When does sustainability justify destruction? That was probably the central question in a dispute between the City of Boulder and the pioneer community of Valmont, with specific regard to Valmont Butte, the signifying landmark of that rural portion of Boulder County. For the community of Valmont, it was a classic case of NIMBYism (not in my back yard), combined with a sincere longing to save what is left of their pioneer heritage dating back to the late 1850's. For the City of Boulder, it was an opportunity to combine two valuable public- works projects into one location, which was convenient, accessible to utilities and concealed from public view. But a third component, the butte's plausible use as a past and present Indian Sacred site, rotated the kaleidoscope to an even more complex dimension.