May 15, 2014
50 cents Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 30, Issue 46 A publication of
wheatridgetranscript.com
FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS TAKE OFF
Finalist named in super search Dougco’s McMinimee named in 3-2 vote By Crystal Anderson
canderson@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Jefferson County Board of Education announced Douglas County Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Daniel McMinimee as the sole finalist in its superintendent search. By 3-2 vote by the board, McMinimee was chosen May 10, from more than 60 candidates as the most qualified candidate. “He is a strong leader who has exactly what Jeffco needs,” said board president Ken Witt. McMinimee, who has been employed by Douglas County School District for 12
Finalist continues on Page 5
Gov. John Hicklenlooper prepares to sign into law three new bills that will help Colorado prepare for an “unpredictable” wildfire season, as Sen. Gail Schwartz looks on. The governor, along with several state and federal fire agency representatives gathered Monday, May 12, at Centennial Airport to sign the legislation which will authorize nearly $20 million to expand the state’s firefighting fleet. Photo by Deborah Grigsby Smith
City eyes building height, density codes By Hugh Johnson
Wheat Ridge city council discussed the removal of the city’s height and density restrictions from the city charter. The issue was discussed at the May 5 study session, where city staff wanted more input from council before issuing a citywide poll on potential issues that may appear in November ballots. City staff asked council if they would like to see a ballot issue pertaining to the removal of Wheat Ridge’s height and density restrictions, placed in the city charter in 1983. Under the current legislation residential buildings cannot exceed 35 feet in height and commercial buildings cannot be more than 50 feet. Proponents of the change argue that the restrictions hinder the city’s economic expansion because some developers are unwilling to work with city. Getting around the restrictions is no small task. Because the limitations are part of the city’s charter, it takes a vote of the people to remove
them. Those who are for the restrictions’ removal would rather see limitations in the city zoning code than the city charter. In 2009, voters approved measures that removed the restrictions in certain areas. In response, the city created mixed use residential and commercial zoning districts for these areas. But some argue that the changes aren’t enough. City Manager Patrick Goff said that the upcoming senior living center that will be constructed on the southwest corner of 38th and Kipling could have been a series of townhomes, however the density restrictions wouldn’t allow for it. For the most part, council was in support of bringing the issue to a vote. However some had their reservations. District Two Councilwoman Kristi Davis worried about having two issues voters are passionate about on the same ballot. Removing the restrictions may be on the ballot with a proposed sales tax increase. She said it may cause both ballot questions to fail.
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Genevieve Wooden, councilwoman from district four, said that staff should ask the polling company if there’s a way to word the issues so that they complement each other but argued the restrictions create the most unfavorable environment for those looking to invest in the city. “There’s a term that’s used ‘least restrictive environment’ and this is most restrictive environment, said Wooden. “We are the only city that does it so this is most restrictive, this is not least restrictive by any means.” Councilman Zachary Urban of District Two isn’t convinced that removing the restrictions will necessarily lead to an economic heyday and Wheat Ridge. He noted that the current areas without restrictions have yielded few results and have taken up substantial city resources. 44th and Wadsworth is currently the only project built in the areas that wouldn’t have been possible under the limitations. “The idea that by removing the height and density charter, we’re gonna see all this development and new blood come into the city to revitalize us because this is here. It still took a tremendous public effort to see that through it wasn’t as though without this height and density restriction we would see all this capital move into Wheat Ridge that doesn’t ring true with this project (44th and Wads),” Urban said. Goff responded that city aid is necessary for most redevelopment projects and also noted that the restrictions were move during the Great Recession when no one was redeveloping.
Urban farmers may get their goats By Hugh Johnson
Wheat Ridge City Council discussed modifying the small animals and poultry code to include dwarf goats at the May 5 study session. Whether as pets or for dairy use, dwarf goats are becoming increasingly popular in Wheat Ridge. However, since there are no rules in the small and large animal codes for these creatures, dwarf goats are being grouped in the same category as their larger counterparts despite a considerable difference in size. Whereas normal goats weigh 150 pounds, dwarf goats are less than half that number at 40 to 60 pounds. Regular goats are grouped in the large animal code. To own a large animal, a resident must have an open lot area of at least 9,000 square feet. In response, some homeowners have asked the city to look at permitting the ownership of dwarf goats as a small animal. City staff brought the issue to council after speaking with the Animal Welfare and Control Commission. Amending the code would allow for residents to own up to three dwarf goats with a minimum property threshold of 130 square feet per goat. The amendments would also prohibit the ownership of male dwarf goats that aren’t neutered. District Two Councilman Zachary Urban had reservations about allowing dwarf goats in smaller backyards, claiming that the goats may cause too much commotion. Councilman William Starker of District One argued that they wouldn’t be any more trouble than dogs. City staff will continue with the process of amending small animal and poultry code to include dwarf goats.