WHEREAS agricultural lands provide not only economic benefit to the Western Slope, but also supply much of the open space and wildlife habitat, and thus the quality of life, which Coloradans value, and
WHEREAS the rate at which working landscapes are being lost to residential and other developments has become a crisis in many Western Slope counties, threatening to destroy the rural ambiance of many mountain communities, and
WHEREAS the impact of such development on formerly rural farm areas has a serious economic impact on the future of these areas, hurting the tourism economy, and making it increasingly difficult for working people to afford to live and raise families on the Western Slope; and
WHEREAS the various tools for preserving open space which have been devised (including conservation easements, transferable development rights, tax credits and others) are important and useful, but in the long run are only partial solutions and can never generate enough money to save all Western Colorado’s open space;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that
- CLUB 20 believes the only permanent way to preserve open space is to keep farmers and ranchers in business; therefore, we generally support proposals which enhance the economics of agriculture (including protection against ordinances which interfere with farming operations and restrictions on eminent domain), and oppose policies (regulatory or tax) which make agriculture less viable or which take or diminish the value of property without compensation.
- CLUB 20 continues to support programs for voluntary preservation of agricultural land in exchange for financial incentives, including conservation easements, transferable development rights, and other such programs.
- CLUB 20 encourages the counties of Western Colorado to consider the option of various state and local zoning tools, all while respecting private property rights, to create the most appropriate tool for their area.
- CLUB 20 believes that state and federal income tax credits should be extended to businesses whose activities protect agricultural lands and productivity, including the availability of such credits for easements of a limited time.
- CLUB 20 supports voluntary agricultural enterprise zones so long as all affected property owners and the affected county government agree to the district’s creation.
Adopted 3/31/ 2006
Amended 3/30/2012
Amended 4/7/2017