May, 2010 www.solveccc.org
The Value of Vistas
By Linda Browning
Have your friends or family ever asked you, “Why do you live so far away in such a remote
area?” The answer most often given is because Clear Creek County has such natural open
beauty, clean air, and recreational opportunities.
Citizen input about pleasing views and attractive surroundings are often trivialized or
dismissed by those who feel profits and economic criteria are more important than quality of
life. But it is precisely the views and surrounding beauty that make Clear Creek County so
special.
In the 2003 Clear Creek Citizen Survey, the top reasons for moving to the county were
“Peace and Tranquility” and “Views/Natural Beauty.” Residents have made it clear that
beauty and the tranquility that comes with it are very important.
Furthermore, beauty is important to economic well-being. A study by the National
Association of Home Builders found that the surrounding environment is the single most
important factor affecting the market value of homes, and it can even affect the market value
of commercial property. The right “view” can add up to $100,000 to a home’s value and
higher property values yield more in property tax collections. Clearly the home or business
owner and the County have a significant financial stake in our aesthetic environment.
Dollars are not necessarily more real or important than beauty.
Disregarding the aesthetic factors can even change the entire character of a community. The
gaming takeover of historic towns, such as Blackhawk and Central City, has driven out longtime families whose hometowns are no longer recognizable. Driving up Highway 119, the
Peak to Peak Scenic Highway, one must pass through a gauntlet of Vegas style casinos that
are the antithesis of what would be expected in an area that has unparalleled natural beauty.
Noise, light, and air pollution are also devaluing results of such development.
Municipalities that tend to pounce on any business opportunity that comes along only put a
band-aid on a their budget deficits. They are benefiting a few people in the real
estate/development industries, doing so at the expense (literally and figuratively) of
May, 2010 www.solveccc.org
taxpayers. Long-term infrastructure, maintenance, and service costs are downplayed if not
totally ignored, while project revenues are exalted. Short-sighted solutions that permanently
destroy valuable and irreplaceable vistas and wildlife habitats is counterproductive to both
residents and County coffers.
Inviting the right kind of development or industry to the County should be balanced with the
values and economic investments of the current residents. In addition to exploring the fiscal
impact, Clear Creek County should also explore the following proven sustainability
principles:
— Assess what type of businesses could be successful in our existing municipalities or on
open mixed-zone lands. A deserted storefront benefits no one.
— Consider existing infrastructure and revitalize older housing and neighborhoods before
looking at development in an open area.
–Consider what kind of jobs will enhance the county’s image and promote, not sacrifice, our
adventurous pristine environment and the outdoor recreation we provide to the front range.
The right kind of development is one that takes into account the characteristics and assets
that already exist in the community before considering new development. Our views and
surroundings are an essential cultural and economic component of those considerations.
Linda Browning is a Clear Creek County resident, and a member of SOLVE, an organization
promoting sustainable land-use practices.