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Letter: Longmont’s Open Space program is being compromised by Longmont Public Works and Utilities

Published in the Longmont Leader on 7/14/25

Longmont’s Open Space program is being compromised by Longmont Public Works and Utilities. Public Works has put forward a proposal for a land exchange involving property acquired with Open Space tax funds and land currently owned by the Public Works or Utilities Departments. This entire proposal is predicated on doing a partnership with Boulder County for regional compost infrastructure. In January 2025, Longmont City Council directed staff to pursue a compost partnership with Boulder County, which apparently included exploring city-owned properties. Boulder County wants to build a large-scale composting operation and do not want to use Boulder County land, nor do they want to go through their own stringent, 1041, Location and Extent, Land Use process. The proposal includes the Distel property, purchased with Open Space dollars, to be exchanged for the Tull property which was purchased with Public Works and Utility dollars.

The City purchased both properties from Aggregate in 2019. The Open Space program fully intended to purchase both properties for Open Space as was identified in the initial 2001 Integrated Reclamation Plan, which has been updates and support by six mayors and their councils, most recently in March of 2022 That plan was drawn up and approved by multiple City departments and these past City Councils to protect this entire riparian and wildlife movement corridor along our St. Vrain Creek and Boulder Creek corridor. A plan that is nearly 30 years in the making.

At the last minute of 2019, Public Works argued their department needed a portion of the Tull property for clean infill from development. Their needs prevailed and 139 acres of the Tull property went to Public Works. Public Works proceeded to modify the Tull reclamation plan to meet their needs, and now, just 6 years later, Public Works wants to swap these two properties so Boulder County and City development can happen on Distel.

Open Space knew that the Distel property included temporary industrial development that would go away with reclamation, now Public Works want to make the industrial development to be permanent with their operations.

Tull is in the floodway and not as readily suitable for development as Distel, due to Public Works negotiations to modify Holcim’s reclamation plan. The proposal for industrial development at Distel carves out multiple acres for Boulder County’s compost infrastructure as well as the balance for City of Longmont infrastructure such as moving the Fire Training Center, municipal training center pad for police, fire, snow vehicles and perhaps a warehouse.

Both properties are in Weld County and the neighbors are very unhappy with what was proposed to be Open Space and now to be a permanent industrial development, being incompatible with their rural homes, and bolstering volumes of traffic.

Development in this area will create an industrial large donut hole in the middle of open space and agriculture lands, creating additional fragmentation of wildlife habitat and cutting off wildlife movement corridors.

Open Space advocates support sustainability projects like composting, but not if it means sacrificing designated Open Space.
Our community’s green spaces are finite and precious. We must ensure that the total amount and quality of protected open space never diminishes.
This is about honoring our commitments and protecting the qualities of life that make Longmont unique. It’s about making clear choices that safeguard our community’s environment for generations to come.

Longmont’s Public Works Department owns 139 acres on the Tull property, this is where this development should take place, not on City Open Space. City Council…from a land preservation perspective, please “Just Say No!”

Sincerely,
Daniel Wolford

22.5 years as the Open Space Manager for the City of Longmont and previously 8 years as the Operations Manager for Boulder County Open Space
Current: Water Advisory Board Member for the City of Longmont
Previous Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Member

Letter: Just Say No to Open Space Land Swap

Published in the Longmont Leader 7/14/2025

In January, Longmont City Council directed staff to pursue a partnership with Boulder County who wants to build a large-scale composting operation and does not want to use Boulder County land. Nor does the county want to go through their own stringent Land Use process. Longmont Public Works staff proposed a land exchange where land purchased by Open Space tax dollars (Distel) would be exchanged for land owned by Public Works (Tull). The proposal at Distel carves out just 8 acres for Boulder County’s compost infrastructure and 57 acres for City of Longmont infrastructure.

Public Works staff has been merchandising this proposal as a solution for the real need for compost infrastructure. Only 12% of the Distel Open Space property is appropriated for compost and 88% for city infrastructure; including relocating the fire training center and building a driving range for city vehicles. This proposal presents as a bait and switch for the City to build industrial infrastructure on land designated as Open Space.

I’m a member of Longmont Friends of Open Space (standwithourstvraincreek.com) We are residents committed to preserving St. Vrain Creek and all our Open Spaces. We initiated and campaigned for the extension of our Open Space tax ballot measure last November (passed with 74% approval). Voters supported taxing ourselves in perpetuity because we want our Open Space lands respected, protected and not developed. That includes not being bartered or traded for development. If you’re one of those voters, please contact City Council and attend the July 22 City Council meeting. Just Say NO.

We support partnering with Boulder County for regional compost infrastructure. City Council’s initial direction was well intentioned. It’s unfortunate city staff opportunistically used green washing sales tactics to mislead City Council and use Open Space as a commodity. This violates the spirit of the Open Space ordinance, public trust and sets a terrible precedent. 

Sincerely,

Shari Malloy

Letter: Open Space Should Stay Open Indefinitely

PUBLISHED: July 10, 2025 at 6:02 AM MDT

Open space is of high value to the citizens of Longmont as demonstrated by the passage of Ballot Issue 3A last year that extends indefinitely the open space tax paid by Longmont citizens. That demonstrates the importance of open space to Longmont residents.

When open space has been acquired in the past, location is of primary consideration. To that point, once a location has been established, it is meant to be permanent and not a future candidate for relocation.

My opinion is that any consideration of moving or exchanging existing open space property is not what the voters of Longmont want. Longmont voters share a belief that existing open space should be left alone and not be a candidate for any future property exchange. I am one of those voters.

Roger Lange, Longmont

Letter: I didn’t vote to have my tax dollars go toward purchasing Longmont Open Space for development

“This land swap sets a bad precedent.”

Published in the Longmont Leader https://www.longmontleader.com/letters-to-the-editor/letter-i-didnt-vote-to-have-my-tax-dollars-go-toward-purchasing-longmont-open-space-for-development-10910908 on Jul 7, 2025 12:11 PM

Why is Longmont circumventing the will of residents (who, last November, overwhelmingly voted to extend the City’s Open Space sales tax) by attempting to rush through a land swap to build on City Open Space? The properties in question, which lie in northeastern Longmont north of Weld County Road 20 1/2, are known as Distel and Tull, and were purchased in 2019. Distel was purchased for future Open Space, while Tull was purchased through Public Works. Now, just 6 years later, the City wants to swap the two, supposedly to build a Boulder County-owned compost facility on the Distel property.

The idea of siting a compost facility on Distel popped up at a City Council meeting in January and the land swap proposal was sent to the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) for a yea or nay. It’s coming back to Council later this month for a final decision on the swap. PRAB recommended nay, but will City Council listen?

Why the rush, anyway? Boulder County’s Compost Feasibility Study, which includes an analysis of potential sites, doesn’t come out until later this year. Following its release, there will be multiple rounds of public feedback and analysis. The whole process could take months or years and, in the end, there’s no guarantee Boulder County will choose Distel. There are also a number of as-yet unanswered questions regarding the swap, chief among them what the City will build on Distel if the compost facility plan falls through.

This land swap sets a bad precedent. The most chilling statement by City staff at the last PRAB meeting was that this kind of exchange could and would become more common in the future. I know I didn’t vote to have my tax dollars go toward purchasing Open Space for development. Did you?

Sincerely,

Jamie Simo

Opinion: Gordon Pedrow “The Longmont City Council’s Open Space Dilemma”

If you care about keeping our Open Space lands from development (even for a good cause…) please contact our City Council members and tell them your thoughts at: https://longmontcityxm.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PEnCSjZVVwit8i

 

Warning! Longmont’s open space program is under attack from Longmont Public Works and Utilities. Public Works has proposed a land exchange where land purchased by open space tax dollars would be converted to an intense industrial development involving composting with Boulder County, the fire training center and warehouse space. The exact size of the industrial development has not been revealed by Public Works.This proposal is commonly referred to as the Distel-Tull land exchange.

The Longmont City Council faces a huge dilemma since the Parks and Recreation Board (PRAB) did the right thing and recommended the council reject the conversion of open space to industry. Earlier this year per the city code, the City Council referred the proposed land exchange to PRAB to conduct a public hearing, analyze the proposal and advise the council. Chapter 14.52 of the code is titled Open Space Disposition.

Section 14.52.030B1 reads as follows: Before taking final action on any request to dispose of open space land, the City Council shall refer the request to the parks and recreation advisory board (PRAB), and other advisory boards the city council feels necessary, for their recommendation. Apparently the council only wanted a recommendation from PRAB since it was the only board to which it referred the matter. Part of the council’s dilemma comes from the fact PRAB recommended denial of the land exchange.

Section 14.52 clearly gives the City Council final authority to determine whether the exchange is appropriate. However, by ignoring the recommendation of the only advisory body given a specific role in the city code and the fact the council only asked for a recommendation from PRAB, the City Council’s rejection of PRAB’s recommendation will appear arrogant and condescending and will make a sham out of the open space disposition process outlined in the city code.

During PRAB’s public hearing on the proposed land exchange, numerous speakers had questions and comments particularly regarding issues covered by Section 14.52.0302 which reads as follows: the disposal should be sensitive to the integrity of the property features, including sensitive habitat and cultural and historical features, and generally should not adversely affect the remainder of the property. Members of PRAB had many similar questions regarding the application of the code. Approval of the land exchange would fragment the Distel open space. Members of PRAB, like the public, did not receive satisfactory answers from Pubic Works staff.

Another part of the City Council’s open space dilemma is the irony that last November the council referred ballot language to Longmont voters for approval to extend in perpetuity the open sales tax. It passed with 74% approval because Longmont residents value open space. I do not think most voters expect open space tax dollars to be used to purchase land for Public Works to convert to industry, even if Boulder County is dangling big dollars to get a partner for composting. Most residents expect open space purchases to be properly vetted before purchase and then remain open space. If the council thinks dissing the recommendation from PRAB will come only at a small price, the cost of the loss of public trust of 74% of voters should be carefully calculated, especially for any council candidates running for election next November.

The final part of the council’s open space dilemma stems from Section 4.04.130J of the city code which reads in part, once acquired, open space may be used only for purposes set forth in 4.04.130i. These purposes include preservation of natural areas, trails, conservation of natural resources, low-impact district parks and urban shaping buffers. Conversion to an industrial development is not listed. Stretching normal definitions beyond recognition by most residents is one way Public Works staff may try to spin the issue. But if the city council chooses to ignore PRAB’s recommendation it will make a precedent-setting, slippery slope decision that could threaten our open space program. What will be the next piece of open space to be stolen?

Gordon Pedrow served as Longmont city manager from 1993 until 2012.

Our Wildlife and Natural Areas Are Under Attack

In 1983, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and environmentalist Wallace Stegner coined the phrase “America’s Best Idea” to refer to the United States’ national park system. Stemming out of the democratic ideals of the Republic and the belief that all people should be able to benefit from and enjoy public lands, the very first national park in the world was established in 1872 with the creation of Yellowstone National Park. Today, 840 million acres of land is public land, which includes not just national parks but also BLM land, national forests, and national wildlife refuges.

Unfortunately, our public lands as well as the wildlife living on them are currently under attack. On May 7, House Republicans voted to authorize the sale of public lands in Utah and Nevada and the increase in leasing of public lands for resource extraction. https://apnews.com/article/public-lands-sale-nevada-utah-housing-republicans-98184c59528a92eca51ca6ab89e751cc

Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would remove the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act so that entities would no longer be held accountable for actions that do not directly impact endangered species. This effectively guts the Act–which was overwhelmingly passed in 1973 by a bipartisan Congress and signed into law by Richard Nixon, a Republican president–by removing any habitat protections for wildlife, limiting penalties only to those entities directly poaching, harassing, killing, trapping, or otherwise hurting endangered species. 

If you love wildlife and nature, please contact your representatives and tell them you oppose the sale of our nation’s public lands, and comment on the proposed rule regarding the Endangered Species Act.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06746/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act

First Reading of City Ordinance Putting Longmont’s Open Space Sales Tax Extension on the Ballot

We’re in the home stretch thanks to all of you! This Tuesday, August 13th, Longmont City Council will be reviewing the text of an ordinance that would put the permanent extension of the City’s Open Space Sales Tax on the ballot this November. The Council will then vote to either approve the ordinance, amend the ordinance, or not approve the ordinance.

Stand With Our St. Vrain Creek is asking that City Council approve the ordinance. We’ll be attending the meeting and speaking during Public Invited to Be Heard urging them to do so. 

If you value Open Space and want the City to be able to fund new acquisitions and, more importantly, maintain its natural areas, please consider attending Tuesday’s City Council meeting and wearing green to show your support for the ballot measure.

We want all Longmont citizens to have the chance to vote on this issue.

Action Alert: July 23rd City Council Meeting

City Council has voted to add the Open Space Sales Tax permanent extension to the November 2024 ballot! Thank you to everyone who signed our appeal and/or showed up to City Council to show your support for the measure.

We’re looking for people to show up at City Council on Tuesday, July 23rd wearing green to show your continued support. The Longmont Natural Resources department will be making a presentation tomorrow regarding the Open Space program and future acquisitions/maintenance costs in response to a City Council request for such information. You will only need to remain for the public invited to be heard portion of the meeting.

We will also have Open Space Yes! owl yard signs for you if you’d like to take one for this election season.

The Big Ask!

This Tuesday, June 25th, Stand With Our St. Vrain Creek will be presenting to Longmont City Council YOUR appeal asking that making Longmont’s Open Space Sales Tax permanent be put on November’s ballot. 

If you remember, Longmont residents overwhelmingly supported an Open Space sales tax and it was passed in 2000 and extended in 2007. The tax, which anyone who purchases anything in Longmont is already paying, is 2 cents for every $10 you spend and goes toward acquiring and maintaining our Open Space properties. If not extended or made permanent, the tax will expire and money for our Open Spaces would have to come from the City’s general fund. 

We’re asking supporters of Open Space to come to the June 25th City Council meeting at 7pm at the Longmont Civic Center and dress in green.