Bob Schleicher, a Gunbarrel Estates resident, is collecting petitions to change the Gunbarrel Estates area zip code and address to Boulder. He spoke at the Gunbarrel Estates Home Owners’ Meeting on May 12, 1999 to urge homeowners to support this change. Residents of Gunbarrel Estates currently use Longmont, CO 80503 or Niwot, CO 80503 as their mailing address. The Post Office stated that since Boulder and Longmont are separate delivery areas, using Boulder in the address would require a new zip code. Mr. Schleicher hopes a majority of the neighborhood will sign the petition. The final decision is at the discretion of the Postmaster.

Residents supporting the measure believe that changing the zip code to Boulder makes geographic sense. Gunbarrel Estates lies adjacent to Gunbarrel North and Homestead, and both neighborhoods have City of Boulder addresses. Gunbarrel is separated from Longmont by a large area of open space.   There is also confusion because the area has Boulder telephone numbers which are listed only in the Boulder telephone book. Longmont directory assistance would not be able to locate a phone number in Gunbarrel Estates.

The change in zip code would not affect school district boundaries or taxes, as neither are determined by the Post Office. Supporters also believe that changing the zip code would not make the area more likely to be annexed by the City of Boulder.

Residents against the measure are not eager to be associated with the City of Boulder. They point out that Longmont area newspapers cover the St. Vrain Valley schools, and they feel closer in mindset to the Longmont community. Others are reluctant to notify every correspondent of the address change. Mail currently sent to a Gunbarrel Estates address with a Boulder designation is returned to the sender. Opponents to the change feel nothing would be resolved because the same problem, in reverse, would arise if the zip code changes.

The Niwot Post Office will not issue a separate Niwot zip code nor will it allow the area to use Gunbarrel as an address. The Niwot Post Office does not deliver mail outside its doors, so parcels must be delivered from the Longmont Post Office.

Proponents of the measure will be circulating petitions within the next month. The petitions can be delivered to Bob Schleicher, 7455 Park Lane Road, Longmont, Co 80503

The Petition States:

Postmaster:

When the postal zones were established, there seemed to be the possibility that the Gunbarrel Estates area might become linked to Longmont. Since those postal zones were established, however, a number of changes have taken place: The city of Boulder annexed the IBM land, Gunbarrel North and Homestead, the areas that are directly across from Gunbarrel Estates on 71st and Lookout Road to the west and south. The telephone company followed that geographic logic so our addresses are only listed in the Boulder telephone book. Finally, Boulder County purchased all of the remaining land to the north and east of Gunbarrel Estates for open space. These changes have resulted in Gunbarrel Estates being a completely isolated community, with at least a mile of open space separating us from Niwot (about six miles from Longmont), while our community directly abuts Boulder. All of this has resulted in growing difficulties in explaining to delivery personnel and visitors that they must drive through Boulder to get to our community. If we do need to pick up registered or insured mail we must drive nine miles to Longmont when the Valmont post office is only four miles away.

We would like you to consider the possibility of allowing us to use Boulder as an address—-much as we are now allowed to use Niwot—-either through specific sorting instructions to the Boulder post office personnel or with a change of zip code, whichever seems most practical to the post office.

Signed ________________________________________________________
(resident of Gunbarrel Estates)
 

Date __________________________________________________________