Published in the Longmont Times Call on 9/27/26
What is 3B and why vote yes? The purpose of ballot measure 3B is to give Longmont taxpayers the right to vote on any sale or transfer of open space — just like parks and water. Longmont’s city charter requires the public vote on proposals involving parks and water before these assets can be sold or conveyed for some new use. Like our parks and water assets, open space is also an asset, so adding it to our charter makes sense. Including the words “open space” here honors voters’ intent to protect these lands and our investments. Adding open space to our charter is simple and straightforward; it does not raise taxes and has no fiscal impact. Including open space does not prevent City Councils from proposing future ideas for open space lands: It just moves the decision into voters’ hands.
Why is 3B necessary? In 2010, Longmont’s Transportation Department needed a small portion of open space that is now in the Dickens Nature Area to extend Martin Street to Ken Pratt Boulevard. This led, in 2011, to City Council passing an unnecessarily open-ended Open Space Disposition Ordinance (14.52.030), which allows Longmont government to dispose of open space land for virtually any public purpose it thinks is important so long as the sale or exchange “results in a net benefit to the Open Space program.” This means future City Councils can basically do whatever they want, while that ordinance is in effect. This ordinance is very opaque, giving the city virtually “carte blanche” ability to build whatever infrastructure it deems worthy on land purchased as open space, as was demonstrated last year when the city attempted to swap land in the flood-prone Tull property for open space land in the Distel property to build city industrial infrastructure. Hundreds of Longmont residents protested, as this is the antithesis of what they had in mind in 2024 when 75% voted yes to extending our open space tax indefinitely.
Fortunately, our current City Council recognized this potentially problematic situation and proposed a simple fix to allow voters more say on such matters in the future. In June they voted 6-1 in favor of referring a ballot measure asking voters to consider adding open space property to our city charter alongside parks and water. In referring this to voters, our current City Council created an opportunity to rebuild trust in Longmont city government by empowering voters. A Yes vote on 3B says we want our open space lands to be respected and protected.
Longmont residents shouldn’t take it for granted that we will always have mostly reasonable people in charge of and on City Council. The “net benefit” term in the current ordinance is a dangerous slippery slope! Until we supersede the current Open Space Disposition Ordinance through this simple city charter change, our open space program remains in jeopardy.
Why does it matter? Preserving our open space land is critical to Longmont’s ecological, economic, recreational, personal and cultural well-being. Longmont residents love our open space lands and program. In addition to the overwhelming support to tax ourselves, every city satisfaction survey demonstrates residents place high value on our open space.
Why now? Locally, one only need look at all the development happening to realize the importance of protecting our open space. Purchasing, preserving, maintaining and enhancing Open Space is essential to the riparian health of our St. Vrain and Lefthand Creeks and other waterways. Wildlife needs habitat to survive. Open space provides this. Pollinators need native plants to thrive. Open space provides this. People need open space for our well-being. Open space provides this.
Trust in government is abysmal these days. A yes vote on 3B helps us to have faith in our Longmont government. In a time of political discourse where many people feel frustrated and helpless, the practice of granting voters’ agency and participatory decision-making merits commendation.
Shari is a member of Longmont Friends of Open Space and retired Special Ed teacher with SVVSD.