CO Code § 36-1-120.5 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 36 - Natural Resources - General|Article 1 - State Board of Land Commissioners|§ 36-1-120.5. Land Subject to Development - Leases

  The general assembly hereby finds and declares that some of the public lands under the direction, control, and disposition of the state board of land commissioners are within the path of impending development and therefore are of unique economic value to the state for the funding of public schools. The general assembly recognizes that the state board of land commissioners needs flexibility to manage such lands so as to comply with the requirements of sections 9 and 10 of article IX of the state constitution, to prevent undue speculation by others on public lands under the control of the state board of land commissioners, and to protect the public's interest in such lands.    Any lease of public lands under the control of the state board of land commissioners when such land is subject to development shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section, “land subject to development” means land which, because of its location or other characteristics, is determined by the state board of land commissioners to be suitable for commercial, industrial, or residential uses.    The lessee of lands subject to development shall meet all federal, state, and local land use regulations, and the terms of a lease shall encourage the lessee to obtain the maximum economic recovery from the development of such lands. Local land use and other applicable local regulations shall not be applied in a discriminatory manner to public lands under the control of the state board of land commissioners.    Any local land use regulation or other local regulation to the contrary notwithstanding, the appropriation and development of water associated with public lands under the control of the state board of land commissioners shall be pursuant solely to applicable laws of the state and the federal government.    In addition to any other payments made by the lessee to the state, the lessee shall pay to all affected governmental entities an amount equal to the amount which would be owed for property taxes if the real property involved were privately owned. This amount shall be based on what the valuation for assessment of the underlying land would be if it were privately owned. These payments in lieu of taxes shall be made at the same time and in the same manner as real property taxes. If a lease commences or ends at other than the beginning of the calendar year, the payment in lieu of taxes shall be prorated for the year involved. Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of government entities to levy and collect property taxes upon privately owned improvements located upon public lands under the control of the state board of land commissioners.    Until the state board of land commissioners leases for development purposes state lands under its control, no land used for agricultural purposes, grazing, forestry, mining, oil and gas production or exploration, or other similar uses shall be considered land subject to development; except that nothing in this subsection (6) shall be construed to limit the authority of the state board of land commissioners to impose conditions upon the lease of public lands under its direction and control, subject to all other requirements of law.     History. Source: L. 87: Entire section added, p. 1291, § 1, effective May 25. L. 97: (1) amended, p. 841, § 16, effective May 21.