Transcript Wheat Ridge
May 2, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 29, Issue 45
‘It’s not all cake and ice cream down on 38th. There have been some problems presented.’
Councilman Mike Stites
Parking time limit at issue By Hugh Johnson
“We had volunteers that said they walk it every day and they love to help. There’s a real community connection.” Hundreds of more trees will be planted in the next few years to replace trees that
Wheat Ridge City Council considered enforcing a two-hour parking limit in certain spaces on 38th Avenue, but the discussion hit a snag when Councilman Mike Stites requested a special provision be granted to business owners who lost parking spaces due 38th’s initial renovation. At the April 22 study session, Wheat Ridge Police Chief Daniel Brennan informed council of complaints his department had received from 38th Avenue business owners regarding people violating two-hour parking limits. Staff had decided to put the signs up in order to regulate the flow of business and enable customers to park on 38th, do their shopping and then depart. Brennan said there isn’t anything in the Model Traffic Code (MTC) that enables the police to enforce violations of the limit. “I certainly don’t have a parking enforcement unit that I can send up and down 38th Avenue and other places to look at generating revenue from a parking perspective,“ said Brennan. “We do get citizen calls in regards to vehicles that are parked in front of their business that from their perspective might be impacting their sales.” Councilman Mike Stites of District III asked what would happen to business owners who needed to park on 38th because their parking lots were eliminated due to street renovation. Stites proposed that the city give parking permits to business owners who were affected by the changes. “Construction on 38th has affected some businesses,” said Stites. “It’s not all cake and ice cream down on 38th. There have been some problems presented.” Brennan said although he sympathizes with the business owners, allowing them to park on the corridor may end up defeating
Trees continues on Page 18
Parking continues on Page 18
Evergreen resident Karen Stephens plants a shrub along Clear Creek at Prospect Park during Wheat Ridge’s Arbor Day celebration that kicked off the city’s Revive the Greenbelt project. Photos by Sara Van Cleve
Trees to help revitalize park Volunteers plant nearly 200 trees, shrubs along Clear Creek in Prospect Park By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge lost hundreds of trees and shrubs due to a winter storm in 2009. On April 27, about 100 residents came together to revitalize the park near Clear Creek through the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration. “I love to garden and there’s too much snow on the ground where I live (in Evergreen),” said Karen Stephens, who grew up near Wheat Ridge. “I’m ready to plant. This is a good cause and I like to give back when I can.” Residents, with the help of the city of Wheat Ridge and the Institute for Environmental Solutions, planted nearly 200 new trees and shrubs along Clear Creek. “Clear Creek in naturally channelized so it no longer floods out, which it needs for natural cottonwoods and other species to grow,” said Margaret Paget, who is a Wheat Ridge Forestry and Open Space supervisor. “The only way to get these species now is to plant them.”
Wheat Ridge resident Becky Hathorne plants a new tree along Clear Creek at Prospect Park during Wheat Ridge’s Arbor Day celebration April 27. The Arbor Day celebration kicked off the city’s Revive the Greenbelt project. Numerous trees were lost along the Greenbelt due to a winter storm in 2009. Photo by Sara Van Cleve The Arbor Day celebration is the first of several tree plantings that are planned over the next few years as the city attempts to revitalize the Greenbelt — a 6.5-mile long, 300-acre area near Clear Creek that runs through Wheat Ridge. “Residents love the park,” Paget said.
City supports competitive home loan program By Hugh Johnson Wheat Ridge is joining a program that provides competitive home loans for lower and middle income families.
At its April 22 meeting, Wheat Ridge City Council approved a resolution allowing for Wheat Ridge’s participation in the Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program. The Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program was designed
POSTAL ADDRESS
to alleviate financial burdens associated with purchasing a home. The program grants down payment assistance equal to 3 percent of the loan along with an additional 1 percent on origination fees. Also, the program offers competitive 30-year fixed rate VA or FHA home loans at anticipated rate of 3.5 percent. The program operates through the city and county of Denver but extends to Edgewater, Littleton, Dacono and now includes Wheat Ridge. More jurisdictions are expected to join Denver throughout the year. Since 1997, the Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program has
assisted in the origination of 1,331 loans totaling $178,648,679. In 2007, the program lost some of it’s momentum because of the advent of adjustable rate mortgages. After the housing market collapse of 2008, the program was suspended. Now, as the housing market recovers, Denver looks to retain its regional competitive advantage by creating affordable opportunities for more people to own homes. Twelve lenders are participating in the program including Air Academy Federal Credit Union, Ent Federal Credit Union, Citywide Home Loans and Rocky Mountain Mortgage Specialists Inc. US Bank will be servicing the
loans. Eligible homebuyers must make less than $91,000 for two or fewer occupants or $103,000 for three or more. Other qualifications include a 640 FICO score and a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 45. There is no first-time homebuyer requirement. Council is excited to join the Loan continues on Page 18
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.