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EAGLE — Eagle voters rejected the proposed Eagle River Station development in a record turnout Tuesday.
The proposal was defeated with 1,175 votes against and 1,019 in favor. The referendum failed by a narrow margin, with about 53 percent of votes against Eagle River Station.
Eagle saw its highest voter turnout in the town's election history. A total of 2,194 residents voted in the election. That's about 61 percent of Eagle's 3,585 registered voters.
Trinity/RED Eagle was the developer for the Eagle River Station proposal, which called for a commercial/residential project on an 88-acre tract located on the eastern end of town, south of Interstate 70. The plan included 552,000 square feet of commercial space including a 132,000-square-foot Target that would anchor the development. Eagle River Station also proposed 581 residential units and a 150-room hotel.
Jan Rosenthal Townsend, one of the founding members of “Smart Growth — Not Urban Sprawl — Vote no on ERS” offered the following statement Wednesday morning:
“We are elated that the voters of Eagle have spoken and the result was a ‘no' vote to ERS. One thing is clear from yesterday's vote. Maintaining small-town character has always been the backbone of our campaign and was of the utmost importance to the residents of Eagle. We have always felt that ERS was just too massive, with too many unknowns, and we believe the voters agreed with us yesterday by casting their ‘no' vote.”
In a prepared statement issued Wednesday morning, Michael Hans of Trinity/RED Eagle said the following:
“We are obviously disappointed with the results in yesterday's election, but we respect the decision of Eagle's residents. For the past three years, we have had a chance to work closely with the Eagle town staff and the town board. We want to thank them for their professionalism and commitment to bringing the best possible project to the residents of Eagle. We would also like to thank all of the people who worked hard and supported Eagle River Station. While we were not successful, we have greatly appreciated the kindness of the many people we have met and gotten to know in town.
“At this time, we have made no decision regarding the future of the parcel of land Trinity/RED Eagle Development owns east of town.”
Eagle Mayor Ed Woodland was an outspoken proponent of the Eagle River Station proposal.
“I am not so disappointed in the result as I am concerned that the town passed on an opportunity for investment,” he said.
Woodland said he supported the ERS plan because it represented an opportunity for new revenues and infrastructure improvements in town. Woodland said Eagle has rejected the development, but the community still has financial challenges to resolve.
“There are tough financial decisions to be made,” he said. “We are at the status quo and will be for (some) time. For the next three years or so, it will be about like it is today. After that, I get really concerned.”
At the same time, Woodland noted that Eagle residents, in record number, have spoken.
“I am really impressed with the turnout,” Woodland said. “It just shows you have people in Eagle engaged in the political process. A lot of other communities don't have that.”
Eagle Valley Enterprise Editor Pam Boyd can be reached at 970-328-6656, ext. 4, or pboyd@eaglevalleyenterprise.com.
The proposal was defeated with 1,175 votes against and 1,019 in favor. The referendum failed by a narrow margin, with about 53 percent of votes against Eagle River Station.
Eagle saw its highest voter turnout in the town's election history. A total of 2,194 residents voted in the election. That's about 61 percent of Eagle's 3,585 registered voters.
Trinity/RED Eagle was the developer for the Eagle River Station proposal, which called for a commercial/residential project on an 88-acre tract located on the eastern end of town, south of Interstate 70. The plan included 552,000 square feet of commercial space including a 132,000-square-foot Target that would anchor the development. Eagle River Station also proposed 581 residential units and a 150-room hotel.
Jan Rosenthal Townsend, one of the founding members of “Smart Growth — Not Urban Sprawl — Vote no on ERS” offered the following statement Wednesday morning:
“We are elated that the voters of Eagle have spoken and the result was a ‘no' vote to ERS. One thing is clear from yesterday's vote. Maintaining small-town character has always been the backbone of our campaign and was of the utmost importance to the residents of Eagle. We have always felt that ERS was just too massive, with too many unknowns, and we believe the voters agreed with us yesterday by casting their ‘no' vote.”
In a prepared statement issued Wednesday morning, Michael Hans of Trinity/RED Eagle said the following:
“We are obviously disappointed with the results in yesterday's election, but we respect the decision of Eagle's residents. For the past three years, we have had a chance to work closely with the Eagle town staff and the town board. We want to thank them for their professionalism and commitment to bringing the best possible project to the residents of Eagle. We would also like to thank all of the people who worked hard and supported Eagle River Station. While we were not successful, we have greatly appreciated the kindness of the many people we have met and gotten to know in town.
“At this time, we have made no decision regarding the future of the parcel of land Trinity/RED Eagle Development owns east of town.”
Eagle Mayor Ed Woodland was an outspoken proponent of the Eagle River Station proposal.
“I am not so disappointed in the result as I am concerned that the town passed on an opportunity for investment,” he said.
Woodland said he supported the ERS plan because it represented an opportunity for new revenues and infrastructure improvements in town. Woodland said Eagle has rejected the development, but the community still has financial challenges to resolve.
“There are tough financial decisions to be made,” he said. “We are at the status quo and will be for (some) time. For the next three years or so, it will be about like it is today. After that, I get really concerned.”
At the same time, Woodland noted that Eagle residents, in record number, have spoken.
“I am really impressed with the turnout,” Woodland said. “It just shows you have people in Eagle engaged in the political process. A lot of other communities don't have that.”
Eagle Valley Enterprise Editor Pam Boyd can be reached at 970-328-6656, ext. 4, or pboyd@eaglevalleyenterprise.com.
