Please reject the disposal of open space landsFrom:Alex Sher
To:OSBT
Subject:Please reject the disposal of open space lands
Date:Tuesday, February 20, 2024 9:44:23 AM
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Hon. Open Space Board of Trustees,
Thank you for all of your hard work in creating and protecting Boulder Open Space.
Though it will be a hard decision because of incredible pressure from City Council and CU
Boulder, I ask that you reject the City of Boulder request to dispose of and remove Open
Space protection from critical wetlands habitat in the South Boulder Creek floodplain.
A key question: is this dam required for public safety? The answer is no. To protect the CU
South Campus and maximize buildable land, Boulder City Council rejected wetlands based
500 year flood protection in favor of the weak 100 year flood protection that allows CU to
build in an ecologically sensitive flood plain.
The CU South proposal actually threatens public safety by reducing flood protection for
downstream communities to inadequate 100 year levels.
By rejecting the City request to dispose of Open Space you open the door to cost effective 500
year flood protection of downstream communities, save renters and homeowners likely $300
to $500 per year being added to their water or tax bill and most importantly you will protect
the federally endangered plant and animal species that make their home in the area.
Lastly, despite numerous community requests, the City of Boulder and the University of
Colorado Boulder have refused to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the
proposed project area.
As guardians of Boulder Open Space, it would be both logical and ethically fair for you to
either A) reject the proposal to dispose of Boulder Open Space outright; or B) require an EIA
prior to making this critically important decision.
Your decision will impact both the environment and the safety of downstream communities
for hundreds of years to come. Thank you sincerely for your consideration.
With deep respect,
Alex Sher