The Nederland Candidates Forum and Meet and Greet was held at the Nederland Community Library on Monday, March 14 at 6 p.m. The forum presented the public with their chance to hear candidates’ opinions on Short Term Rentals and on raising Nederland’s 35 foot height limitations for business construction. Candidates also answered questions from the public, most centered on speculations over future downtown development.

A recurring topic for the night was the surprising lack of community participation in their local government. Mayoral candidate Julian Taylor is running unopposed, while only five candidates are running for the available four chairs on the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT).

In his allotted five-minute Introduction, Taylor gave a speech on the importance of participating in small-town Democracy.

“Friends and neighbors, we are witness to an expiration: an expiration of a Town. Five bold citizens have decided to become candidates for the honorable role of Trustee and bless them for their dedication. There are three open seats and we have just enough candidates to fill those seats and a few more. I am not even a candidate for Mayor. I am a foregone conclusion. Do you see the problem here?”

“There should be a dozen Trustee candidates and three to five candidates for Mayor; each providing a unique and creative vision for this Town but there are not. According to the Colorado Revised Statutes, without a Mayor and without a quorum in the Board of Trustees, Nederland stops being a Town. We become a mere parcel of land in unincorporated Boulder County and you will have minimal control over its future.”

“Democracies fail when good people do not step up to oppose those who exercise destructive power. The democracy of our nation may fail. The democracy of our State may fail. Even the democracy of our little Town may fail if its good citizens do not participate.”

The four candidates for the BOT that were present for the forum gave their introductions, beginning with Riley McCallister. McCallister is a former Safety Officer at Caribou Cross Mine and has been a resident of Nederland for over three years.

Tom Mahowald spoke passionately about his views on leadership and on Nederland’s identity and direction: “I believe strongly in freedom and personal responsibility and the power of community to accomplish what they need to for themselves – the impact of a determined group of committed individuals and what they can accomplish together.”

David Sites moved to Nederland in 1999, lives right in the heart of downtown, and is running because he wants to see effective local government.

Karen Blakemore grew up in Northeast Ohio as the second of eight children in a blue-collar family, was the first in her family to attend college and paid for it through waitressing. Blakemore lived in Boulder for 27 years and moved to Nederland nearly five years ago. She’s been an engineering manager and a project manager and has served on various Boards for the last 25 years, most recently joining the Planning Commission.

Each candidate then answered a question directed to them individually; questions were submitted by the public then gathered and drawn at random.

Tania Corvalon was not present for the forum but did respond via email to the question directed to her which concerned whether or not she supported the fourth runner-up candidate in the election to be awarded the BOT position left open by Julian Taylor. Corvalon agreed that the open seat should go to the fourth voted candidate.

Blakemore was asked to clearly state her position on the current implemented rules for Short Term Rentals (STR) and whether she intends to uphold the rules or change them. Blakemore stated her familiarity with the current regulations on STRs and believes that though they may be complicated, especially in regards to classifying STRs as separate from accessory dwelling units, she agrees with the current regulations and doesn’t desire to change them.

Mahowald was asked a similar question about his stance on STRs and if he could identify any affordable housing opportunities for the town. Mahowald stated first that he doesn’t personally envision changing rules or regulations without full support of the BOT. He mentioned, however, that markets are what determine what’s affordable and that his experience living in Breckinridge and Crested Butte has left him concerned about depopulation and corporate ownership coming for Nederland.

Sites was asked to expand on his ideas for a second bridge over Middle Boulder Creek and if the bridge would be for pedestrian and emergency use only, or if he was envisioning a permanently open street and bridge. The concern over the latter would be about routing traffic into an already existing traffic problem on Lakeview Drive by the shopping center, compounding the problem arising from cars needing to exit town via Highway 119.

Sites does support the proposed bridge as a permanently open street and bridge. Though he acknowledges the traffic concerns on Lakeview Drive he believes that the bridge would significantly reduce traffic in the center of town and that it would be a significant asset if downtown is eventually redeveloped.

McCallister was asked about his position on changing town code to allow for increasing height limits for constructed properties, to fit with his own stated priorities of seeking affordable housing for Nederland and for providing economically sustainable multi-story buildings to downtown.

McCallister openly approves increasing the 35 foot height build limit.

“As of right now I can’t see any major downfalls from doing so, as long as we can all work together, get on the same page and make it a better Ned. I do think we need to update everything, not into a Breckinridge or Crested Butte, but to keep Ned the weird, little beautiful town that it is, but also be more friendly and more usable to the residents who live here and the people who come to visit its beauty.”

Taylor was asked about whether or not the public should get to vote on matters of annexation. Taylor believes wholeheartedly that the BOT is a reasonable enough body to have the power and ability to vote on matters of annexation based on the guidelines of the town’s Comprehensive Plan and of annexation applications that currently exist.

The following round of submitted questions were for all four present candidates to respond to. The questions covered renewable energy, affordable housing, and the looming concern of future downtown development.

The candidates were asked about what their top priorities would be if they were elected to the BOT. McCallister answered first, reaffirming his aim to forge a better relationship with local businesses and to work together to protect what makes Nederland special.

Mahowald stated his main priorities as preparing for a rapidly changing future and to keep residents safe from inevitable forest fires and the crumbling of the town’s water and sewage infrastructure.

Sites’ priorities, if elected, are a redeveloped downtown area and a revitalization of small outdoor events.

Blakemore’s priorities, if elected, are to update Nederland’s Comprehensive Plan and Intergovernmental Agreement with Boulder County, as well as to address transportation and housing needs.

Taylor expressed that the town should prioritize classifying what they would accept as a “big” event, such as Frozen Dead Guy Days, and if the town would consider making such festivals a designated event.

On the question of whether candidates support the current designs for downtown redevelopment as they are proposed, and what they would do to preserve the cultural and historic character of Nederland:

Taylor clarified that there is no such redevelopment plan that has been officially proposed. Though artist’s renderings exist of a vision for downtown, an annexation application has not been submitted to the BOT.

Blakemore had a different opinion on the subject, stating that the artist’s renderings do constitute a plan.

“I think the plan is a good one. I think we have businesses that have been successful downtown at the 35 foot height; Crosscut, Salto and the Co-Op. I think people come to visit Nederland because of who we are right now. I think if we tear everything down and build up like a modern ski town, like Breckinridge, we’re not going to have the character that we have now.”

Sites believes there are strengths and weaknesses to the redevelopment plan in question, but overall supports it as well as supports getting rid of the height limits to construction.

Mahowald stated that the BOT should only decide on things that are in front of them instead of hypothesizing on things that aren’t.

McCallister believes that there can be a compromise to be found to represent Nederland’s history and culture within modern, updated architecture.

The candidates were asked to specify how they would drive policy and action on climate change initiatives.

Blakemore, who was formally on the Environmental Sustainability Committee, wishes to take action to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change as well as reduce them. She expressed a desire for Nederland to reach the goal of 100% renewable electric energy by 2015.

Sites favors “high density” housing and for Nederland to focus on building upwards instead of spreading outwards; citing Aurora shopping centers as a precautionary example.

Mahowald wants Nederland to focus on creating micro-grids for electric vehicles and to invest in carbon-free resources. He also warned about utility issues needing to be dealt with at a state and county level, and the issues of water sustainability and future scarcity.

Taylor and McCallister both are in complete favor of Nederland pursuing green energy solutions and seemed assured that the future BOT will continue to support such resolutions.

The candidates were asked to specify how they would balance economic growth while also increasing and improving affordable housing in Nederland.

Mahowald feels strongly about protecting the benefits to property ownership in Nederland, considering the rising cost of construction in the Boulder County area. He stated that affordable housing was more of a county issue.

McCallister mostly agreed with Mahowald’s view, while also echoing Sites’ comment about building upwards instead of outwards. McCallister added to that idea that similar building concepts can be adapted for affordable housing.

Blakemore agreed that the rising housing costs and property taxes is concerning, mentioning that there are state grants to assist Nederland in providing affordable housing. Blakemore added that she wanted the BOT to focus on more workforce housing and senior housing.

Sites proposed that the old Town Shop would be a perfect property to clear and turn into affordable housing. He also commented on the idea of Nederland applying for state grants.

“If there’s money from the county, the state, the federal government to help us out then I’m in favor of it. But housing is a national issue; we can do our small part in this case but we don’t have the money to suddenly make Nederland affordable again. All we can do is build more housing and hope that the price goes down.”

Taylor noted that though the protection of property rights is important, the town can simultaneously focus on providing affordable housing.

Mayoral Candidate Julian Taylor’s opening speech pointed toward the concerns of Nederland locals who are vocal in their discontent, but are also absent from the conversation on a governmental level:

“There are those who will reap windfall profits from the assets of your Town because they believe that you will not stay their hand. There are those who will extract value from your Town that you will never recover because they believe that you will not exercise your innate power. Friends and neighbors, I am begging you. Disappoint them!

“Regarding those who seek to disable your government because they believe you will not show up, disappoint them. Regarding those who will profit by exploiting your Town because they believe you will not act, disappoint them. Regarding those who would destroy the unique value of your Town because they believe you are powerless, disappoint them. Disappoint them before their actions destroy your Town!

“Participate in your governance! Run for Mayor, Run for Trustee. Join an advisory board or the Planning Commission. Attend your BOT meetings. Tell your government what you need and suggest ways that we may achieve our mutual goals. Make participation a tradition in Nederland.

“The poet Basho once wrote, ‘To know the oak, go to the oak. To know the bamboo, go to the bamboo.’ I tell you, friends, to know your government, go to your government. Do not believe the latest rumors, see for yourself. It has never been easier to attend meetings and participate directly. You can even do it in your kitchen, in your pajamas. You! You yourself have real power. Exercise your power to Keep Nederland.”

With so many issues on the table that concern Nederland’s future, as well as the preservation of its history and identity, low public participation and voter turnout leaves the fate of the town in the hands of the few. If a town disagrees with the direction its BOT is taking them then it has become clear that the town has the wrong BOT for them, and the only way to rectify that is to get involved.

The Nederland Election is on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. The election will be mail-in ballot only.

For more information on the candidates and on the election, please go to: https://www.themtnear.com/articles/meet-the-candidates-nederland-election-scheduled-for-april-5/

For more information on the BOT, Nederland Downtown Development Authority, Planning Commision, or the Sustainability Advisory Board, please go to: https://townofnederland.colorado. gov/