March, 1999

Note: printed in every major Boulder County newspaper except the Boulder Daily Camera.

Graham Billingsley's guest opinion posits Mark Heath's "allegations" as ridiculous. He attempts to explain why my homesite was approved but my driveway proposal was not. He states that the county recommended building closer to the road, but I "insisted on the remote location." This is absolutely false. Repeatedly, myself and Ron Jones, asked county officials what would be acceptable, and repeatedly they refused to make any suggestion. They said: "Make a submittal and we will review it." Please note that my first submittal has already cost me thousands of dollars for engineering reports, expert opinions and legal fees. Also, please note that the county and I are supposed to be "working together," through various meetings and hearings, on the proposal. I own no approved building sites closer to the road.

The homesite was owned and lived on by Ron Jones since 1971 and then by me since 1985. We each in turn loved the spot and wanted to live there. I only want a small cabin/home with the necessary civilized amenities. I do not want a 5,000 square foot monstrosity with an acre of glass, perched upon a barren prominence. I do not want to become the view. Both home and driveway would be hidden.

Mr. Billingsley claims there would be a scar, disrupting wildlife. Nonsense. Of course, any driveway is a scar. I am only trying to improve and extend an existing mining road. Wildlife already use the existing roadway to reach water holes. Wildlife are sensitive to people and dogs, not scars. This leads to the larger question of whether the county will allow me to exist on my own land.

Several times, while "working together" on this review process, Ron and I were told: "They will never allow anyone to build on Bighorn Mountain, but don't tell anyone I said that." Now, Mr. Billingsley states that the county has never denied an application for a residential building permit. What am I, chopped liver? I was never even allowed to progress to the stage of a building permit application. I challenge Mr. Billingsley to show us an approved permit for ANYTHING on a so-called natural landmark.

Land relegated to vacancy via new regulations is defacto open space. This is why we need HB1192. It only requires the county to purchase land it wishes to preserve for wildlife.

Liz Weed