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7050 Loma Linda Ct.
Longmont CO 80504
303 833 2992
March 2, 1997
Board of Weld County Commissioners
P. O. Box 758
Greeley CO 80632
Ladies and Gentlemen:
COMMISSIONERS -WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY
A recent Daily Times Call article "Open space -closed checkbooks" revealed,-once^c
again, the lack of will, interest and imagination of the Weld County
•
Commissioners in appropriate development of the southwest Weld County area+5n
general, and the Del Camino area in particular. come According
to oo the
r andticle, Hs
Kirkmeyer was concerned where the funding was
for open space use and Mr. Hall said the County is not in a position to buy or
maintain open space. Case closed!
The commissioners only have to look as far asfor Boulder, Larimso
rand Adams
.ry to
Counties for inspiration as how to provide the open space
retain some of the character of this area.
1. Boulder County has an aggressive program, adequately funded by county
revenues and grants, to acquire large open space areas.
2. In Larimer County studies are going on for installment purchase agreements
to acquire conservation easements and land to maintain the character
r3Y .t._r.urural
b_ in the form of land trusts, grant, county or -
area-;. These can be
funded. open space sales t'r•. 'F. C! fund
3. In Adams County studies are being made for an t1pe'
on the ballot next November.
acquisitions to be put onthe
not solely on !-
d conservation easements
�+. Fopen space and a �
The burden r_,- funding has large grant �in:� available or use.
County d5 Great Outdoors {_-i:.._ _present evidence
_
Weld County:ict... only 4y ?�r+1i y, -,.�_. ---...._ matching
++-i �a�'+�
has 1� '� provide some m fC i
' c� i'! Z n -
priority to avail itself of these funds.
of need 1_n establish __ - -- Howard C...._..-. Maryland, _.n_.
L. M distant examples are Grand ... S. nc _.....-. ; ..
Suffolk k County- N.Y. for' successful programs. _ from
_� t i.1 be well, these areas are different
b . .l ' m certain the first r e � C t l r_:n v4ill
Weld County in demgraphics, rh_. s, revenues, etc. , etc. Let's take the attitude that
- the „ j in ass is half full, not half empty approaching this matter.
that private property owners don't want
Interestingly one Commissioner observed; their land for open
to see their rights to develope taken away by marking
space. He might, more accurately, have said that some property owners, who may
be speculators or developers, don't want the County granted privilege of
rezoning taken away, denying them the opportunity of developing land for a
large profit. With every action, the perception increases that the
9 � part of the
commissioners are dedicated to intensive development of this have obeen
County. A more fitting headline for the Times -Call article might
"Open space --closed minds"!
Very truly yours,
•
•
John S. Folsom
I
PL; 9 F./ 970619
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