Story by Barb Boyer Buck

“I do think we should have a policy on annexation, just for consistency and predictability for the residents, for landowners, and for the county,” said Town of Estes Park Trustee Frank Lancaster during last night’s two-hour study session that preceded the Town Board meeting.

The Town’s community development director Steve Careccia explained the ragged boundary of the Town of Estes Park was formed by annexations that required the property had at least one-sixth of its boundary adjacent to the Town boundary.

Over the years, additional requirements have been put on annexations but no formal policy other than the one-sixth boundary rule, which is dictated by state statute, has been adopted by the Town Board.

Advantages to property being annexed by the Town would include infrastructure support, Town services such as road maintenance, and more. Disadvantages include additional mill levies on property included in the Town boundary and additional regulatory requirements. Annexed properties have, in the past, been required to upgrade infrastructure to Town standards before being approved.

Read full story here:

https://estesvalleyvoice.com/2024/11/13/annexation-strs-and-electric-rates-discussed-at-town-board-study-session/