Golden – Only 600 yards long, the paved portion of Little Cub Creek Road inside Denver’s Bell Mountain Park near Evergreen has pitted Denver against Jefferson County and rankled residents.
The controversy erupted last summer when Jefferson County officials gave a developer, David Graham, permission to pave a road through the park to access properties he is developing.
Denver officials were surprised by the paving since they say the city owns the road. Jefferson County officials say they have maintained the road for decades.
The county commissioners will vote Tuesday on a settlement that has been approved by Denver and the developer.
The agreement states Denver will leave the pavement in place and will allow vehicle and pedestrian access on the road to the residential properties that Graham is developing.
Jefferson County will pay for road maintenance and repair.
Graham has agreed to pay for wildfire mitigation, a trail connection and four public parking spaces in Bell Park and to give Denver $150,000 for its mountain parks system. He also will pay up to $25,000 for the Clear Creek Land Conservancy to give Denver 10 acres of land next to Genesee Park.
Residents of adjacent Herzman Mesa subdivision were unhappy with the lack of public involvement on the issue.
“This is probably a very good solution,” said Commissioner Kathy Hartman, “but I want to make it possible for people to see it before we vote on it.”
The county published the proposed settlement on its website.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
