Erie commission to hear Coal Creek property rezoning proposal
The proposal would designate 32.5 acres as Reserved Open Space and 14 acres as Agricultural/Open Space; the Town says only trail connections are planned for now.
The Erie Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing Oct. 7 on a proposal to rezone the Town-owned, 46.5-acre Coal Creek property at 1025 WCR 1½. The change would replace Agricultural Holding zoning with 32.5 acres of Reserved Open Space and 14 acres of Agricultural/Open Space, according to the Town’s agenda and staff report.
The larger Reserved Open Space portion would be limited to open-space and park uses. The Town’s abbreviated zoning comparison lists a broader range of uses for Agricultural/Open Space, including agriculture, governmental offices, stables and some animal-related uses. Those zoning options would not, by themselves, establish plans to add those uses to the property.
Town staff says no new programming or improvements are proposed now beyond trail connections. Any future programming or facilities would be considered later with community, Town Council and staff input. At a Sept. 10 neighborhood meeting, staff described trail connections on the property’s east and west sides and said there was no current Parks capital budget item for improvements, according to the meeting notes.
The Town purchased the property in October 2023 for $6.6 million, using equal amounts from Trails, Natural Areas and Community Character funds and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, the staff report says.
The Oct. 7 hearing is part of the process leading to a Planning Commission recommendation to Town Council.