Town of Erie

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LANFILL EXPANSION HINGES ON LEGAL ISSUES
The Front Range Landfill is located less than half a mile north of Vista Ridge on WCR 5 in Erie. Vista Ridge residents and the developer were not pleased to hear of a proposal to expand the 200-acre land fill by 60 percent and increase the height of heaps of garbage by as much as 117 feet. Both Weld County and the State Department of Health have OK’d the expansion and Erie Town Trustees have been grappling with the issues for weeks, in executive sessions, out of public view. The landfill was there when developers bought the property, won annexation and got development approval. No doubt the presence of the facility affects pricing at the 2,500 home development. No doubt, the proposed expansion, if approved by Erie officials, could result in re-pricing on some properties. That aside, landfill owners and operators, like other owners, have property rights and their right to exercise them should be protected. On the other hand, the landfill should be the best neighbor it can. Reasonable concessions should be offered, like shielding Vista Ridge residents’ views of the facility with rows of trees and taking additional precautions to limit vehicle traffic, noise and odors. Erie citizens will know the outcome early this year when town Trustees inform citizens of their decision and then vote in public to approve it.