Tag: open space

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

City Council Meeting Open Space Sales Tax Ballot Measure First Reading

This Tuesday, August 13th, City Council will be reviewing an ordinance making Longmont’s Open Space Sales Tax permanent and deciding whether to put the measure on the ballot this November.

Stand is asking supporters to attend this “first reading”, specifically the Public Invited to Be Heard section of the meeting, to show their support for the ordinance. Please wear green.

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.

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.

Roger’s Grove Bird Walk

Join Stand With Our St. Vrain Creek at Roger’s Grove on Sunday, April 21st for a free bird walk. We’ll see what spring migrants have arrived, including our breeding Bank Swallows.

Meet at the picnic pavilion near the parking lot at 8am and sign our appeal to make our open space sales tax permanent.