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Town of Winter Park should end discussion about railroad underpass

To the Editor:This is an open letter to members of the Winter Park Town Council.We have been following the Town Council’s discussions regarding the Leland Creek Underpass through the Cornerstone development and the subsequent closing of the current railroad crossing on Kings Crossing.We are recommending that you terminate all consideration of the underpass and leave the current crossings at Kings Crossing and Vasquez Roads as they are for the following reasons:• To divert traffic from the current Kings Crossing to the Cornerstone/Grand Park one will effectively push potential business away from the retail stores and restaurants of Winter Park toward Fraser.• The current crossings are rarely a problem and then only when a Union Pacific train blocks the crossings for an extended time period/• The cost of the underpass is an unnecessary burden on Winter Park taxpayers who are already feeling the effects of a down economy, increased taxes, both property and sales, not to mention their ever-rising costs for their daily needs such as food, clothing and health care.• The history of Winter Park’s dealings with the Cornerstone/Grand Park developers has not been a positive one in terms of creating advantages for the community of Winter Park; we foresee the underpass as one more situation where Winter Park will come out on the short end of the stick.In addition to the above, we take exception to the Town Council’s decision to hold closed discussions on the underpass via executive session, thereby excluding concerned Winter Park residents’ input. This matter does not involve a personnel issue but does involve a taxpayer issue and a bondholder issue, for that matter. Such discussions should always be open to any and all residents so that the Town Council’s deliberations reflect their input. Further, we find it interesting that Drew Nelson’s contract approval was on the open session agenda for a recent meeting but the negotiations regarding the underpass are in “Executive” session: “Resolution No. 1194 – Approving a Contract with Drew Nelson for the Services of Town Manager; Executive Session – Negotiations in accordance with C.R.S. Title 24, Section 6, Subsection 402-4(e) for the purpose of determining positions, strategy, or instructions to negotiators regarding the Leland Creek Underpass.”For all of the reasons explained above, once again, we request that you terminate all discussions regarding the Leland Creek Underpass as it does not do anything for Winter Park residents.Judy & Bill HardardtWinter Park


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