Life on a ranch isn’t 948 homes blanketing the grasslands with cement and removing the timbers. Building communities in which 4 to 5 homes per acre exist is totally incongruent and not compatible with surrounding rural properties.

As residents, we are the conservators of this rural land who recognize its native landscape. We cherish the Black Forest, the wavering prairie grasslands with pronghorn herds and redtail hawks, the open blue skies that turn to fire in the sky sunsets and later the panacea of stars. We know the solitude and serenity of the Divide with the wind against the rolling hills. This is our home and way of life you are attempting to take away. 

Developments, such as Blue Sky Ranch, create urbanization through high-density clustering of homes conjoined or stacked against each other.

We, the undersigned residents and surrounding communities in Elbert County oppose the proposed high-density development of the ~ 970-acre C & D Land Corp, LLC “Blue Sky Ranch” property. (please see the link to the petition in the comments)

This development diminishes the land with urban high-density housing, that will result in the loss of the Black Forest, dense Ponderosa pines to the southwest, grasslands, and natural wildlife habitat. The proposed high-density development of 948 housing units is extreme and inconsistent with the rural communities surrounding it.

Our concerns include:

• Incompatibility with existing rural communities that are low-density
• Deforestation of the woodlands and prairie grasslands ecosystem which is essential for water quality, flow and natural watersheds. These also serve to prevent erosion in draught, act as natural filtration of pollutants, and moderate temperature. 
• Land development that does not adhere to existing environmental regulations in Elbert County’s zoning Amendment 5, Section D to maintain forested areas and protect natural vegetation.
• Deprivation of natural habitat and corridors, critical to biodiversity of native vegetation and species.
• Added mining of the aquifers which are finite water resources in Colorado and are not being replenished at a sustainable rate due to over development by multiple counties.
• High traffic impacts created by high-density with limited access to roads to main arteries (e.g. Delbert Road and County Road 166) 
• Major strain on unincorporated Elbert County’s infrastructure (not financially planned for) which will result in future tax increases for existing residents

We call on the Elbert County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners to:

1. Halt high-density development that eradicates forest lands and open spaces key to natural watersheds, water quality, and temperature controls, specifically in arid landscapes.
2. Create constructive development regulations to protect rural land that the county ensures is followed, and that is compatible with existing aligned communities.
3. Create an independent water plan, not just studies, before allowing increased development
4. Reject this land development unless substantial downsizing and protections are implemented

We ask our elected officials and government agencies to prioritize:

✓ Responsible Development

✓ Water Conservation

✓ Safe Infrastructure

✓ Forest and Wildlife Protection

✓ Preservation of Colorado’s Natural Landscape

We urge you to stop the Blue Sky Ranch high-density development until a full, independent comprehensive growth, environmental, and water plan is completed.