Re-elect Brian O'Connor, Council Member for the Town of Erie, District 3
Priorities
Having served on Town Council since January 2025, there are some priorities and projects that I would like to see move forward. Some of those include:
Safeguarding our open space areas
When the Home Rule Charter was written, it was the intention of at least several commissioners, including myself, to safeguard our open space properties in the Town of Erie from being sold or re-zoned. After the residents approved the charter, the Town Council created two types of open space zones: Agricultural Open Space and Restricted Open Space. While Ag Open Space does not require voter approval for sale or re-zoning, Reserved Open Space does.
Unfortunately, guess how much of our open space is classified as 'Reserved Open Space'? Exactly zero. Some of our open space has protection based on the funds used to purchase the land, but I would like to see all of our open space evaluated and properly re-zoned to protect those truly unique properties for future generations.
Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP)
For twenty years, Erie has been involved in the Northern Water project, Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), a massive undertaking that has seen its costs increase over time. The project is nearly to the point where a request for construction quotes can be released. Once those quotes are received by Northern Water, Erie can utilize the figures to model the financial implications for current residents and assess future growth impacts.
This growth encompasses not just residential areas but also commercial, industrial, and municipal developments. If NISP does move forward, it will diversify Erie's water portfolio, which predominantly relies on Colorado Big Thompson shares (CBT). While the water quality is high, many downstream users, including Mexico, hold rights to this supply. The pivotal question remains: is NISP water affordable for both current and future residents? Will growth be sustainable, or could the rising costs of NISP render it unaffordable for constructing new homes and businesses?
infill developments
There are areas throughout the Town of Erie that have not been developed; however, the surrounding land has typically been transformed into residential neighborhoods. In most instances, these neighborhoods have existed for years, if not decades. While homeowners might have anticipated that the adjacent land could be developed in the future, the intended use may have evolved over time.
When an infill development proposal comes before the Council, it is essential to assess not just the value to the Town of Erie, but also the potential impact on the surrounding neighbors. As a Council Member, I have witnessed two such developments come forward, both of which were not approved because the proposed use did not necessarily align with the character of the adjacent neighborhoods or there were health and safety concerns.
Though I am not opposed to thoughtful development, I believe that these types of development proposals need to be examined closely throughout the entire approval process.
Traffic conflicts and Safety
In the Town of Erie, there are areas facing issues with speed and volume of vehicular traffic, impacting all road users. As projects and ideas come before the Council, I believe it is essential to evaluate these initiatives thoroughly. As a Council Member, I want to ensure we understand the impacts on current residents and multimodal users while seeking solutions that prioritize both safety and connectivity.
accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
HB24-1152 requires that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) be allowed in our area. These types of units already exist in Erie, but most are illegal. Typically, they are basement units rented out by homeowners to community members earning a lower area mean income (AMI). By providing housing to these residents, homeowners—often older residents—can better age in place due to the additional income.
I frequently encounter this situation in my line of work. My aim is to see the process of creating these ADUs more cost-effective for homeowners and more legally compliant for health and safety purposes.
Erie's historic buildings and artifacts
Erie does not have a great place to store our historic artifacts. Some are at the Wise Museum, some are held by Lafayette, and others are in the hands of private collectors, including myself. I would like to see either the house at the Page property utilized as a museum and possibly a nature center, or the old railroad depot moved to Linear Park and repurposed as a museum.
The Town of Erie Budget
Council is currently working through the Town's budgeting process and considering what needs to be changed to have a balanced budget in 2029 and beyond. The Town currently has a five year budgeting process, and though 2027 and 2028 budgets are balanced, changes need to be considered for 2029. The building permit fees are down 60% (the number of permits are down 40%) and our sales tax is only seen moderate growth so far this year.
Some tough decisions will need to be made to minimize service reductions while retaining Town Staff to meet those needs. Having lived through sales tax shortfalls while working for the City of Longmont, I will take a reasonable & balanced approach when working through the budget process this year & in the years to come.
Erie Municipal Airport
I am a strong support the Erie Airport, recognizing it as a valuable asset to Erie. I also empathize with residents experiencing persistent flight noise, particularly from touch-and-go operations at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, which can disrupt daily life in Erie. It's vital that we prioritize resident peace and quiet as we actively work with our regional airport partners to find effective, long-term solutions to mitigate both flight paths and noise levels.
While we address these immediate noise concerns, I continue to see significant long-term benefits in the Erie Municipal Airport for our community. The aviation industry is quickly evolving towards quieter and cleaner technologies. Innovations, such as modern aviation-fueled planes and electric aircraft from companies like Heart Aerospace, mirror the ongoing transition to unleaded aviation fuel, promising to enhance our quality of life.
Moreover, advancements in air taxi services from companies like Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies present exciting possibilities. Envision a future where residents can travel to the local airport and board a silent, efficient air taxi that takes them directly to DIA, Denver, or other destinations across Colorado—without contributing to ground traffic or creating disruptive noise.
There's considerable discussion around the Colorado Connector (CoCo) rail service, but it's worth noting that over a century ago, Erie was served by passenger rail. The Galloping Goose operated on a Union Pacific line between Denver and Boulder through Erie from 1909 to 1925. If that line hadn't ceased operation, our conversations about Front Range rail might look quite different today.
The airport already contributes positively to our local economy, benefiting surrounding businesses. Through strategic, long-term investments and proactive noise mitigation partnerships, we can safeguard our residents' quality of life while positioning Erie for a future of cleaner, quieter aviation. The Erie Municipal Airport is an exceptional asset that deserves our investment and attention, ensuring it does not fade away like the Galloping Goose.
Commercial & Light Industrial Development
As the area continues to expand, there will eventually come a time when building fees will constitute a smaller portion of the budget. This shift will necessitate an increase in the sales and property tax base to ensure sustainable growth. Along with naturally occurring commercial and light industrial developments, the Town of Erie Economic Development team does an excellent job of bringing new businesses to Erie. Opening a new business can be a daunting task and I will work see the process of bringing new businesses to Erie improved and reduce that burden to those new businesses.
use fees
During the initial 2027 budget conversation, the idea of adding a use fee to our water bills that would be allocated for road-related maintenance was proposed. This fee would likely be less than $10 on our water bills, and while it may seem small, it would also be applied to the water bills of businesses. In the case of businesses, calculations would factor in the number of vehicle trips, weight of vehicles, etc., to determine their fee amount. More than likely, that fee would be passed along to residents through higher costs of goods and services.
You might be thinking… isn’t this a tax? Shouldn’t it go in front of the voters for approval like all other taxes? A “use fee” does not require voter approval; in this scenario, it can simply be added to your water bill. It's important to note that a tax is a mandatory charge imposed by the government, while a use fee is intended to be voluntary (for example, you choose to pay a fee to use the Erie Community Center or opt to take E-470 instead of I-25). However, the use fee being discussed would be mandatory. Although I am not a strong proponent of use fees, as they increase the cost of our daily lives, I want to hear your thoughts.