City Council Minutes 1993 08 17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Davidson opened the public hearing. Kyle Callahan, 220 South Jefferson, Louisville, Colorado, spoke in favor of the open space tax, since open space is a legitimate land use. He wanted to see it appended to the list, some sort of consideration for agricultural uses. He stated that the needs of open space are that they need to be large enough to support whatever function that is intended for the site, should be contiguous, and there should be connections and corridors between them. He felt that the city must institute a program to support the procurement or otherwise set aside open space. A full program would include fund raising, with parallel activities of conducting an inventory, establishing goals and objectives, development guidelines, and a process of evaluation of what types of land are appropriate. Then, proceed with approving the procurement. He stated that hopefully the tax will have provided adequate funding at that time. Concerning procurement, he felt it should be looked at as outright, purchasing the development rights, or providing for the transfer of development rights from one zone to another zone where development is more appropriate, or by a lease back arrangement. He reminded Council that Lafayette and Boulder have open space taxes. He commented that Louisville residents buy things in Lafayette and Boulder and we're supporting their open space. This tax will help in their supporting our open space. Frosty Wooldridge, 1458 Ford Place, Louisville, Colorado, stated that our society is growing at a rate of 3 million per year, so he was in favor of buying up every piece of property and land that can be used for open space in Louisville. Susan Morris, 939 West Maple Court, Louisville, Colorado, asked Council to put this on the ballot as it currently exists. If Council found they could not put it on the ballot as it is written, she asked that Council let it go the normal course and let it be an initiative that goes on the ballot for November. Sarah Goldberg, 160 Monarch Street, Louisville, Colorado, was in favor of the open space tax and wanted Council to give the voters a chance to vote on it. Diana Green, 9450 Paradise Lane, Louisville, Colorado, supported the tax. She felt that Boulder County should be ashamed of themselves for the way that they've taken care of the open space, as so much of the open space is occupied by prairie dogs only, which she felt was a sad situation. She stated that with all of the wildlife in the area, the only thing surviving is the prairie dogs. She felt that a farmer leasing the land for hay was a lot better than a field full of holes. Davidson called for anyone else in the audience wishing to speak in favor or against Ordinance 1119. 9