Published 12-10-08 in
the Longmont Times-Call
BOULDER COUNTY OVERREACHES
IN OPPOSING CHURCH PLAN

Despite being found guilty by a federal jury of violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, the Boulder County Commissioners persist in trying to keep Rocky Mountain Christian Church (disclosure: I’m not a member) from expanding to meet the needs of its congregation. There’s nothing extraordinary about the church’s plan to add space for worship, a gym for better health, and a school building to educate children. Also, the site seems quite adaptable and appropriate.

Essentially at the heart of this issue and at risk, as Richard Yale pointed out in his letter to the Times-Call (12-06-08) and I agree, is the First Amendment’s guarantee of “free exercise …of religion.”

As for RLUIPA, I don’t think AG Janet Reno would have let President Clinton sign it into law had she doubted its constitutionality. Yes, the Supremes might reject it, but I question the commissioners’ desire to spend big on legal fees to find out, especially when we’re in a recession and Boulder County is $193 million in debt (annual financial report for 2007).

Having resided in east Boulder County for 43 years, I’ve watched unincorporated Niwot, which the county governs hands-on, expand rather dramatically. Niwot showed a growth rate of 56% between 1990 and 2000, compared to Boulder’s 14%, Lyons’ 29%, Longmont’s 38%, Louisville’s 53% and Broomfield’s 55%. Only Lafayette, Erie and Superior outpaced Niwot.

The county would like to pretend that it has allowed little or no growth in this once-rural area, but the facts indicate otherwise.

First, it was IBM across Colo. Highway 119 that “ruined the landscape,” then it was nearby Gunbarrel that exploded and now it’s multi-million dollar mansions that encroach.

But I admit I’m not all that sensitive to all of that activity and, again, I fail to see the problem with the church expansion. Merry Christmas!
P.