Chronicle Parker
Parker 9-13-2013
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 46
September 13, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourparkernews.com
Housing proposal sparking concern Property owner wants to change land uses By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com
Parker pup Heidi spent her sixth birthday showing that she hasn’t lost her love of play. She was among hundreds of dogs taking part in Barker Days, a yearly event that gives canines the opportunity to splash and swim.
iN the
swim More than 1,100 dogs splashed down Sept. 7 at Barker Days, Parker’s annual event at H2O’Brien Pool. A handful of pups were too distracted by the mayhem to get in the pool, and a few of the more hesitant dogs were tossed in by their owners. But the retrievers showed little hesitancy, launching themselves into the deep end over and over to chase after balls and discs. It was an ideal way for canines to cool off on what turned out to be a 95-degree day.
Jodie Ruyle, of Denver, encourages her 4-year-old black Labrador, Rae, to chase after a ball in the H2O’Brien Pool Sept. 7. The pool opens for one day at the end of each season for Barker Days.
PhotoS by ChriS MiChlewiCz
‘Grinch’ protesters were paid teens Costumed characters have attended prior meetings, events linked to schools By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ ourcoloradonews.com Two mute, masked and costumed protesters on hand for the Sept. 3 screening of a documentary about the Douglas County School Board were revealed as teenage boys, paid for their time by an unknown person or source. The two were carrying signs reading, “Grinches for union control.” Protesters attired in the same costumes — Santa suits with Grinch masks — have stood several times outside the Douglas County School District
Two protesters stood mute outside the Parker Mainstreet Center during the showing of a film about the Douglas County School Board’s reform efforts. Photo by Jane Reuter administration building during controversial meetings, and appeared at a June 14 parent protest at Lone Tree’s Marriott hotel.
Castle Rock filmmaker Brian Malone debuted a documentary critical of DCSD’s education reforms at the center Sept. 3. About 200 people attended the
screening. Parker police, called because the teens reportedly were standing on private property at the Mainstreet Center, asked the two to remove their masks. “The kids said some guy paid them to stand there,” Parker Police Sgt. Andy Coleman said, adding the teens were cooperative and quickly moved to public property. “They didn’t know for what reason, but he just paid them so they did. The kids didn’t know what the signs meant.” The kids aren’t the only ones baffled by the signs. Five Grinches first appeared outside the DCSD administration building for a March school board meeting, distributing messages to those who entered the building. “The nerve of those Whos Grinch continues on Page 16
The re-emergence of new housing has been a welcome sight for recession-weary residents, but a proposed mixed-use project is causing concern for one rural neighborhood. The Butterfield Homeowners Association is opposing an amendment to the Stroh Crossing planned development guide, which scales down a previously approved commercial anchor on the northeast corner of South Parker Road and Stroh Road and replaces it with housing. While this might seem like good news for adjacent residents, the Butterfield HOA sent a letter to town planner Patrick Mulready, detailing what it believes will be negative impacts to the neighborhood just to the east if the changes are approved. The Parker Planning Commission was set to hear the amendment request during a meeting Sept. 12, and if approved, it would go to council for consideration on Oct. 7. Bill Lundell, a Butterfield resident since 1994 and current president of the HOA, says the proposed housing density of four dwelling units per acre in Stroh Crossing is “incompatible” with surrounding subdivisions. “It’s lots as small as 3,500 square feet for a single-family home. That’s just tiny,” he said. “In Robinson Ranch, the homes are on about one acre, and in Butterfield, we’re on five acres.” Objections to the sudden change in density were expected, Mulready said, and the town required the applicant to hold neighborhood meetings with representatives from Butterfield and Robinson Ranch. He cited examples around Parker of similar rural subdivisions being surrounded by higher-density developments, including Cherry Creek Highlands. Butterfield residents are also worried about the amount of traffic that would be generated by the 133-home neighborhood, as well as proposed commercial uses along South Parker Road. The property owner and applicant for the change, Service Star Development Co. LLC, has worked in the past on the behalf of petroleum companies to establish gas stations. Commercial uses would account for 8.4 acres of the 53-acre property and residential uses would comprise roughly 33 acres. The remaining land would be dedicated as greenbelts and open space, including a 13-acre drainage wash that contains a number of old cottonwood trees. That parcel would provide a buffer between the new development and Butterfield, and a 100-foot buffer will sepa-
Housing continues on Page 17
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