A special election in Lakewood, Colorado, asks voters to decide if the city should trade 22 acres of public parkland with 22 acres of less-than pristine land owned by a developer. Opponents fear the traded parkland would immediately be developed.
"The only issue on the ballot is whether the city should trade 22 acres of Iron Spring Park to Carma Colorado, a developer that's building an 1,100-home, $550 million master-planned community along Alameda Parkway, for a 22-acre parcel owned by Carma east of the park. But beneath that simple proposition is a welter of questions about representative government, the sanctity of park land and the future of wildlife in the soon-to-be-urbanized Rooney Valley."
"Proponents of the swap, including Lakewood mayor Steve Burkholder, say it will provide a buffer zone between Carma's enormous project (slated to host the 2008 Parade of Homes) and existing subdivisions, as well as preserve a popular hiking and biking area and 'wildlife corridor' that links Green Mountain open space with parks to the south. Critics say it's not a fair trade because the city would be giving up pristine park land for a 'drainage strip' that consists largely of a natural gulch."
FULL STORY: Trading Spaces

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
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