Letter To The Editor

I saw two Bald Eagles today. One was on a utility pole enjoying a lunch while the other soared

over the open space field of stubble just east of Gunbarrel hill. What a joyous treat! Whenever I

am fortunate enough to view an eagle, especially a Bald Eagle, I am thrilled and believe it is a

symbol of a wonderful day.

We just cannot put a price on the treasure of raptors and wildlife in our area. Boulder County

and Niwot residents worked together to keep this gem where Chief Niwot and the Arapaho lived as a natural habitat.

Whether it is money or political pressure that changed the “Special Use” categories so that

businesses and developers can now apply to plant their roots on what has been designated as

open space, rural, or agriculture, is not positive. Taxes and TDRs have provided open

spaces/rural/agricultural settings around the greater Niwot and foothill areas.

I have voted “YES” to every Open Space request that has been on the ballots. I have voted for areas to be open/rural/agriculture, NOT for commercial, for-profit development to replace softscape areas. It is so depressing to see how open areas have filled in with towers of hardscape in recent years when you drive on Hwy 119 to Boulder or Longmont.

My family arrived in Boulder County before Colorado’s statehood and has had a presence ever since of which I am proud. I grew up in Boulder, have lived in Niwot over 50 years, I praise accomplishments of Boulder County Parks and Open Space and Mountain Parks departments.

The public elections have spoken repeatedly by voting to preserve rural/agricultural/open spaces. If Boulder County Planning & Permitting makes drastic changes to the rural and agricultural areas, we lose. We lose raptor habitat, wildlife, softscapes with vegetation that provides critical natural tools to help clean the air pollution ... wildlife and residents need the open spaces for a better quality of life. Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department would vanish if Special Use exceptions grow and grow and grow. When would it stop?

Example: SU-23-0016, 5701 N 79th Street – Property is within Area 111 – Rural Preservation, high level in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and it borders rural and Boulder County Open Space property. Proposal is to permit Commercial Development on this rural property. STOP Special Use NOW on Rural / Agricultural / Open Spaces.

Kathy Koehler