IS THE PEACEFUL VALLEY RANCH IN ELBERT COUNTY UNDER ATTACK?

A rural treasure, the Peaceful Valley Boy Scout Ranch which is 3,344 acres of unspoiled pristine beauty, is slated to do a presentation on Wednesday, August 28th at 1:00 PM before the Elbert County BOCC.  In short, they are asking for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) designation for the entire ranch.  Let that sink in.  A large 3,344 acre ranch that has vast reserves of groundwater, with prime building potential, is asking for a zoning change that would make it almost impossible for the average resident to challenge on any grounds.  This is the same land that has been coveted by wealthy shooting sports enthusiasts from around the nation for decades. The Travis Family Sporting Clays Facility is there and it is amazingly beautiful.  That said, the shooting enthusiasts and the surrounding landowners have been at odds since 2007.  There have been lawsuits and issues surrounding what that type of activity does to the tax exempt status of the BSA.  That is why when you see a shooting event at the ranch all of the literature points out that it is all for charity.  Under the current arrangement, the tax exempt status of the ranch is jeopardized by "for Profit" events.

Times change and it is no secret that the BSA is no longer as popular as it once was.  There has been national attention focused on the declining enrollment and the allegations of misconduct by a few Scout Masters that have the organization scrambling to stay financially solvent.  The only real assets owned by the Boy Scouts of America are tied up in vast parcels of land situated across the country. It is inevitable that downsizing is one of the options that the BSA must examine to help resolve some of their issues.

I love this ranch.  I live adjacent to it.  Part of the way I make my retirement income is by shooting wildlife photography. Believe me...there is incredible wildlife on the Boy Scout Ranch in our county, even photographed from a distant public road.  And, as a former school teacher of young children I believe the Boy Scout experience is good for the young men and women of our  country.

But I also live in Elbert County.  In recent years, our county has come under extreme pressure to sell our water and develop our land for the sprawl of Colorado's Front Range communities.

Below are some of the red flags that those of us who have examined this issue just in the last few hours are seeing.  Please take a look and understand why we should all have concerns and become involved.  Time is of the essence.  

• Why are there no specifics in the letters sent to adjacent properties about what is being proposed in the way of development?
• Since the Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch is comprised of numerous parcels of land, why is the entire ranch included in a planned unit development?
•  What does this PUD do to the tax exempt status of the ranch?
•  Why has it been so difficult to get specifics from the county on what is going on here when you attempt to call them or review documentation?
• Why does documentation for this proposal reference numerous Douglas County government decisions?
• Why are traffic studies, water reports and other documents (that any other developer is normally required to submit for such a proposal) out of date, and, in some cases, as many as four years old?
• Is there any relationship between the Economic Development Zone designation for Elbert Road being lauded by our commissioners and this proposal?
• Heliport next to the East gate of the ranch?

This post is sure to ruffle the feathers of our county government, but trust in our local governance is low and possibly waning more as you read this.  I want to be wrong about all of this.  I want someone to ease my deep sense of foreboding.  After viewing the BOCC's  new attitude of growth at any cost and turning a deaf ear to citizens' cries to slow down,  I am convinced many people need to show up at this meeting.  Again: Wednesday, August 28th, 1 PM before the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners.  Please attend.