Bennett’s Growing Pains Should Matter to the Entire I-70 Corridor
For those of us living along the I-70 corridor, including Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail and the rural communities in between, what is happening in Bennett should matter to all of us. These communities may not all be growing at the same speed, but change is moving east, and Bennett gives us a nearby example of what can happen when housing, businesses and population begin growing faster than the services needed to support them.
That is why residents need to pay attention, attend meetings, ask questions and make their voices heard before the big decisions are already made. What is a Bennett issue today could very easily become a Strasburg, Byers or Deer Trail issue tomorrow. We can't say that we want
community and not invest our time and energy into saving what we have.
Bennett is already dealing with those growing pains. The town has been preparing for significant future growth, including new housing and other development. The exact numbers may change over time, but the direction is clear. Bennett is not the same small town it was twenty years ago, and it is unlikely to return to that version of itself. The problem is not simply that growth is happening. The bigger issue is whether the community is prepared for what comes with it.
New homes bring new families. New families bring children. Those children need schools. Residents need roads, water, fire protection, law enforcement, grocery stores and other everyday services. A town cannot continue adding housing and expect everything else to remain the same. That is where Bennett's school situation becomes part of the larger story.
The Bennett School District has seen strong enrollment growth and voters this November will consider Ballot Issue 5A. The measure would authorize up to $125 million in new bond debt for school facilities, including a new high school, expanded Career and Technical Education space, safety improvements and the conversion of the current high school into additional middle school space. That is a major financial decision, and voters should understand what is being proposed, what it will cost and how the money will be used. At the same time, the school situation cannot be separated from the larger growth happening around Bennett. If thousands of new residents eventually move into the area, the schools will have to serve those families somehow. Bennett High School in particular has already taken steps to offset the cost of operations but increasing fees. A recent social media post from a Bennett parent asked a question that many families may be wondering this school year: “What’s with all the student fees?” The parent questioned the $50 junior fee, athletic fees and why a parking pass is
included when a student may not even drive. The post ended with perhaps the most important question: Where does the money go?The increase in these fees will continue to be part of what it means to be a growing community. In the town itself, roads have to expand, and water systems have to keep up. Schools need room. Public safety needs change. Growth brings opportunities, but it also brings responsibilities.
But the fee issue is really only a small part of the larger picture. The bigger concern is whether Bennett can keep up with the growth that town leaders have been allowing and planning for. The data center discussion is another reason residents should continue paying attention. Bennett previously asked for proposals for a large data center project at Muegge Farms. The Town later announced that it would not award a contract through that process and put the idea on ice, but it also left the door open for future discussions or negotiations. However, the Board held a study session on data centers in August. According to the September 2 edition of the I-70 Scout, Bennett Board members also visited a data center in Parker. What that visit means is not clear.
It may have simply been an opportunity for board members to learn more about data centers and what they could mean for a community. It does not prove another Bennett project is moving forward. Still, when residents have already raised questions about a possible data center, it is reasonable for the public to continue paying attention and asking what direction the Town is considering.
This is also why Bennett's growth matters to people who do not actually live inside the town limits. Many families from Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail and the surrounding countryside depend on Bennett for groceries, restaurants, shopping, auto services, activities and other things that are not always available closer to home. Bennett has become something of a service center for the eastern I-70 corridor. If Bennett grows too quickly without enough roads, utilities, schools and services to keep up, the effects will not stop at the town boundary. More residents can mean heavier traffic, more demand on water and infrastructure and more pressure on businesses and services that people throughout the corridor already use.
Growth can also bring good things. It can bring new stores, restaurants, medical services, jobs and opportunities that many people in eastern Adams and Arapahoe counties would welcome. The question should not simply be whether growth is good or bad. The better question is whether that growth is being handled responsibly. For years, people have talked about keeping Bennett the way it was. There is something understandable about that. People value the small-town feeling, the open space and the relationships that come with living in a close-knit community. But at some point, we also have to recognize what is actually happening around us.
The conversation now needs to be about how Bennett manages the growth that is already here and how the rest of the I-70 corridor learns from it. How many homes can our schools handle? Do we have enough water? Can our roads handle more traffic? Who pays for new infrastructure? What kinds of businesses and development fit our communities? Most importantly, are residents being included in those conversations early enough for their voices to matter? Right now, Bennett is dealing with those questions, but I don't think they are doing it well. Tomorrow it could be Strasburg. Then Byers. Then Deer Trail.
The best time for a community to decide what it wants to become is before thousands of homes are built and the services are already struggling to catch up. Bennett's growing pains should be a reminder to everyone along the I-70 corridor that being part of a community also means paying attention, asking questions and staying involved in the decisions that will shape what our towns become.
The I-70 Corridor is not short on events for the whole family. Check out the Corridor Community calendar. This comprehensive calendar hostsevents from the entire corridor, and it is a resource for everyone.
Do you have an event coming up that you would like the whole community to know about?