Keep Glenwood Glenwood! *
Keep Glenwood Glenwood! *
Because we don't want the character of our city to change, without our knowledge, without our input and without thoughtful steps that preserve our feeling of being "at home."
Who determines the character of the City of Glenwood Springs? Consultants? City Council? or the residents? We who live here are not being made aware of developments that pop up with little or no notice.
Our Charter Amendment says:
Section 13.19 – Growth Accountability
Upon City approval of any annexation, or upon approval of any residential or mixed-use housing to be built on City owned land, Council shall, on its own motion, submit the ordinance, question, or issue to the electorate as provided in Article V of this Charter.
Any application for a development permit which includes more than four new dwelling units shall be subject to review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and by Council, and shall require approval by Council.
The City shall amend the City ordinances to be consistent with this Charter Amendment.
Sec. 13.2 - Restriction on sales of land and water rights.
Neither lands owned and used by the City for park, airport, or governmental purposes, nor water rights, shall be sold or conveyed without an affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors. Nothing in this provision, however, shall prohibit the City from exchanging, or changing point of diversion of water rights without such vote.
The City shall continue to own, operate, repair, and maintain the Glenwood Springs municipal airport, including its facilities, improvements, and runway, in at least the general condition and configuration that existed on January 1, 2021, unless and until most of the qualified electors of the City approve the sale or permanent closure of the airport. Nothing in this provision shall (i) prohibit the City from constructing a tunnel under the airport runway, improving the airport, or extending the runway, or (ii) compel the City to use non-airport enterprise funds to operate, repair, maintain, or improve the airport.
We’re concerned about the City’s growth plans, and the City’s build-everything-everywhere approach. Growth will happen, but we need to make sure the positives outweigh the negatives. We’re already seeing impacts (like traffic, of course) that are affecting our quality of life, and the city we love.
Issues like the Glenwood Springs Airport, and the annexation of 480 Donegan, have shown that Council hasn’t always acted according to the will of the people. Our measure will insure that Council respects the will of the people on these major growth issues.
Will our proposal hold back affordable housing? No, it won’t. The City can still do all of these things … but their plans just need to be good enough that half the voters approve. Affordable and work-force housing are noble goals, but a bad project is still a bad project, even if it’s gotten a sprinkling of “affordable housing pixie dust”.
The 2023 Comprehensive Plan has a map that shows about three square miles of county land representing “areas of future annexation”. The City says not to take that map seriously, but local developers are; they’ve already purchased parcels in those areas. It’s on page 43 of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, if you want to see it yourself.
The City paid a consultant to tell them how much housing could be built on unused or under-used parcels in the City. And also whether a public vote would be required on each parcel, or if Council could do it without going to the people. These infill projects can have big impacts on neighborhoods, parking, density, etc. We don’t want Council to give up any parks, open space, or other City land for housing without a vote of the people.
Today, the City can sell land without a public vote if it’s not ‘used for governmental purposes’. That’s too vague. We want to close that loophole so any City land sales will require a public vote.
Under current rules, housing developments of eight units or less can be approved by City staff alone. Developers are submitting eight unit projects to avoid the full public disclosure and review (by Planning and Zoning, and by City Council) that would come with a larger development. We understand that Council doesn’t want to waste their time on little 8-unit developments, but if it’s next door to you, that’s not so little. We think 4-unit developments are the largest that should get approved without a full public process.
Telephone: (970) 618-4715
E-mail: contact@keepglenwoodglenwood.com
Address: 1015 Park West Dr., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
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