1
August 7, 2014 VOLU M E 1 2 | I SS UE 1 8 | F R E E
CastleRockNewsPress.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
Special election tackles gun law On July 22, Castle Rock Town Council unanimously approved a 10-year lease agreement with Royal Gorge Zip Lines of Canon City to build a zip line course in Philip S. Miller Park. The course, highlighted by a three-and-a-half hour traditional course, will also feature an aerial timber park and dual race lines. Stock photo
Zip lines approved for new park Castle Rock residents will receive significant discounts By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinado @coloradocommunitymedia.com Zip lines will soon be swinging into Philip S. Miller Park. The Castle Rock Town Council approved a lease agreement with Royal Gorge Zip Lines
P O W E R E D
out of Canon City that will bring a zip-line course to the new park. Council voted 5-0 on July 22 to approve the 10-year agreement. The lease ensures that 5 percent of the total gross revenue collected will go to Castle Rock. The town estimates the revenue will be about $45,000 annually. Royal Gorge Zip Lines will cover all costs of design, construction, fees, permits and business operations for the zip lines and aerial trekking, including staffing, insurance, and
inspections. Monthly financial reports will be submitted to the town. “What we were looking for was a familyfriendly recreational opportunity that was financially solid and did not require any funding from the town except for the use of the land itself,” said Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Director Rob Hannah. According to Hannah, research done by the town found that the demographics, Zip Line continues on Page 13
B Y
Builders, architects and representatives of the Town of Castle Rock answered questions about the proposed Promenade at Castle Rock on July 31 at the Philip S. Miller Library. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Promenade plans begin to take shape Tenants still unknown, small shop announcements expected soon By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinado @coloradocommunitymedia.com Builders and architects from Alberta Development, as well as representatives from the Town of Castle Rock, met with residents July 31 at the Philip S. Miller Library to answer questions about the proposed new commercial and residential development that will be known as The Promenade at Castle Rock. The project — approved pending final land purchases — is planned for the north end of Castle Rock, between Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 85. The development is projected to span 200 acres with the potential space for 900,000 square-feet of commercial space and 350 multi-family homes. “It’s probably similar to Cornerstar that they developed out in Aurora. That’s probably the closest version of it,” said Christopher Kenyon of Alberta Development Partners, the group who plans to build The Promenade. “The major goal is to create an integrated design that fits within the community, that fits within the neighborhood and becomes a supportive function of all of those areas.” The proposed project would be the largest ever master-planned commercial development in Castle Rock. “We’ve heard nothing but good feedback. Everybody wants to know timing and how quickly things are going to start to happen. And everyone wants to know who the big tenants are going to be,” Kenyon said. “We don’t know yet. Some of the smaller
shop stuff I would expect to happen pretty quick, but the bigger box stores may take a little while to finish those negotiations. Probably in the next few months you will hear some of those bigger names start to roll out.” While Kenyon said he has not received any negative feedback, some in Castle Rock have expressed concern over the project. The News-Press received multiple letters to the editor in early 2014 from residents who voiced concerns over increased traffic and congestion as well as the potential “destruction of the area’s smalltown charm.” Steve Craig, the managing partner of the Outlets at Castle Rock, expressed his own concerns to town council in November of 2013, stating that The Promenade would serve as a direct competitor to the Outlets, a location that currently has its share of vacancies. Alberta representatives told residents July 31 that they do not expect traffic — caused by construction — to be a major issue. “No more than any other development would have. We’ve got pretty good access to I-25, so we really won’t be using a lot of local roads,” said Lincoln Thomas of Alberta. The project required a financial agreement among the Town of Castle Rock, Alberta and the metro district to make it financially feasible. That agreement required two votes by the Castle Rock Town Council. The council members voted unanimously on Nov. 19 and Jan. 7 to approve the agreement. Alberta estimates the total cost of the project to be $180 million. Of that, Castle Rock will contribute up to $24.48 million, or 13.6 percent of the total project, in shared sales tax and development fee reimbursements.
Castle Rock to vote on open carry, charter amendment By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinado @coloradocommunitymedia.com Voters in Castle Rock this month have the chance to weigh in on two ballot questions that will help shape the future of the town’s gun laws. The first is a question relating to whether or not the town manager has the authority to ban open carry of firearms in town-owned and -run buildings, facilities and parks. Open carry is currently outlawed in those locations, in accordance with the town manager. If voters vote yes on ballot question A, the town manager will no longer have authority on the issue and Colorado state law will kick in, allowing for open carry on said property. A no vote leaves the power of whether open carry is allowed on townowned property with the town manager. The other question is a potential amendment to the Castle Rock charter that would require a town vote to alter gun laws in the future. Under the current ordinance, passed in 2003, the town manager has the power to make decisions on where the open carry of firearms is permitted or prohibited. In 2013, the town council revisited the issue, exploring whether it would be best to transfer the power to make the decision from the town manager to themselves. Then, after more research and discussion, council considered an ordinance that would repeal the restriction of open carry in town-owned and -run facilities altogether. That ordinance passed 4-3 on Jan. 28 on second reading.
Case against open carry
Almost as soon as the issue of possibly Open Carry continues on Page 12
MORE INFORMATION • Voting: Castle Rock residents can register up to and on the day of the special election, Aug. 19. If you do not register before Aug.12 you will not receive a ballot by mail and will need to go to either Castle Rock Town Hall or the Douglas County Elections Office to register. Completed ballots can be returned by mail or in person to Town Hall, 100 N. Wilcox St., Castle Rock, or in person to the Douglas County Elections Office, 125 Stephanie Place, Castle Rock. Both locations will accept ballots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily, except on Aug. 19, when they will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. To see if you are registered to vote, go to govotecolorado.com • What is open carry? Open carry is when a gun owner openly carries a firearm in public. This is different than concealed carry, where a gun owner carries a weapon that is not visible to the public. Individuals who have a concealed-weapons permit have undergone a background check and have had firearms training. There are no training requirements for those who open carry, only that they be of legal age and own the weapon legally. Under the current town ordinance, the town manager has the power to make decisions on where the open carry of firearms is permitted or prohibited in town-owned and -run buildings and spaces, like parks. Private businesses can also choose on their own to ban open carry from the premises.