Bill Brown: Town Trustee

By Barb Boyer Buck

“I’ll explain to you my interest in annexation,” said Town of Estes Park Trustee Bill Brown. “I’m sure you’ve seen a map of the Estes Valley and we’ve got a pretty odd collection of what’s in town and what’s in the county.”

Annexation is one of the issues that inspired Brown to run for Town Board. He is serving his first term after being elected last year.

Brown believes developing policies to promote further annexation would set the stage for a better, more cohesive community and in the case of businesses, increase the revenue to the Town in the form of sales tax collection.

While he understands those who live in the county are happier not paying the local tax, if these properties need town services, there are costs associated with developing and maintaining utility infrastructure.

“The Estes Park Mountain Shop is an example of the kind of property that should be annexed into the town,” he said. Brown said that involuntary annexations require a vote, “and if people don’t want it, you’re never going to get it done. The only real way to get property annexed is through voluntary annexation so we probably need to be a little more aggressive on that.”

Being included within the boundaries of the Town has several benefits, including the right to vote in Town elections, better police protection, and reliable utilities, he said. In Brown’s opinion, properties are usually annexed because a developer wants Town water, which has led to infill development scattered throughout the town without a clear plan.

This spotty annexation policy has led to the patchwork zoning within the Town of Estes Park map. Major improvements to the Town’s water system are planned to be made through the unincorporated Carriage Hills neighborhood.

Read full story here: