LYONS CORNER

Mayor Angelo discusses new projects in Lyons, improvements along Broadway, and affordable housing

By Nicholas Angelo, Mayor of Lyons Redstone Review

LYONS – We are well over 750,000 deaths from Covid in the U.S. Please be careful, wear masks in crowded public spaces and I can’t emphasize how important it is to be vaccinated. Winter is fast approaching, we will be inside more and for longer periods, take precautions.

It is the most exciting time to be living in Lyons, be prepared for changes. Hopefully by next month’s article, we will have started our affordable housing project. It will be an opportunity for many of our professionals including musicians and artists to apply for brand new apartments or a single-family home rental. This has been a project that many trustees and staff have been working on since the flood in 2013.

The projects both slated and proposed for downtown are also very exciting. Moss Rock Development will be coming forth with a proposal for the hotel downtown. If we amend the lodging tax, which was originally set low to accommodate camping, what could be generated by the hotel lodging tax will be substantial. If we are thoughtful and creative the camping tax could remain the same. Raising the lodging tax will take an election, the next municipal election in April would be the appropriate timing.

The Broadway improvement grant will create over 50 more parking spaces downtown and be an opportunity for buildings on Main Street to be developed and extended to Broadway. Perhaps the Broadway improvement grant funds could also be used to re-install the sprinkler system at the Depot.

There have been suggestions of converting the Depot to headquarters for our Creative District which has been proposed and is being considered in this year’s budget. The use of the Depot for art shows, lessons for youth, seniors or anyone else interested has been mentioned. No final decisions have been made, but will be shortly. Additional uses such as a recording studio which could double as a lesson room have been mentioned as well. Have an additional idea, then bring it forward, now is the time.

There have been additional Main Street projects that have been proposed. They are in their infancy and as they progress

there will be updates forthcoming. We are working on a multimodal trail from McConnell Dr. to Hwy. 36 and hopefully soon under the bridge, which will connect to the Eastern Corridor. There have been several additional annexation inquiries on the EC and our original EC project, with town participation has applied for a grant to extend utility services. Please fill out the Comprehensive Plan surveys. It is important because it is an opportunity to participate in the guiding Angelo growth document for Lyons for the next ten years. Your ideas are important. I know I’m most likely leaving something out. I always do. A wonderful Thanksgiving wish to everyone. There is much to be thankful for. Stay healthy everyone.

Nick Angelo became a Lyons Trustee in 1996 and in 1998 he won his first term as Mayor. His current term as Mayor began in April, 2020. He and his wife Candace, a local artist, live in Lyons.

Tips to stay safe while heating your home this winter

By Marya Washburn Redstone Review

LYONS – According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), almost half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February in the United States. From 2014 to 2018, home heating equipment was the second leading cause of home fire and home injuries, second only to cooking fires.

So as winter approaches, our team at Lyons Fire Protection District wants to remind the community about ways to stay safe during the colder months in Colorado.

When temperatures get colder, it’s normal for people to find more ways to keep their homes warm and comfortable. So, please take a moment to ensure that your home heating equipment is maintained and safe for the winter months.

Here are a few tips from the NFPA site, which you can find in full (along with a lot of other useful information) here: https://www.nfpa.org. • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. • Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. • Never use your oven to heat your home. • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions. • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. • Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters. • All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. • Install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning. If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company. • Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home. • Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.

Marya Washburn is the public information officer and a Lieutenant with the Lyons Fire District.

Sharing what makes LyonsThrive

By Kim Mitchell Redstone Review

LYONS – The months of November and December are a time to reflect on what we are grateful for as well as what we celebrate. As we look back on the past year, many of us will agree, “Wow. What a year.” For the past year, there have been many challenges, yet our businesses and residents have persevered and come together. This summer many of us celebrated the return of music festivals, summer concerts, new restaurants and shops while sharing what we love about Lyons. For many of us we are grateful for our families, the season’s harvest, traditions, friends, our small community and more. This year, as we slowly begin to gather again with family and friends, let’s celebrate and share gratitude for this wonderful place we call home, Lyons.

Part of the Lyons pride which we demonstrate every day is reflected in our community values. Now is the perfect time for residents and businesses to share their opinions, ideas and vision for the future of Lyons via the comprehensive planning process, LyonsThrive, which is currently gathering community input.

What is a comprehensive plan? Why does it matter? A comprehensive plan communicates a community’s goals and objectives, providing a blueprint for future land use, and serving as the basis for zoning, subdivision, and land use codes.

The Comprehensive Plan should also reflect the community’s values. Whether you are a long-time resident or a relative newcomer, each of us has a unique perspective.

What brought you to the Lyons area? What do you love about our community? What have you enjoyed most (or do you remember) about growing up in Lyons? Have you learned something noteworthy about the history of Lyons and the surrounding area that you’d like to share?

The Story Wall of the LyonsThrive Comprehensive Plan is a place to share perspectives and learn about others’ perspectives.

The Comprehensive Plan establishes a “big picture” direction for the Town and provides recommendations for different areas of the community. Use the Ideas Map as a place to share your ideas and see what others are thinking as well. It's meant to be an interactive and fun way to get you thinking about your neighborhood and the broader community that calls Lyons home. What do we like about Lyons that we would like to see stay the same? What would we like to see change in the future? As we gather in the coming month with much to be grateful for, please take a few moments and visit LyonsThrive.com to share your ideas on the Story Wall and Ideas Map. Help create the future vision for Lyons.

Kim Mitchell is Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Town of Lyons, and has called Lyons home since 2009.

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