Lakewood – Among the holiday mail arriving later this week in Lakewood mailboxes are ballots for a Jan. 2 special election on a Rooney Valley land swap.
The referendum asks voters if the city should trade 21.8 acres in Forsberg/Iron Spring Park for 21.8 acres owned by developer Carma Inc., which is starting a 1,400-unit housing project south of Alameda Parkway and east of C-470.
If approved, the city-owned land will be rezoned for private residential development while the private land will become city-owned parkland.
Two grass-roots groups have sprung up on opposing sides in the controversy that led to the mail-only election.
Opponents contend the parcels may be equal in size but not in value, and the swap sets a bad precedent for land donated for parks.
“We’re not against the development; we’re against building on public land,” said Rita Bertolli, chairwoman of Don’t Switch for the Ditch.
“This would be an exchange of a piece of land that the donor gave to the city for a public park, and even trading a portion of this park is not right,” she said.
Ollie Forsberg donated the land to the city in the early 1970s.
Bertolli said she has paid for fliers and yard signs with $10,000 out of her own pocket and with donations from citizens.
Supporters say the swap will provide a buffer – ranging in width from 200 feet to 700 feet – between the pending Springfield Green development and the existing Summit subdivision.
It also will establish a wildlife and recreational corridor between Hayden Park on Green Mountain and Bear Creek Lake Park, with Carma building a 20-foot-wide passageway under Alameda Parkway, said Lisa Scott, chairwoman of Vote FOR Rooney Valley Open Space.
“This is a real opportunity for people who live out there to make the trail space that everybody uses into a park,” Scott said.
Swap supporters have distributed fliers and yard signs with money donated by neighbors, Scott said. Carma also has contributed in-kind assistance.
Johann Cohn, president of Lakewood Citizens for Open Space, called the trade a good city decision.
“It’s more of a local matter, although it has value to all citizens,” Cohn said. He added that opponents have painted a picture of “the whole thing being a ditch,” but the drainage only runs along the western side.
The election, which city officials said will cost $242,000, was forced by petitions.
On July 24, the Lakewood City Council voted unanimously for the land exchange. City Manager Mike Rock said at the meeting that the parcels involved in the swap had been identified for a potential trade in the 1998 Rooney Valley master plan.
Bertrolli submitted petitions Sept. 8 challenging the trade, contending the city should have allowed the voters to decide any disposal of parkland.
The council unanimously reaffirmed its earlier stance Oct. 10 after it was determined there were enough valid petition signatures.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
Voter information
The Jan. 2 special election is by mail only. Ballots are being mailed out through Dec. 18.
Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at the city clerk’s office in Lakewood City Hall, 480 S. Allison Parkway.
Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. Jan. 2.
For more information, call 303-987-7080.
