Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

Gentlemen:

In November of 2006, we presented you with the results (as well as a description of methodology) of a scientific survey which we had performed (at no cost to the county) by a professional, independent, Colorado-based, nationally-recognized polling organization to determine the sentiment of county residents on our Master Plan. Unlike our Planning Commission, we consulted with our county Land Use Dept. professionals to determine what kind of information would be useful in their work, and incorporated their input into the design of the 5 questions asked of randomly selected, likely Montrose county voters. The results (with a 95% confidence level) clearly demonstrated that a significant number of our citizens were unfamiliar with our Master Plan; but, of those who were- two thirds were in favor of updating it (as mandated in the document itself) and using it (as a basis for density and zoning ordinances) to manage growth in our county. We also published the results in the Montrose Daily Press.

Since that time, we have observed the 3 dominant members of our Planning Commission frustrate the will of the citizens- as expressed in the results of its own subsequent survey- by inventing a plethora of lame excuses- to delay, protract, and stonewall any efforts to move forward on this matter. Furthermore, the PUBLIC RECORD REPEATEDLY DOCUMENTS their undeniable pattern of treating their “customersâ€? (the public) with contempt, their co-workers (other Planning Commissioners & professional land use staff) with insult and disdain, and their superiors (you- the BOCC) with acrimony and insolence. They have regularly embarrassed, disgraced, and dishonored themselves by demonstrating an egregious ignorance of basic democratic principles, and by violating the public trust while serving in their official public capacity - placing their own agenda (consistent with their development and real estate backgrounds) above that of their constituents’… THAT- not their personal views- is their failure.
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Dear Commissioner Patterson-

We were dismayed - but not surprised - to read about the effort to recall you…

We would like to state herein our unconditional support for you as well as our “thanks” for your efforts to professionally address the long-term and ongoing incompetence and conflicts of interest in our county government.

We are conservative Republican long-term Montrose residents who, frankly, are sick and tired of the way that these entrenched special interest groups have denied that we have significant growth issues, resisted any civil discussion to address them, and attack and attempt to intimidate others who do. This is obviously more of the same “shoot-the-messenger” mentality, because these folks cannot support their positions in open, civil debate, based on merit.

We appreciate your courage to confront these and other issues, which unfortunately stand in stark contrast to many others in positions of responsibility; and we stand ready to defend and support your efforts.

Please let us know if we can assist you in any way.

Thank you for your service to our county.
John Cossick & Mary Wood

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

Senator Jim Isgar & Rep. Ray Rose
Colorado State Legislature
200 E. Colfax
Denver, CO 80203

Dear Senator Isgar & Rep. Rose-

We are long-time Montrose residents, and are writing to urge you to support the “Predictability in Planning Act”- HB 07 1246. It is
undisputed that the rural west is experiencing unprecedented growth; and this bill allows local citizens and their elected representatives the flexibility to deal with it in a way that meets their local needs. It allows each community to choose whether its Master Plan will be used as an advisory document, or an adopted plan to be implemented.

We believe that good local planning is the key for each community to determine its future. This law will allow a degree of predictability and certainty which benefits everyone. Each community is free to choose the path which best reflects its citizens’ vision. Furthermore, the bill does not penalize or limit growth, change zoning powers, nor increase state influence over local communities.

We hope that you will lend your support to this bill’s passage, thereby giving local governments another option in carrying out their
citizens’ wishes.

Over the past several months we have watched - with considerable embarrassment, frustration, and dismay - as the Montrose County Planning Commission (dominated by three members) has struggled to proceed with our Master Plan revision… now belatedly, even debating the need for the revision. That need – mandated in the document itself – was reinforced approximately a year ago by a public declaration from legal and professional land use counsel – that our current version did not possess “sufficient exactitude” to be usable.

As it stands now, our county essentially has NO plan. The only beneficiaries of this status quo are the short term speculators and developers who will soon move on to other special places – leaving all of us to pick up the tab and live with the consequences. Everyone else benefits from the certainty of a plan.

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