A petition to repeal Buena Vista’s recent annexation of Cottonwood Meadows was declared “sufficient” by Town Clerk Diane Spomer yesterday, making it increasingly likely that voters will decide the matter. Spomer reviewed the petition submitted Dec. 16 by opponents of the annexation and found that 121 of 128 signatures were voters registered in Buena Vista. Opponents needed just 88 valid signatures, she said.
The Villages at Cottonwood Meadows is a subdivision proposed by John Cogswell northwest of Buena Vista along Cottonwood Creek. An annexation of Cottonwood Meadows last year was narrowly defeated by voters after critics forced a referendum on the issue. Cogswell reapplied for annexation again this year after a mandatory 12-month waiting period.
Opponents of the annexation are critical of the way in which water is allocated for the development. Advocates point to a unanimous conditional approval of the project by the board of trustees, broad support within the community, changes which to respond to criticisms of earlier plans and a phased approach which gives the Town the ability to “disconnect” the annexation if certain conditions aren’t met by the developers.
According to statute, any registered Buena Vista voter may file a protest against the petition within the next 40 days if they believe the petition was flawed. Grounds for protest include improper collection of signatures or incorrect language on the petition.
If the petition survives the protest period, Town trustees must either repeal their decision or submit it to a vote of the people. Because no special election may be held within 90 days of a regular election, it’s likely that the matter would be included on the mail-in ballot for the regularly-scheduled April election, according to Spomer.
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