As indicated in my last update, I testified before the Lafayette City Council on Tuesday 2/21. Mark Pray from IP2 also testified and was superb. Before the meeting one Councilor told Mark that she could not discuss the project with us, that it was a “done deal” and that if Lafayette did not annex the land, Boulder County would let the developer build the project. I think all of that is mistaken as discussed below.
On Saturday 2/25, Barbara and I had a great phone call with Mayor J.D. Mangat who had given us his cell phone number and had invited us to call over the weekend. He is a full time 8th grade teacher and is an amazing contributor to the Lafayette community. Mayor Mangat listened to our concerns and engaged constructively. He agreed that the decision on annexation is “legislative” in nature and therefore fair game for us to discuss with Councilors. He offered to ask the City Attorney to meet with us so that we could ask her to advise the Councilors that they may speak with us about annexation.
On Monday 3/6 Barbara and I met with Andrea Mimnaugh, the City Planner assigned to the Lafayette Marketplace project. She is a very, very nice person and was generous with her time. But, despite the fact that we have sent our Petition to every Council Member, to the City Administrator and to the two top City Planning officials, Ms. Mimnaugh, who is the principal City official dealing with Lafayette Marketplace, had not heard about our Petition. That was pretty exasperating and a sign that the City process for dealing with development proposals is not built to facilitate meaningful citizen input.
Even more alarming, Ms. Mimnaugh stated that “the City needs developers” and stressed the revenue the City would receive from this project. She also expressed a perceived need to move forward with this project because if the City turns it down there is no assurance that another developer would come forward before the expiration in 6 years of the Agreement that prevents Erie from annexing this land. As nice and courteous as she was, it was not a meeting that engendered optimism.
On Tuesday 3/7 Barbara and I met with City Attorney Mary Lynn MacSalka. We had arranged an introduction by both the Mayor and by my former Law School Co-Professor who is a prominent City Attorney who knows Mary Lynn well. She was great and completely agreed that it is permissible for us to meet individually with the Councilors about annexation. She will send the Councilors an email with that advice.
Mary Lynn was very open to the idea of the Council not annexing the land at this time and working with the community on alternative plans over the next 3 or 4 years. That would leave time to finalize a plan and annex it before Erie can grab it in 6 years.
She asked about alternative development ideas and we suggested maybe something like Forest Park along North Park between IP Trail and 95th St. Mary Beth expressed concern that the developer of such a project would not be able to pay the property owner Stephen Tebo the price he is looking for and that Tebo might just wait for Erie to annex it and enable him to get his price.
Today, Barbara and I emailed each Member of the Council and the City Administrator seeking one-on-one meetings. It is very clear that the allure of City development fees and tax revenue and the prospect of Erie grabbing this land are major issues we will have to deal with.
Last Saturday, Barbara and residents of the Hedgerow subdivision in the Indian Peaks Lexington Sub-HOA organized a community meeting with Mayor Mangat about the proposed changes at the intersection of 95th St. and Baseline. More than 40 Indian Peaks residents showed up. Mayor Mangat stated that he was very impressed to see a show of substantial community interest and concern.
As Lafayette Marketplace moves forward, we are going to need even larger numbers of concerned citizens to show up for meetings of the planning Commission, the City Council and maybe even a meeting with City Staff. Not everyone needs to speak but we need bodies to pack the room. It absolutely makes a difference when the City Council sees a crowd. In fact, one comment of the City Attorney was very heartening. When we told her how many Lafayette residents had signed the petition she smiled and said “ Oh they are all aware you all are out there!”. And she added, “The fact that it is an election year works in your favor.”
For now, there are two things that everyone can do. First go to the City Council page at the Lafayette City website below, click the big green “Contact City Council” link and send a message with your concerns to all Councilors (checking the all Councilors choice will let you cover all of them with one message). Second, PLEASE get more residents of Lafayette to sign our Petition. We need to get our numbers up!
Thanks to all.
City Council | Lafayette, CO - Official Website
lafayetteco.gov