Dear Editor,

We are writing in response to the issues raised in the “Can Nederland have nice things?” article regarding the concerns of local developer, and owner of The Mountain-Ear, Christian Vanek. We appreciate Christian’s enthusiasm for development, and we hear his concerns. We also welcome this article as an opportunity to discuss how the community is working to support future development projects. There are a few critical clarifications and broader context that need to be addressed.

It is important to understand that the current water infrastructure serving both sites owned by Christian (Snyder Garage and the former Citywide Bank) provide sufficient fire flow for new commercial construction.

A significant consideration in discussions about infrastructure upgrades and private development is the question of financial responsibility. When upgrades are necessitated specifically by private development, should the cost be borne by the developers or offset by rate payers? Or some combination?

In Nederland, as with most cities and Towns across the country, in addition to paying tap fees to connect to the existing system financed by rate payers, the developer is responsible for the cost of infrastructure improvements necessary to serve a new development project. As examples, the developer of the Caribou Ridge subdivision built the water and sewer system serving that subdivision before turning it over to the Town, as did the developer of the homes on McMillan Way on the south side of Town, as well as the Big Springs subdivision many years ago. Boulder County Housing Authority installed new hydrants when they built the Tungsten Village, as did the developer of a commercial to multifamily conversion on Snyder St a few years ago. Once built, rate payers fund the continued operation and maintenance of this infrastructure through their water bill.

The Town prioritizes its daily operations, annual maintenance activities, and capital improvement projects based on the overall needs of the community, including public health, state and federal regulations, and reliable service. If a development project requires improvements beyond those core priorities of the broader community, Nederland requires those costs to be the responsibility of the developer.

Take the example of replacing or raising the hydrant at Snyder and East 1st St. While all hydrants in Nederland are functional for fire protection, repairs and replacements are needed to ensure their long-term reliability. The Town plans to raise or replace the hydrant at Snyder and East 1st St, and other hydrants are currently higher priorities including replacing an Old Town hydrant that doesn’t drain, and replacing a Big Springs hydrant that no longer has replacement parts available, among others. Should the Town re-prioritize the hydrant at Snyder and East 1st toward the top of the list?

To clarify, a development review can be started right away by the Town and their consultant JVA, including a water model analysis, as soon as development plans are received.

Annual maintenance for waterline and hydrant replacements are an ongoing responsibility of the Town. The town’s infrastructure, as with all water systems across the country, will continuously have necessary improvements identified in future updates to the master plan as the systems age. This is normal and separate from improvements needed to serve new developments.

One of the strengths of Nederland is the community’s ability to influence how it is governed. Do you prefer that the community and rate payers shoulder more costs to support future development projects through their water bills and taxes? Do you prefer that the developer be responsible for these development costs? Do you have other ideas? Please contact the Board of Trustees (bot@nederlandco.org) with your perspective and/or comment on agenda items such as the upcoming water rate study and future budgets.

As town officials, we welcome future development projects and it is our duty to inform developers of necessary infrastructure upgrades, ensuring that any new development meets current best practices. This process is crucial for maintaining the long-term sustainability and safety of our community. Developers have a responsibility to perform their due diligence and fully understand the complexities of the lots they intend to develop. This includes an awareness of the infrastructure demands their projects might entail.

We want to reiterate that we are very grateful to Christian for his many contributions and legitimate concerns regarding development in Nederland. And we also want to emphasize that it is crucial for all parties involved—residents, town officials, and developers—to engage in these discussions with a clear understanding of the responsibilities and realities involved. We must all work together to ensure that Nederland continues to develop in a way that is both sustainable and fair.

Sincerely,

Miranda Fisher, Town Administrator

Andrew Bliss, Utilities Manager

Billy Giblin, Mayor of Nederland