Parks staff recommend Boulder County buy 80-acre Bearberry parcel near Gross Reservoir

Aaron Clark, land officer with the Real Estate Division of Boulder County Parks and Open Space, told the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee on Feb. 27 that staff recommend the county acquire an 80-acre property called “Bearberry,” straddling Highway 72 near Nederland and extending into Gilpin County, for $1,650,000.

The parcel consists of three tax parcels — two totaling about 60 acres in Boulder County and one 20-acre parcel in Gilpin County — and includes three building rights and two existing residential structures. "The landowner does wish to sell all three parcels at the same time or nothing at all," Clark said, adding that acquiring the Gilpin County piece is necessary to preserve the Boulder County lands.

Staff proposed using funds from the 2021 Gross Reservoir settlement between Denver Water and Boulder County to buy the property. Clark said the settlement set aside $5 million for open-space acquisitions that meet community priorities set by the county, such as habitat protection, undeveloped passive recreation or proximity to Gross Reservoir. "For something we could use to preserve with these funds, Bearberry meets both those criteria," Clark said.

Janice Wissman, Real Estate Division Manager, clarified acquisition and post-acquisition handling in response to committee questions. Wissman said the county is not using open-space sales tax funds for the purchase and therefore is not barred from acquiring land in another county; she said the Gross Reservoir settlement funds do not have that restriction. She confirmed County staff spoke with Gilpin County and that Gilpin did not object and expressed possible interest in partnering on the parcel.

Committee members asked practical questions about public access, the future of the existing houses and taxes. Clark said the county would likely remove one derelict structure in Gilpin County and consider using the better-preserved Boulder County house as a ranger residence, subject to planning and interdepartmental decisions. On taxes, Clark and Wissman said the county would not expect to pay property taxes if the county held the land for open space; Wissman added staff would work out responsibilities with Gilpin County if a partnership or conservation easement were developed.

After public comment that urged caution on future fuel-reduction treatments on new acquisitions, Tracy Baker moved to recommend the project as described to the Board of County Commissioners; Janet George seconded. The advisory committee voted in favor and the motion passed.

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action. Staff said further planning — public access, management, possible partnerships with Gilpin County, and treatment or removal of structures — will take place after acquisition.

Ending

Boulder County Parks and Open Space staff presented Bearberry as a largely forested parcel adjacent to U.S. Forest Service lands and county open space, emphasizing habitat, view corridor and proximity to Gross Reservoir as acquisition priorities. The advisory committee voted to recommend the purchase; the Board of County Commissioners will make the final decision.