Posts tagged County Commissioners
Boulder County to regulate gas and oil?
May 24th
Boulder County, Colo. – Staff from Boulder County Land Use and other departments will host an open house on May 31 to give interested residents more information about the process and steps the county intends to follow for considering changes to the oil and gas policies in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, which will be followed by revisions to the Land Use Code regulations.
What: Boulder County Comprehensive Plan oil and gas policies open house
When: Thursday, May 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Recycling Center, 1901 63rd St., Boulder
The event will include a short staff presentation at 7 p.m.
Staff will be located at stations throughout the open house to answer questions and provide information about the county’s plans for responding to oil and gas development issues. Stations will include information about the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, open space, public health and transportation.
Background & Timeline
- Feb. 2 – The Board of County Commissioners approve a temporary moratorium on the processing of the required development plans for local oil and gas permits under the county Land Use Code (Resolution 2012-16) and release a statement detailing their concerns about the potential for significantly expanded oil and gas drilling within the county.
- March 1 – Public hearing for commissioners to hear staff presentations and public testimony. After the four-hour hearing, commissioners direct staff to continue gathering information about the impacts of oil and gas drilling on air, water, land, roads and infrastructure.
- April 16 – Commissioners vote unanimously to extend temporary moratorium on processing of applications for oil and gas development in unincorporated parts of the county until Feb. 4 (Resolution 2012-46).
Boulder County remains concerned about the potential for significantly expanded oil and gas drilling within the county, and supports appropriate, tighter restrictions on drilling and increased local control to mitigate the impacts of these activities. While the moratorium is in place, the county is endeavoring to ensure its Comprehensive Plan and Land Use regulations are as thorough and up-to-date as possible.
For more information about the county’s role in oil and gas development, upcoming meetings and public involvement opportunities, visit the county’s Oil and Gas Development webpage or contact Jim Webster at 720-564-2600 or jbwebster@bouldercounty.org.
Niwot gets open space trail loop
May 8th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners and Boulder County Parks and Open Space staff will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the Dry Creek Trail this Thursday, May 10 from 3-4 p.m. at the Lefthand Valley Grange Trailhead.
The Dry Creek Trail is a new 2.5-mile soft surface multiuse trail from Lefthand Valley Grange Park, along Dry Creek, to Niwot Road. The trail completes the loop in the Niwot Trails system and allows community residents to recreate and commute off-street throughout town.
Project partners include the Niwot Community Association, Niwot High School, Niwot Sanitation District and the St. Vrain Valley School District. The trail is part of the Niwot Trails Master Plan that was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in July 2006.
Visit the Niwot Trails website for more information about the trail system, including maps, recreation opportunities and the Niwot Trails Master Plan.
Boulder County to air decisions on oil and gas
Apr 5th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on April 16 to further evaluate oil and gas development in unincorporated Boulder County.
What: Public meeting on oil and gas development
When: Monday, April 16 at 4 p.m.
Where: Commissioners’ Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, third floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
The meeting will also be streamed live at www.bouldercounty.org/gov/meetings/pages/hearings.aspx.
NOTE: The public is welcome to attend, and additional staff information may be presented, but public testimony will not be taken at this meeting. Comments were received in-person at a public hearing on March 1 and in writing for weeks prior to the hearing.
Background
On Feb. 2 the commissioners approved a temporary moratorium on the processing of the required development plans for local oil and gas permits under the county Land Use Code (Resolution 2012-16) and released a statement detailing their concerns about the potential for significantly expanded oil and gas drilling within the county.
At the conclusion of the four-hour public hearing on March 1, the commissioners directed staff to continue gathering information about the impacts of oil and gas drilling on air, water, land, roads and infrastructure.
Boulder County remains concerned about the potential for significantly expanded oil and gas drilling within the county, and supports appropriate, tighter restrictions on drilling and increased local control to mitigate the impacts of these activities. While the county endeavors to ensure its Comprehensive Plan and Land Use regulations are as thorough and up-to-date as possible, the moratorium will remain in place and could be extended if necessary.
The meeting on April 16 will allow the commissioners to:
- Discuss the information presented by staff and consider public comments made at the March hearing
- Provide direction to staff for pursuing amendments to the county Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code or take other appropriate actions
- Make any additional necessary decisions regarding the nature and duration of the temporary moratorium
Visit www.bouldercounty.org/dept/landuse/pages/oilgas.aspx for more information.