December 25, 2014 VOLU M E 1 0 | I S SUE 30
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J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
SANTA IN THE SQUARE
Jeffco explores pilot programs for pot industry Discussions ongoing with moratorium till Jan. 1 2016 By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com The marijuana business moratorium may have been extended until Jan. 1 2016, but the Board of County Commissioners is brainstorming if, and how, the marijuana industry will fit in unincorporated Jeffco. In a discussion led by Commissioner Don Rosier, questions surrounding pilot programs for business owners in the marijuana testing and manufacturing industries were directed at county attorneys who will be researching the legalities of allowing for temporary businesses. “They (The Marijuana Task Force Optout) just made a recommendation of ‘no,’ for everything,” Rosier said. “There was a lot of discussion on just retail sales, and it missed all the other components of what went on with Amendment 64 as far as testing, growing, co-ops.” Rosier has expressed considerable interest in the possible admittance of other industry sectors associated with marijuana cultivation in unincorporated Jeffco. “It’s an intriguing idea, obviously the concern we have is vesting property rights,” said Eric Butler, assistant county attorney for Jeffco. “Would this cause an entity that starts up to have a vested property right that we couldn’t take away,” he said. On the other hand, “we do have a precedent for this sort of thing, our Board of Adjustments does allow temporary uses in certain circumstances so it’s not like we’ve never granted a temporary use.” Rosier suggested the pilot program to
Just in time for the holiday, Wheat Ridge residents, Elouise and Curtis Sturtevant, whisper their Christmas wish lists to Santa Claus during Olde Town Arvada’s newest holiday attraction, Santa in the Square, Saturday, Dec. 13. Photo by Crystal Anderson
Pilot continues on Page 11
City leases equestrian center By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com For Mikia Parker, owning her own equestrian school has been a lifelong dream. Now, she’s on her way to making that dream, a reality. “It’s been my lifelong dream to own my own barn,” Parker said, “it’s a way for me to share all of what I learned and what helped me as a kid, for other kids.” On Nov. 17, the Arvada City Council voted to lease the Indoor Equestrian Center and outlying property to Parker, an equine manager, and her husband, Harry. The property, gifted to the city in late 2012, has remained vacant while the city made initial repairs and prepared to lease the facility. “We wanted a place where the equestrian community could go and do multiple activities,” said Gordon Reusink, director of Parks, Golf and Hospitality for Arvada. “They will be managing all the pieces in a way we hope will allow access for all groups to use this wonderful facility.” The Parkers, lifelong Arvada residents who grew up in the equestrian community, plan to focus on providing youth in the community opportunities to learn how to ride and take care of a horse as well as be-
come equestrians. “We want them (students) to have a good foundation so they can go on and do whatever discipline they want (English or Western),” Parker said. Along with lessons, the Parkers said they plan to use the facility to offer the community as well as students limited boarding, classes, clinics and day camps. The facility will also be open for public use three days a week, and provide opportunities for the community around them. “Our goal is to give students the most well-rounded training experience around horses,” Harry said. “So now they not only know horseback riding, but they understand what makes a horse tick and how to care for a horse and just form the bond between the rider and the horse.” As part of their lease, the Parkers will also host a nonprofit organization, Miracles Therapeutic Riding, a therapeutic riding organization for individuals with disabilities and handicaps, to be more accessible to the community. “She shares a lot of the same goals,” said Harry, “She wants to start small and really build so we can focus on giving everybody really good service, rather than being too big … we really click with her.” The organization will offer lead line, beginning and intermediate riding lessons for both riding disciplines as well as teach
The indoor equestrian center hosts 33 stalls, a tack shop and an arena waiting to be used for a variety of classes, trainings and shows. Photo by Crystal Anderson riders about horse care, grooming and tacking (equipping) a horse. “We just want to be accessible to everyone who wants to learn about equestrian studies or horses,” Harry said. Currently the center can host 32 horses, but the Parkers said they hope to begin several capital improvement projects, such as the footing or ground material on the indoor and outer arenas, and hope to be
open and running in early January. “It has such potential, this place,” Harry said, “to give all the horse knowledge and everything to be more accessible to the community, versus those that just own horses.” For more information contact Mikia Parker at 720-394-0191 or visit their Facebook site, https://www.facebook.com/Arv adaIndoorEquestrianCenter?fref=ts