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Boulder county commissioners take oil and gas panel to task over water-testing
Jan 7th
Boulder County – Earlier today, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC ) adopted a new rule for groundwater testing that has been deemed one of the weakest in the nation by citizens and environmental advocates:
“The Boulder County Commissioners are extremely disappointed that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has decided against putting in place a science-based groundwater protection plan to ensure oil and gas development will not have a detrimental impact to the state’s groundwater resources.
This is especially true in the Greater Wattenberg Area, a large geographic area that includes parts of eastern Boulder County and is exempted wholesale from the statewide rule, making this significant expanse of land subject only to a cursory testing requirement despite having some of the most intensive drilling activity in the state.
This type of rulemaking at the state level is a prime example of why local governments should be able to respond directly to their citizens’ concerns and provide for their community’s request for more protection.”
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Boulder OSMP to Open Lower Chapman Drive Trail
Jan 5th
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) will open the new Chapman Drive Trail and Trailhead to the public on Jan. 7, 2013. This trail is an extension of the current Chapman Drive Trail that begins at Realization Point on Flagstaff Drive. Visitors will be able to travel from Boulder Canyon Drive (SH 119) at the Red Lion Inn all the way to Flagstaff Drive.
The new trail was made possible by the recent purchase of the Schnell property. The 2005 Visitor Master Plan proposed the use of Chapman Drive as a multi-use trail and the new section was included in the recent West Trail Study Area Plan. There is a small trailhead with parking at the northern end of the trail along SH 119.
“At this time, we are opening the trail to pedestrians, equestrians, telemark skiers and snow shoers,” said Annie McFarland, OSMP Visitor Access Coordinator. “Bikes will also be allowed, going uphill only. Cyclists not able to complete the 2.5 mile ride uphill, must dismount and walk bicycles downhill if they wish to return to the trailhead at SH 119. Cyclists completing the trail have the option of riding down Flagstaff Drive to Canyon back to the trailhead.”
All users must remain on the trail and no dogs are permitted north of the Tenderfoot Trail intersection.
Throughout January OSMP will meet with key stakeholder groups and interested parties to seek feedback on how best to manage visitor use – in particular bike and dog access on the lower part of Chapman Drive. OSMP will conduct an analysis of each alternative and then develop a matrix of possible management options. The department will host a mid-February open house for public feedback. Individuals may also submit comments regarding visitor use by email. Go to www.osmp.org and click on ‘Contact us’ on the bottom right of the home page. In your email, specify ‘Chapman Drive Trail’.
More information including a map of the area can be found at:
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For additional trail updates on OSMP properties, please call 303-441-3440 or visit www.osmp.org.
Boulder Planning and Development office to be more user friendly
Jan 4th
In response to customer feedback, the City of Boulder’s Planning & Development Services Center will be testing extended business hours and advance appointment scheduling in 2013. The services center, which is currently closed for lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. daily, will be open during the lunch hour beginning Monday, Jan. 7. The services center will be continuously open and available to customers from:
· 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and
· 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Anyone who enters the services center before 4 p.m. will be served. The new operating hours are based on the schedules of the industries served and are consistent with those of neighboring communities. City staff will be evaluating the success of the changes on an ongoing basis and will announce any proposed revisions as necessary.
In addition to the new hours, customers that are working through the Land Use Review (LUR) and Technical Document (TEC) processes will be able to schedule an appointment with a Project Specialist ahead of time by contacting Karlin Goggin at 303-441-4053 or goggink@bouldercolorado.gov.
“The services center is committed to providing excellent customer service and continuous improvements,” said Administrative Services Manager Aimee Kane. “We are excited to offer our customers expanded business hours and services to better accommodate their needs and schedules.”
Planning & Development Services coordinates all of the development-related functions across the city’s Community Planning & Sustainability and Public Works departments. The customer services provided include building applications and permits, comprehensive planning, development review, GIS mapping services, historic preservation, inspections, licensing, and zoning information.
All customers are encouraged to use www.boulderplandevelop.net before visiting the services center to take advantage of the many services that are available online.
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