Members of the public told the state Economic Development Commission today what they think about six projects competing for state tourism incentives, with those supporting a hotel and conference center in Aurora dominating the hearing.
All but one speaker on the Gaylord Entertainment project said they supported the development of a 1,500-room hotel near Denver International Airport in Aurora.
Duane Senn, president of the Laredo Highline Neighborhood Association, said the commission should not allow incentives available under the Regional Tourism Act to be used for the project because it will cost the state $7 million to make up for the loss of taxes to the Brighton 27J School District.
The Regional Tourism Act allows a portion of state sales taxes generated by a project that advances tourism to be used to help finance its infrastructure.
“We are asking you to protect the revenue stream to prevent bags of cash from leaving Colorado’s treasury,” Senn said.
But Adams County Commissioner and former Thornton Mayor Erik Hansen noted that the land Gaylord wants to build its hotel on generates just $10,000 a year in property taxes.
“We’re getting zero now,” he said. “This is the opportunity to get the benefit down the road. We think this is a project that’s terribly important for the region. This is what this law was made for in the first place.”
Greeley Mayor Tom Norton, a former state Senate president, noted that the airport has been critical to economic development in the region and the Gaylord project would enhance the state’s ability to draw new business.
“The airport has bonds to pay off,” Norton said. “They need the activity, they need the new income.”
In addition to Aurora, five other government entities applied for incentives on behalf of projects that are proposed in their jurisdictions. Douglas County is seeking incentives for an archaeological museum and sports complex; Glendale, for an outdoor riverwalk entertainment complex; Pueblo, for a downtown riverwalk area that would include an expanded convention center; Estes Park, to redevelop and renovate Elkhorn Lodge and build a year-round adventure park that includes snow sports; and Montrose County, which is proposing 141 tourism and commercial projects.
One person spoke in favor or the Glendale development and four said they supported the Pueblo development. The Estes Park and Douglas County projects had both supporters and opponents, who cited concerns over the water supply needed for the projects. No one spoke about the Montrose proposal.
As the law stands, up to two projects can receive the incentives, which cannot exceed a combined $50 million a year, but legislation has been proposed that would allow more than two projects to get the funding, a measure Gov. John Hickenlooper has threatened to veto.
To speak at the next public comment session on April 23, request a time by Wednesday via e-mail (RTAGeneralInput@state.co.us) or by calling Virginia Davis (303-892-3872). Provide your name and the RTA applications for which input will be given.
Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to incorrect information provided by a source, the name of Laredo Highline Neighborhood Association president Duane Senn was incorrect.
