LAND USE

Why did county ignore BLM proposal?

Boulder County proposes to buy 2500 acres of BLM land at fair market value estimated to be worth between $7 million and $12 million. There will be a bond issue in November asking voters to pay for it.

Jan Fackrell from the BLM says that the BLM offered the 2500 acres to Boulder County for $3.50 an acre, or $8,750.00, as long as the county develops a plan for public use (i.e.: hiking trails), and guarantees access to a few hundred landowners' properties within the BLM land.

Jan Fackrell says Boulder County ignored BLM's proposal.

Why would they want to pay millions of dollars when they could get it for under $10,000?

In a separate but related issue, County Attorney Leslie Lacy represents the county in a pending civil case in which the county argues that a road used since the 1860s is not public. If the court agrees, 10 or so landowners will lose their access, and have worthless property.

Lacy was quoted in the 8/5/99 issue of the Nederland Mountain Ear as stating: "If the road is declared not public, it will dramatically affect the market value, and then we (the county) could purchase it. We decided to go to trial because we could save the county $1 million."

Boulder County would save $1 million. Ten landowners would lose their land.

The county's reason for proposing to buy BLM's 2500 acres for millions of dollars is clear. They want it on their terms so they can block access to the hundreds of property owners who have depended on access over this BLM land, and then get that private property for a fraction of what it is worth. What a deal!

Is this what we have been reduced to -- open space at any cost?

PATTY BAKER

Member, Land Use Coalition Lafayette