On Wednesday September 9 there will be a critical hearing in Montrose to discuss the Special Use Permit for Pinon Ridge Uranium Mill by Energy Fuels of Canada. This meeting is a continuation of one that began in Nucla on August 13, and this is likely to be your last chance to express your concerns. There is good reason to believe that the Montrose Board of County Commissioners will rule in favor of this mill at the meeting Sept 9.
The Meeting is at Friendship Hall (1001 North 2nd St) in Montrose, Colorado; it will begin at 9am on September 9, but folks are encouraged to arrive early and sign-up to comment.
Three of Western Colorado Congress’ community groups, including the Uncompahgre Valley Association, the Ridgway-Ouray Community Council, and WCC-Mesa County (UVA, ROCC and WCC-MC, respectively) have adopted positions in opposition to the granting of the Special Use Permit. They are working with the Paradox Valley Sustainability Association, Sheep Mountain Alliance, and others who oppose the project, citing the following as reasons:
- The application leaves many unanswered questions and opens the door to the processing of more dangerous radioactive waste and permanent waste disposal sites.
- The few jobs that will be created pale in comparison to the potential long term damaging impacts on environment, health and economics (agriculture, hunting, fishing, tourism) in the region.
- This is a costly and unstable industry (uranium prices are low, and the future of nuclear energy in this country is very uncertain), with unstable job security.
- The transportation of radioactive materials through Western Slope counties (Route 141 bypass to I-70 is a possible route) is dangerous for the human and natural environment.
WCC encourages everyone who is concerned about this proposal to attend the hearing, but you may also write to:
Montrose County Commissioners
101 South Townsend Ave.
Montrose, CO 81401
Plan to attend Public Meeting #3 - “Setting a Course for Our Future”
Alternative future growth scenarios were reviewed in March, 2009 and public feedback was collected. The preferred alternative is a combination of the alternative scenarios according to the feedback received at the meetings and also via the mail-back community survey.
Who Should Attend: County Residents (including students and those residing in Montrose County municipalities), property owners, developers, business owners, service providers, moving to or purchasing land in and around Montrose County
At the June meetings:
- Review the vision and goals of the plan
- Review the preferred alternative land use plan for your area
- Discuss what strategies and policies are needed to implement the plan
Where & When:
Date (6:00-7:30 PM)
- Tuesday June 2, 2009 - Naturita Community Center, 411 W 2nd Avenue, Naturita, CO
- Wednesday June 3, 2009 - Maher/Onion Valley Club, HWY 92 Maher, CO
- Wednesday June 3, 2009 - Olathe American Legion, 315 5th Street, Olathe, CO
- Thursday June 4, 2009 Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose, CO
What to expect:
- Vision and goals confirmation
- Key concepts of the Master Plan
- Preferred alternative land use discussion
- Implementation strategy discussion
Please take a few hours from your busy schedules to PRIORITIZE attendance at one of these meetings concerning our county MASTER PLAN. In addition to being an excellent opportunity to participate in deciding the future direction of our county, it also offers a rare chance to be personally involved in democracy at its best- local citizens determining their own futures! Thanks for your INFORMED PARTICIPATION.
Besides the short edition shown below, you can download the PDF for the entire series of meetings and print it out.
John Cossick & Mary Wood
Colorado Office of Smart Growth Director
To Discuss Growth Management Strategies
Communities all across Colorado are seeking ways to mitigate the impacts of new growth and development, and Montrose County is no different. According to the state demography office, the population of the county grew by more than 5,000 people between 2000 and 2006. Forecasts indicate that the county’s population will grow by another 12,000 by 2015. Montrose County officials are in the process now of researching and developing responsible land use planning and growth management strategies to minimize the impacts of this growth. As in every planning effort, the key is to strike the balance between individual liberties and the public good.
When done properly, sound growth management policies can accomplish a number of community goals, including:
- Preserve viable agricultural land, environmentally sensitive areas and other open space assets
- Encourage downtown businesses by targeting infill development opportunities and Main Street revitalization efforts
- Make certain development preserves and enhances the quality of life and encourages/sustains economic development
- Ensure that adequate infrastructure (utilities, roads, schools, parks, etc.) will be available to support new development
- Provide predictability for the development community
- Foster intergovernmental cooperation and a better understanding of regional issues
The Office of Smart Growth in the Colorado Department of Local Affairs provides technical and financial assistance to local governments throughout Colorado in the areas of land use planning and growth management, and is involved in related legislative and policy issues.
Eric Bergman, Director of the Colorado Office of Smart Growth, will discuss the various growth management tools that are available at an upcoming Planning Commission work session. Some of the growth management tools include impact fees, rural clustering incentives, mixed use zoning, concurrency requirements, intergovernmental agreements (IGAs), open space preservation programs, transfer or purchase of development rights, growth caps and urban growth boundaries. Bergman’s presentation to the Planning Commission will be March 20 at 6:00pm at the County Commissioners Board Room (161 S. Townsend). The public is encouraged to attend this unique educational opportunity. To RSVP for this free presentation please call 252-4527.
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
As advertised on the front page (upper left corner) of the Friday, Dec 7th Montrose Daily Press- the Montrose county government has (at the suggestion of several informed/ concerned citizens) invited the Colorado State Office of Smart Growth to present
a planning workshop/meeting for all interested parties.
It is scheduled to be held:
Wednesday 19 December 2007.
6:30- 8:30 pm.
Montrose County Board Room- 161 S. Townsend.
Please show your support for this significant progress and plan to attend: RSVP to 252-4527.
Thank you for your continued INFORMED PARTICIPATION in the future of our county. And a blessed Christmas holiday to you and your families.
John Cossick & Mary Wood
Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth
Friends of the River Uncompahgre (FURU) would like to remind members and visitors that “What’s In Your River: The State of the Uncompahgre River,” will be held on 5 October at the DMEA conference room (11925 6300 Rd) in Montrose from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The following speakers will present various topics:
- Dennis Erickson, Park Planner/Project Manager for Montrose city: Community Development
- Steve White, Land Use Director for Montrose County: The County’s perspective on the Uncompahgre River
- Jim Pokrandt, Communication and Education Specialist for the Colorado River Water Conservation District: How the Uncompahgre River relates to the Colorado Watershed
- Marc Catlin, Manager for the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association: The Uncompahgre River within Montrose City and County, how the water flows
- Hank Hotze, FORU Member and Representative of the Gunnison Basin Round Table: FORU’s Vision, join Hank on a filmed float trip through Montrose
FORU’s next meeting is Tuesday, October 9th, 7:00 pm, Alpine Bank, 1400 E. Main, Montrose. For more information about FORU, visit their Web site.