1-Color
April 2, 2014
75 cents Teller County, Colorado | Volume 53, Issue 13 A publication of
pikespeakcourier.net
A man’s home is his castle Election
period ends on April 8
Woodland Park man builds his dreams By Rob Carrigan
rcarrigan@coloradocommunitymedia.com Herman Beeh, of Woodland Park, always liked Gypsy wagons, he says. And as with so many things that he likes, he decided to go ahead build one. That is also how he got the full-size castle in his back yard. For that matter, the beautiful log cabin and garage appeared the same way, over the years. His latest project, a replica of an Irish Gypsy wagon, was built over the last year, starting with nothing more than a photo that he pulled from the Internet. Beeh did all the welding, and wood work, and most of the sheet metal work for the Gypsy wagon project, and even build the cast iron stove from scratch. But Beeh is used to building his own stuff from scratch. He first began building his log cabin here in Woodland Park in 1975 from the foundation up, with the help of two high school kids. He finished that project in 1978, and later added the garage and started the castle in the back yard beginning in 2003. He finished the castle, complete with four-story, three-story and two-story turrets, wine cellar and medieval kitchen about a year ago. Thus, the Gypsy wagon emerged as the new project to concentrate on. Beeh, a tool and die maker by trade, having worked for Hewlett Packard for more than 30 years, is able to build almost anything. “When I told my wife I was going to build a castle, I think she thought it was going to be a smaller-scale version. I am from Europe and always wanted a castle. Everyone should have their own castle.” he said.
By Norma Engelberg Contributing writer
Woodland Park voters have already received their mail-in ballots for the April 8 municipal elections. City Clerk Cindy Morse wished to remind voters that in order for their votes to count their ballots must arrive at City Hall by 7 p.m. on April 8. If they don’t want to mail them in, voters can always drop their ballots off at City Hall. Voters will have two choices for mayor: Dave Turley has decided to run for the office again and City Councilmember Gary Brovetto has decided to run as a write-in candidate. He said he threw his hat into the ring to give voters a choice. Three council seats are also up for election but there are also only three candidates running for the open seats. Ken Matthews and John Schafer have decided to run for their seats and Noel Sawyer will be running for the seat being vacated by Eric Smith. Voters will also have an opportunity to approve or deny a change in the use of a 5.7 percent lodging tax that was approved in the 2002 municipal election. If approved the city would continue to use the funds for downtown streetscapes, landscapes and signage but expanded uses could include capital improvement projects for downtown as well as economic development projects that would promote the city. It was pointed out on Feb. 20 when Woodland Park City Council approved the referred ballot measure that approving this measure will not add any new taxes and that local residents rarely pay lodging taxes.
Herman Beeh, of Woodland Park, constructed this Gypsy wagon over the last year, starting with nothing more than a photo that he pulled from the Internet. See more photos on Page 9. Photo by Rob Carrigan
WP planning commissioners looks at two transformations City starts Comprehensive Plan action-items update By Norma Engelberg Contributing writer The Woodland Park Planning Commission made short work of the two items on its March 27 agenda. First was a request by Kevin Butcher and project coordinator Skip Howes for a conditional use permit to transform a former commercial model home office at 107 Sundial into a residential or mixed-use propPOSTAL ADDRESS
erty. The upper level of the 3,187-squarefoot building would be used as a residence while the lower level will continue to be used as an office space at this time. The owners, however, asked that their request to allow the transformation to residential property cover both the building’s lower and upper levels so that the lower level can be turned into a residence at a later date. The applicants stated in a letter to the city that the residential use of this property would help fill the city’s need for more rental units. City Planning Director Sally Riley explained that with commercial property downstairs and residential upstairs, the
property would be considered a “classic mixed use” building but if both levels become residential it would just become apartments. The planning commission recommended approval of the usage on condition that the owner process the change in use and evaluate the building’s septic system to determine if it can handle increases water usage. An application by Arby’s for a conditional use permit to transform the former Tabeguache Steakhouse at 407 E. U.S. 24 into a fast food restaurant was tabled to the April 10 planning commission meeting to allow more time for the completion of a
PIKES PEAK COURIER (USPS 654-460) OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863 | PHONE: 719-687-3006 MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 340, Woodland Park, CO 80866 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Teller County, Colorado, the Pikes Peak Courier is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs.11 a.m. | Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 12 p.m.
traffic study. At the end of the meeting, Riley handed out pages from chapters 1-3 of the city’s comprehensive plan. The commissioners will soon be asked to lead discussions on the action items listed for these chapters to set priorities for needed work in the city over the next few years. She also handed out a preliminary study of the city’s critical traffic needs and a proposed scope of work document for a future “alternate routes” study. Creating and enhancing alternate routes through the city could alleviate congestion during emergencies and planned events, Riley said.
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