2-3 story paid parking garage is built. Local residents of the Nederland Library District will be exempt from the paid parking. This provides for employee parking. And, encourages town visitors to walk from one end to the other of the central business district helping boost business visibility and economic vitality.

The town has two (free) shuttle buses. One starting from the north and the other from the south. It would have stops at the corner of Ridge Road, the Community Center, East Street and Hwy 119, the Visitor Center, Lakeview Drive, and Magnolia Road, for example; making a loop from both ends of town. This would cut down on the local carbon footprint, in addition to traffic and parking issues.

There would also be a free sponsored Nederland RTD shuttle bus every 45 minutes from the Justice Center parking lot at the mouth of the canyon on Friday- Saturday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer.

Instead of Eldora building an additional 800 parking spaces, on some of the acreage Eldora builds about 20-30 studio and 1-bedroom winter employee housing units. During the summer, the housing is rented out as part of the full-service Eldora destination for conferences, workshops, retreats, etc. in its beautiful setting.

Subsidized affordable housing is integrated into the town, built and managed by public-private nonprofits, organizations, and companies; for rent and for sale, priority is given to the local Nederland workforce, families with children in the local schools, and Elders to age in place. The availability of affordable housing will allow many Elders with limited resources to securely age in place; families with children to provide a stable environment raise their children in, and attract and encourage an invested workforce.

Historically, many, if not most, town businesses and volunteers and civically engaged residents don’t live within the town boundaries. Thus, aren’t able to participate on advisory boards, vote in town elections, nor serve on the Board of Trustees. Some results being that decisions that have an important impact on the community at large are decided by a minority of voters that on average is 25% of registered voters, and the same people continue to recycle until they get burnt out or term limited out.

In my fantasy vision of future Nederland, the town boundaries will be expanded to include Lazy Z Road in the south, Eldora Road and townsite in the west; Caribou Road (and Beaver Creek Rd) up to Five Points in the north, and Ridge Road in the north all the way to Saint Anton’s Heights on the east. Expanding the town boundaries will contribute to a stronger property tax base, and allow and encourage a broader pool of people to engage in participating in the decision-making process that affects the Nederland community at large.

Atashnaa Medicineshield Werner

Nederland