Erie Town Council Special Meeting - November 20, 2024: Landfill Task Force Recommendations and Airport Economic Development Strategy

Erie Town Council Special Meeting - November 20, 2024

The Erie Town Council convened a special meeting on November 20, 2024, at 6:31 PM with Mayor Justin Brooks presiding. The meeting focused on two major presentations: the Landfill Task Force's final recommendations and the Erie Airport Economic Development Strategy update. While no formal votes were taken on these items, the council received extensive information and discussed next steps. The meeting also included a public comment regarding the upcoming Parade of Lights route and a council member gratitude exercise. The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 PM.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously (7-0).
• The consent agenda was approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rhonda Grassi (Erie resident, 1894 Grenfell Court, member of the Erie Economic Development Council) expressed strong opposition to the staff decision to reroute the Parade of Lights away from Briggs Street. She stated that the new route (turning off Briggs Street, going down Cattell to Cheeseman) avoids 100% of the two blocks of businesses, restaurants, and services that have built floats and welcome customers. She noted that construction is minor and could be temporarily cleared. She urged the council to override the decision.

Discussion Items

Landfill Task Force Recommendation Presentation

• Presenter: David Frank (Director of Environmental Services) introduced the process, which began in June 2023. The task force consisted of eight residents from Vista Ridge, County Road 6, Erie Highlands, Ranch Eggs, and Vista Point, facilitated by Kearns & West (Morgan Lamel and Colin Johnson). The task force met six times (five in-person, one virtual) between April and October 2024.
• Key concerns addressed: Increased traffic, roadway congestion (especially near Erie High School), aesthetic impacts, litter, environmental/health concerns, and the need for transparency. The task force turned positions into interests (e.g., safe roads, quality of life, transparency).
• Recommendations:
  • Entrance and Hauling Routes: Move the landfill entrance from County Road 5 to County Road 6. Require large contract carriers (semi-tractor trailers) to use designated routes: from I-25 to Erie Parkway to County Road 7 or 5, or from State Highway 7 to I-25 and Erie Parkway. Local haulers would use an orange route (Erie Parkway to County Road 5 to County Road 6). The goal is to reduce impacts on the most congested areas.
  • Maintenance Yard Land Swap: Waste Connections owns a 3-acre maintenance yard (the "blue jungle") on County Line Road; the town owns a 10-acre parcel adjacent to the landfill. The task force recommends swapping or equitably trading these parcels to move the maintenance yard next to the landfill, reducing truck trips and allowing for potential alternative fuel infrastructure. The town's parcel could be cleaned up and integrated into the open space/trail network.
  • Footprint and Phasing:
    • West Side (CR5): Approve filling a horseshoe-shaped notch containing an abandoned plugged gas well, with safety contingencies. Accelerate closure of the west side once the entrance is relocated. Extend a bike path/sidewalk along the entire west side of the landfill.
    • East Side (CR7): Relocate the town's two water storage tanks (4 million and 1.5 million gallons) onto a more suitable location southeast on landfill property. Waste Connections would fund new tanks and infrastructure. Increase the buffer along CR7 by reducing the permitted limit by 5 acres.
  • Community Benefits: Explore renewable energy, waste diversion (recycling, composting), recreational trails, pollinator-friendly native vegetation, and continued community engagement.
• Council Questions and Discussion: Council members asked about enforcement of hauling routes (Chief Mathis noted limited town enforcement; Waste Connections' Randy Tourville stated they can ban trucks that violate routes), traffic improvements at County Road 5 and 6 (traffic studies will be needed), the timeline for the west side closure (fluid, but tied to the entrance relocation), and the safety of capping the plugged gas well (assurances from engineers). The council thanked the task force for their extensive work.

Erie Airport Economic Development Strategy Update

• Presenters: Stephanie Pitts-Nagus (Economic Development Manager) and Andy Fister (Development Strategies). The draft strategy updates a 2009 study and was developed with input from the Airport Economic Development Advisory Board and a community survey.
• Key Findings: The airport currently supports 27 jobs and generates $2 million in total economic output to Erie (direct impacts: $1.4 million). The strategy aims to increase the airport's economic role.
• Four Guiding Elements:
  1. Hangar Development: Build 166 hangar units (23-33 million investment) on airport grounds, generating ~$150,000/year in property taxes to Erie. Market demand is high.
  2. Activation: Enhance the annual fly-in event, improve branding, signage, and access from County Line Road. Create a sense of place with an aviation-themed playground, gathering spaces, and possibly a restaurant.
  3. Acquire and Expand: Acquire land to the west (30 acres) for aviation-related businesses, light industrial, and mixed-use retail/office. This could generate $250,000/year in property taxes to Erie. Also consider land to the south (baseline road) for retail and aviation uses, with potential $45 million development value.
  4. Policies and Partnerships: Update the town ordinance governing airport fees (not revised in decades) to market rates. Partner with a developer to build hangars. Pursue urban renewal authority (URA) tools to fund infrastructure.
• Council Questions: Council members asked about property tax rates for hangars (commercial vs. residential), the feasibility of the southern expansion given FAA concerns about the RPZ (runway protection zone), and the potential for flight school restrictions (FAA grants limit restrictions, but zoning could be explored). The council expressed excitement about the plan and asked for continued community outreach.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on either the landfill recommendations or the airport strategy. Both were presented as informational items for council feedback.
• The landfill task force recommendations will be used by staff to guide future negotiations with Waste Connections, with potential applications for revised permits or land use changes.
• The airport strategy will be finalized after incorporating council comments, with next steps including revising the fee ordinance, pursuing hangar development, and exploring land acquisition and URA expansion.
• The council discussed the Parade of Lights route but did not take action; staff confirmed the alternative route on Cattell and Cheeseman will be used due to construction hazards on Briggs Street.
• Council members shared personal gratitudes for their families, volunteers, staff, and the community, with several members highlighting the importance of volunteerism and community engagement.