Despite opposition from residents about growth in their area,
the Parker Planning Commission approved steps for two developments
Jan. 10.
The planning commission unanimously approved annexing 126 acres
and rezoning it from agricultural to planned development for a new
development called Horseshoe Ridge, which will be on the northwest
corner of Hess Road and Motsenbocker Road, west of the Salisbury
Equestrian Park.
It will contain 289 homes on 76 acres and 80 townhomes on 8
acres. An 11-acre commercial center is planned along Hess Road to
provide residents with a walkable village center.
Parks and open space will take up the remaining 31
acres.
The neighborhood will contain a mixture of five house sizes. The
average lots will be 6,000 square feet and clustered in the middle
of the neighborhood. Larger lots, averaging 15,000 square feet,
will be on the perimeter of the neighborhood or adjacent to open
space.
The townhouses will be built to resemble large family houses and
will be adjacent to the commercial center with direct access to
pathways and open space.
“Everyone is really close to the amenities, so all price ranges
can enjoy what is around,” said applicant Marcus
Palkowitch.
Residents of the bordering rural communities Cherry Creek
Highlands and King Ranch Estates oppose the increase in population
the neighborhood will bring.
The King Ranch Estates homeowners association wrote a letter to
the commission objecting to wedging a suburban neighborhood between
two rural neighborhoods.
About four residents expressed their concerns about the increase
in traffic along Motsenbocker Road, the inadequate transition
between densities and the lack of satisfactory buffers between the
neighborhoods.
Horseshoe Ridge is proposing a 30-foot buffer between the
neighborhoods.
“We don’t see the buffer as acceptable to rural residents,” said
Steve Lotito, president of the King Ranch homeowners association.
“We need more buffering to retain the aesthetics and country
atmosphere.”
Lutheran high school
The commission unanimously approved the sketch plan for New
Horizons, a development that brought resistance from future
neighbors.
The 84-lot neighborhood will be the future site of Lutheran High
School of the Rockies. The 57-acres development will be at the
southwest corner of Mainstreet and Newlin Gulch Road.
Only 30 percent of the land will be used for houses, while more
than half the land, about 30 acres, will be used for the school,
sports fields and a church.
Residents in the area were again concerned with the amount of
traffic the new development would attract, the interruption of the
rural way of life and the lack of quality open space.
“I don’t think the deer consider a soccer field or a football
field open space,” Auburn Hills resident Emmet Eckman
said.
The fence
The commission decided to continue making a decision on the
fence blocking access to Mountain Man Drive. The fence is on
Mayberry’s Restaurant’s property and the commission will review the
restaurant’s site plan to determine if there is a
violation.
Town planning director Garner Stoll told the commission the site
plan shows an excising connection is supposed to be maintained for
emergency access.
Parker Fire Protection District Marshall Jim Drummond told the
commission that the fence does not comply with the fire code and
the district would like the fence removed so it can have emergency
access to the Mountain Man Fruit & Nut Co.
Because the road is not a dedicated road and it is on Mayberry’s
Restaurant’s property, the owner should have the right to keep it
up, said Mike Mitchell, the lawyer acting on behalf of BLM Schuman
L.L.C.
“I agree it is an inconvenience, but it is not public property,
it is our property,” he said.
A written decision is expected at the Jan. 24 meeting.
Shopping center sign
The commission allowed the Parker Crossroads Shopping Center to
continue using its company sign even though it exceeds the maximum
height by about 5 feet.
The sign, which is the old Parker Cinema sign, stands at 14.4
feet. Douglas County approved the sign before the shopping center
was annexed by Parker.
James Giasafakis, owner of the shopping center, wants to
continue using the taller sign because it is easier to see from the
road.
Dale Brinker and Diane Bailey opposed the decision.