The Longmont municipal council approved on Tuesday an order authorizing a one -year rental renewal agreement with members of the Docheff family, which allows them to continue agricultural on a property belonging to the city.
The agreement concerns what city officials call Olender Open Space, a property of around 150 acres. The rental contract would allow 146 acres of the property to be used for agriculture.
The Olender property is near the colo. 66 and Weld County Road 5, just outside the city limits near the northeast end of Longmont.
J. Docheff Farms LLC will use the land only for agriculture in accordance with “solid agricultural practices”, according to the agreement. J. Docheff Farms is also responsible for not killing or disturbing fauna on the property, through the agreement.
The order was adopted unanimously during the regular session meeting on Tuesday with five members of the present municipal council. Mayor Joan Peck and the member of the Sean McCoy council were absent.
Longmont acquired the Olender property in January 2024 and J. Docheff Farms began to cultivate on the property next month. The recent lease expired a few months ago on February 28. J. Docheff Farms continued to agriculture on land under the terms of the lease, which allow a rental from one month to another, according to a report of city officials.
“The Docheff family has been a significant presence in the agricultural sector of Longmont and the county of Weld since (around) 1977,” said the report. J. Docheff Farms LLC was created in 2018 and is held and operated by Joe and Joelle Docheff, according to the report. Specializing in the silage of corn and the Luzerne, their operations serve the dairy company of the family, Docheff Dairy, indicates the report.
The agreement also allows J. Docheff Farms to use water rights, which belong to the city, for agricultural use. J. Docheff Farms will be responsible for the acquisition and payment of any additional rental water used on the property and cannot sell or sublet any water without approval from the city.
The lease allows the use of water equivalent to that provided by 2.5 actions of the Highland ditch and 100 acres of feet from Colorado Big Thompson Water.
The lease rate is $ 95 per acre per year, a total of $ 13,870, for the use and occupation of the property, as well as the use of water, depending on the report. The rental payments are credited to the open space fund, the report indicates.
According to the city report, the partnership with J. Docheff Farms aligns with the open space of the city and the objectives of sustainability. The report highlights the use by the Docheff family of sustainable agricultural practices, including the rotation of crops and minimum methods of soil work.
“By collaborating with a renowned local agricultural family, we protect not only the agrarian nature of our landscape, but also confirm the fundamental values ​​of the city concerning the preservation of open spaces,” said the report.
