The Boulder County Commissioners approved an agreement Tuesday to expand the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, paving the way for the Jefferson Parkway to complete a “beltway” around Denver.
The intergovernmental agreement, which will be considered for approval by the Boulder City Council on Tuesday, would result in the purchase of Section 16, a 640-acre parcel of land in Jefferson County.
It would require the City of Boulder and Boulder County to no longer oppose the construction of the Jefferson Parkway, which will link Highway 93 to Highway 128. Boulder County has previously objected to the Jefferson Parkway, but Commissioner Ben Pearlman said in a press release that this would be an important compromise.
Jefferson County would contribute $5.1 million to the purchase of the land, owned mostly by the Colorado State Land Board, and Boulder County and the City of Boulder would each contribute $2 million.
Section 16 is located near the intersection of highways 93 and 72, adjacent to the wildlife refuge. It would provide a connection with the Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop, important for wildlife.
It would also prevent development from sprawling north along Highway 93. More than 7.5 million square feet of development are planned on 1,450 acres south of the refuge. The purchase and protection of Section 16 would help mitigate the development impacts associated with that project, according to Pearlman.
The agreement specifies that no parties can reduce capacity or maintenance on Highway 93 except as required by federal or state law.
