By Mary Butler
Camera Staff Writer

SUPERIOR — Scenery may not be enough to merit preservation of the town's eastern ridge line, said Superior leaders.

Under a deal reached between landowner Level 3 and the Boulder city and county governments, the town of 10,000 wouldn't have to part with a cent to preserve the $6 million property as open space. But Mayor Susan Spence and Town Trustees on Tuesday said they worry preventing future building on the site could result in a loss of $10 million in sales and use taxes over 10 years.

Staffers recently discovered their previous estimate of $45 million in potential losses was wrong due to an error made when inputting a spreadsheet, Town Manager Bruce Williams said.

Trustees asked the town's Open Space Advisory Committee to research whether the approximately 180-acre parcel is worth the financial hit.

The seven-member committee set a two-month deadline for returning to the board with a recommendation.

Residents have raised questions about whether the property provides good wildlife and plant habitat and if they'd be allowed to bike and walk there. Another consideration may be the Northwest Parkway toll road, which when completed next year, will terminate in the area.

A majority of the 52 people who signed a for-or-against petition Tuesday night said they supported preserving all the property.

Peter Dordick, a seven-year Superior resident and former Open Space Advisory Committee member,said he wants to know more about the land before preserving it forever.

"Look at where that piece is," he said. "It's not connected to any other open space corridors that provide critical habitat."

The town's comprehensive plan, which guides Superior's development, dedicates two-thirds of the Level 3 parcel to open space and one-third to development. Changing that would require Town Board approval.

Several board members asked whether the Boulder county and city governments would consider buying only part of the land so that a portion could still be developed.

County Commissioner Ron Stewart, who also heads the county's open space department, said the county might entertain such a proposal.

No one from Boulder was at the meeting to comment. Level 3's vice president of real estate, Pat Lynch, said it would be inappropriate to speculate on behalf of the company.

Contact Mary Butler at butlerm@thedailycamera.com or (303) 473-1390.

May 29, 2002

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