Boulder County Commissioners are in the midst of trying to curb the size of homes in unincorporated parts of the county, an area that sees 6,000-square-foot houses as a rule. So they have pitched a proposal that would essentially tax homeowners wanting their McMansions bigger than 2,600 square feet near the mountains and 4,000 for those in the plains. They’ll have to pay a credit that would be used toward preservation. It’s a smart proposal that should help with sustainable growth. There’s a ton of sentiment against the idea, though.

What’s Next: The commissioners will continue to mull public comment before settling on a final proposal to vote on.

July 2007