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Carol Harding
From: Myrna Folsom [myrna_f 2000@yahoo.com] ] lU i i I 05
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 4:32 PM
To: Carol Harding [ILL. 1
Subject: Hodges development rights
7050 Loma Linda Ct.
Longmont CO 80504
30 833 2992
June 8, 2004
To: Weld Board of County Commissioners
Dear Commissioners:
Once again, with the announcement of the acquisition of development rights to the Hodges property,
Boulder County and Longmont governments are undertaking what Weld County government should be
doing or is unwilling to do - preserve agricultural lands and farming through the use of conservation
easements by purchasing development rights.
Re: The previously reported objections of Weld County Commissioners to acquisition of
interests in certain lands by Boulder County in Weld County.
Let's hope that the unfounded fears that were expressed, relating to the creation of parks, over
the acquisition of development rights to the Schlagel, Regnier and Rasmussen properties are not
repeated. For parks to be developed on these lands, ownership would have pass to Boulder County or the
City of Longmont. Again ,what is being proposed are conservation easements, not land acquisitions.
Even where Boulder County has acquired ownership of land, much of it is still leased for farming.
It is an accepted good planning method to maintain non-urban buffers between urban areas. The
Weld County MUD district fails to do this, only putting development restrictions on areas that happen to
be in the flood plain for "limited development". At this time, the greatest danger to the creation of
buffers and loss of prime agricultural land is Weld County's MUD district which permits urban scale
development while putting the burden of providing many services and infrastructure on other
jurisdictions. If approved, Life Bridge will be another example of this.
Furthermore, Weld County government has a record of adding lands to the MUD district even
though the majority of the land within it has not yet been developed and the rationale for its existence no
longer exists [promoting economic feasibility of the St. Vrain Sanitation District in lands not readily
annexable for development under municipal auspices]. We will shortly see whether, unfortunately, Weld
government will continue this policy with the Adler property.
Conceivably, Weld County government is more concerned about possible lost property tax
revenues from developed land than "Smart Growth" land use design.
Perhaps it's time to reconsider and reinitiate referral of the failed Weld County Land
Preservation Tax so that Weld County will have funding to provide buffering between municipalities
and retention of prime farm land. This time, possibly, it can find a way to restrict the minimal sales tax,
and voting on it, to the southwestern part of Weld County where it is most needed. Meanwhile, Weld
County is missing out on funds available to it from GOCO and the Farm and Ranchland Protection
Program.
Fortunately, for the future of the area, if they desire, Boulder County and the City of Longmont
will be able to continue to go forward with the purchase of development rights in Weld County, thus
providing a valuable service to the citizens of the County.
John Folsom
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6/11/2004 2004-1731
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