A developer has requested Douglas County rezone 170 acres of
land to make way for a residential neighborhood and commercial
space in the middle of Franktown.
The Franktown Core Planned Development Group submitted a
rezoning application to change the land from its rural residential
designation to planned development status. The group also submitted
a proposal to build 330 homes and use 420,000 square feet of
property for retail and office space.
County staff has reviewed the proposals, but a date for a public
hearing on the plans has not been set. Joe Fowler, a chief planner
for Douglas County on the project, said the applicant has not
requested a date for a hearing on the rezoning application, but he
thinks it will be in January 2005.
A group of Franktown residents has come out against any
development within the village center. Charlotte Mirabella, a
member of Franktown’s Public Advisory Committee, said the developer
has heeded some suggestions from residents, but she is still
dissatisfied with the plans.
“The density is inappropriate for this area and I think 99
percent of the population of Franktown would agree,” Mirabella
said.
She said the group would like to see “something more in line
with what is here today,” but the proposal indicates a plan that
“does not fit with the surroundings.”
Maximum density allowed now is slightly less than two dwelling
units per acre because the developer lowered the number of proposed
units from 627 to 330. The Parker Chronicle contacted the
applicant’s representative, Russ Berget, but he was unable to
answer questions about the proposal at the time.
Fowler said residents have voiced support and opposition to the
plans, but most are against them. Some business owners back the
proposal because it would bring a central water and sewer system to
those within the metro district. The existing septic systems are
suspected of jeopardizing water quality in the Cherry Creek
alluvium, Fowler said.
However, at least one business owner opposes the project and has
submitted a petition to the county to have the metro district
dissolved.
Reiner Kremer, a Franktown business owner and member of the
district board, wants to disband the group because he said it is
not representing the interests of the majority. He said landowners
within the district would be encumbered with the debt necessary to
bring the water and sewer system on line. Fowler said customers in
the district who already pay mill levies will have to pay to tap
into the systems, but was not sure how much it would be.
Mirabella said the Public Advisory Committee plans to show its
opposition to the project at the first public hearing. She said the
developer doesn’t care what local residents think. Fowler said
residents are opposed to the project because they “want to maintain
the rural qualities that they have enjoyed for several
years.”
Mirabella believes the project will encourage other developers
to submit proposals to Douglas County.
“I think the temptation would be great,” she said. “It could
open the door for ranchers to sell their property to
developers.”
Contact Chris Michlewicz at cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.net.