Chronicle Parker
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 1
CHALLENGED TO EAT RIGHT
November 2, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourparkernews.com
Density increase proposed in Timbers Lot sizes could shrink; developer blames market By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com
Sixth-grade chef ambassadors serve up grilled fruits and vegetables Oct. 24 at Parker’s Pine Lane Elementary School to kick off the district’s first Fruits and Veggies Challenge. Schools will compete districtwide through Nov. 16 to see which one can eat the most fruits and vegetables per capita from the school lunch program. Ambassadors pictured from far right to left are Gage Bennett, Trevor Erpelding, Tallyn Wilkinson and Ellie Hunt. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com
Students make election choices Kids in Parker join others across nation in unofficial balloting By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Whitney Weems cast her first presidential vote this year, making her choice based on personal research and opinions gathered watching the debates. Weems is an eighth-grader at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, one of millions nationwide who voted Oct. 30 in the Studies Weekly student election. “I used to just hear my parents’ opinions and go with what they thought,” she said. “But I actually had to do the research. I watched two of the debates. You learn a lot more.” In the end, Weems — like many other students at the school — agreed with her parents and cast her vote accordingly. Weeks of study about the election process prepared students for their election day. “They’ve been learning about all the different parties — Libertarian, Green, Constitution — and what they each stand for,” said humanities teacher Jackie Kroskob, who spearheaded the effort. “They’ve read (the candidates) biographies, studied foreign policy and economic policy.” To her surprise and delight, most of Kroskob’s students went beyond her expectations. “What I really thought was incredible was that they watched the debates,” she said, adding that it wasn’t a class requirement. “As a teacher, it was way exciting to
Parker Core Knowledge eighth-grader Katie Sandeno casts her vote in the mock presidential election Oct. 30. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com hear them take that on themselves.” Spencer Chuck gave the student election his vote of approval. “I think it’s cool,” the eighth-grader said. “It’s good because it’s interactive.” Like Weems, Chuck said his vote was in line with his family’s political leanings. “My parents talk about it a lot, so I’m pretty well informed,” he said. Kroskob said she knows family influence looms large, “but I think they’re making an educated choice.” Parents volunteered to work as election judges at the school Oct. 30. Students earlier had completed voter registration forms and were required to show identification before sitting down at one of several laptops, their screens protected from view by shields of cardboard, and clicking on a picture of either Barack Obama
or Mitt Romney. Each student received an “I Voted” sticker on their way back to class. Kroskob hopes the experiences her students have today ensures they’ll make well-informed decisions in the future. “For me, I think a lot of it was my parents said, ‘You’re 18, go register and register with this party,’” she said. “I think it’s really important to understand the process.” Studies Weekly’s student polls were open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 30 nationwide. Due to school closures prompted by Tropical Storm Sandy, the election was extended to Nov. 2. Studies Weekly held its first student election in 2004, and a second in 2008. In both instances, students chose the same winner as the national electorate.
Homeowners in one of the most upscale neighborhoods in the Parker area are coming out against a proposal to reduce lot sizes and increase housing density. An early October meeting at the Pikes Peak Grange in Franktown brought out roughly 175 residents who wanted more information on the possible amendment to the Pinery Planned Development Plan and Guide. Ashton Denver Residential LLC, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based owner of prime real estate in the Timbers, has sent “presubmittal” documents to Douglas County’s community development planners to explore reducing larger properties to lots as small as a quarter-acre. The proposal affects three filings comprising 225 acres in the area where South Pinery Parkway becomes Democrat Road. Existing lots range from a third of an acre to 1.5 acres. Dave Brehm, president of Plan West Inc., a Denver firm representing Ashton Denver Residential, said the company has “floated the idea of adding no more than 150 lots,” but he cautioned that no final decisions have been made and a formal application has not yet been submitted. Plan West is still investigating potential impacts to schools, traffic, water and infrastructure. Those impacts, along with the fear of lower property values, are what surrounding homeowners are most concerned about. Grant Bowry, a 19-year resident and former board member for the adjacent Misty Pines subdivision, said noise and traffic could negatively affect quality of life. The lack of details has resulted in rumors that as many as 500 lots could be added to what is already approved. Bowry and a few other opponents have created a website, www.stophighdensity. com, that details their concerns. He said the high turnout at the October meeting “went to show us that 99 percent of people are upset with this proposal.” Bowry has sent emails and made phone calls about the plans to HOA leaders in High Prairie Farms, Evans Ranch, the Pinery, the Timbers, Misty Pines and other small affluent enclaves, where lot sizes typically measure one acre and up. Brehm says the real estate market is dictating the possible change in plans. Prop-
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