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Ranch land a treasure

By J.D. Hylton, Karen Peiffer et al.,

Published July 13, 2008 at 11:14 p.m.

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Denver is preparing to step into the international spotlight as the Democratic National Convention approaches, and the city has promised the "greenest" convention ever by implementing practices leading to lasting change.

That's why we think this is a good time for Denver to take a bold step toward a sustainable future by reconsidering plans to sell property that Denver Water has owned since 1930 to a developer who plans high-density residential development along with massive office and commercial space.

We live adjacent to the Fehringer Ranch in Jefferson County just outside the Denver city limits, west of Kipling Parkway and bordering Quincy Avenue. This land is one of the last large undeveloped tracts in metro Denver and is home to abundant wildlife.

Now, Denver Water has agreed to sell 168 acres of the property to LNR Western Investments which announced plans in a series of public meetings to rezone the property to include high-density housing allowing 3,000 or more residents.

We believe that many things have changed since Denver Water decided to sell the land a decade ago, and that another look at this property is in order, using a greener lens.

For example, our metro area went through one of the worst droughts in our history and Denver Water made it clear that continuing extensions of water taps to suburban users could not continue indefinitely. Yet LNR plans to obtain water from Lakehurst Water and Sanitation District, a Denver Water reseller.

The world's top scientists are sounding alarms about the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases. Why agree to an intensive development of a piece of land that will generate significant pollution when Denver Water could instead use it as a true legacy project? The land could be used to demonstrate carbon sequestration, community-based agriculture, renewable energy development, aquifer recharge, urban wildlife preservation and other landmark uses.

The only reason for the intense development plans that we have received from either the developer or Denver Water is financial. We believe we need to think of costs and benefits in a broader way.

Metro Denver voters agreed to a tax increase to support FasTracks. With a planned public investment of more than $6 billion in a transit system that has not even been started, we believe high-density residential development belongs near these public transportation corridors. Fehringer Ranch is miles from any station or track.

We have documented the presence of at least two threatened sage and grassland species on the property in addition to the teeming wildlife that is using the land as an important sanctuary and corridor. In April, the Colorado Division of Wildlife launched its Habitat Protection Program to preserve and protect habitat critical to such wildlife. The program will be funded this cycle by about $15 million. Through its participation in this program, the city of Denver could further demonstrate its stated commitment to preservation of ecosystems, protection of endangered wildlife and service to all citizens of Colorado.

We hope that Denver Water will take these issues into account before proceeding with the sale of this jewel in our midst.

J.D. Hylton is a national award-winning author, most recently of Thief, and a neighbor of Fehringer Ranch since 1973. Karen Peiffer's family has lived on the Fehringer Ranch since the 1930s. This piece is based on a letter hand-delivered to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and also signed by 57 other neighbors of Fehringer Ranch: Lee Alexander, Ray Anthony, Christian Baker, Travis Barr, Patrick Begley, Marty Broaddus, Mark Bronner, Dr. Hendrika B. Cantwell, Rebecca Cantwell, Dawn Conwell, Barb Davis, Pamela DeBoth, Rudy Dingman, Karen Dingman, Sandy Dodson, Roger M. Edward, David Elkins, Adrienne Franseen, Angie Fulmer, Geraldine Gallegos, Robin Guy, Mike Hester, Jessie Humbert, Bonnie Hylton, Eric Irwin, Suzanne Koecher, Brad Koenig, Kathleen Koenig, Larry Love, Linda Lundborg, Jessie McFadden, Shane Meyer, Annie Morrissey, Blanca Montes, Patricia A. Nelson, Kenneth C. Noble, Miegel Palma, Mark Peiffer, Christie Peiffer, Gary Peiffer, Lisa L. Percival, Janie Reyna, Dawn Richmond, Stormy Richmond, Barbara Robertson, Marvin Ross, Bart Roundy, Patty Roundy, Shane Shine, Rebecca Shine, Brian Snow, Sierra Snow, Helen F. Stanton, Kris Vardaman, Phil von Hake, Joan Waldheim, Bruce Wyatt

Comments

  • July 14, 2008

    6:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jacka writes:

    Denver Water at it again, 1st the Dillon Resv issue, now this move?

  • July 14, 2008

    9:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Eagle5 writes:

    Good grief - listen to these people Denver government. Beautiful ecosystems should never be destroyed purely for the love of money. I think a lot of folks need to read up on the conservative views of many of our great writers and politicians who can certaintly explain the wonders of our country far greater than I can.

  • July 14, 2008

    12:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MrHappy writes:

    NIMBY! If you don't want the land developed, then buy it. Your homes cost less to start with because there were no permanent protections for the open space. Now you want Denver to subsidize your lifestyle. Pretty selfish. Be grateful for the years of free open space that you enjoyed, and stop whining.

  • July 14, 2008

    1 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sunshinestate writes:

    In Florida we were scolded with the "if you don't want it developed then buy it!" and we embarked on a magnificent conservation land buying program......interior westerners would be surprised at the breadth and scale of Florida's conservation & recreation lands...and we are still adding!Noted here because so many interior westerners-particularly recent newcommers,are going on assumptions. To recognize the "wild West" could pale to so many other states and regions should be a wake up call.

  • July 14, 2008

    1:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BetterEducated writes:

    lol! Methinks some folks may have forgotten that the greenest commodity of all is The Almighty Dollah.

  • July 14, 2008

    3:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TC writes:

    Develop it all and rename it "Sprawlorado". It's amazing that people actually buy crap in those hideously ugly 'my house looks like all the others' subdivisions. But as long as they do, they'll keep on building 'em.

  • July 14, 2008

    11:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Erudite41 writes:

    Don't be surprised to find out that when the $30,000,000.00 price is received for the sale of the Fehringer ranch, (apparently mere pocket change to one of the writers here!) an effort will be made by members of Hizzoner Hickenlooper's water board to take the Denver Water Service private, perhaps even to a for profit Eastern water commodity reseller like American Water Corporation. (It is happening all over America). THEN, Denver Water users, watch your water rates really skyrocket. I wonder if the few bloviating ego servers above will be amongst the first to scream "unfair". Stay awake and see what happens. The people who signed the above letter to the Mayor seem to be making an honest effort to alert the people of Denver. Who is listening?

  • July 14, 2008

    11:35 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tmsloan writes:

    If the Global Warming nuts are to be believed, Colorado may receive the same moisture as always just in different forms and at different times. We will get more rain and less snow so it is imperitive to build ways to contain the rain runoff. Denver water may be selling too soon.