Everyone should turn out for the following meetings to make sure that the Board of County Commissioners knows how you feel about this fabulous new development plan that will have no downside for the county. In fact, we predict that the benefits for the county will be so magnificent, people living here won't even need sunscreen.  Mana will flow from heaven, Running Creek will put out single malt Scotch whiskey, and all of the counties financial woes will vanish overnight.

Thursday, 30 November 2006 7:00pm Kiowa Fairgrounds

The Elbert County Planning Commission will be meeting again to hear some more of our hollow promises about development.

This meeting is about proposing amendments to Elbert County's Planning Requirements.  The ground work is being set for high density development.

One of the amendments would change Elbert County's 300 year aquifer life rule to 100 years.  This would allow Spring Valley Vista to draw water from the Denver, Arapahoe, and Larimer-Fox aquifers three times faster than the current standard without regard to or consideration of the amount of water actually available.  And really, who among us really thinks we'll be here in 100 years, so this shouldn't matter to anyone.

In addition, since we do not have the water necessary to support the Spring Valley Vista project at the County's current 300 year aquifer life rule and therefore is not in compliance.  However, if we can get Elbert County's 1041 Regulations changed to a 100 year aquifer life rule, the project will comply with the water supply demands.  If this happens it will be very difficult to stop the project from moving forward.

Another proposed amendment would modify the existing in house factor for residential water use from 0.4 to 0.3 acre feet, thus inflating the amount of water available by 25%.  This change will provide more water to utilize for additional development in Elbert County and/or for resale to other Water Districts.

We also propose to add a new definition of "Renewable Water," to include effluent and reuse water.  This definition is inconsistent with the Colorado Division of Water Resources which considers renewable water to be surface or tributary water.

The last proposed change basically delays Transportation and Growth Impact fees to the County.  The developer is proposing to delay the Impact fees at the earlier to occur of (1) time of issuance of the first building permit or (2) on that date which is two (2) years following recordation of the final plat.  A 25% late fee would apply, but could be reduced or abated by the BOCC in its sole and absolute discretion.

The MASTER PLAN adjacency amendments will be heard at this meeting also. These amendments would remove the adjacency rule and essentially allow inappropriate development next to existing homes, farms, ranches, etc.

Another MASTER PLAN amendment is to allow commercial use to be approved along with PUD applications instead of hearing those separately through an Economic Approval Process. This would also allow inappropriate commercial endeavors anywhere in the county.

So, show up and support paving under all of Elbert County...if not today, then soon.