A 12-acre piece of vacant land at the corner of South Alkire Street and West Belleview Avenue in unincorporated Jeffco will soon see 262 apartment units after the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning application for the parcel on Tuesday.
The request was contentious, with neighbors, the applicants and county staff divided on the issue. The commissioners were also split, passing it 2-1 with Commissioner Casey Tighe voting against. Don Rosier and Libby Szabo voted to approve the request. The land is owned by Red Rocks Fellowship church.
Residents in nearby neighborhoods protested at the meeting and in letters, saying the planned Belle Vista development would bring traffic and that developers didn’t investigate all options, including single-family homes.
Jeffco planning staff recommended that the application be denied because a plan for the area called for commercial development. The Jefferson County Planning Commission disagreed and recommended that an exception be made in this case.
The discussion was also met with support from the owner of a nearby shopping center at C-470 and Bowles Avenue and elders from the church. The church had once planned to build a larger facility at the site, but now hopes to sell the land and use the money to expand on their current site at 11195 W. Belleview Ave. in Littleton.
Mike Kortendick, a representative for applicant Winola LLC, said the land has not been attractive to commercial developers because of lack of access and a steep hill on the land. His group also talked about the influx of taxes for the county with apartment complexes versus the land remaining vacant.
Each commissioner spoke before voting. Rosier said he believed a development would lead to street improvements along South Alkire Street, which some residents said are needed.
“We have responsibility to make the best decision for all of Jefferson County, for the entire region, not just the neighborhood,” Rosier said.
Tighe cited the numerous opposition letters, including one from the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, saying the board should remain patient when waiting for a commercial developer. He added that while area plans are not binding, the board seems to stray from them too often.
“Just because there are challenges doesn’t mean we shouldn’t develop the county in best way,” Tighe said. “A plan shouldn’t be straight jacket, but if we always deviate from that plan, why have the plan?”
Kortendick said the developer will move forward with a site plan with hope of starting construction within a year. First units could open in early 2017. Rent rates for units would likely be around $1,700 per month.
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or
