HomeMy WebLinkAbout990042.tiff WELD COUNTY
COF},,117inurr:
7050 Loma Linda Ct.
1999 JAN 2 I AM 49 Longmont CO 80504
303 833 2992
CLERK January 20, 1999
Comm'Weld Board of County ssionersTO THE BOARD
P O Box 738
Greeley CO 80632
This is to request that the enclosed letter of January 20, 1999, subject: Fulfilling intent of
MUD Plan. and the Letter to Editor of January 19, 1999 regarding the death rate on Weld
County roads be made part of the record of the next commissioner bi-weekly meeting.
V y your,
John S. Folsom
5(111
Q ShI 990042
7050 Loma Linda Ct.
Longmont CO 80504
303 833 2992
January 19, 1999
To the Editor:
THIS IS A RECORD WELD COUNTY DOEN'T WANT!
Weld County, last year, experienced the highest number of road deaths of any county in
the state. This is even more alarming when you consider that Weld County has only 6% of
the state population yet had 10% of the road related fatal accidents in Colorado. This
statistic is not an anomaly as Weld has had this dubious distinction in previous years.
Lack of seat belt use and driving while under the influence are given as factors in fatal
accidents although these causes have decreased in other counties. Speeding and careless
driving on Weld's miles of unpaved roads are given as other causes.
Yet, I have not read any comments by or concerns of the county commissioners relating to
the disproportionate number of traffic deaths in this county. The commissioners are the
officials who pass the laws [ordinances] and, in addition, administer them and all county
departments. There is no indication that they have initiated a study to seek some solutions
to this high rate of traffic deaths that seems peculiar to Weld County. Although some of
these deaths occurred in municipal jurisdictions, they preponderantly were on county
roads. The commissioners might investigate some of the following possibilities:
1. Have more sheriff's deputies to police the roads. The one deputy that is on duty at any
given time in the four districts of a 4000 square mile county spend as much time on paper
work as they do in performance of their duties. The state patrol has more than its hands
full patrolling the state and interstate highways leaving it little time to help on county
roads.
2. Reduce the speed limit on graded county roads. It is fine to drive on these roads at 55
mph until you must suddenly stop or get in a sandy stretch or sharp curve where you find
you have little control of the vehicle. Many people tend to drive in the center of these
roads since there is no striping. This works until you come over a rise or around a curve
and find that someone coming the other way is doing the same thing.
3. With the rapid increase in population in Weld County, and resultant increase in traffic
volume, some of these graded roads have sufficient usage to meet the criteria for being
paved to make them safer. As usual Weld government declares poverty despite increasing
tax revenues.
4. Flashing lights could be put atop full stop signs in remote areas. With solar panels it is
not necessary to have power available
5. Other ideas: Compulsory driver training, restrictions and additional requirements for
young drivers as proposed in House Bill 99-1158 now before the legislature, retesting
older drivers, having reduced speed limits at night, multilingual signs. Many of these and
others ideas are controversial, especially when they affect one personally.
Many accident causes, such as driving and drinking, rely on the personal responsibility of
individuals and there are, unfortunately, too many who are irresponsible. Yet, if only for
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the attention it brought to the problem, it is the duty of our commissioners to seek ways to
reduce the carnage on Weld County roads. And that goes for you and me too!
After writing this letter I went to a meeting of the I-25 Group which was attended by
various area mayors and four of the Weld county commissioners. An official from Mead
brought up this problem of Weld traffic deaths to the commissioners present. Three
commissioners had no comment at all and the fourth responded in a defensive, non
positive manner to the idea of an investigation. It was even suggested that since the topic
of Weld road deaths was not on the agenda or part of the mission of the I-25 Group, it
should not have been brought up at all!
John S. Folsom roadeath.doc
ST. VRAIN CONCERNED CITIZENS
7050 Loma Linda Ct.
Longmont CO 80504
303 833 2992
January 20, 1998
Weld Board of County Commissioners
P.O.Box 758
Greeley CO 80632
Subject: Fulfilling Intent of MUD Plan
Dear Commissioners:
The MUD Structural Land Use Map 2.1 indicates areas of Limiting Site Factors in the
MUD district. Suitable uses for such areas are described as being agricultural production,
recreational activities and parks, or other functions that cannot damage or be damaged by
the constraining site factors, in both the Weld County Comprehensive Plan, Ordinance 191
[P3-15] and the MUD Plan-Ordinance 191, 2.2.5. These site factors would preclude any
industrial, commercial or residential uses.
However, we note that there are presently being processed five applications that propose
actual or possible future industrial, commercial or residential development in areas
depicted as having Limiting Site Factors on Map 2.1. These are for Sherwood-Hanover,
Hamm Pit, Blue Heron, Idaho Creek, and Kobobel Pit. County government has already
approved the Milky Way business park on land designated as having Limiting Site Factors.
We would hope in these five cases, and others in the future, the Commissioners will
conform to the requirements of the Comprehensive and MUD Plans by permitting only the
uses stated in them.
With respect to the 180 acres of parks proposed in section 4.4.6.6 of the MUD Plan, they
are clearly stated as being Neighborhood and Community Parks. As the projected park tq
be connected to Barbour Ponds State Park would serve statewide visitors, it would
clearly not meet the intent of being for neighborhood or community purposes.
Additionally, County government should not rely on the City of Longmont's parks at
Sandstone and Union Reservoir to avoid developing these 180 acres of parks to which it
has committed.
On the reverse side of this letter is another example of what other jurisdictions are doing in
regard to land use to preserve the character and serve the residents of their areas.
Very truly yours.
St. Vrain Co Citizen
John . so J �
PC: Monica Daniels Mika, Weld County Council MUDpark2.doc
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By Charley Able: •v U! •
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News Stat'Writer, ,! yr
GOLDEN — Jefferson-County commissioners _
wrapped up the year with six'open-spac,acyuisi f'
tions,four of which represent gifts,to the people of • r
the county. ' '' ' '
Commissioners accepted-donated parcels total-
JEFFERSON Ong more than 630 acres in three
areas •of the county, during •their
COUNTY last meeting of•1998. They ap-
proved-acquisition of an option on.
a conservation easement for another 170 acres-' i
near Colorado 93 on North Table Mountain. - I
"I think it is very significant,"said Ralph Schell,'` f
Jefferson County's director of open space. "The 1
acquisitions we have ahead of us are prime candi
dates for conservation easements. Donations fit ;
into a different category, allowing us pick up some
it pretty good,valuable donations.
{ ,."When you look at the Mountain Backdr.pp-or .
any of the properties we are seeking to-acquire,:
(donation)has benefits to the landowner as well as is
-
us.There are tax-break benefits with a donation."
Schell said the donorsrof1the tandrwish to remain s
anonymous t-y f a, ...' c ":.' f
The Mountain Back 'r3 project-t4:at>w etfortc,t
involvin_�five countiesv- s serve•Frontittiti'•d%• .
r! ,
y m ertt• ' om, . mad' 4 lilt o41th a YPIWi?g
Conse ation?ea ern' 1.t.d 1 sat. o icitle.I ,
•'ucounty to presecve''ruAI. mil. i +s"orN.Eoiltnght
.purchase:`.. sxf� F.�,'�a:c ��, x
t
-The easements bar development but leave the „
land in the hands of owners,'often-remaining in . ,k
agricultural production ? ' x
lot of the Mann ` .. drop'prgperties-are
if,,,,.,c-A
.,ranches,rso thenranc . V'htm�e.to •,
+,ranch 'Schell'said..If. .,, 'Sfthe,viewshed,-•.wildlife'habib •.,
buy the entire ranch." ' ' ,.,,
The preservation is a' phs :
lower price in most cases Schell saidr; i. B •
The donations disclosed Tuesday'in udel, q , isacres from two IandownesaaL M`oluit tindo":n
Tiny Town and two parccels'1—bng of 547 5 acres
' 'and another of 25 acres=m.Coal Creek Canyon.? v
County_ Administratoejthn'1-Iolliday said'such ` .._
donations speak well for the landowners. - "fir .-
"It is a wonderful gesture from people who are t 4'
residents of the county to come forward with a subs , '
stantial gift: the use of their land," Holliday-said': ,-
"It really touches me and I know it touches-th 44-,..
board (of•county commissioners) and others,".as ,
welt, since the ownershi'Of,land is such an impor
tant face ofour;society t. Y. - _';t2, •
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