The NoCo Herald

Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

Clear, 45° in Estes Park at 6:00 PM. High today 65, observed; forecast low 32.

Estes Park

Estes Park board declines to back ski towns' 2027 legislative position statement

·Estes Park·Larimer County

From the Estes Park Town Board meeting of

The proposal covered community housing as well as positions involving the HOME Act, Prop 123 and TABOR; support could be limited to individual legislative items rather than the full package.

The Estes Park Town Board voted Tuesday not to support the Colorado Association of Ski Towns' 2027 legislative position statement, which focuses mainly on community housing.

The Town of Estes Park is a member of the association, known as CAST. A staff member said CAST's priorities for the next legislative session focus mainly on community housing, including giving communities more ability to make housing decisions and offering feedback and amendments related to the HOME Act and Prop 123. The staff member said the town could submit a letter supporting CAST's position statement.

A person who responded to the board's questions said CAST's leadership seeks member-community endorsements so it can tell legislators how many communities have taken a position of support. The person said the aim is to strengthen advocacy even when not every community agrees with every position.

The person said Estes Park does not have a seat on CAST's board and was not a decision-maker in issuing the statement, and that the proposal before the board was not to endorse the entire slate of CAST legislative policy priorities.

Mayor Pro Tem Kirby Hazelton said support for the statement would express support for communities having state resources and tools to make decisions suited to their circumstances, not necessarily support for specific initiatives. "I don't want a blanket approach. I want one that works for us and our uniqueness," Hazelton said.

Trustee Bill Brown said he supported efforts to provide workforce housing but was uncomfortable endorsing the package because it included positions he might not support, including modifying TABOR. "I think if we modified Tabor, we should do it with a vote of the people," Brown said. The person who responded to the board's questions said any change to TABOR would require a vote of the people.

Trustee Mark Igel said he would not support attaching Estes Park's name to CAST's list without reviewing and agreeing with all its issues, citing revenue-generating measures, the HOME Act and relaxing TABOR among his concerns. He said he was not opposing CAST's priorities generally but did not think the town's endorsement was worthwhile without a deeper discussion of every issue.

Trustee Chris Eshelman said he agreed with Brown and Igel, supported many of the priorities but struggled with a few, and probably would not support the proposal.

A staff member said the board could support CAST's statement as a whole or select individual pieces of legislation to support. Mayor Gary Hall said CML asks communities to support items individually. "It's a little bit different of approach, one-off type of thing," Hall said.

CAST meets quarterly and is made up mostly of rural resort communities, including communities outside Colorado. A Town of Estes Park staff member serves on CAST's Child Care Committee and Housing Committee. Staff said Attorney Kramer has been heavily involved with CAST and that a member of the board is also an active member.

More from this meeting

  1. Estes Park Town Board, Nov. 10, 2026

    Estes Park trustee asks for town hall on proposed development code; Estes Park raises water rates 15% a year for three years; Estes Park board takes up Visit Estes Park's 2027 operating plan; 7 consent items adopted.

  2. Town Board Comments/Liaison ReportsEstes Park trustee asks for town hall on proposed development code

    The proposed session would have town staff and a consultant explain how the proposal differs from the current code and allow residents to ask questions, while trustees attend only to listen.

  3. Item 1Estes Park raises water rates 15% a year for three years

    The rate plan comes as the town plans water-system upgrades, including replacing the Thunder Mountain tank and planning a new treatment plant. The full master-plan work is estimated at $110 million to $150 million.

  4. Item 2Estes Park board takes up Visit Estes Park's 2027 operating plan

    The town and Larimer County can approve, change or reject the plan through Dec. 5; without action by then, the tourism organization cannot collect tax revenue. A final budget will go to both governing bodies after its board adopts it.

  5. Item 4Estes Park board fails to approve $600,000 flood channel design contract

    The phase would move engineering from 30% to 90%, supporting permitting and possible grant applications, but excludes Riverside Bridge. It would require removal of the restroom building; the playground would be removed for staging.

  6. Item 5Estes Park board takes up license plate reader policy for parking

    The matter was brought to a study session, and a motion to approve it could come before the board for a vote. The account does not report a decision.

  7. Item 7Estes Park board denies refund of license fees for 440 Valley Road

    The proposed payment would have covered part of the August-through-December fees, after a rezoning took effect and the owners applied for an accommodations business license.

  8. Item 1Estes Park trustee backs early contractor role in public safety building design

    The CMGC process would bring a contractor in during design to review plans and materials, without locking the town into a guaranteed maximum price. Staff tentatively plans to issue a solicitation soon and return with a recommendation by early February.