Town Enters Negotiating Agreement for I-25 Gateway Property

At the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, July 12 the Board approved an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with Hines Interests Limited Partnership (Hines) for planned development of the 255- acre Town-owned property at the I-25 Erie Gateway property at I-25 and Erie Parkway.

These agreements will establish the full details and timing for Hines’ purchase and development of the property, including a concept plan, site infrastructure plans, parks and open space facilities, and other public improvements needed to develop the site. The goal is to start construction by no later than Jan. 1, 2025. Read the full press release.

Candidates Needed

Last week, the Board of Trustees (in a 5-2 vote) approved moving forward to ask Erie voters whether to form a home rule charter commission for the purpose of drafting a home rule charter, a new governing document for the Town. In addition to asking voters whether to form the charter commission, voters will also be asked to vote for candidates to serve on the charter commission. Both questions are required by State Statute to be on the same ballot; if the voters reject creating the charter commission, it will not be formed.

Residents interested in serving on the charter commission can access the Candidate Petition Packet when it is posted on Tuesday, July 19 at 5 p.m. Completed petitions must be returned no later than Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. with at least 25 valid signatures. Packets will be available for download online. Visit www.erieco.gov/HomeRule to learn more about what Home Rule could mean for the Town and view frequently asked questions from your neighbors.

People aren’t Suspicious-Behavior Is

“If something is out of place and not quite right, we’d love to hear from you,” the Erie Police Department stated in their latest news release. Read the full statement to better understand what is considered a suspicious action, what could be deemed unusual, and when to call the police. One important step to remember – posting about suspicious behavior on social media is not the way to address the situation. Read about what to report when you call the police.

Have You Heard about TNACC?

This year, the Town of Erie Parks & Recreation Department has been exploring options for the future of the Trails, Natural Areas, and Community Character (TNACC) fund. The TNACC is a special purpose fund currently supported by a 4.0 mill property tax that can only be used to fund the purchase of natural areas and open space, creates and connects trails, preserves wildlife habitats, protects natural areas around creeks, and conserves scenic landscapes. But this funding source will sunset in 2024 unless Erie voters approve extending the term of this property tax. Visit www.erieco.gov/TNACC to learn more about the options and ask questions!

Town of Erie Cone Zones

Summer is the season for major road improvement projects. Each week we will list the projects that may have the biggest impact on traffic flow for that week. As always, please sign up for alerts to get more details about these projects and many others. More information and details for how to sign up are at www.erieco.gov/ConeZone.

WCR 5: Road widening north of Erie Parkway. Shift to Phase 5 (from EHS south entrance to Erie Parkway) begins Tuesday, July 19.
WCR 7 and Erie Parkway: Road widening work. Lane shifts on Erie Parkway.
- Full closure on WCR 7 north of Erie Parkway. Completion date in late September.
County Line Road – Signal Communication Project. Shoulder closures and one lane closures as needed for fiber line bore.
WCR 5 South of Erie Parkway: Comcast bore line from WCR 6 to Erie Parkway. Mostly shoulder closures, intermittent lane closures.
Hwy 7 and Coal Creek Boulevard: Parkdale Project. Lane shifts on Hwy 7 for work associated with the Parkdale Development and the new intersection of Coal Creek Boulevard and Hwy 7.

Please remember that all road work is weather dependent, and timelines may shift. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians should always be aware and use caution when in and around work zones. Whenever possible, please avoid the construction areas.

Town of Erie is Hiring

As the Town continues to grow, we have several openings and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Keep checking the Town of Erie job board for Erie’s latest openings, which currently include: