Public comments urge reboot of Greenway nonprofit, request zoning review for healing centers
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Summary
Two public speakers asked Clear Creek County officials on Nov. 4 to support (1) reestablishing the Greenway Authority's 501(c)(3) status so private donations can be received for bike trails, and (2) reviewing county zoning to determine whether "healing centers" for psilocybin facilitation require a code amendment.
During the public-comment period the board heard from two speakers.
Mike Rayburn (citing an affiliation with ECHO Hills) urged the board to assist the Greenway Authority in reestablishing its federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status after its tax-exempt status lapsed. Rayburn said the lapse prevented previously pledged private commitments (he cited more than $100,000 in pledged donor commitments) from being channeled through the Greenway Authority to fund bicycle infrastructure and trail improvements in the county. He asked the board to consider forming a working group that could include Bicycle Colorado and other local stakeholders to reestablish conduit status and move projects forward.
Terry Burkhard, a licensed clinical social worker participating by Zoom, said she planned to start a "healing center" to provide psilocybin-facilitated services and asked whether the county's zoning regulations explicitly authorize such operations. Planning staff later told the board that the existing zoning code does not specifically reference "healing centers" and that they would meet with the speaker and the planning manager to determine whether code amendments would be needed.
The board took no policy action during public comment but commissioners expressed support for exploring both issues: reconstitution of the Greenway nonprofit as a vehicle for donations, and a staff review of zoning language to determine whether an amendment is required to authorize licensed healing centers.