Smart
Growth Hall Of Fame 2001
Ten Examples Of Good Planning Decisions In Colorado
G.
Town of Nederland Buffer Zone
Boulder County
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History: The Town of Nederland encompasses an area of less than two square miles. Over the last twenty years, Nederland has been offered a number of proposals that would double the size of the town. The real estate market boom in Boulder County during the mid 1990's put extreme development pressure on Nederland. Although, the Town already had adopted a comprehensive plan that encouraged infill development, the Town was concerned that undeveloped private property near the Town would eventually be developed. Determined to keep the well-defined, small town-character of Nederland, the Town and its citizens enacted a number of smart growth policies.
Elements of Good Planning: Through these policies the Town of Nederland created a permanent buffer zone by protecting open space around the incorporated area of the Town. This boundary was established through the following purchases and conservation easements:
- With the assistance
of Boulder County, the Town, with voter approval, purchased more
than 200 acres to the north turning almost all of it into publicly owned
open space. This parcel of land was the location for numerous proposals
for development over the past 30 years-all of the proposals were denied.
- The Town negotiated
an agreement with the United States Forest Service whereby the Town would
purchase land and trade it with the USFS with the end result of surrounding
the Town with open space. This agreement was pursued after learning that
a private party had approached the USFS to develop a resort at the south
side of Nederland.
- Using the state Conservation
Easement Tax Credit Program, the Town created a program in partnership with
several private individuals to preserve land. The land was preserved through
private purchases of land and the creation of a conservation easement under
which the Town leases the property with an option to buy.
- On the east end of Nederland, the Town worked with a developer to reduce the number of homes in a current proposal from 35 houses to 6 houses, preserving the remainder of the land as town owned open space.
In addition to this de facto growth boundary, Nederland took one step further to ensure its smart growth future. This year the Town of Nederland and Boulder County signed an Intergovernmental Agreement which requires the approval of the County planning commission, the County commission, the Town planning commission, the Town Board of Trustees and the voters of the Town for any annexation beyond the current Town limits.
In summary, the Town of Nederland has shown good planning, consistent with community vision, through the establishment of an open space buffer zone, the use of an intergovernmental agreement with Boulder County, and the inclusion of voter input for the purchase of open space and for future annexations.
Involved parties: Mayor Jim Miller, the Town of Nederland government and citizens, Boulder County, and the US Forest Service
Location: Nederland, CO-Boulder County
Status: The Intergovernmental agreement with Boulder County was signed in 2001. Conservation easements, land purchases and exchanges with the USFS and private individuals are in progress.
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