UPDATE 11.14.2024 @ 7 a.m.
Town of Silverthorne last night approved its part of a $2 million land purchase at the Lowe Ranch property, where some locals say open space is welcome and others fear it will become housing.
Silverthorne will split the cost with Summit County and promises to protect all 11 acres as open space.
The town also signed an agreement with one of the biggest opponents, the Willowbrook Metro District and Ruby Ranch neighborhood. This agreement says the two will collaborate, not litigate, once the property becomes open space. It also says the town and county will not flip the land for homes, but it does leave room for future development, like a nearby parking lot and maybe a museum.
Listeners remind Krystal 93 some neighbors have a lot of love for this purchase:
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE 11.13.2024
Silverthorne is one signature away from approving a $2 million land purchase at Lowe Ranch just north of downtown.
This hotly contested private parcel between Smith Ranch and Willowbrook is only 11 acres, but it has recently become one of the most controversial plots in Summit County.
The town and county want to convert it to open space and build trails connecting the two neighborhoods.
Willowbrook locals are crying foul, saying the town has a history of rezoning open space for development.
At the center of their pleas – wildlife.
“Adding a hiking trail to the wildlife habitat area is likely to have detrimental effects on local wildlife and the environment, while there are alternative options that would better serve both the community’s recreational needs and ecological integrity,” resident Kristi Bringle writes in a letter to town council. “The decision should prioritize sustainability and the health of the ecosystem over short-term financial benefits.”
But maybe most frustrated by this sale is the Willowbrook Metro District. The district board offered to split the cost with the town and county, and then split management of the new open space.
The town said, “no thanks.”
“We continue to have serious concerns about the lack of transparency with the public and (…) withholding documents we have requested about the Town and County’s process to date,” metro district board president E.J. Olbright writes the town. “Prioritization of wildlife preservation will be at the forefront of our efforts, and we will continue to advocate for solutions consistent with this goal.”
The board requested numerous documents and actions before council signs off on the sale, including a site visit, preservation plan, and task force to study and recommend where those new trails should go.