NEDERLAND — Nederland took a few more steps closer to acquiring Eldora Mountain Resort on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, when the Board of Trustees (BOT) established some of the framework for the functions required for the operation of the resort. 

Trustees first approved Resolution 2026-12, authorizing Town Manager Cain to act on behalf of the Town and of the Mountain Recreation Enterprise Fund to enter into a professional services agreement with Plante Moran. 

Plante Moran is one of the largest audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management firms in the United States.

Plante Moran is to provide “operational transition planning and project management support,” which includes administrative work in coordination with state processes, and to define “Day One operating models for HR and Finance functions,” for an amount between $90,000 and $110,000.  

The Scope of Work defines some of these models. Regarding HR, Plante Moran would create and adopt processes for recruiting, onboarding and offboarding, training and development, timekeeping and payroll, benefits management, and an employee handbook. 

For Finance and Accounting, Plante Moran would create and adopt processes for reporting and consolidation, annual budgeting, cash and treasury management, accounts payable and receivable, and fixed assets and capital projects.

The BOT then approved Resolution 2026-13, authorizing “emergency expenditures” for the Mountain Recreation Enterprise Fund in order to immediately utilize funds required for operational continuity of the ski area 

“Because the timing of the acquisition and the immediate operational needs of the Resort could not have been reasonably foreseen during the 2026 budget adoption process, the current budget does not include sufficient appropriations to support initial operations,” the Town Manager’s report reads. 

As the Town would need to enter into a supplemental budget process—drafting and formally adopting the budget through the municipal system—the funds would not be made available in time before Nederland completes its acquisition of Eldora Mountain Resort.

Therefore, Town staff had determined that the need for the funds in order to meet the operational requirements of the ski area constituted an emergency. 

Though the report did not provide an estimated amount required, or an itemized list of the operational functions that would constitute an emergency if not immediately funded, Section 4 of the Resolution did specify that “all expenditures shall be fully documented and tracked by Town financial staff, reported regularly to the Board, and incorporated into the supplemental budget to be adopted.” 

One more time around 

The BOT spent the majority of their meeting deliberating over the same two aspects of the 1st Street Overlay District that caused so much strife the last time it was discussed—for two hours and 30 minutes—back on March 3: building height limit, and the size of mandatory third floor stepbacks. 

The purpose of the overlay district is to set design standards and zoning specifications for any new development to be considered for Nederland’s downtown area.

Ordinance 886—establishing the overlay district and all of its standards—was drafted by the Planning Commission over a two-year process that started with the creation of the Town’s Subarea Plan, which itself was drafted from hours of public engagement and consultation with major stakeholders. 

When Ordinance 886 was last discussed by the BOT in March, Trustees directed Town staff to draft an ordinance establishing an allowable maximum build height of 35 feet for all roof types, and a maximum building width of 200 feet, based on the recommendations of Town staff and of Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Chief Charlie Schmidtmann. 

But despite the Board establishing these parameters, they were never cemented in the ordinance, and the ordinance was never voted on before the municipal election and the subsequent change to the Trustee roster.

As a result of this, the Board took another go at the layered discussion surrounding building height and stepback requirements. 

Schmidtmann went before the Board again on Tuesday to reiterate that the District’s current equipment is rated as sufficient in covering 35-foot tall buildings, and that anything taller would result in the NFPD requiring a second truck with a 75-foot ladder.

Planning Commission Chair Jim Reis repeated his position to Trustees, imploring them to consider the work already done by Commissioners and other subject matter experts. 

Ron Mitchell—owner of the majority of properties in the downtown area—also returned to make a three-minute comment as a member of the public, repeating his claim that he would not be able to complete a multimillion dollar development partnership for the properties in question if forced to design within a 35-foot building height limit.   

As Trustees began to note that the meeting was moving close to its 10 p.m. deadline, they wrapped up their discussion and a motion was made to approve Ordinance 886 with the established building height limit of 35 feet, and a required six-foot third-floor stepback for all new developments within the 1st Street Overlay District.

The motion narrowly passed by a vote of 3 - 2.   

The Nederland Board of Trustees meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. and can be attended either online or in person at the Nederland Community Center. 

For more information go to: https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/board-of-trustees.