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Development threatens elk habitat
This Speakout has not been edited
By Mike Olson, Conifer
In the Conifer area we have a zoning application to develop 6 paintball fields and a 48 car parking lot on 57 agriculturally zoned acres along Pleasant Park Road. Few people seem aware, however, that one of the developers of this mountain property is currently employed by a nationally recognized conservation group!
The developer, Ms. Susan Roller, is an employee of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). This conservation group receives the vast majority of it’s funding from member dues and donations. The RMEF is supposed to be dedicated to the protection of elk herds and the preservation of elk habitat, and on the Elk Foundation web site it states “The mission of the Elk Foundation is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat”. Yet in testimony before the Jefferson County Planning Commission, the applicants admitted that the planned commercial “special use” would disrupt elk in the area. The planned development of the 57 acre parcel that Ms. Roller has acknowledged is regularly used elk habitat includes an office and rental trailer, storage space, a food concession area, rest rooms and hundreds of feet of seven foot “privacy” fences. So much for the “preservation of elk habitat”.
Mr. Ty. Petersburg, District Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Department of Wildlife (CDOW) was responsible for doing the review of the proposed commercial development. He chose not to comment on the disruptive impacts because of “size”. Mr. Petersburg has acknowledged that he knows both of the developers from their past employment at CDOW.
Most organizations, particularly those that depend on donations and membership dues for financial support, have rules that prevent employees from second jobs or businesses that are inconsistent with the mission or objective of that organization. When I contacted the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, however, they where not only aware of Ms. Rollers land development activities, they did not seem to care that she spent her spare time in an activity that was in direct conflict with the organization mission, goals and public image. When asked about the habitat impact, Ms. Rollers RMEF supervisor, Mr. Doug Robinson, said “I can think or worse developments for that land than a paint ball course”. Mr. Robinson is the RMEF Land Program Manager for Colorado. He is the person who is directly responsible for land programs and habitat protection in our state, using member dues and donations!
In my communication and discussions with RMEF leaders at the state and district level, they have made it very clear that they do not care about elk or elk habitat in the Bailey-Conifer-Evergreen area. They see us only as a funding source for staff, expenses and projects for “real elk” on the western slope. I am a sixteen year RMEF member and volunteer, and I would ask all RMEF members to please think long and hard before they spend more money at an auction, banquet or fundraising event that supports employees and staff that don’t care about our values or the elk and habitat in our community.