SUBJECT:
Title
Page Property Update & Discussion
Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development
Parks & Recreation
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Sarah Nurmela, AICP, Director of Planning & Development
Luke Bolinger, Director of Parks & Recreation
end
Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
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Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
N/A
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
The Town Council will discuss the future use of the Page Property and how the site contributes to the Town of Erie’s overall vision. The Council may also consider how the future use of the site relates to the intended use of the funds utilized in the site’s purchase.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Provide Town staff with direction for the use of the Town-owned Page Property.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• The Page Property was originally purchased to serve multiple goals of open space and trails, mixed-income residential development, and potential Parks Division facilities.
• Multiple concepts were drafted and reviewed by Council over the past year.
• Town Council may provide Town staff with direction on future use of the site.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The Town of Erie purchased the 46.5-acre Page Property with the goals of expanding open space and trail opportunities, creating a mixed-income neighborhood, and adding space for the Parks and Open Space Division. Staff worked with the Board of Trustees (now Town Council) and Open Space and Trails Advisory Board (OSTAB) to approve the funding for the project.
The $6.6M purchase, completed in October 2023, was funded using equal amounts of Trails, Natural Areas, and Community Character (TNACC) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In January 2024, the Council adopted an ordinance to annex the parcel into the Town of Erie. Zoning action was not taken with the annexation, and the property is currently zoned as Agricultural Holding (AGH).
Planning for an overall site layout began in 2024, along with demolition of existing industrial buildings. The planning and discussion of concepts for the site went through several iterations, including:
• April 2025
Town staff presented three options for a mix of development and open space on April 15, 2025. Town Council asked staff to evaluate additional view corridors and building height impacts.
• September 2025
Staff presented three updated land use alternatives for the Page Property on Sept. 23, 2025. Each alternative included areas defined for Open Space, Public Lands Institutional (PLI), and AGH. The PLI area included a Parks & Open Space facility. Town Council requested that staff evaluate two additional options with no development-one that kept the Parks & Open Space facility and one fully open space.
• November 2025
Staff presented five land use alternatives for the Page Property on Nov. 18, 2025. Three of the options were the same as presented in September 2025 with three-dimensional views of potential development. Two alternatives reflected the options for just Parks and Open Space uses. Town Council did not provide direction on any one alternative at that meeting; however, they did direct staff to not consider building a large Parks and Open Space facility on the site. The meeting materials included a precedent study that illustrated housing typologies that could be appropriate for the site.
Town staff seek direction from Council regarding the future use of the site. If direction leads to no development, the Town Council may choose to review the expenditure of ARPA funds originally spent with the intent to construct a mixed-income neighborhood. Past discussions of the use of these funds included consideration of reimbursing the Town’s Affordable Housing efforts from the TNACC fund.
priorities
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attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation