COLUMBINE VALLEY —For a second time in the past year, , is under contract and residents have many questions for the new developer.
Taylor Morrison, the same developer that is currently , has a preliminary agreement on the property that has been owned by the Tuck family since before it was annexed into the town in the 1970s. Taylor Morrison held two community meetings to meet with residents, but no plan has been presented to the town.
“The community process started without a concrete plan because we’re sensitive to the concerns,” said Tom Hennessy, vice president of land resources with Taylor Morrison.
Most questions from residents at a Sept. 11 meeting were over traffic issues and access to the new development. Other questions arose over how many new houses would be part of the development. Taylor Morrison didn’t have definitive numbers but said it likely would be fewer than 160 homes on the 105-acre site.
The property is mostly open space and the family runs their oil and gas business in an office on site. The Tuck family did not return phone calls seeking comment.
The development has been a hot topic in the town. Toll Brothers, which was under contract with the Tuck family earlier this year, pulled out of the development for “a variety of reasons,” according to contracted planner Phil Sieber.
Sieber added that it is uncommon for a developer to have a meeting with the community prior to having any sort of plan for the property.
“They are doing their homework very carefully,” Sieber said.
However, some residents are displeased with Taylor Morrison over the development of the Willowcroft property, which is building 41 patio homes at West Bowles Avenue and South Middlefield Road at the edge of town.
to ask residents if the town should overturn the decision to rezone the land for development. The question failed and the development is under construction.
“My personal opinion is you have to back up what you say with actions,” resident Kevin Collins said.
Collins said that residents have been expecting a developer to come in for some time for Wild Plum Farm as it is private property and has been on the market for a while. He said he believes Columbine Valley residents want to see large lots and a variety of houses in different styles.
The development is one of the last infill projects and the largest by far.
“I think it’s a beautiful piece of ground with gorgeous views,” Columbine Valley Mayor Gale Christy said. “It’s very developable.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or
