By Peter Baumgartner

Redstone Review

LYONS – I believe the 11^th tarot key, justice, depicts with a great depth of symbolism the accumulated wisdom of thousands of years worth of thinking and reflections on experiences.  So, I’m using the key as a basis for my commentary during this final phase of the Lyons Comprehensive Plan formulation.

In the lower right of the illustration of the key appears the Hebrew letter Lamed. Lamed also is a verb meaning to teach, to instruct. The message is that a document must give instruction based upon correct perceptions. The Planning and Community Development Commission, PCDC, writes, “The Lyons Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for decisions that affect the Town’s physical, social and economic realm.”  But my review of the plan draft dated 1/14/10 caused me to conclude it has imbalances and inaccuracies, which, if we are diligent, won’t make it to the final edition.

The first example (there are too many to cite them all) is a map titled “Lyons Planning Area” with a large area in the eastern corridor labeled “Employment Area,” where a great expansion of commercial and industrial activities is envisioned.  But I hold that this has been drawn with a total lack of environmental consideration. To depict a proposed “Employment Area,” part of which is in a floodplain and part of which is Boulder County Open Space, is far from balanced. Notably, the map gives as its information source “Town of Lyons, Boulder County 2007 POST Plan (Shapins Associates.)” This is an inaccurate source quotation. There is no document with that title. A second map labeled “Environmental Features Map” shows the River Bend Trailer Park as “Critical Wildlife Area.” I know some of the people who live there and they’re not all wild.

The golden Libra suggests at any moment, no matter how quickly circumstances change, there is a momentary balance that can be achieved. At this moment, the areas labeled beneath “Critical Wildlife Areas” include land upon which we would like to build trails; land filled with mining debris; livestock pastures; and plenty of expensive homes. Generally, critical wildlife areas are land that should be preserved, with unaltered native flora, and upon which human activity should be minimized. How much more out of balance with existing and intended land use could the map designation get?

The Comp Plan does acknowledge that there are economic, environmental, and social considerations to every decision. Each consideration also has a stated plan objective. Not considered, however, is the summer roars of Harleys as they pull into and out of the Outlaw Saloon and Oskar Blues. Any new policy will have some impact socially, environmentally and I don’t doubt economically.  The right balance may be as it is now, or it might be a policy to discourage the straight pipes custom installed on the motorcycles which maximize the roar. If the purpose of the plan is “to provide a foundation for policy direction,” where in this document is the discussion, or references for disturbing or harmful decibel levels given?

Finally, I think it unbalanced that the plan romanticizes the stone quarry business, but fails to acknowledge that this giant strip mining operation has been going on for 150 years with zero reclamation. Wildlife habitat enhancement is a goal listed as an objective in the Environment section. What can be done with acres of rubble so it can once again support wildlife? Could the quarried portions of Hall Ranch and Steamboat Mountain become models of successful reclamation? Could the bio-solids from our waste treatment plant be deactivated and used to provide organic cover material over the denuded hillsides surrounding our town?  The environmental section needs work.

In summary, the general lesson of this Tarot key applicable to the drafting of the final version of the Lyons Comprehensive Plan is to teach; and the conclusions or decisions must be reached with an understanding of motivations and consequences.  Merely writing and reading the plan is insufficient.  The plan properly seeks to provide a framework for decision-making, but the 1/14/10 draft too often fails in terms of balance and accuracy. Red tape and outmoded forms are detrimental as they result in delay or prevent the implementation of well proposed economic development, but the plan fails to remove those causes of hesitancy. The plan strives to reflect the wisdom of the people of Lyons, but our wisdom needs to be better captured and to have an improved display.

Your humble servant,

Peter Baumgartner, Trustee

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