**SB120 ENFORCEMENT OF MASTER PLANS

(Tate)

Status: Senate PPP

Position: Support

 

SB120 requires local governments to enforce their master plans through the

adoption of rule, regulation, and ordinance. It also requires the master

plans to address a representative list of elements, including environmental

quality.

 

We anticipate that development interests will try to strike the mandatory

environmental planning element and to insert takings language, as they did

during the special session.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

This bill is supposed to be heard by the Senate Public Policy and Planning

Committee next Thursday morning, February 7th, 2002.  Members of the Senate

Public Policy and Planning Committee and their contact information are

given below:

 

             MEMBER'S                        CAPITOL          HOME

               NAME           D/R  DIST.      PHONE           PHONE

 

  Chairman:  Ed Perlmutter     D    20     303-866-4856    303-278-8426

Vice-Chair:  Pat Pascoe        D    32     303-866-4852    303-832-8865

    Member:  John Andrews      R    27     303-866-4883    303-770-8215

    Member:  Stan Matsunaka    D    15     303-866-4853    970-635-0384

    Member:  Andy McElhany     R    12     303-866-4866    719-473-9400

    Member:  Marilyn Musgrave  R     1     303-866-4877    970-867-3245

    Member:  Bill Thiebaut     D     3     303-866-4865    719-544-3822

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Summary of Legislation may be reviewed at:

 

http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/A96EA77A2897D37B87256B1800508959?Open&file=SB120_00.pdf

 

 

 

 

NOTE: This bill was one of three bills that were assigned the highest

      priority by the Audubon of Colorado's Legislative Committee.

 

      The basic concepts found within SB120 also were part of the

      underlying principals of the Responsible Growth Initiative

     (Amendment 24) of 1999, and were also introduced into last fall's

     special legislative session by Jo Evans, on behalf of Audubon of

     Colorado.

 

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Audubon lobbyist Jo Evans sent out the following additional information to

Audubon of Colorado:

 

        Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 11:40:11 EST

        From: Jo Evans <Jocotu@AOL.COM>

        Subject: AOC Legislative Alert #3: SB120 - Enforcement of Master

                 Plans

 

        URGENT

 

        The critical point to make in discussing SB120 with legislators is

        the VITAL IMPORTANCE  of requiring local governments to plan for

        environmental quality and then to enforce that plan.  It is not

        enough to simply enforce plans.  The plans must include a

        recognition of environmental protection.

 

        We lose significant habitat every hour of every day due to

        decisions made at the local land use level.  Conservationists

        struggling at the local level to preserve vital habitat, open

        space, and recreational opportunities have no ability to say to

        their local officials, "You must address environmental concerns."

        There is no state requirement that the local government address

        the environment.  Until the law is changed, developers will likely

        succeed in blocking local environmental protections in master

        plans.

 

        The battle on 120 will be to maintain the environmental quality

        element and to block inclusion of a "takings" plank restricting

        environmental quality regulations.

 

        Thanks,

        Jo Evans

 

* * * * * * * *

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FROM THE MOST RECENT AOC LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

 

**SB120 ENFORCEMENT OF MASTER PLANS

(Tate)

Status: Senate Floor

Position: Support

 

SB120 requires local governments to enforce their master plans through the

adoption of rule, regulation, and ordinance. It also requires the master

plans to address a representative list of elements, including environmental

quality.

 

We anticipate that development interests will try to strike the mandatory

environmental planning element and to insert takings language, as they did

during the special session.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION (From Colorado General assembly web page):

 

"Under current law, master plans prepared by county and municipal planning

commissions are advisory only.  This bill specifies that upon receipt of a

master plan, or an amendment to an existing master plan, the Board of

County Commissioners or the municipal governing body may either adopt,

amend, or reject the proposed plan or amendment.  If a master plan (or

amendment) is adopted by the Board of County Commissioners or the municipal

governing body, they must enforce and implement the plan through

ordinances, rules, or regulations that are sufficiently specific to ensure

their application in a rational and consistent manner.  Adoption or

amendment of a master plan does not, however, constitute a rezoning of

property within either the municipality or the county.  The bill further

specifies that each master plan has the following six elements at a

inimum:

 

* a land use element;

* a water and sanitation element;

* a transportation element;

* an essential public service element;

* an environmental quality element; and

* an emergency preparedness element.

 

"This bill also specifies that master plans prepared by regional planning

commissions will be advisory only, unless the Board of County Commissioners

or the municipal governing body has specifically adopted ordinances, rules

and regulations to implement the regional plan."

 

* * * * * * * *

 

 

SB120 was passed out of the Senate Public Policy and Planning Committee

last week and is scheduled to be heard by the full Senate on Wednesday,

02/20/02.

 

We are asking you to contact your state senators and strongly urge them to

support (vote << FOR >> )  SB120.  Members of the Colorado State Senate

re:

 

  MEMBER'S                                          CAPITOL        HOME

    NAME          D/R  DIST. COUNTY(IES)             PHONE         PHONE

 

Anderson, Norma V. R    22   Jefferson            303-866-4859

03-986-0397

Andrews, John      R    27   Arapahoe             303-866-2318

03-770-8215

Arnold, Ken        R    23   Adams, Boulder,

                             Broomfield           303-866-4876

03-466-2666

Cairns, Bruce E.   R    28   Arapahoe             303-866-3432

03-693-6089

Chlouber, Ken      R     4   Chaffee, Delta,

                             Fremont, Pitkin,

                             Gunnison, Park,

                             Hinsdale, Lake       303-866-4869

19-486-0008

Dyer, Jim          R    26   Arapahoe, Jefferson  303-866-4846

03-795-3594

Entz, Lewis H.     R     5   Alamosa, Costila,

                             Conejos, Mineral,

                             Huerfano, Custer,

                             Las Animas, Pueblo,

                             Saguache, Rio Grande 303-866-4871

19-754-3750

Epps, Mary Ellen   R    11   El Paso              303-866-6364

19-228-0290

Evans, John        R    30   Arapahoe, Douglas,

                             Elbert, Jefferson    303-866-4881

03-840-0252

Fitz-Gerald, Joan  D    13   Boulder, Clear Creek,

                             Gilpin, Jefferson,

                             Summit               303-866-4873

03-526-2052

Gordon, Ken        D    35   Arapahoe, Denver     303-866-4875

03-753-1383

Hagedorn, Bob      D    29   Arapahoe             303-866-4879

03-367-1994

Hanna, Deanna      D    21   Jefferson            303-866-4857

03-987-1449

Hernandez, Rob     D    34   Denver               303-866-4862

03-458-1011

Hillman, Mark D.   R     2   Baca, Bent, Otero,

                             Cheyenne, Crowley,

                             El Paso, Kiowa,

                             Lincoln, Kit Carson  303-866-636  719-346-7689

Isgar, Jim         D     6   Archuleta, Delta,

                             Dolores, La Plata,

                             Montezuma, Montrose,

                             Ouray, San Juan,

                             San Miguel           303-866-4884

70-385-7664

Lamborn, Doug      R     9   El Paso              303-866-4835

19-481-3387

Linkhart, Doug     D    31   Denver               303-866-4861

03-733-3596

Matsunaka, Stan    D    15   Larimer              303-866-3342

70-635-0384

May, Ron           R    10   El Paso              303-866-4866

19-591-8620

McElhany, Andy     R    12   El Paso, Teller      303-866-4866

19-473-9400

Musgrave, Marilyn  R     1   Logan, Morgan,

                             Phillips, Weld,

                             Sedgwick, Yuma,

                             Washington           303-866-4877

70-867-3245

Nichol, Alice J.   D    24   Adams                303-866-4863

03-287-7742

Owen, David T.     R    16   Weld                 303-866-2586

70-330-9600

Pascoe, Pat        D    32   Denver               303-866-4852

03-832-8865

Perlmutter, Ed     D    20   Jefferson            303-866-4856

03-278-8426

Phillips, Terry    D    17   Boulder              303-866-5291

03-666-9488

Reeves, Peggy      D    35   Larimer              303-866-4841

70-482-8952

Takis, Stephanie   D    25   Adams                303-866-4855

03-343-8303

Tate, Penfield     D    33   Denver               303-866-4864

03-388-0920

Taylor, Jack       R     8   Eagle, Garfield,

                             Grand, Jackson,

                             Moffat, Rio Blanco,

                             Routt                303-866-4866

70-879-1880

Teck, Ronald J.    R     7   Mesa                 303-866-3077

70-243-8947

Thiebaut, Bill     D     3   Pueblo               303-866-3341

19-544-3822

Tupa, Ron          D    18   Boulder              303-866-4872

03-499-2543

Windels, Sue       D    19   Broomfield,

                             Jefferson            303-866-4840

303-421-6405