Stormwater Master Plan

Update 05.22.2019

The Estes Park Town Board and Larimer County Board of Commissioners met during a joint meeting on May 15 to discuss the proposed Estes Valley Stormwater Management Program and the associated utility. Town Public Works Director Greg Muhonen presented results from the public outreach effort and also displayed the draft floodplain map under consideration by FEMA. The meeting included time for public comment resulting in nine individuals expressing both support for and opposition to this program.

Following public comment, the two boards discussed this proposed program with emphasis on the anticipated floodplain map and associated flood insurance, hydrology study, and a potential grant to fund three essential projects identified in the draft Stormwater Master Plan. The application is due July 15. If awarded, funds would support widening the Big Thompson River channel between the US Hwy 36 Bridge to the Riverside Bridge and a multi-use path along the south river bank. Water recreational opportunities could be explored. It also includes replacement of the Riverside Bridge and the Rockwell Bridge.

The Boards decided to postpone implementing any stormwater user fees until three preliminary steps are completed. First, they expressed interest in completing the grant project and then conducting a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to assess how much this work would reduce the floodplain for the adjacent portions of downtown Estes Park. The Count Commissioners offered a letter of support for the Town\'s application.

Second, concerns were expressed about the result of the 2016 hydrology study. The Town Board asked staff to bring this topic back for further discussion at a study session. This is tentatively scheduled for June 11, 2019.

Third, they indicated sales tax could be considered in the future and possibly in 2024 when the current 1A sales tax sunsets. The County Commissioners deferred to the Town Board. Additional evaluation and discussion will be needed on this item.

Update 04.30.2019

Following are the results of the two public outreach efforts implemented for the proposed Stormwater Utility. Thanks go out to our property owners for taking the time to share individual preferences on this important topic. Attached below are links to five documents. The first two reported the results from approximately 200 responses to Questionnaire #1 in June/July 2018. Social media, outreach meetings, and press releases were used to invite participation in the questionnaire. The remaining three documents summarize the 900 responses to the March/April Questionnaire #2. The outreach efforts included social media, individual meetings, press releases, and over 8,500 direct mailed invitations to participate. There are thousands of very diverse comments to review. Excerpts can be extracted to support the full spectrum of options for this program. In an effort to provide a short overview of the results of Questionnaire #2, these are the observations of the majority sentiments shared by responding property owners:

63% agree stormwater drainage problems exist. 70% agree the Town and County should act to address flooding risk. 52% indicate a user fee of some amount should be part of the program funding solution. Of those, 48% feel the user fees should be zero or less than 5% of the program costs. 71% suggest a sales tax should be used to fund 40% to 100% of the program costs. 53% feel grants should pick up more than 20% of the program cost. Of those, 95% feel grants should provide more than 5% of the program revenue. [Note: additional local match funds (typically 20%-50%)are required in order to receive grant funding] 71% feel the proposed stormwater management fees are too high. 71% favor funding some type of stormwater utility. Of those, 30% say get started now and 29% say to take a different approach (most prefer we not move forward).

Public Works staff from the Town and the County will meet with the Town Board of Trustees and Board of County Commissioners at a joint meeting May 15 to hear public comments and decide if further action (creation of stormwater ordinance and an Intergovernmental Agreement) should be taken. The creation of a stormwater utility and implementation of any user fees or sales tax will NOT occur at this meeting. Additional future meetings and decisions are required to accomplish these actions.

Data Summary Thru July 2018

Stormwater Questionnaire #1 Comments

Stormwater Questionnaire #2 Comments

Stormwater Questionnaire #2 Data Results

Stormwater Questionnaire #2 Communication Log

Update 11.05.2018

The Town of Estes Park and Larimer County contracted with a consultant to more accurately calculate potential user fees for the Stormwater Management Project. The data was received and the Town's and County's Public Works staff continue to analyze the data to provide information to property owners of 7,280 parcels. Staff presented information to the Board of County Commissioners (Oct. 22) and the Estes Park Town Board (Oct. 23) and both Boards were supportive of staff presenting estimated user fees based on impervious areas.

For public outreach, the Town will be distributing a letter to property owners that includes their estimated fees and requesting feedback through an online questionnaire. Staff hope to have this information distributed before the end of 2018.

Following the distribution of the letter and online questionnaire, the Town will compile feedback and present to the Town Board and County Commissioners to discuss whether or not to proceed with this project.

Update 07.26.2018

In response to Town Board feedback received in February, staff began an outreach effort to gather feedback from the community regarding the Stormwater Management Project (SMP) proposal. As background, the stormwater management proposal the Town is asking the community to provide feedback on is the need for a stormwater management program and the potential establishment of a utility that would responsible for implementing projects to reduce flood risk across the Estes Valley (development code area), in both commercial and residential areas. The Town has requested, and will continue to request, community feedback on this proposal as well as funding mechanisms such as fees based on impervious surface areas of properties in the proposed utility area, grants and/or sales tax revenues.

The outreach effort has been multifaceted, including a series of press releases, posting a number of informational documents on the Town's website for public viewing, meeting with certain property owners along Fall River and Big Thompson River in and near downtown, presentations to four civic and business groups, messages on utility bills, a mailed newsletter, three public meetings, visiting with the community at three Farmers Market events, holding several one-on-one meetings with individuals with a keen interest in the proposal, and conducting an online survey for the community which resulted in 221 responses.

Through all these efforts, the Town gained valuable insight into local residents' and businesses' perspectives on this issue. One of the primary concerns raised by community members was their need for a closer estimate of specific potential user fees their properties, versus the estimated range provided to-date. In order to fulfill this need, the Town and County are considering proposals from consultants to compile impervious area measurements taken from aerial photography this summer, with a tentative return of the data in the early fall.

When the data is available, staff will be able to more accurately calculate potential user fees. Staff anticipate sending a direct mailing to the owners of the 7,280 properties in the proposed utility area that highlights the key features of the proposed stormwater utility and delivers to property owners the user fee (or closer estimate) proposed for their specific property. Property owners will be invited to give the Town feedback on whether or not they support the concept of the utility, the proposed funding/user fee, as well as to give input and ideas for modifications and refinements to improve the stormwater utility proposal. Staff hope to generate more feedback through this mailing to assist elected officials in determining the next steps for the proposal.

The Town of Estes Park invites Estes Valley residents and property owners to attend one of three public meetings to learn about a proposed Stormwater Management Project and the associated proposed new utility user fees. The proposed utility fees are to be charged to every property owner in the Estes Valley. Proposed fee amounts will range from seven dollars to over $100 per month depending on impervious area. Each meeting will provide information on the draft Stormwater Master Plan and the proposed Stormwater Utility. The information is pertinent to both Town residents and residents of unincorporated Larimer County within the Estes Valley Development Code area. The meetings will take place:

Thursday, June 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Town Board Room of Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Ave. Friday, June 8 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Estes Valley Community Center (lower level), 660 Community Dr. - Please enter through Senior Services on lower level Sunday, June 10 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Estes Park Museum, 220 4th St.

Update May 21, 2018

The Town of Estes Park is proposing a Stormwater Management Project based on the recently completed Stormwater Master Plan and Feasibility Study. Conceptual maps of the proposed project were developed for cost estimates only and will change during the individual project design process. The Master Plan Executive Summary and an Estes Valley Stormwater Management Comparison Map have also been separately made available for quick reference.

The Town will be holding three public meetings to help citizens learn about the proposal. Each meeting will provide information on the draft Stormwater Master Plan and a proposed Stormwater Utility. The information is pertinent to both Town residents and residents of unincorporated Larimer County within the Estes Valley Development Code area. The meetings will take place:

Thursday, June 7, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Town Board Room of Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Avenue; Friday, June 8, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Estes Valley Community Center, 660 Community Drive; and Sunday, June 10, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Estes Park Museum, 220 4th Street.

Update 05.03.2018

The Town has started a public outreach process for Stormwater Management, including the recently completed stormwater master plan.

This overview presentation was given to the Board of Realtors on May 3, 2018. Public outreach meetings are tentatively scheduled for June. Project updates will be posted to this page.

These public outreach meetings on the Stormwater management Project follow the introduction of the new preliminary floodplain maps provided by the Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) held May 30. The Stormwater Management Project public meetings upcoming will include brief presentations on the Master Plan for the Estes Valley Development Code Area, and a proposed Stormwater utility followed by small group breakout discussions for participants to ask specific questions and learn more about the challenges in our community with stormwater runoff, possible solutions and proposed stormwater utility fees. Public feedback is critical to the future of these improvements.

Update 04.13.2018

The final Stormwater Master Plan has been received. Associated appendices and Feasibility Study will be released at the time of public outreach. Please continue to visit this webpage for updates on this project or contact Public Works at publicworks@estes.org.

Update 06.20.2017

These public outreach meetings follow the introduction of the new draft floodplain maps provided by the Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) at the public meeting with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) scheduled on May 30 at 5 p.m. at the Estes Valley Community Center. Public feedback at this meeting is critical to the future of stormwater improvements.Please continue to visit this webpage for updates on this project or contact Public Works at publicworks@estes.org.