HomeMy WebLinkAbout982451.tiff YIELD COUNTY
ST. VRAIN CONCERNED Cf 'kaNS 30
[Formerly St. Vrain Rural Impact District]
7050 Loma Linda Ct. CLERK
Longmont CO 80504 TO THE BOARD
303 833 2992
November 26, 1998
Weld Board of County Commissioners
P 0 Box 857
Greeley CO 80632
Subject: Proposed Multijurisdictional Trail system
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Recently, there was an informational meeting where the recently proposed trail system
in the southwest Weld area was discussed. A couple of dozen local people were there,
along with a representative from Weld County Planning Services.
It has been stated that the idea for this regional trail system originated in a
"brainstorming" session among the county commissioners. It would be a means to give the
perception that the commissioners were concerned about preserving some of the pristine,
rural nature of the southwestern part of the County and employ it for recreational
activities. This, in the face of the current rapid development now going on. Development
which the commissioners continue to foster by means of their expanding Mixed Use
Development [MUD] district.
Some dotted lines had already been put on the MUD map 2.1 representing a proposed
trail system along the drainages of St. Vrain and Boulder Creeks. The idea grew from this
nucleus to extending the trail system through existing and proposed parks, trails and open
spaces in local municipalities' urban growth areas and into Boulder County. That county,
as we know, has a well developed system. Elements of the system would be, for instance,
Longmont's Sandstone Ranch and Spring Gulch properties, Barbour Ponds State Park and
its planned extension east of I-25, Firestone's fragmented Rails to Trails properties and
areas in Erie's ambitious rural preservation and open space program.
Problem! There are, presently, many more missing links than there publicly owned links
in this scheme. Amazingly, the solution proposed by the County is to use County roads to
provide the missing links in the trail system, instead of the natural, idyllic areas along St.
Vrain and Boulder Creeks as originally proposed. Instead of hiking or biking in such a
scene, you would be pedaling or jogging alongside a road with much passing, speeding
traffic if paved, breathing the dust and avoiding gravel thrown by traffic if unpaved, all
mostly contained in a narrow 60 foot wide right of way, and having someone's front yard
as the view as you moved along.
The County is applying for a Legacy grant of State money to get this project under
way. If obtained, this will not go into land acquisition or improvements, but studies, etc.
Apparently, County government is not about to come up with funding necessary to built
the system where it makes sense. The excuse is now given that a trail along these creeks
would disturb habitats and eco-systems. We all know that these habitats are going to be
destroyed, anyway, as a result of the ongoing gravel mining operations. We know that the
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rehabilitation programs that are required after extraction is completed will result in a series
of lakes and berms, not the original wetland environments. Local municipalities are
farsighted enough to require trail sites as a part of new developments. The current plans
submitted for development in MUD district sites have no such provision. Adding to the
planning confusion, the NFRTAFS group is studying a future transportation system from
Fort Collins to Denver. It proposes to use the Firestone rails to trails property as part of
one rail route. Hikers may find themselves sharing the trail with trains traveling 65 miles
per hour.
To have a true trail system where it belongs, will require adequate funding for land
acquisition and improvements. Apparently, County government is not about to propose
this by, for instance, charging one cent on every ten dollar purchase, as is being done
elsewhere. Politically, this would be anathema. County government fears an adverse
reaction from the large Greeley population and other county areas, if moneys, from which
they were taxed, were substantially used in the southwest part of the County. Conversely,
County government is not concerned if GOCO money it gets from the State is principality
used in Greeley's Island Park facilities. Objections from southwest Weld citizens do not
figure large in their political equation. Nor is County government concerned if the tax
revenues generated by development in this area are used elsewhere in the County.
We hope that County government will rethink its approach, so that a meaningful, usable
system of trails can be realized. Full realization of this, of course, must be in conjunction
with retention of regional open space and continued agricultural use of adjoining lands.
St. Vain Concerned Citizens
John S. Folsom
PC: Monica Daniels Mika
PS: Please make this letter part of the record of the next Commissioners' meeting.
trails2.doc
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