Erie – Town trustees approved a landfill expansion late Tuesday night after weeks of contentious debate from residents who live near the site.
Residents had complained that expanding the Front Range Landfill by 122 acres and raising it by more than 120 feet would make the site a defining landmark for the area.
Trustees repeatedly heard from homeowners in the Vista Ridge subdivision who were concerned expansion would affect home values.
“This is without a doubt the hardest decision that has come before this board since I have been chair,” said Mayor Andrew Moore.
But Republic Services Inc., the company applying for the landfill expansion, told trustees Tuesday that home sales in the area have been some of the best.
“It turns out the Vista Ridge is essentially beating the pants off the competition,” said David Clayton, an assessor with Republic. “And it is the only one that is located next to a landfill.”
Trustees questioned a panel of Republic representatives for more than four hours Tuesday, at times grilling the team on issues of liability and community commitment.
“I’ve been impressed with the trustees,” said Vista Ridge resident Carol Bartlett. “I think a lot of people thought it was a done deal, but maybe not.”
Trustee Beth Klein engaged Republic attorney Jeffrey Hunter over a statement that Republic was committed to Erie’s future.
“So the statement that you made that Republic would not hang us out to dry … that is something you can’t commit to,” Klein prodded.
Hunter repeatedly said that the landfill owner was required to care for the site for 30 years.
“So the answer is no,” Klein said.
Republic is offering $1 million for the community center. Trustee Tom Van Lone wondered why the city couldn’t ask for more.
“If y’all are going to dump trash in our backyard you need to pay us to do that,” he said.
But a majority of the board of trustees agreed with Trustee Greg McCallum.
“If there was no landfill there, I know what my answer would be,” McCallum said. Given that there are already two landfills – including Front Range and a Denver landfill – he felt the impacts were “nearly negligible.”
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 720-929-0893 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
