Once again, we are seeing Longmont spiraling down the wayward path of Boulder and Boulder County's enviro-engineering of the landscape by excessive open space purchases.
Boulder takes sanctimonious pride in its pioneering open space program (now 45,000-plus acres), but what about the unintended consequences?
By limiting supply, the average price of homes in Boulder has soared to more than $1 million. Since so many can't afford to live in the city, there are some 60,000 commuters in and out each day. This has created Boulder's terrible traffic problem and increased the carbon footprint. There are also seven open space taxes in effect in Boulder, hardly a boon for retail commerce.
As for Longmont, Union Reservoir serves as a natural open space buffer for the east side of the city proper. There is no need for the city to go farther east into Weld County past Union and spend $8.2 million for the 253-acre Newby Farms. This territory is really Mead and Firestone's business, let them deal with it as they wish.
Just as Boulder has embraced much of California's ultra-left insanity, Longmont city government with each passing day is trending toward the liberal mentality of Boulder. Longmont residents, do you really want to become another California?
Dave Larison
Longmont