February 4, 2016 VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 2
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE LoneTreeVoice.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Developer pulls application for homes Mayor optimistic that agreement can be reached By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Developer Century Communities withdrew its application to build more than 60 homes in the RidgeGate area of Lone Tree after a review of their application left city council with concerns at its meeting Jan. 19
Students propose solutions via video
The property comprises 47.7 acres located south of the Montecito neighborhood and RidgeGate Commons commercial area, in a valley at the base of the bluffs. Century Communities submitted a preliminary plan application to the city to subdivide the property for development of 70 single-family homes. The application also involved proposed amendments to the RidgeGate Residential West Village Sub-Area Plan to expand guidelines and standards specific to development on this property.
On Jan. 19, Century Communities presented a revised plan that they felt addressed the council’s previous concerns. Lone Tree Mayor Jim Gunning said he worried about the massing of houses in the area and how it would affect view and natural beauty. “We have an obligation to protect the natural beauty of the bluffs,” Gunning said. Building massing includes height limitations, architectural elevations, materials, colors, landscaping fencing and lighting.
The city’s goal is to provide a natural transition to the bluffs. The revised plan reduced the number of homes from 70 to 65, widened some lots, increased spacing between some homes, and eliminated some areas of retaining walls previously proposed. It also eliminated a central community gathering area in favor of two smaller areas, and removed a pedestrian bridge RidgeGate continues on Page 4
THE THRILL OF VICTORY
Advertisements offer ways to tackle problems facing state By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia. com Eighth-grade students at Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch looked at the biggest problems facing Colorado and developed their own video advertisements to explain how they would fix them. Bryce Johansson’s team wanted to see if Douglas County students were sleeping enough. It found, on average, students only get seven hours compared to the recommended eight to 10 hours for teenagers. “We were really disappointed in that and wanted to make it so there was an extra hour before school,” Johansson said. Reiley Forshey and her group studied how to keep increasing traffic in the Denver area from affecting the state’s tourism industry. “Our solution was more public transportation such as light rails and Video continues on Page 4
INSIDE
This year’s Puppy Bowl to feature several local pooches. PAGE 5
The Canyon Crazies student section from Rock Canyon lives up to its name as the clock winds down in the Jaguars’ 44-43 boys basketball victory over ThunderRidge on Jan. 29. For more coverage, turn to Page 23. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Band puts heart into Valentine’s Day show Lone Tree event features top woodwind musicians By Sonya Ellingboe sellingboe@coloradocommunitymedia.com “Sweet and Lovely: A Valentine’s Day Salute” is the Denver Concert Band’s title for its concert at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Lone Tree Arts Center. It is the annual Guest Artist Concert, and the guests will be the recently formed Front Range Saxophone Quartet, with professors Art Bouton, University of Denver; Tom Myer, University of Colorado-Boulder; Wil Swindler, Colorado State University; and Mark Harris, Metro State University. Bouton wrote: “The Quartet was born in a conversation between Myer and Bouton during a break in a Colorado Symphony concert. Tom said, ‘Why don’t we put a saxophone quartet together of the top saxophonists in the area? Of course, we’ll all be too busy to rehearse and we live all over the Front Range. What a great idea!’ Professor Myer made a proposal to the North American Saxophone Alliance for the group to perform at the Biennial Conference
IF YOU GO The Denver Concert Band will perform “Sweet and Lovely: A Valentine’s Day Salute” at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. Tickets: $13 to $17, $5 under 16. 720-509-1000, lonetreeartscenter. org. in March 2016 and we commissioned composers to write new music for the group that blended classical music with jazz improvisation.” They will perform Warren Barker’s “Capriccio for Saxophone Quartet and Band” on Feb. 14. “The Barker quartet is an exciting and entertaining work that is challenging for both the Quartet and the DCB,” Bouton said. Also on the program: Ravel’s “Bolero” and Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” plus other selections chosen by director Jacinda Bouton. The Denver Concert Band, in its 54th season, is composed of volunteers who practice and perform Band continues on Page 4
Members of the Front Range Saxophone Quartet, all area professors of music, will perform a newly commissioned work as guest artists with the Denver Concert Band at Lone Tree Arts Center on Valentine’s Day. Clockwise from top: Tom Myer, Art Bouton, Wil Swindler, Mark Harris. Courtesy photo