Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

Ladies & Gentlemen - We would like to remind everyone of the importance of promptly completing and returning the Montrose County Growth & Master Plan survey that was recently mailed out to all county residents.

We are not in the business of telling folks how to vote… on anything. We believe that most county residents are more than capable of formulating their own opinions; so, we are confining our comments to the encouragement of “informed participation” with an eye to how you want our county to look and feel for our grandchildren…

Please take a moment to reflect on the values which make this place our special home, and complete and return your survey.

Thanks,
John Cossick & Mary Wood
Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

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Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth recently retained an independent, Colorado-based, nationally-recognized research firm for the purpose of obtaining input from Montrose county citizens on our Master Plan. In the interest of making the survey as useful as possible, we consulted with our county’s professional land use department, and incorporated its input into the design of the questions. The survey was conducted via telephone between 23-25 October 2006.

Three hundred and fifty three(353) interviews were accomplished- which produced results with a 95% confidence level, or an accuracy of +/- 5%. The respondents were randomly chosen from the county’s active, registered voter roles (voters who participated in the 2004 general election). The questions and responses follow: Read the rest of this entry »

The Montrose County Land Use Department will be holding public meetings for the update of the Land Use Element of the Montrose County Master Plan. This is an opportunity for the public to shape the future of Montrose County. Due to the size of Montrose County, the Land Use Element Plan is being divided into seven Planning Areas. Meetings will be held for each planning area.

Meetings will be held at the following locations, dates, and times:

West End Planning Area: Monday, 23 October 2006 at 6:00pm at the Moose Lodge 1045 Main Street, Nucla, Colorado

Maher Planning Area: Wednesday, 1 November 2006 at 6:00pm at the Maher/Onion Valley Club Building, Hwy. 92, Maher, Colorado

Olathe Planning Area: Wednesday, 9 November 2006 at 6:00pm at the Olathe Elementary School Library, 211 N. Roberts Avenue, Olathe, Colorado

East Valley/Cimmaron Planning Area: Tuesday, 14 November 2006 at 6:30pm at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose, Colorado

South Valley Planning Area: Tuesday, 5 December 2006 at 6:30pm at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose, Colorado

City of Montrose Influence Planning Area: Thursday, 14 December 2006 at 6:30pm at the Montrose County Fairgrounds Friendship Hall, 1001 N. 2nd Street, Montrose, Colorado

Spring Creek/Dave Wood Planning Area: Tuesday, 19 December 2006 at 6:30pm at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose, Colorado

For further information contact:

Steve White, Montrose County Land Use Department, 317 S. 2nd Street, Montrose, CO, 970-252-4550, “swhite at co.montrose.co.us”

From approximately mid-October through mid-December, the Montrose County Land Use Dept. will conduct meetings concerning the updating of our county master plan. The master plan land use maps are being updated to better reflect current situations, and the county will be soliciting input from area residents to incorporate in the revision process. Please ‘keep your ears to the ground’ for the meetings’ schedules, and make every attempt to attend & participate in this important process. It is your chance to be heard, and to make a difference in the future of Montrose County. Thanks.

The photos above show the destruction caused along a portion of the Uncompahgre River corridor in Montrose. You might have noticed the survey flags and the surveyors, but did you notice the extensive construction, roads, several bridges and other building that is now eminent in the flood plain, wetlands and adjacent uplands?

The development is named “River Landing,” an area that includes Nolly, River Landing, and King additions. The owner of River Landing Development is: Mr. Matt Miles | Leadership Circle | 1521 Oxbow Dr. | Montrose, CO 81401.

This is a critical time. We need your help to stop the destruction that is being done to the Uncompahgre River corridor in South Montrose. You need to make two important phone calls ASAP:

Rep. John Salazar: Grand Junction office: (970) 245-7107, local from Montrose; Durango office (970) 375-3264.

Points to make with Rep. Salazar or with his staff:

• Developer Mr. Matt Miles has destroyed many acres of forest in Uncompahgre River Corridor in south Montrose.
• When asked, Mr. Miles admits he does not have any permit from the Corps of Engineers.
• The Grand Junction and Sacramento offices of the Corps haven’t provided any specific information about Mr. Miles and his project.
• We want Rep. Salazar to contact the Corps of Engineers and check into this situation.
• We want Rep. Salazar to ask the Corps to hold a public meeting to inform the taxpayers about future of the river corridor.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Grand Junction office: (970) 243-1199, local from Montrose; Sacramento office (916) 557-5100.

Points for the Corps of Engineers

• The Uncompahgre River Corridor in this area is a very special place.
• You want to complain about what’s happened to the river corridor in south Montrose.
• Tell the Corps if you have seen survey flags and workers doing surveys in the river corridor and the flood plain. It is clear that extensive construction, roads, several bridges and other building is eminent in the flood plain, wetlands and adjacent uplands.
• We want the Corps to hold a public meeting to tell the taxpayers about future of the river corridor.

Note: Regulatory agencies can only do so much. Only public pressure on elected officials from the voters will permanently protect the Uncompahgre River Corridor as well as the viewshed of the City of Montrose. There are many good folks who work as government regulators and they want to do the right thing. But they are much more likely to do the right thing if the public motivates them with complaints about unfair treatment and damage to our local land.

Reminder
Montrose City Council meeting
Thursday, September 21, 7:00 PM
Council Chambers

See you there!

Hello folks - today has been a busy posting day, with an editorial, two notes about upcoming meetings, and a letter from us to you, Montrose County’s concerned citizens. Just scroll down the page to read everything posted under the 23 August 2006 datelines.

We welcome your comments on any one of the matters posted below. Before you comment, you must register or log in. Registration is free, your privacy is protected, and you can post comments anonymously if you prefer. Comments are constantly monitored for language usage and for unsolicited remarks before they are posted. We are not here to bash anyone - hopefully, participation in this effort to make Montrose County a “smart growth” community will continue to be widespread, positive, and successful.