Developers are companies or individuals who want to make money. There is nothing wrong with making money; however, when making money impacts the environment and the wild animals negatively, it needs to be stopped. They have no vested interest here.

I tried to find the development/exchange map on the city website, but with my limited technological expertise gave up seeing what the impact would be on the community.  (Perhaps the city intended it to be difficult to find.) By community we must also include animals, both wild and domestic. As you know, the wild animals were here before we were.

But nonetheless, I don’t need to see a map to know what is being considered, except the destruction of the environment and added traffic, more accidents, more animals killed, more pollution, more noise, more light pollution. The impact would also be on the natural areas NOT being developed. Be happy you or the wild animals don’t live in glaring light at night across from the storage units in east Alamosa. Even if there is an exchange, all the above are going to impact what little of the nature is left.

I will add myself as one of the “some” mentioned in the Valley Courier front page article, who desire the entire property to be protected, not developed or exchanged.  The Alamosa Ranch was the proudest achievement of former city manager Mike Hackett, as stated in the letter below by Chet Choman, four months ago. Thank you Chet for the great letter, the rest of which can be viewed on the Valley Courier e edition:

“Mike had a greater vision such as trails being built, trees being planted, a botanic garden, creating a real showplace and a community coming together and sharing. It was never the intent to use it for actual economic development. The economic development would happen because the town had a couple of jewels to offer to potential developers. Mike’s view for economic development seemed to center around the downtown and railroad area. Its rich history and central location was the place to build restaurants, shops and businesses, essentially revitalizing the downtown area, which could become another Taos or Durango. Mike would be enraged with what is currently happening with ‘The Ranch.’ Allowing it to be traded so that a high-density RV residency could invade the peacefulness and beauty was contrary to his purpose and vision for ‘The Ranch.’ “

These developers need to look for an abandoned industrial site to develop and beautify, not destroy the beauty that exists. I doubt if anyone wants to visit downtown much. Downtowns I have visited and enjoyed are Boulder and especially, Ithaca, NY. If you want to attract tourists, work for a more pedestrian friendly, comfortable and beautiful downtown.

So let’s get these “developers” to work on the downtown and the railroad area, rather than ruin what nature exists and what Mike Hackett helped make happen.

Aileen Peek

Alamosa