In the Region

SVVSD WILL GO TO VOTERS FOR MILL-OVERRIDE IN NOVEMBER
-The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) is poised to go back to the voters for a mill override in November. The District narrowly lost its bid for a $15.5 million annual tax increase in November 2004 when a recount verified the 128-vote margin. The mill override is being sought to fund operation of new District schools scheduled to open in the Fall of 2005, buy textbooks, and add resource officers at middle and high schools. The SVVSD Board of Education is forming a citizen committee to develop a new proposal by the end of April or in early May.

DEVELOPMENTS SLATED TO ADD 2000 HOMES TO FREDERICK
-Five new subdivisions are in the development review process in Firestone and if approved would add nearly 2000 new homes to the Town. Pending developments include three at the intersection of WCR22 and WCR11: Stoneridge with 355 units on 159-acres; Neighbors Point with 345 units on 151-acres; and Cottonwood Hollow with 352 units on 90-acres. Saddleback Hills is on 270-acres north of the intersection of WCR18 and WCR 15 and proposes 478 units. Vogl, north and south of WCR 24, east of WCR 15 proposes 349 units on 157-acres.

HOME RULE CHARTER HEADED TO VOTERS FOR DECISION
-Although it struggled right up to the end, the Frederick Home Rule Charter Commission voted 7-3 to send its Charter recommendation to the Town Board. Prior objections that no advisory committee had been provided for and that there was no mention of the Colorado or U.S. Constitutions were resolved. Efforts to change the proposed election of Frederick council members was rejected and the Charter will provide for election of three council members from districts and three at-large. The Frederick Town Board set March 15, 2005 for a special election for voters to approve or reject the Home Rule Charter.

WELD COUNTY PLANNING TO ADD 200,000 RESIDENTS
-Weld County officials will use consultants to help plan for development on 75 square miles of land in the southwestern portion of the county. Officials anticipate that 200,000 or more persons will move into the unincorporated area over the next few decades and the county wants to plan for space to accommodate churches, parks, trails, schools and other amenities. The study area is bordered by WCR 15 on the east, County Line Road on the west, WCR on the north and Colo. 52 on the south. The study will take at least a year to complete.