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Gary Stephens: Defacing Breckenridge with solar panels

Gary Stephens
Breckenridge

The proposed locations of free-standing solar panels is in direct conflict with the years of hard work done by the council to preserve the beauty and historic look of Breckenridge. The town council has implemented many building codes and other rules that impose stringent regulation on how a building must stay within the historic look of the town and must use certain building materials on the exterior to stay within that look. Is it the current town council’s plan to abandon these preservation codes? Is this the beginning of defacing our historical town?

I am struggling with seeing any upside that would have caused five “yes” votes on this measure. Visitors will not view this as a positive regarding the town’s “commitment to sustainability.” This is a resort destination town, where people come to enjoy the beauty and history of our town. They will view these panels as a gross distraction from what they came here to enjoy. The cost savings to the town is insignificant ($6,700 and $10,800 in the first year) compared to the visual impact on the town’s historic beauty, removal of trees, and possible loss of visitors.

Rather than scatter these around the town at street level, more thought must be given to location on rooftops or in areas where the historic beauty has been impacted already, like Airport Road. The buildings and parking lots of Airport Road could house a large number of panels and keep the town’s center true to the historic charm that attracts visitors and residents alike.



I am opposed to defacing the center of Breckenridge with the proposed solar panels.


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