A failed attempt to amend a conservation-easement bill in the legislature would have required the state Division of Real Estate to review applications for easement holders within 180 days of receiving them.
Lobbyist Erik Groves of Integrated Legislative Solutions LLC was pushing the amendment on behalf of Family Farmers and Ranchers to Protect Open Space, a group of Eastern Plains farmers formed Feb. 27.
Attorney Gabriel Schwartz, registered agent for Family Farmers and Ranchers, declined to discuss who is behind the group without its approval.
“All we’re looking for is a time frame to know whether the state has either approved or rejected an application,” Groves said. “It’s more of a due-process concern.”
Groves formed the lobbying firm last July while working as a law clerk at the Denver firm Zak hem Atherton LLC. In 2007, Groves was a registered lobbyist for Zakhem Atherton, according to records from the Colorado secretary of state’s office.
According to public records, Groves has just two clients: Family Farmers and Ranchers and the Colorado Chiropractic Association. He said his work is not on behalf of the law firm.
A partner in the firm, Rodney Atherton, helped engineer a conservation-easement deal being investigated by the Division of Real Estate. He couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
“I find it interesting that an entity that we are investigating would attempt to push legislation that attempts to restrict our efforts to protect the conservation-easement program,” said Erin Toll, executive director of the Division of Real Estate. “That smells really bad to me. I also think legislators will be able to see through that ploy.”
Jill Ozarski, executive director of the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, said the amendment is unnecessary and would weaken the bill.
“We need to let the Division of Real Estate have the time it needs,” Ozarski said.
Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Jefferson County, said the amendment was shot down by the bill’s sponsor, House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder.
Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com
