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Lakewood [Change Location]

Vote FOR Lakewood’s open space this holiday season

Article Contributed on: 12/6/2006 2:55:13 PM

Vote FOR Lakewood's Open Space this Holiday Season

By The Honorable Mayor Steve Burkholder,

Mayor, Lakewood, CO - Dec. 6, 2006

We are all tired of campaigns.But, this holiday season the voters of Lakewood, Colorado, are faced with a choice of great magnitude that they will decide by Jan. 2, 2007 at 7 p.m.

That is when the proverbial bell tolls and we will have decided whether to protect or lose forever one the most vital pieces of open space envisioned in the Rooney Valley Joint Master Plan, created by our city and its citizens, along with the Town of Morrison and Jefferson County.The Rooney Valley is a 2,000-acre valley that lies along C-470 at the western edge of our city, which now is the fourth largest city in Colorado.

At question, is the creation of a new open space corridor that would connect the two crown jewels of our city park system, William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain and Bear Creek Lake Park.Together those vast parks encompass 5,000 acres.Our planning commission and city council this summer unanimously approved a 22-acre parkland exchange to accomplish this task.

As a citizen of Lakewood, I am encouraging every Lakewood voter to vote FOR Referendum #1, the only measure being put before us in the upcoming special mail-in ballot.

A small and very loud group is opposing this measure.They are shrill and shrewd and the outcome of falling for their fancy footwork would be the duping of Lakewood and its hard-won vision for a more beautiful Rooney Valley.They have made a variety of outrageous claims about that proposal, none of which is backed by fact or the enforcement of law.

When you vote FOR this open space corridor - which involves absolutely no new taxes - you will be joining with me, Lisa Scott, chair, Vote FOR Rooney Valley Open Space committee, a growing group of Lakewood citizens, your entire city council, Lakewood Citizens for Open Space, Alameda Gateway Community Association, Lakewood Leadership Committee, Jewell and Wadsworth Business Association, West Colfax Community Association, The West Chamber, Jefferson County Association of Realtors, Jefferson Economic Council, Westside Cycling and Fitness and others in doing what is right.

Here are the facts:

•A vote FOR Referendum #1 benefits ALL Lakewood Citizens - it allows open space to connect Lakewood's two largest parks forever.

•The new open space is currently private land, but, can be acquired with no new taxes.

•Don't be fooled!Vote against Referendum #1 and this land will be developed as houses.

Be sure to vote FOR Referendum #1 and encourage others to do the same.Please visit voteforopenspace.org for the facts.If we are successful, we will start the year with the assurance that a vibrant new open space corridor will connect our two largest city parks, forever!Thank you, happy holidays and be sure to vote.

Guidelines: Be kind. Abusive commentary may be removed. If you believe someone has been abusive, please click "Report Abuse".

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Showing 1-10 of 10 comments
Rita Bertolli wrote on 2/17/2007 @ 5:36:48 PM

We prevaied, 57% AGAINST the swap Jan 2, 2007.
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Curtis Jones wrote on 12/8/2006 @ 9:58:00 AM

Why is it that in all the pro-vote propaganda I've recieved at my house so far they have yet to list ONCE *which land is being traded*? I had to come digging here to find a map of what we are giving up, why aren't the pro-vote people being more up-front about what's being traded for this? That right there makes it look shady to me, if you have something to hide why on earth would I trust you to be doing the right thing?
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Darrel Krause wrote on 12/7/2006 @ 11:08:29 PM

I wholeheartedly support Mayor Burkholder's views and facts that he outlines regarding the upcoming special election. The Rooney Valley Task Force in 1994 was formed to take a comprehensive look at development issues in the valley to ensure "a viable and attractive asset" and proactively address open space needs. It is very clear that the land exchange envisioned by the Rooney Valley Master Plan and unanimously supported by the Mayor and city council will reinforce the objective and vision of the task force. I would recommend that Lakewood residents review the facts, visit the areas, and see first-hand the benefits to be realized with the land exchange. I think you will agree that voting FOR the land exchange will help ensure Rooney Valley to be "a viable and attractive asset" for Lakewood residents.
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Lisa Scott wrote on 12/7/2006 @ 10:42:17 AM

Mayor Burkholder is very honorable and I appreciate his support of the long-standing master plan for this area which was developed with citizen input and which includes this trade. The true fact is that the exchange is very favorable for those of us citizens in the area who have always used this area to walk and bike. But you don't have to take my word for it, come out this weekend and see for yourself. The land being traded is located off Alameda and on either side of the entrance road being constructed by the developer now. The land to be received by the city in the trade is located to the west of the existing homes and to the east of the developer's construction fence. See you there!
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Rita Bertolli wrote on 12/7/2006 @ 10:29:47 AM

How nice it is for our own Mayor of Lakewood to have his mug shot on a Canadian developer's deceptive literature about this land trade. What the "honorable" mayor does not tell you is that there is no honor in violating the wishes of a landowner who gave us our City park, and trading a valuable land asset (OUR PARK) to a developer for them to profit. Mayor Burkholder, you should be ashamed of using your power as an elected official to send out a false message to the people of Lakewood. Just remember folks, our land is not for swap by developers and politicians. How sad that we have such deceitful city officials. Our arguments are back by truth, yours by profit and selfish motives. This issue is only about ONE THING: OUR PARK. We WANT our park.
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David Wiechman wrote on 12/7/2006 @ 9:50:21 AM

As an economist, I know the value of any exchange is whether you (the people of Lakewood) receive more of what is valuable to you than what you give. In this case, we are giving up a small piece of Ironsprings Park (but the vast majority of that park with its views is retained) and getting in return a valuable corridor that will link Lakewood's two major parks. If we don't do the exchange we don't get the corridor and the linkage is lost forever. As long as the people of Lakewood get what we want - open space corridors - what do I care if the developer gets something too. In my book, that's called a win-win.
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Donald Ferega wrote on 12/7/2006 @ 2:33:48 AM

The responses to this article suggest this boils down to one word: CREDIBILITY. Ask yourself: Do I believe a man who has dedicated most of his adult life as a businessman and civil servant to making Lakewood a better place to live and work then when he moved here nearly 30 years ago OR someone who has spent the 2 or 3 years since graduating from college expressing nothing but contempt and anger for the city? Should I believe the story portrayed by a few selected photos of the properties in question OR should I believe my own eyes by visiting the sight and looking at both properties in the context of the larger valley and surrounding parks? Do I believe what was documented in the Rooney Valley Master Plan about the location of open space corridors or the opinion of a few individuals where the best place for open space is? I realize these questions won’t change the vote of those adamantly for or against, but for those who haven’t decided, answer the above questions then vote.
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Hal Sargent wrote on 12/6/2006 @ 5:50:16 PM

The Mayor's words are a factual account of what is at stake in this election. To say that the opposition has made outrageous claims is a FACT, and not name calling. Those of us who have attended City Council meetings have been stunned by the angry attacks on the Mayor and City Council by those who seek to overturn this decision of our representatives. I find the Mayor's comments mild and quite restrained given the attacks against him. We are lucky to have a mayor who gives so much time and honest effort to public service. What a thankless job he so often has. Maybe we all can take a deep breath, gather as much information as we can, and vote.
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Allan Berger wrote on 12/6/2006 @ 4:35:34 PM

Come on mayor. Be civil. If you cannot support this measure on the merits, without personal attacks, don't do it as the mayor. You are right on all counts. But you have not answered the vital question: why is this land of more (or at least of equal) value than than the land we are giving up? It is this hubris that has me, and some other citizens, upset.
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Sharon Rogers wrote on 12/6/2006 @ 3:22:50 PM

Geez - I've been waiting for the name calling to begin, but imagine my suprise when the first really nasty shot comes from the MAYOR! Calling your constituents "Shrill and shrewd" is not very nice - Geez! I live in the development being affected and I am voting NO! This is not good for Lakewood, nor have many of your other decisions!
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Showing 1-10 of 10 comments