HomeMy WebLinkAbout810534.tiff tit °
igD OFFICE OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
k Av PHONE (303) 3564000 EXT.200
(\\ P.O.BOX 758
GREELEY,COLORADO 80631
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e• March 25, 1981
COLORADO
W. A. Daigneau, Asst. V.P.
Administrative Services, Facilities
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
RE: Davis Ranch Property Li/
Dear Mr. Daigneau:
In response to your March 13, 1981 letter concerning uisition of interest in
portions of the Davis Property, the Board of County Commissioners took the
matter under consideration. The decision of the Board was not to pursue any
of the options proposed by you; Hopefully the following will allow you to
appreciate why the Board made this decision.
The County decided over 18 months ago to dispose of portions of the Davis
Property, because it was surplus to the county, and put the cash proceeds to
use in acquiring other capital resources, such as gravel rights. The sale of
the property has been delayed several times in the last 18 months due to
consideration of various public groups ' proposals to maintain the property for
public uses, as you proposed. Unfortunately, all such proposals have delayed
ultimate disposition of the surplus property and none have materialized in a
way acceptable to the Board of County Commissioners. As a result, the Board
is now in the process of marketing the property in the open real estate
market to private investors. Based upon the history of delays and the fact
that the Board is currently actively marketing the property, we feel we must
proceed with the sale of the property as scheduled, in order to meet other
urgent county capital needs.
For these reasons, we feel we cannot entertain your proposals and recommend
that if the University of Northern Colorado is interested in the purchase of
the property, you either submit a full cash purchase option through the bid
process and procedure or attempt to negotiate an option with the future owner.
We appreciate your proposal and hopefully you will appreciate our concerns
over past delays with other public entities and the need to liquidate the
Davis property to provide cash for Weld County capital purchases in the near
future. Should you have questions regarding this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me or Don Warden at 356-4000, extension 217.
Very curs ,
Chuck Carlson
Chairman
tkh 810534
cc: Don Warden
Director of Finance and Administration
�0 University of
Department of Facilities and Operations Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado 80639
(303)351-2446/2705
March 13, 1981 ter,„(-)s. 3 y.y',,•`•\x
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Mr. Charles Carlson, Commissioner C of `
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Weld County Board of Commissioners , �
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Centennial Center Cl God
915 10th Street (0E1-
Greeley, Colorado 80631
RE: Davis Ranch Property
Dear Commissioner Carlson:
The University of Northern Colorado wishes to secure an interest in a portion of the Davis
Ranch property, which we understand is presently owned by Weld County. The purpose of
securing this interest is to pursue the University's educational and public service mission
in the areas of biological science, earth science, geography, science education, environ-
mental studies, and other related programs.
The University understands the County is considering the possible sale of a portion of
the Davis Ranch property. The University is also concurrently studying the potential
uses or disposition of an 80 acre parcel it owns south of the Greeley Mall. This latter
parcel was originally obtained for construction of a sports stadium, residence halls,
and/or a "close-in" nature preserve. However, the rapid growth of adjacent land areas
into high-density residential and commercial uses has compromised the original planning
and has required the University's examination of alternative options.
One such option would be the disposal of our 80 acre parcel if the University could provide
field support for its science and environmental programs at the Davis Ranch site. In
addition, due to the unique natural characteristics of the Davis Ranch, the University
wishes to participate as an intermediary for other governmental agencies (such as the
Department of Wildlife, School Districts, etc.) until the potential uses of this site can
be fully evaluated as a natural or educational preserve.
The University has conducted a preliminary evaluation of potential uses for the site and
has identified three priority levels in terms of acquisition. These are shown on the
attached map with proposed uses as follows:
PRIORITY 1: Minimal amount of land needed for University purposes; (outlined in Red on Map) .
Those portions of Sections 1 and 12 located between the Poudre and South Platte Rivers and
bordered to the East by the property of the Division of Wildlife. Added to this would be
the property located South of the County Road that allows access to Section 12 and the
Ranch—house, this latter property consists entirely of forested river—bottom fenced from
the County Road. The specific legal description of this land is: Sz of the SE1 of Section
1, NE14 of Section 12, about 30 acres in the SEA of the NW1 of Section 12. Estimated total
area is about 253 acres.
Mr. Charles Carlson, Commissioner
March 13, 1981
Page Two
Proposed uses of the property:
1. Center for research studies on the biology of floodplain systems in NE Colorado.
Including some good possibilities for joint projects with the U.S. Forest Service
Experimental Station in Fort Collins. Studies would include ecological investigations
of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, etc. University would be especially
interested in the rates of recovery of floodplain communities from grazing by cattle,
or from the periodic floods that occur along the rivers.
2. Use of some of the present agricultural lands for courses in plant culture/horticulture
and as a potential nursery for stock for University landscaping, etc.
3. Use of some of the agricultural land for plant physiology/plant ecology studies where
control and treatment plots are required.
4. Development of some of the agriculture land for production of crops that would enhance
wildlife habitat in the area.
5. Use the site as an outdoor education renter at all levels of education, working with
the UNC Laboratory School, District 6, and organizations like the Boy Scouts, Camp-
fire Girls, etc.
PRIORITY 2: This option is outlined in yellow on the Map and it reflects that addition
of land that would enhance the use of the property as an educational site. The red area
is included as previously shown.
Include that portion of the property located South of the Poudre River and running from
the NW`4 of the NE1 of Section 11 to the SE corner of the SW1 of Section 1. All
agricultural, plowed land South of the floodplain of the Poudre River would be excluded.
Proposed use of this extension:
1. The area includes some excellent floodplain with the potential for development of
excellent cottonwood stands along the river. Several ox-bows exist in the floodplain
that would allow for studies of organisms that use such off-stream areas.
2. This area would make a logical extension to the main study site and would allow for
additional space for development of research/interpretive areas.
3. The area would provide a buffer to the main site and preclude any damage to the river
system from up-stream developments that might reduce the value of priority 1 property.
It would also allow for a tie-in with the County Property North of the River and if
the County eventually disposes of that land this could be a logical extension to that
area.
PRIORITY 3: This option is the purchase of the entire Davis Ranch Property, with the
potential for continued leasing of the property for agricultural cropping, or disposal
of some of the land for urban development.
Mr. Charles Carlson, Commissioner
March 13, 1981
Page Three
Proposed use of this additional property:
1. This total unit purchase would maximize the potential buffer zone around the educa-
tional/research lands. It would allow decisions to be made concerning best uses of
this land to benefit the University. Single ownership would also reduce the disposal
problems of splitting the land for sale, etc. Additionally the land might have
increased educational value in terms of use by other state institutions on a coopera-
tive basis.
The University believes there are several options, with varying degrees of benefit to
both the County and the University, which may be explored if the University's proposals
are deemed feasible. Some options include:
Land Exchange: The University and the County might consider an exchange of land areas
based on indpendently appraised values. The exact amount of land area to change title
would be determined by the appraised value. The County would be free to dispose of the
80 acre parcel as they saw fit and the University could manage its available portion of
the Davis Ranch consistent with the above mentioned objectives.
Lease with option-to-buy: A medium term lease agreement between the County and the
University might be developed for all or portions of the Davis Ranch. As funds became
available or other governmental agencies were able to develop proposals and funding
sources, the University would exercise its options.
Lease with first right-of-refusal: A long term lease might be considered with the County
retaining the right to terminate the lease of the property at specified intervals during
the full term of the agreement. The University would be given the first option to either
purchase the property or relinguish its rights.
The University would like to meet with the Board of Commissioners to discuss its interests
in the Davis Ranch and determine the feasibility of further negotiation. Please contact
me at your earliest opportunity to arrange a mutually convenient time.
Truly yours,
sC
W. A. Daigneau
Assistant Vice President
Administrative Services, Facilities
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