HomeMy WebLinkAbout990723.tiff CCU' .TI
7050 Loma Linda Ct.
c^a ,^ n: 31 Longmont CO 80504
303 833 2992
CLERK March 26, 1999
Weld Board of County CommissionersTO THE
P O Box 758
Greeley CO 80632
Subject: Retention of open space and agricultural land in Weld County
Dear Commissioners:
On behalf of the St. Vrain Concerned Citizens and all of those at the meeting at the Rinn
Church I would like to thank Commissioners Vaad and Baxter, Frank Hempen, Monica
Daniels Mika, Ed Jordan, Drew Sheltinga, Anne Best Johnson and Deputy Martinez for
attending and their comments.
I would like to comment on one of the responses relating to County acquisition of open
space. It was suggested that one problem with proposing County financing of open space
acquisition is that a large part of the County is sparsely populated with immense amounts
of open land. Therefor, these citizens could not be expected to support any tax on all
county taxpayers for the purpose of acquisition or other means of preservation of open
space for use only in those parts of the County under development pressures.
It is agreed, it would take political courage to support specific identifiable taxation for
open space on those who might not immediately benefit from it. It would be comparable
to the objections of the citizens in southwest Weld who disapprove of the Lottery
Conservation Trust Fund money being spent exclusively on Island Grove and Missile
Parks in the Greeley area. Similarly, in the current efforts to impose an road impact fee on
developers, to defray the costs of road improvements other than those adjacent to new
developments, the fear continuously is expressed by local officials that contributions from
one jurisdiction will be expended in another.
. However, in contrast, a general tax, such as the County part of the real estate tax is
acceptable to the citizens, without its uses being identifiable as to the relationship between
burden and benefit to a particular taxpayer group. Even though I have no family member
in a school, I pay over $6000 in real estate taxes to school districts [not to mention that
portion of my state income taxes that is used to support the schools] without objection.
As you are all aware there are many ways besides , say a County wide sales tax, to obtain
funding for open space and the retention of agricultural land. I have described many of
these in previous letters, but, here, would like suggest a funding method that would serve
both the interests of those areas of the County with rapid growth endangering the
preservation of open land and those areas with little growth and large expanses of open
land.
The article on the reverse side of this letter describes Governor Owens' support of the
efforts of rural leaders to attract growth to their areas to offset diminishing tax bases and
their ability to provide needed services. Although specifically referring to areas in
southeast Colorado it could well apply to sparsely populated areas in Weld County. A
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funding method to provide for the needs of both areas [growth and services support on the
one hand for sparsely populated areas - open land preservation on the other for areas
under development pressures] would provide an equitable, politically acceptable solution
to address those needs.
We have seen in the rejection of the application for the Legacy Grant for the trails system
in the St. Vrain drainage area that drawing lines on a map to designate open land buffers
will have to be supported by a plan for acquisition of these lands before it can be
considered seriously. The present County government will be judged by future generations
if it fails to provide methods to retain some of the character and life style of the southwest
part of the County. Once an area is developed there is no going back.
Ve truly yours 9
j
John S. Folsom
to ,a whtcu lost n
Anne Tebef
eesae:Aees sups Caa,w,* The Denver Ws we're net go'
on the floor
Owens backs rural leaders'
efforts to attract growth
Rally at Capitol underscores small towns' needs
Fred Brown Colorado,not just along the Boulder Tun-
tin Pool Capitol Bureau Chief „
Gov. Bill Owens told about U rural Barden Berg, a former Khios County
Coloradans on Wednesday that he's all in commimlooer, suggested that better tale-
favor of steering some growth their way, communication would help more people
Owens spoke at a Stand Up for Rural melte a living while enjoying the open
Colorado rally at the Capitol and bit spaces and good life of rural Colorado.
with him a proclamation recognising the Owens agreed that cable and other high- r
routs efforts to revitalise assail towns. tack links would make heal areas"more g
Members of the ggrop many of them la- viable ••- as we an daft have to live o
eei government officials from southeast- ale the�t Range in order to be part
en Colorado,are interested in attracting of the out century. T
gohilc and private investment. The Republican governor noted that
I went to be a partner in your efforts," towns hi the outdate parts of Colorado al-
Oweus said, noting that his economic de- ready have plenty of roads aohods,water a
telopment efforts will emphasize leas-de- and other bathe birettnctmw.
veined parts of the state. "What we nod are people,"be said f
"I think the future of Colorado revokes 1 Owens rid be laws of one town on the
mead our rural areas," be said. When tuatara PlUg—he declined to name it "
companies express interest in the state,he — in danger of losing its high school be-
ak,"we'll encourage them to look amend cute Its pepulatlen has drained away.
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