A Denver Water proposal to sell the remaining 167 acres of the Feh ringer Ranch in Jefferson County has alarmed some nearby residents, who say they believed the area would always be open space.
Not so, according to developers, who say the debate over land use ended in 2002 when a rezoning was approved. Instead, they say the discussion is now about the mix of uses.
LNR Properties has not submitted formal plans for 2 million square feet of offices, retail and residences west of South Kipling Parkway and south of U.S. 285.
But LNR has told county planning staff that it wants to rezone 31.9 acres from private open space to office and some commercial land for residences.
Residents of the Mount Carbon Estates, Friendly Hills, Lakehurst Village townhomes and Weaver Creek townhomes voiced objections at community meetings this spring.
After learning that final revisions to the sale agreement are in the works, residents Annie Morrissey and Karen Peiffer plan to ask the Denver Water Board today to suspend talks and hold public hearings.
“We have a different understanding of what would happen to the land,” Morrissey said Tuesday.
Peiffer, whose family owns 8 acres of what was Fehringer Ranch, said their grandmother Esther Peiffer was told by Denver Water that the land — which was acquired to gain access to Harriman Gulch water — wouldn’t be developed.
Of particular concern, Morrissey said, is protecting habitat for wildlife and birds, including bald eagles, great horned owls and a Monarch butterfly migration path.
About 135 acres of the ranch were purchased by Jefferson County Open Space with taxpayer money. That land will provide a wildlife and riparian corridor, greenbelt buffer and athletic fields and trails.
Under the South Jeffco Community Plan — which was developed by the public and is used to guide land use — Fehringer Ranch has been designated as “an activity center” for office/commercial use.
County planner Heather Gutherless said the community plan does not recommend residential uses for the site. If the developer submits a plan that would include residential use, it would be up to the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners to either vote down the development, ask that the developer change the plan or allow an exception to the community plan.
