General
Goals and Objectives:
Plan Jeffco advocates the acquisition and preservation of Open Space
lands in all of Jefferson County and monitors the efforts of the Jefferson
County Open Space Program.
History:
Plan Jeffco is a citizens' Open Space advocacy group that was formed in
1972. The founding members
recognized the need for proactive acquisition and preservation of land with
scenic, natural, historic and recreational values, as Open Space.
In addition to foreseeing the need, the organizers of Plan Jeffco created
the means for building a Jefferson County Open Space program by crafting a
successful sales tax ballot initiative in 1972.
The sales tax revenue stream thus created has been utilized to fund the
acquisition, maintenance and management of the Jefferson County Open Space
program.
Plan Jeffco has gone on to become the
citizen watchdog organization of the Jefferson County Open Space program but it
also has worked creatively with the County Commissioners, Open Space Advisory
Committee (OSC) and Open Space staff to enhance the program.
In 1998 Plan Jeffco recognized the need
to accelerate acquisition of Open Space to stay ahead of inflating land costs.
Once again, Plan Jeffco organized a successful ballot initiative - Save
Open Space (SOS)- to permit the sale of $160 million of bonds solely for Open
Space acquisitions. Over $107
million of SOS bond funds have purchased an additional 14,500 acres of Open
Space. Since 1972 over 45,000 acres have been preserved as Open Space and over
250 miles of trails have been constructed.
Over the years Plan Jeffco has held
annual dinners with the County Commissioners, OSAC, Open Space staff and citizen
advocates. In addition, annual
meetings in the spring have provided the forum for discussion of pertinent
topics. For example, in 2000 a
workshop was held to discuss and formulate an ecologically based Natural
Areas’ Open Space acquisition strategy and last year the annual meeting was
devoted to the timely issue of growth management and legislation and their
effect on Open Space. (OSAC
approved a Natural Areas Plan based on concepts discussed at the workshop on
April, 3, 2002.) Plan Jeffco continues to be involved in the advocacy of Open
Space and in the success of the Jefferson County Open Space program.
Contact
Information:
Margot Zallen, Chairperson
John Litz, Vice Chairperson
Elliot Brown, Board Member
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