ROCKET

were “why the project has taken a little while,” and that the city wanted to get approval from all involved parties before moving forward. DISH rst approached the city with the idea in 2021.

All seven agencies — Littleton, DISH, the State of Colorado, the Mile High Flood District, the Army Corps of Engineers, South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration — have completed regulatory review and approval, according to the presentation.

e proximity to the South Platte River and nearby drainage ways implicates more agencies than might be required at a di erent location.

41Years

and identify priorities for addressing growth, regulations and services.

“One of our goals is to help streamline our process and become more e cient as we work together to help articulate our community vision for Je erson County,” Je erson County Development and Transportation Director Abel Montoya said in a recent press release.

e county is currently evaluating plans, reviewing existing conditions and developing a process to include the public in its decision-making. is phase is anticipated to conclude in August of this year, according to the county’s website.

e following phases involve multiple stages of drafting the plans and regulations. e county anticipates this process to be completed by July 2024.

Public review of the land use code is expected for December of 2024 and public hearings in early 2025.

e county anticipates the project to take 18 to 24 months with adoption of the other four plans planned for October of 2024.

Residents can get involved with the drafting process through public workshops, surveys and open houses over the next two years by costs after the initial assembly is complete. e 146-foot rocket booster — almost half the length of a football eld — will sit horizontal on the western end of the DISH campus, spanning the Littles Creek Trail. It will be on supports that keep the booster about 10 feet o the ground. of concrete set aside from the path where people can stand and view. ey also said it will have no impact on the South Platte oodplain, and will have minimal impact on the Littles Creek oodplain. e Telluray Foundation is providing a $2.4-million grant to complete the project, but DISH will be responsible for upkeep and maintenance

Councilors Patrick Driscoll, Kelly Milliman, Stephen Barr and Jerry Valdes raised concerns regarding the location, particularly the impact it would have on foot and bike tra c on the Mary Carter Greenway.

Despite concerns, the plan received general support from councilors.

Milliman said that, aside from the economic and tourism bene ts, the educational advantages will serve the community well.

“ e timing on this project has shifted a number of times,” said City Manager Jim Becklenberg.

Ergen said that DISH landed on the location because it was “o the beaten path,” referring to Bowles and Santa Fe tra c, while still being accessible to locals.

Reester and Ergen assured councilors that the placement of the rocket will not signi cantly hinder foot tra c, as there will be a plot

“To get these kids interested in engineering, I am truly so excited about all of this,” Milliman said during the discussion period following the presentation.

Reester also sees the exhibition as an opportunity to boost use of public transportation, as it may be di cult to nd parking near the DISH campus.