September 17, 2015
THIS WEEK IN
VOLUME 113 | ISSUE 46 | 75¢
LIFE
LOCAL
A sampling of church music
Page 12
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
Ballot decision irks committee members School board decides against bond measure By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com Some parents and community members are criticizing the Douglas County School District for failing to put a bond measure on the November ballot to help pay for $275 million in construction and maintenance needs, such as replacing failing furnaces and air conditioning units and
E-Cigs: New law aims to reduce teen use of vapor devices. See Page 4
adding classroom space to address overcrowding. “In March, the (School Accountability Committees) of 28 Douglas County schools created and signed a formal position statement in support of placing a bond initiative on the November ballot, so all community members would have the chance to vote on maintaining our public assets,” Kristen Kidd, Mountain Vista High School District Accountability Committee liaison, said in an emailed statement. “The board decided voters should not be given that choice.”
According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, Aug. 3 was the last day to file an initiative petition for the November election and Sept. 2 was the last day for those petitions to be ruled sufficient or not by the state. If voters had approved a bond measure, their school tax bill would have remained unchanged. Instead, with no new bond measure, tax bills are estimated to drop by about $36 a year. Douglas County School Board President Kevin Larsen said the
timing of the Sept. 8 statement was “a political statement and a way to get publicity.” Laura Mutton — chairwoman of the Mountain Vista School Accountability Committee and president of the nonprofit Strong Schools Coalition — said that is not the case. “Parent leaders have asked to meet with the board and discuss putting a bond on the ballot and, after being ignored, waited patiently for the board to make a decision regarding this measure,” Mutton said. “Because the
Bond continues on Page 11
CREATED BY CHALK
Splash down: After Labor Day, man’s best friend gets a turn in the pool. See Page 5
Bench dedication: Memorial to Pat Gallagher installed. See Page 32
POSTAL ADDRESS
Ashlee Dupuis, 16, sits on the sidewalk amid the busy happenings of the Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock, multi-colored sidewalk chalk scattered beside her as she carefully draws a fox of geometric shapes. Dupuis is part of the Castle View High School art club and was one of several students who came to the Artfest, held Sept. 12 and 13 in the parking lots of Phillip S. Miller Library and Castle Rock Town Hall. More than 170 exhibitors participated. She chalked the fox earlier in the day, but said she felt like the square of sidewalk she chose to work on was not yet complete. “It kind of looked boring because it needed more,” she said, as she set the chalk down and blended the color together with her hands. “So, now I’m adding a moon and a hill that will have a cast shadow of the fox.” Photo by Shanna Fortier
NEWS-PRESS
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Douglas County, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the News-Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE R ECYC LE
Development plan clears first hurdle Hess Ranch could include up to 3,379 dwelling units By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Town officials will soon decide whether to approve the first step for a development that could change Parker’s western landscape. Stroh Ranch Development is asking to amend its planning documents so it can use 1,536 acres of land south of Stroh Road, on the east and west sides of Crowfoot Valley Road, to build Hess Ranch. The project could include as many as 3,379 homes, condos and townhomes. The Parker Planning Commission, an advisory board to Parker Town Council, voted 5-0 to recommend approval during a meeting Sept. 10 at town hall. Town council will decide
If approved, the developers of Hess Ranch will build 3,379 homes on 1,536 acres of land southwest of Motsenbocker/Crowfoot Valley Road and Stroh Road. Courtesy graphic whether to accept the amendment during a meeting at 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Parker Town Hall, 20120 E. Mainstreet.
What Hess Ranch could entail The development could include single-family homes, condos, triplexes and townhomes, as well as two commercial centers — one at the future intersection of Stroh Road and Chambers Road and one at the future intersection of Crowfoot Valley Road and Chambers Road. The mixed-use areas could have housing densities as high as 14 dwelling units per acre. If approved, the community would also include two elementary school sites, a fire station and dozens of neighborhood parks covering 67 acres. Depending on market conditions at the time of construction, the western portion of the site, which abuts Rueter-Hess Reservoir, could be age-restricted housing, including active-living patio homes for those 55 and older. Maximum building heights in Hess Ranch would be 50 feet. Hess continues on Page 8