Editor’s note: This story has been updated so that the headline correctly names the proposed development.
The Erie Town Council has denied the proposed Redtail Ranch development, citing concerns for public safety, because the site sits between landfills and oil and gas wells.
On June 25, Senior Planner Harry Brennan presented the preliminary plat for Redtail Ranch. The 290-acre property is located northwest of the junction of Weld County Road 4 and Weld County Road 5.
North of Redtail Ranch is the Denver Regional Landfill which closed in 2020. East of the property is the Front Range Landfill, which is currently active.
David Frank, director of environmental services, explained that the Neuhauser Landfill used in the 1960s had been on the site. He said that the landfill was undisclosed for a long time, but extensive work has been done in the area to ensure that the soils are decontaminated and safe.
“This was sort of forgotten history for a time, and consequently, a large number of drums, some of them containing solvents were dug up. And then extensive remediation has been ongoing for the past several years,” Frank said.
Frank said that two oil and gas sites sit in the middle of the property. The proposed plat would extend the oil and gas setbacks to 500 feet, an increase from the 350 feet first proposed, when the council first heard the plat hearing during April and May meetings.
Frank said that the oil and gas sites on the property show more complaints against them than any other sites in Colorado. He explained that while he has received reports from residents that show evidence of venting at the sites, the state has not been able to confirm those reports.
Councilmember Emily Baer said that despite the applicant working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment toward remediating the site, the property still feels appears unsafe.
Baer said that while the preliminary plat meets approval criteria, the board is concerned with the residents’ public health.
“The moral and ethical gymnastics it takes to come to a vote, to be able to support this application is comical, it’s laughable,” Baer said.
She explained that the council can not approve a site that is “spectacularly contaminated” while also saying the town is committed to prioritizing the health and safety of the residents.
Mayor Justin Brooks also said that the board needs to prioritize the health and safety of the residents, and he could not in good conscience place a house in that area.
The council voted 4-1 on June 25 to deny the preliminary plat. Councilmember Andrew Sawusch voted to approve the plat and Councilmember Brandon Bell was not in attendance.
