Why We The People?
The Mission
Why We the People? The best way to gain responsible development and limit high-density housing is to have representation as a communmity. That means being a strategic partner in comprehensive planning, being actively involved, and directly communicating with Elbert County.
Elbert County We the People is an organization of residents opposed to high-density development, specifically in Northwest Elbert County Colorado where over 10,000+ housing units, largely consisting of high-density or mix-use, cluster-style development are proposed or in the current approval pipeline within a 5 to10 mile radius. These developments aim to increase density in our rural areas at an unsustainable rate and have the potential to increase units by a significant factor due to county bonus incentives.
Why is high-density development occurring? The answer lies in the County's perspective towards land planning. In an effort to balance rural environments and manage growth, the County has adopted a model of “conservation communities” which utilizes clustering. This land planning method closely groups home together on small lots on a specific section of the development site to conserve common open space instead of each home having more lawn or land space.
What frustrates existing rural residents with this land plan is the definition of "open space." Is open space large, contiguous land corridors or conservation easements for wildlife habitats and rural preservation?
Or is common open space unusable land for building, like drainage and ravines, and recreational park and open trail systems which have high human traffic? And where exactly are developments buffering their high-density housing against rural land use?
If we remain silent on high-density land planning for managed growth, we lose our rural character, culture, and quality of life. This interchange of making our voices heard on land use is critical to determining our future.
If the County does not hear our community input, they will believe we are in agreement with their land planning method of clustering as a means to preserve our rural environment. Say no to high-density urbanization. We The People are Elbert County, and as such, deserve our thoughts, ideas, and communication to be heard and acted upon.
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