I arrived early for our CPI meeting with the Planning Commission on November 18 and was very interested to hear the County Transportation Department’s presentation of the Draft element proposed for inclusion in the County Comprehensive Plan (see http://www.bouldercounty.org/lu/bccp/transportation_element/index.htm).

The most interesting parts are included under section F. i. Preserve Rural Roads, ii Minimize and Mitigate Impacts, and iii. Prohibit Improvements with Unacceptable Impacts.  Prohibit improvements to existing new driveways or roads, which may include sections on public and/or private lands, that cause unacceptable impacts to the natural environment, including scenic views and rural character (underlining mine)…..

I was unaware of this scheduled hearing, but the Sunshine Canyon pro-paving contingent, now self titled “The Sunshine Clean Air Committee” were there to make presentations opposed to this element of the draft, highly critical of the BOCC decision not to pave the additional 1.5 miles of Sunshine Canyon, stating “It is not good governance to saddle future County Commissioners with fuzzy subjective decision criteria that are in stark contrast to the Best Practices accepted by most counties in Colorado and the rest of the country….”

Several people spoke to separate sections of the draft proposal and Bret Gibson, Fourmile Fire Chief, spoke for the Boulder County Firefighters in support of keeping access open for emergency response and not vacating any public right-of-ways in ways that would obstruct access for emergency equipment.

And, I, although totally unprepared, felt compelled to respond to the Sunshine Pro-pavers by saying that we really appreciate that the BOCCs took our rural character into account, that we do see those unpaved miles of Sunshine as our barrier against the city sensibilities creeping up toward us, and that we in Gold Hill support fugitive dust control, but we feel there are better solutions than paving.

George Gerstle, County Transportation Department, also responded by reiterating that the BOCCs made their decision not to pave based on all the extensive testimony and that the document being considered today does take their deliberations into consideration.

I have since gone to the County website and joined the listserv so that we will hear of meetings like this and be prepared to respond.

The next Planning Commission hearing for this Draft BCCP Transportation Element is scheduled on December 16, 6:45, just before our next CPI hearing and I will attend both.

Gretchen Diefenderfer