Longmont, Erie and Weld County - Planning Troubles

Last fall I wrote about the dysfunctional planning processes in Weld County that were causing spiteful interactions between the communities and the County Commissioners. Consultants who identified this reality were mocked and quit. Then a group of Weld County area officials formed a group to try and hash out their problems and set some kind of tone for future growth decisions.

Erie and Longmont belong to the Positive Weld County Partnerships committee, and much of those communities future growth will occur in or be affected by adjacent growth in Weld County.

In January Longmont City Council passed a resolution of support for the Partnership, noting that "Weld County one of the fastest growing areas in the nation with a projection that its population will grow to 250,000 by the year 2020." They also highlighted the need for the group to address these concerns: 1) meaningful intergovernmental agreements that respect municipal planning area; 2) Land use vision and execution, and 3) Compatibility of municipal land use with county and adjacent development.

Following a meeting Thursday the group may disband, as the sentiment of "agree to disagree" seems to have taken hold. Unfortunately the challenges of regional planning have burnt out the majority of people at the table.