HomeMy WebLinkAbout20010945.tiff March 8, 2001
To the Board of County Commissioners
Subject: Land preservation sales tax
Dear Commissioners:
The defeat of ballot question 1A in the November 2000 election should not
be the end of County government's efforts to effect one of the goals of the
comprehensive Plan: to support the agriculture industry in the County. Typically,
these land preservation sales tax and similar proposals are defeated when first
presented to the electorate. With information and education the voters come to
realize that preservation of agriculture and incidentally open space, through
purchase of development rights, conservation easements and transfer of
development rights, to name a few methods, further and enhance their own
interests and the interests of the County.
I am not suggesting that County government unilaterally ordain such
programs, but that they be proactive in their support through education,
publicizing, meetings, committees, groups, jawboning, etc., in order to lay the
groundwork for establishment of these programs as have our neighboring
counties and municipal governments. I am aware that one Commissioner was
quoted as being opposed to 1A. I would hope, that on further consideration, he
may change that position. Enclosed is an article from the 3/08/01 edition of the
Rocky Mountain News that might be instructive and persuasive.
Tanis-you
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2001-0945
Deal will —, ,- '
preserve . .� r 4 . .. ,.
edi farm 1
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on river -�_ ' — ,,
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it County buys family's E ,
development rights l
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11 One of the eftl along ge South +tat the Merino t k
v space Cewarw �aM�on.xeoa.*M+.swrnweaf�p„�
�te pa a left oo he South ~ 't' a ettMt M es lea
eriairy cows tatter than bounce.ue all° ing to protect,"McIntosh said.
omit Adams County Under the agreement, whichter:for open space.The tax raises.
aaAdan , tws_ dosed Monday, the McIntosbes 3ti The
ouyeas
day that it has Pitt- an never develop their The county contributed a purchase.
meat ;tram; 8Se1 ' but they can contnue to I�rty.m. Great on toward the , hich
rights on the 245-acre The Private Trust for Public uses statelotte Colorado, which McIntosh Dairy, southwest *of land which negotiated lottery money for
Brighton. Thethe y olam space The ?I's, contributed
Riverdale Property on
estimates that McIntosh could $1 million. The 1I'ust for Public
bend is incl piatte that udes a scenic have received $4.2 million if he Landis contributing
home to many 5 y i! had sold the property to develop "The McIntosh famijyyl bas
malt the McIntosh said be isn't made a great financial sac ce and in
ePace county's open abort the 34.2 million thew Prervgri this ut open sect
acqutstion sad a ke piece cause he never � he. Countyagricultural ne Commissioner Ted
-,jii regional plant/ to create a ing to developers. sue' tckla d have
ve
continuous
habitat corridor along _ "We wanted toStrickland y It Would It
Platte. ourPreserve it i for been very easy for them to soo-
he
the Ken The al lnbrings
sh $nd 2.79 million
mllion everything. Iht was said.h taa higher land valuesmb etha��ri of the
The family hason the the on ng the open spacedevelopmentMuthe �s surround led
since 1906. it was an rowing corn,
is used
business sons coming into the sion forme." easy tash turns into Mein-
"My
business sonow
there's
llbe the fifth The McIntosh farm is the first l animals. e quite a bit county purchase since voters in
of heritage there that we're try- 1999 approved a 0.2 ---
PP percent sales r+ one Mrweatttnwenn
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