Response to Todd Plummer’s commentary
I appreciate Estes Park resident Todd Plummer’s willingness (The numbers behind an undemocratic initiative), to educate voters on local democracy and what he believes are undemocratic zoning rights initiatives appearing on the upcoming November ballot courtesy of a grassroots movement. I get that he doesn’t want decisions made by a minority.
If I’m not mistaken, this is the same Todd Plummer who attended a Trustee Talk a few years back and informed the public in attendance they weren’t smart enough to vote on something as complicated as the Federal Lands Access (Loop) project, that only town board members had enough education and background information to make decisions on something of this magnitude.
Comparing the two seemingly contradictory views, one might accuse Mr. Plummer of hypocrisy, but actually, both views square quite well with Mr. Plummer’s overarching philosophy. I fear Mr. Plummer believes power should be concentrated only among those chosen (by God, perhaps, or like-minded fraternity brothers) to lead, and only these select few elites in an oligarchy should be responsible for making “difficult” decisions for the entire community.
I imagine he places himself in that small group, while lumping the rest of us simpletons in with the too backwoods and too unwashed, incapable of making our own rational decisions or casting a legitimate vote without passing some type of “Jeopardy Tournament of Champions” literacy test.
John Meissner, Estes Park
Citizens’ Ballot Initiatives
There are a lot of rumors and misinformation concerning the two citizens
initiatives (300 & 301) that will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The citizens ballot Initiatives are supported by Preserve Estes Park which
is a group of local residents who are concerned about preserving the quality of
life in our small mountain town.
When passed, the initiatives will give the neighbors of any proposed residential
rezoning or Planned Unit Development a voice in the process. It is one
simple step. Too often in the past, neighbors’ concerns about overdevelopment
have gone unheard by the Town Board and Community Development Department.
PEP is not anti-development but supports development in appropriately zoned
areas. It is not fair to rezone residential areas simply to increase density,
thereby changing the character of existing neighborhoods; neighborhoods where
people have often invested their life savings and presumed their neighborhood
would be safeguarded by the existing zoning.
PEP supports the provision of truly affordable housing. The current Development
Code gives breaks, bonuses, to developers who build “workforce housing.” The
“workforce housing” designation carries no income restrictions but allows a
developer to build projects with more height and density than would otherwise be
allowed. Without income restrictions, the term “workforce housing” is essentially
meaningless. Workforce housing does not mean affordable housing.
Unlike groups and some individuals opposing the Ballot Initiatives, PEP has no
economic interest for supporting the initiatives. Rather, PEP’s support is based
on restoring balance in the residential rezoning process and helping to preserve
the character of the town we all love.
Vote YES for initiatives 300 & 301.
Jed Eide, Estes Park
I enjoyed Mr. Meissner’s insights. I would only add that there is nothing more un-American, if not treasonous, than denying anyone the right to vote on any issue the citizens wish to. That loop project has had its issues, and as a citizen navigating it, I have doubts that it’s been worth the trouble.