Denver, Colorado December 21,2000 -- The Colorado Senate Majority Caucus announced a set of guiding principles it will use in the development of growth legislation during the 2001 legislative session. The Caucus issued the principles as a framework for finding solutions to the challenges posed by Colorado's unprecedented economic and population growth. The principles are designed to ensure proposed growth plans first protect Coloradoans quality of life and avoid the special interest driven politics that have killed past efforts to deal with growth.

"The people of Colorado have gone without leadership on growth long enough," said Senate President Pro Tempore Ed Perlmutter. "We put forward these principles to assure Coloradoans that the Senate will only pass growth legislation that preserves our quality of life and that addresses their real concerns."

Finding solutions to the growth problem requires addressing complex issues and sometimes conflicting interests. The Caucus’ growth principles recognize the need to strike a balance between managing growth and protecting economic vitality. Past efforts to solve growth failed to achieve this balance, and also suffered from a lack of political will on the part of Colorado’s elected officials.

"We will use these principles to guide in the development of a package of growth bills for introduction this session," said Perlmutter. "We welcome everyone’s participation in the dialogue as the bills move through the process."

Immediately following the release of the principles, the Caucus will begin a series of public hearings around the state. Three hearings are now scheduled, one each in the Pueblo, Fort Morgan and Western Slope areas. The hearings will be in a town meeting format with open opportunity for public participation.

"We pledged an open debate and an honest effort to find solutions," said Senate President Stan Matsunaka. "These hearings are the first critical steps toward giving the people of Colorado a voice in the process that will impact their quality of life for years to come."

The Colorado Senate Majority Caucus has put forth the following principles for responsible growth policy in Colorado. The Caucus will use these principles to guide development of growth legislation and to reflect its commitment to preserving Colorado’s quality of life. Legislation developed to address the challenges presented by growth must:

1. Preserve and protect Colorado’s quality of life.
2. Promote continued economic prosperity.
3. Encourage efficient and resource-conscious development.
4. Preserve Colorado’s open spaces and limit the expansion of sprawl.
5. Safeguard private property rights and the fiscal integrity of the state budget
6. Establish a framework for coordinated regional planning and provide for fair and equitable means to alter regional plans.
7. Ensure direct coordination between growth and transportation planning to assure adequate transportation infrastructure.
8. Provide incentives to local governments and private interests to participate in regional and local land use planning.
9. Encourage adoption of affordable/attainable housing plans.
10. Protect Colorado’s \vater resources for future generations.