LYONS – Economic sustainability has been a core objective of town policies for the last several years, stemming from the realization that a vibrant Lyons relies on a sustainable economic base. The 2010 Comprehensive Plan highlighted the importance of economic sustainability in terms of generating sufficient revenue to support town infrastructure and services and promoting a business-friendly environment that encourages commercial and job growth according to community members’ vision and desires. A core part of the strategy to achieve this was to coordinate with local landowners including the City of Longmont and developers to encourage the annexation and development of properties along the eastern Highway 36 corridor.

LYONS – In the late 1990s, one of the main land-use issues facing Lyons was how to control growth and in particular limit the expansion of residential growth.

The 1998 Comprehensive Plan called for the establishment of open space buffers around Lyons and emphasized the risks of sprawl. In that time period, there were several additional housing developments wanting to annex into Lyons, including upper Stone Canyon, other hillside developments and the potential for 500 new homes on the Olson property on Red Gulch Road. There were very few zoning and regulatory tools in place to provide safeguards. In response to an advisory question asked to the voters, in 2000 the Board of Trustees, BOT, put in place a restriction that any annexation over 5 acres would need to be subject to a vote, except for town-owned land.

LYONS – The budget is the main instrument we have to achieve town goals. In December every year, the Board of Trustees considers and approves the town’s budget for the next year. Staff and the Board spend many meetings throughout the fall assessing revenues and discussing expenditures and potential capital projects.

LYONS – As is the case with every other town, city and municipality in the U.S., Lyons is struggling to find ways to make more money to pay for services.
The town needs to find ways to add revenue to its General Fund, which pays for most of the town services. The General Fund gets its revenues primarily from sales tax and building permit fees. The General Fund needs more revenue, and while there is money in other town funds, it is illegal under state laws to transfer money from one town fund to another.

LYONS – An important election will be held next year when the entire Board of Trustees, BOT, comes up for re-election. Only one member of the BOT has declared that she will run again and two members of the BOT have positively said that they will not run again. Neither the current trustees nor the mayor are term-limited.

LYONS – I attended the Lyons Community Foundation, LCF, gala last weekend and was reminded of the amazing community we live in. People step up to the plate in many ways to make Lyons the great place that it is. That volunteer spirit is alive and well on our boards and commissions, so I want to devote this month’s column to the over 70 people who serve on town-related boards and commissions.