REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES – INTRODUCTION
CITIZENS GROUP LAUNCHES SERIES ON LAND USE ABUSE IN BOULDER COUNTY
Beginning tomorrow, and appearing every other Wednesday for weeks to come, the Land Use Coalition will print the real life experiences of landowners caught up in the land use process in Boulder County.
“REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES” will tell it like it is!
READ HOW:
- THE BOULDER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BLOCKED ONE COUPLE’S ACCESS ROAD, GIVING THE PROPERTY OWNERS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SELL THEIR LAND TO THE COUNTY AS OPEN SPACE - THEN MADE THEM SIGN AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
- THE BOULDER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MERGED TWO LOTS INTO ONE WITHOUT TELLING THE LANDOWNER – WHILE STILL TAXING HIM FOR BOTH PARCELS. THEN, AFTER ADMITTING WRONGDOING, THE COUNTY MOVED THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN the TWO LOTS SO THE NEIGHBORING HOUSE WOULD HAVE TO BE BUILT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE LANDOWNER’S BEDROOM WINDOW.
- THE BOULDER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THWARTED ONE WOMAN’S PLAN TO BUILD A MODEST EARTH-FRIENDLY HOME, RENDERING HER LAND WORTHLESS – ALL TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBOR’S VIEW.
AND THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG!
WHY THIS SERIES?
- To create awareness of land use problems.
- To open up a dialogue between citizens and government officials, empowering the people to speak out.
- To initiate land use reform, making the system more fair and equitable.
- To let citizens know what they can do to make a difference.
WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH?
- Land use regulations that are reasonable, consistent and environmentally sound.
- Boulder County purchases of Open Space from willing sellers at a fair price.
- A cooperative and productive relationship between the County and landowners.
- Open records and open hearings.
- Prompt and effective notification to landowners of significant changes to property rights.
- Straight talk from our elected government officials – accountability to all of us.
The Land Use Coalition is a grass-roots, non-profit, non-partisan watchdog organization dedicated to informing, supporting and protecting Boulder County citizens and their property rights – while also supporting Open Space, wildlife preservation and reasonable land use regulations and practices. The LUC is not a front for big developers or builders – nor is it pro-growth.
The LUC works for the “little guy” - striving to balance environmental concerns with the rights of individual landowners. The Land Use Coalition is on the move:
- Lobbying for statewide legislation to protect landowners.
- Monitoring local land use regulations.
- Notifying landowners of new regulations that might affect their property rights.
- Providing support, resources and referrals for individual landowners who are going through the Site Plan Review process.
- Encouraging communication and trust between local landowners and Boulder County.
WE BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARDS.
READ OUR STORIES – THEN DECIDE FOR YOURSELVES!
For more information contact the Land Use Coalition at info@landusecoalition.org or call 303-666-7903.
Last updated January 24, 2002.
URL: http://landusecoalition.org/real_people1.htm
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and Patty Baker
and Sawtooth Communications.
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