The Tributary News November 20, 2019

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The Tributary Where opinions & knowledge flow!

105 Woodward Avenue • PO Box 581 • Keenesburg, CO 80643 303-732-4080 • thetributaryeditor@gmail.com

Volume 10 Issue 45

In This Issue:

November 20, 2019

* Page 2 * Page 4

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Pioneer Village Annexation Information Pioneer Village Annexation Information

Pioneer Village Annexation for Proposed 3,500 Home Development Approved by Keenesburg Planning Commission this Past Week

development will possibly be. It is up to the Mayor and Town Trustees by Bob Grand The Developer of Pioneer Village, Joel Farkas, Pioneer HOLDco, and to communicate the facts to the citizens. Town staff has invested a lot of his staff presented their annexation plan to the Keenesburg Planning time and effort on this annexation.Cont. on Page 2, See Pioneer Village

News Alert

Commission this past week. For the Pioneer Village annexation. Following is a high light review of the Pioneer Village – Annexation Narrative document submitted to the Keenesburg Town Manager on July 10, 2019. Copies of the document and the associated visuals were provided by the Town to the Lost Creek Guide after being requested by the paper. The information was not on the Keenesburg Town website as of Friday, November 15th, 2019. The paper has been told that the information will be available on the Town of Keenesburg website. The intent of the following overview is to provide a look of what the plan entails. The author strongly suggests that you attend town meetings or read the information on the project when it is online as its impact on Keenesburg will be significant. Residents need to understand what the impact of this

by Bob Grand The Keenesburg Board of Trustees on Monday, November 18th, unanimously voted on approving 13 Ordinances and Resolutions, basically approving the annexation of the Pioneer Village Phase 1, representing 2,151 acres along the east side of CR 49 between CR 22 and 24. This item was recommended at the Planning Commission last week. It seems this was well on its way to approval before the Planning Commission met. The attorney for the Town of Keenesburg said that the notice requirements were met. These included 4 publications in the Greeley Tribune, a sign posted on the property and a letter to property owners within 200 feet of the annexation. I pointed out that the Town received the Pioneer Village information package on July 10th and was not posted on the Town website until November 15th and the notice of the Town meeting agenda was not posted at the post office and Town Hall until Friday afternoon prior to the Monday Town Board Meeting. When asked about the general Keenesburg population the Mayor stated that citizens could come to the schedule meetings to get information and that a general information meeting was not required. I noted that I believed that was totally inadequate given the size and potential impact of this annexation. The work on the development plan for the annexation has been significant and town staff has spent a lot of time reviewing. Mechanically you have to say that a lot of good work has been accomplished. What you cannot say is that the Board of Trustees led by the Mayor have been very good about letting the citizen’s of Keenesburg know what is going on. That is the Board’s ultimate responsibility. The annexation is the first step in the process and much work needs to be done on the actual details, but make no mistake, the path is locked in. It would have been nice to have had citizen input. I recognize that takes work and effort. When built out the first phase will have over 8,000 dwelling units. That translates into about 24,000 people about twenty (20) times the current population of Keenesburg. Where do you think the future of Keenesburg will be decided? The Mayor said if citizens had any questions they could call the Town Hall: 303-732-4281 Going to Town meetings is a time consideration but if you want to send a message to the Trustees and staff that you are interested that is what you need to do, as that is how they seem to measure citizen interest. Besides by going you find things out. Along with the Pioneer Village annexation I found out the Town is closing on the purchase of the RE3J administration building by the end of the year for new office space. I also heard that we will be looking at a water rate increase effective February of next year. I remind you it is our town, if you want to have a say you have to participate. If you do not, others will decide what happens to you.

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