Windsor residents will soon be able to enjoy more natural wildlife following a recent unanimous vote from the Windsor Town Board to purchase 300 acres of open space.
The board voted on Jan. 27 to purchase the land from a private owner for $20.9 million, a crucial step in the town’s goal of acquiring 1,300 acres of open space areas.
The purchased land is located between Colorado Boulevard and North 15th Street, just north of the new middle school and police department. The town would ensure that the land remains undeveloped, preserving agriculture, vital wetland and riparian habitat within Windsor. It would also create recreational amenities such as trails, wildlife viewing and more.
“The property is incredible,” Open Space and Trails Manager Wade Willis told the town board. “It is an excellent wildlife habitat, and I think it’s an excellent opportunity for residents to see and explore the area.”
In 2022, Windsor voters approved an additional sales tax of a quarter of a cent to promote open spaces that protect the environment, wildlife and a few other things. Since 2022, the town has collected nearly $5 million to spend on this property acquisition.
Though the purchase isn’t set to close until April 15, the town will cover the remaining $15 million through the water fund balance and a loan of $7.4 million from the Park and Trail fund. The town will use the open space sales tax to repay this loan over the next several years.
The property has received several development requests to the town, looking to place 490 single family homes for the town should they wish to develop the area. According to Willis, doing so would put the town on the line for $22.7 million in repairs and upkeep but no upfront cost.
The town board did not seem favorable to this idea, and Willis recommended that it remain zoned for agricultural purposes.
Without any development on the land and keeping it as an open space connecting to other nearby parks in Windsor, Willis shared that the town would be looking at around $30,000 a year for the upkeep of the property.
“We’re excited about this,” Mayor Julie Cline said during the town meeting. “We’re finally going to see some of that open space acquisition that we’ve been wanting that the voters have picked.”
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