Estes Park requires neighborhood meetings for most development applications, retains weekends

The Estes Park Town Board approved an ordinance Oct. 13 requiring at least one neighborhood meeting before most development applications are submitted. Those meetings can be held at any time on weekend days. The informal discussions bring property owners, developers and neighbors together before applications reach the town.

Staff said it had proposed removing weekend scheduling because mandatory attendance could mean working on a Saturday. A trustee argued that every development should have at least one public meeting, giving residents a chance to speak. The trustee also said weekends should remain an option for people unable to attend on weekday evenings. “weekends are sometimes the only time that working people like me can attend things,” Trustee Jamie Mieras said, backing both changes.

The community development director may require additional meetings based on a project’s complexity or potential adverse impacts. A follow-up may also be required if submitted materials show unresolved issues that could benefit from more discussion. Mayor Gary Hall wanted written follow-up or another meeting to resolve concerns on complex projects: “Kind of drives me nuts not to have that closure if we're going into a complex development project.” Trustee Bill Brown favored leaving follow-up meetings to the director, who could decide whether written summaries and responses had adequately addressed the issues.

Applicants will continue to host and moderate the meetings, while town staff will send notices and post the property. Staff must attend in an advisory role, answering questions and explaining the development code and process rather than negotiating or facilitating. A resident questioned having staff handle notices and posting for applicants: “It gives the impression that the staff works for the applicant or the developer.” The resident also argued that excluding weekends would limit public involvement.

Applicants must describe the issues and questions raised at a meeting and how they intend to address or not address them. They may prepare the written summary afterward but must submit it with their development application. Town staff must make the summary available to the public.

Meeting attendees can submit an additional written summary. Anyone can send in a comment at any time, staff said. The trustee wanted that provision to include people who missed the meeting: “anyone could comment on the summary.”