1.2 Historic Description and Planning Context

The small town of Magnolia (approximately 1,000 residents in its heyday) was established in the 1870s due to the prevalence of gold and silver mines in the area. When mining effectively ceased at the turn of the century, only a handful of ranchers and homesteaders were left. Today, the Magnolia community of approximately 350 families consists primarily of commuters, telecommuters and a few old timers who are still cattle ranching. Historically, the Magnolia area has needed very little “management” to preserve the qualities of natural beauty, spacious living and relaxed recreation that drew people to it. Boulder was a relatively small city and the town of Nederland was not making aggressive efforts to attract more people to its area.

Now, rural neighborhoods throughout the Front Range are facing accelerated social changes and environmental challenges due in large part to increasing population¹, changing technology, and shifting cultural values. These events generate specific issues at the neighborhood level such as:

1. loss of rural and agricultural lifestyles
2. rapid and intensive development of parcels that for decades were vacant
3. incompatible development
4. loss of scenic resources
5. increased traffic
6. wildfire hazards
7. increased recreational demand on public lands
8. conflicts with access to public lands; increased trespassing on private lands
9. loss of privacy on private lands
10. increased noise

Magnolia residents are concerned about similar issues in their neighborhood and how best to address them so that the area retains its natural and cultural values for the enjoyment of residents and visitors for years to come.

Examples of significant planning events that have recently involved the Magnolia area include:

1. Completion of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Plan Revision.
2. Winiger Ridge forest health management program that includes 40,000 acres in southwestern Boulder County.
3. Denver Water relicensing of Gross Reservoir, which has included a comprehensive plan for recreational management.
4. Mountain Area Advisory Committee organized by the Boulder County Commissioners to address concerns about residential development in the mountains.
5. Acquisition of three privately held parcels by the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department. The recreational development of these properties is guided by management plans that have been created during the past two years.
6. The Steep Slope Advisory Committee created by the Boulder County Commissioners.
7. Travel Management Plan for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

1 232,700 people lived in Boulder County in 1990. By 2010, the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan projects that the population will grow to 325,500, a 39.9% increase.