By John Gardner
The Surveyor

The Town of Berthoud is once again looking to sell the piece of property that was recently the site of the popular BMX track. However, the town is going about the sale in a different way than previous attempts, starting by hosting a public meeting to discuss the future of the eight-acre property on Aug. 4.

The property is the site of the former BMX track, which was demolished earlier this year, and is located on the east side of 10^th street, between Welch Avenue and Bein Park and was once known as the Berthoud Common property.

According to town administrator Mike Hart, there is really one particular conflict between the designated zoning and land use designations that need to be settled before the land can be listed for sale.

“We need to take care of the conflict one way or another and then market the property properly,” Hart said.

According to the 2007 comprehensive plan, when the property was purchases in the 2000 it was purchases by the town with a high-density designation, zoned R-3, but the land use for the property is designated for moderate density, which is a conflict between zoning and land use designation, according to Hart. The property has always been considered the site of a recreation center, but the town has acquired other, more suitable, sites over the years.

This property was a point of contention between the town administration and trustees, and local residents in February when the town attempted to sell the property to a developer who planned to build at a lower density than the current designated R-3 zoning allows. Others opposed to the sale felt that the property was a “public park” and needed to be voted on before it could be sold. However, the property has never been designated a park, and was only intended to be a temporary spot for the BMX track.

“When we get community input about what they think should go there then staff will go to the planning board about what that decision is,” Hart said.

The property is considered surplus property by town administration. Proceeds from a sale would be set aside for the construction of a future recreation center. The public meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 4 from 7-9 p.m. at the Berthoud Community Center. For more information call Berthoud Town Hall at 970-532-2643.