Friends of the Foothills UPDATES

Posted 01/10/12:

New Online Documentary About Urban Sprawl in Jefferson County:

No Water to Waste

VIEW THE FILM:

Here is what CINQ recently wrote about No Water to Waste:

"No Water to Waste, is a brilliant documentary by local film makers Gabrielle Louise and Chris Garr that reveals the concentrated and organized effort by local politicians and developers to push sprawl in Jefferson County. In the name of money, pro-development forces want to take more water from the Colorado and Frasier Rivers, damaging these ecosystems, and expand Gross Dam. Developer's plans would build more homes on Open Land, create more traffic congestion on sub-par public roads, further degrade our air quality - AND build a private toll road on contaminated land (Rocky Flats), threatening public health. This film is about the on-going shame, lies and deceit being perpetuated on our community by developers and unscrupulous politicians - in the name of profit.

No Water to Waste will be featured in the Colorado Environmental Film Festival this February 24th. Additionally, a preview for the film and some live director's commentary will be featured at an event January 20th to help promo the film and the festival. I'm playing some live entertainment for the evening to compliment the films being previewed. More information on both events is listed here: www.nowatertowaste.com/showings.html.

Also, check out the film's web site www.nowatertowaste.com. Take a moment to make a contribution to one of the orgs. Every penny goes to advocacy. Special thanks to Gabrielle and Chris for their extraordinary effort."

Posted 12/03/11:

Golden Officials, Residents Bristle at Plan for Rural Land

Click HERE to read the story from the Your Hub section of the Denver Post, 11/23/11.

There was another story on the North Plains Area Plan acceptance by the Planning Commission reported in last week's Golden Transcript, but a free link was not yet available.

Posted 11/21/11:

Jeffco Planning Commission Accepts North Plains Area Plan as Drafted

The Jeffco Planning Commission voted to accept the North Plains Area Plan as drafted. Prior to their vote there was some discussion about open space vs. commercial land use acreages in 1989 and now, "jobs" and work force population vs. jobs in Jeffco. No discussion of impacts on those of us living here and no indication that they considered the high natural resource value and character of the corridor. They confirmed that the area 30 activity area (urban development) should be enlarged from the 1989 plan and not be designated as a rural area as we had proposed.

I think we did a great job of communicating our desire to keep the Foothills Highway Corridor (SH 93) free of urban development., but the Planning Commission did not get it. It appears we have some work yet to do. More later.

Posted 11/10/11:

The Planning Commission Meeting on the Draft North Plains Area Plan

Thank you to all the concerned folks who attended the November 9th Community Meeting . . .

On Wednesday evening, Nov 9, 2011, the Jeffco Planning Commission held a public hearing on the draft North Plains Area Plan. In that plan, the Jeffco Planning staff has recommended that area 30 be an urban activity center - this an area of over 1,000 acres west of SH 93 from 56th ave north to approximately 70th Ave. This would create a new urban development almost twice the area of a small city.

We had a good turn out of citizens opposing this planned sprawl. Thanks to all who were able to take the time and speak out to keep the Foothills Highway Corridor (SH 93) and the mountain backdrop and foreground free of such development.

The public testimony lasted so long that some time around 10 PM, the Commission decided to adjourn and make a decision on the issue at their next meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6:15 PM at the Taj. Public comment was closed and the commission will take no further comments.

So many of you did such a great job of expressing our shared concerns, that I find it difficult to think that the Commission might decide for the economic development interests rather than for the people who testified for their community. An important point, I heard no one testify against responsible, job producing development - it is a question of what goes where and the issue not discussed is how much has it already cost tax payers and how much more will it cost.

Hope for the best - prepare for the worst.

Posted 11/4/11:

Thank you to all the concerned folks who attended the November 3rd Community Meeting . . .

NOW THE NEXT STEP . . .

Please attend the Planning Commission meeting and speak out to keep the Foothills Highway Corridor (SH 93) free of urban sprawl!

PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING:
To Accept or Modify The Draft North Plains Area Plan
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
November 9, 2011   |   6:15 PM
Jefferson County Courts and Administration Bldg. (the Taj)
100 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO

The next step in the process is for the Planning Commission to review the updated draft for the North Plains Area Plan:

This plan will serve as a guide for future development in the area - essentially all of the unincorporated area in Jefferson County north of the intersection of Hwy 58 and US 6 in Golden.

The draft plan contains artifacts from the old 1980's plan that would encourage urban development west of SH 93. We need to have many supporters show up and testify to change the plan so that it is a 21st century vision, not a 1980's sprawl plan. We are especially concerned about the recommendation to make Area 30 an urban activity center.

Check out details on Jeffco’s plan at http://jeffco.us/planning/planning_T59_R163.htm.

You may still send email input to Russell Clark, Jeffco Planning and Zoning Dept. - his email is rclark@co.jefferson.co.us

This notice from: Friends of the Foothills, Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant,
Plan Jeffco, Parkview Villas Interest Group, Apple Meadows Neighborhood

Posted 10/23/11

Property Values, Traffic, Noise, Quality of Life

...and more will be impacted by Jeffco’s Area Plan & Keller Farm Rezoning

Check out Jeffco’s plan

Shall the Hwy 93 Corridor Remain Rural or be Urbanized?

PLEASE ATTEND A COMMUNITY MEETING
Nov. 3, 2011, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The American Mountaineering Center
710 10th St.
Golden, CO

Sponsored by: Friends of the Foothills, Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant,
Plan Jeffco, Parkview Villas Interest Group, Apple Meadows Neighborhood

1200 acres up for Urban Sprawl in our Foothills Highway Corridor (Hwy 93) in the Mountain Backdrop and Foreground: 

We all have worked so hard to keep this corridor natural and safe from urban sprawl; much of the land north of this area is now in open space or zoned for rural use.  We can't stop now.

Jeffco is in the process of winding up its updating of the North Plains Community Plan.  This is the plan which recommends future zoning for northern Jeffco and covers the Foothills Highway Corridor (Highway 93).  The preliminary staff report is recommending that the county keep an urban type activity center in the Foothills Highway Corridor; this is an artifact left from the days of the now defunct Jefferson Center (1989).  This urban incursion would be on the west side of Highway 93 from about 68th Ave. south to 56th Ave.  This is the same 1200 acres for which the Keller Farms Corporation is seeking a rezoning change to develop commercial and other types of urban development. (see activity area #30 in Jeffco’s plan - Click Here)

Time is short and we need your help to get this area designated for open space and rural uses.

Here is what we ask you to do:

• Attend our meeting on Nov 3 – ask questions and make your voice heard.


• Send comments to Russell Clark, Jeffco Planning and Zoning, as soon as possible, but please not later than Tue, October 25th at rclark@jeffco.us  Your email should refer to the proposed activity area, #30 on the draft North Plains Area Plan.  Something as simple as "No Urban development (or sprawl) in the foothills highway corridor (Highway 93)" should be helpful.

A public hearing to adopt this plan will be held by the Jeffco Planning Commission on Weds., Nov. 9, at 6:15 PM - more later.  Please save the date and time.  A large public turn out in opposition to this urban activity area is our best chance for success.

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