A residents’ advocacy group met Sunday afternoon in the Hondius Room at the Estes Valley Library for an open discussion of the organization’s priorities.
Tom Moretti, one of the organizers of the Estes Valley Residents Association, said there were several issue-oriented advocacy groups in the Estes Valley focused on business issues and short-term rental owners concerns but the EVRA was the only group whose exclusive purpose was the concerns of Estes Valley residents.
Composed of “individuals from HOAs, residential or planning committees, and other like-minded residents” the mission of EVRA is to “preserve and enhance the quality of life in the Estes Valley through nonpartisan education, advocacy, and action on topical issues.”
“We are not antibusiness because businesses employee residents,” said Moretti. Paraphrasing Teddy Roosevelt’s philosophy about government’s role in regulating big business to protect the welfare of society, Moretti said there has to be a balance between businesses and people.
Moretti described the organization, incorporated as a nonprofit in January 2024, as drawing on the legacies of previous resident-led organizations. Three such groups were the Estes Valley Improvement Association, founded in 1970, the Association for Responsible Development, and the North End Association.
The organization’s Facebook page states that EVRA was founded “by and on the behalf of residents to ensure a positive quality of life in the Estes valley.”
The EVRA has identified six core special interest groups at this time including development, zoning and land use; the use of 1A tax funding for stormwater management, fire mitigation, trail expansion and maintenance, and street maintenance; workforce housing and childcare; community government and Estes Valley development; wildfire mitigation and stormwater concerns; and what the group calls “carrying capacity” and sustainability of the community and the environment.
The organization hopes to expand its advocacy as more individuals become involved as either board members or active members in one of the interest groups.
According to Moretti’s presentation, the EVRA seeks to influence public policy that will keep the interests of residents at the fore.
Membership in the organization is open to all full and part-time residents of the Estes Valley. Individuals can connect with EVRA through its Facebook page. Currently there are 177 members. In addition to Moretti, Mike Kennedy, Becky Urquhart, Bob Leavitt, and Deb Dufty serve in leadership roles.