Hi everyone – here’s my mid-month update (albeit early) for October 2019 for things going on in Superior.
Downtown Superior Southern Connection
At the Town Board’s September 23, 2019 meeting the Board approved by a 5-2 vote that the southern connection to DownTown Superior will be via Promenade Drive — a new frontage road alongside US-36 that will connect to 88th Street. Coal Creek Drive will NOT be extended to Downtown Superior. Also, the developer agreed to build a new playground/park in this area and build a bike/pedestrian path at the end of Coal Creek Drive which will provide alternate non-vehicular access to Downtown Superior for pedestrians/bicyclists.
Taxes
I was recently asked about why are taxes so high in Superior and thought it might be a good topic for the month. While our sales tax rate is competitive (8.31% in Superior) vs. (8.635% Louisville; 8.845% Boulder; 8.485% Lafayette; 8.15% Broomfield), the property taxes that Superior residents pay are comparatively high. The Town of Superior, however, represents only about 7.6% of the property taxes that you pay, whereas you pay 19.5% to Rocky Mtn. Fire, 23% to Boulder County, and 46.8% to BVSD. See pie chart for a visual breakdown.
Airport Avigation Easement
Many residents have emailed me asking “Isn’t the airport violating the Avigation Easement?” I want to preface this answer that this is just my opinion, and not the opinion of the Town or the Superior Board of Trustees.
First, the Town of Superior is not a party to the Avigation Easement. That document was entered into between the airport and Richmond Homes when Richmond was building out Rock Creek. Because the Town is not a party to that document, the Town cannot enforce the Avigation Easement. Second, even if the Avigation Easement was terminated, RMMA would still be allowed to operate because it is not the Avigation Easement that gives RMMA permission to route flights over Rock Creek. It is the FAA that has jurisdiction over airspace, and the FAA gives them that right to operate.
This then leads to the question — what is the purpose of the Avigation Easement? Again, in my opinion, it is a document that was included in the chain of title documents associated with the purchase of each of our homes in Rock Creek in order to protect Richmond Homes. The document protects Richmond if a purchaser were to try to back out of the purchase contract because of complaints associated with the operation of the airport. Because that document is there, each and everyone one of us who owns a home in Rock Creek is on notice of the existence of the airport, and Richmond is therefore protected from any complaints we the homeowners might have against Richmond related to the airport. So overall, I don’t think the residents nor Town of Superior has any leverage with the Aviation Easement.
Proposed Ordinances
At the upcoming October 14 Board Meeting, the Town Board will consider adopting two proposed ordinances. First, we will consider raising the age to purchase tobacco products (including vaping products) from 18 to 21. Second, we will consider allowing medical/retail marijuana delivery to residences — to those who are over 21. If you have thoughts or perspective on either, the Board would love to hear from you.
Land Rover Building
Reposting again from last mid month update — the Town issued a Request for Qualifications for architectural/design firms and received responses from 8 firms. We have since issued Requests for Proposals from those firms. The Town Board is slated to hear presentations from the top 4 firms in October to help formulate the vision for this building and then will select the architect to use for the project. I encourage residents to attend the Board meetings and share your feedback on the proposals.
Parking at Wildflower Park
Many students at Eldorado PK-8 are dropped off at the parking lot in Wildflower Park. However, many parents are not parking in designated parking spots, but instead, are parking at the curb alongside the perimeter of the parking lot. This is frequently blocking the ability of others to safely navigate the parking lot, and is also blocking-in people who are parked in designated spots, who then don’t have enough room to back out of their spots. In response, the Town has installed No Parking signs alongside the curb. We ask that if you are parking at Wildflower Park to drop off your kids that you be considerate of those around you — and not cause traffic or unsafe conditions in the parking lot.
Community Park Trees
Ten ash trees will be removed from the parking lot area. These are trees that are diseased and are dying. The trees will be replaced in 2-3 weeks with other tree species.
Raptor Boxes
Our Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) is spearheading an exciting new program. Three screech owl boxes have been installed on trees in town parks this week. With the advice of a bird expert, recorded owl calls are played in the evening to try to attract passing owls. This occurs once or twice a week for about 20 minutes during the month of October just after dark. The playback will not be loud enough for neighboring houses to hear.
