Sunshine Acres Neighbors

Possible Development on our Back Door Step!

Apr 05, 2001

Sunshine Acres Home Owners Association (SAHA) residents met with neighbors from View Ridge, Plum Creek, and Braley Acreas subdivisions (approximately 70 homeowners ) last night (4/4/01), Kent Wylie - Manager of Chatfield State Park, Suzanne Tracy - local Division of Wildlife Officer (DOW), and Karen Griffith - Douglas County Planning, on the open land situated between all these developments on the south and Chatfield State Park on the north.


The meeting agenda included introductions and statements of fact regarding the peoperty, owned by Sand Creek Cattle Company dba Shea Homes, and lots of questions.


The property encompasses approximately 390 acres in three parcels. The land is flat, overgrazed and is heavily infested with knapweed. Water is also a very large concern in this area. According to Tracy and Wylie, this property is part of a major wildlife corridor; a large elk heard from across US 85 (Santa Fe Drive) uses this land for grazing as do the mule and white-tailed deer, along with many species of smaller mammals.

The property is currently zoned Agricutlural, which is suitable for 35 acre parcels only. This use would require a well permit but no proposals before the County Planning Office to change the zoning. Douglas County Planning does not show any change to this area in the new Draft Master Plan which comes up for a vote starting April 30 this year.


SAHA residents expressed strong concern that any development NOT route new traffic through Sunshine Acres, instead make use of an existing paved road: Roxborough Park Road, to the east of the Highline Canal, and the View Ridge and Plum Creek developments.

If Shea were to develop this land in other than what is currently zoned, that plan for such development would have to be submitted to the Douglas County Planning Office, and a zoning change initiated and approved through both the Planning Commission and the County Commissioners.


According to Wylie, Shea Homes had not agreed to enter into any discussions about this land until last week, when Shea notified State Parks of their interest in a possible sale.


At the meeting, the general consensus was for the land to remain undeveloped. However, residents agreed that 35 acre parcels would not be out of line with the surrounding developments, and preferred that all access traffic be routed onto Roxborough Park Road. State Parks would like to see the land in question become part of Chatfield State Park. Many residents agreed with this position. However, this would, perhaps, take a conservation easement.


More meetings are planned. For more information, please call 303-683-1218 and leave your name and number.