Lonetree Receives Voter Approval

Lonetree Receives Voter Approval
by Di Freeze

SEPTEMBER 2000

Residents of Lone Tree, a four-year-old town that formerly encompassed two square miles, voted on Aug. 29 to quadruple the size of their city over the next 40 years, by saying yet to a six-square-mile annexation of Rampart Range, cattle-grazing land which straddles Interstate 25 south of Lincoln Avenue.

Nearly 40 percent of the town�s 3,566 registered voters cast ballots, resulting in an 824-606 vote.

Coventry Development Corp. of New York plans to use the area for a 23-million-square-foot development, which would include office space, restaurants, shops, a town hall, recreation centers and schools near I-25 and Lincoln Avenue. There is also talk of building about 10,000 homes.

Rampart Range, which is in unincorporated Douglas County, has large bluffs, which have been one of the focal points of opposition to the proposal. According to the annexation plan, some 200 homes could be built on the bluffs, with houses that may reach to 20 stories. Opponents fear that towering structures built nearby could possibly obscure their view of the bluff. They also fear building of high-density urban housing projects. Another concern is that the development will cause traffic to pile up along I-25.

Town officials, however, support the plan, and believe that the annexation was the only way to keep local control over the land. They originally encouraged developers to petition the town for annexation last year, believing that if they didn�t, they could be at the mercy of Douglas County, who might not have their best interest in mind. They also wished to evade advances from neighboring Highlands Ranch. The Town Council approved the annexation on July 25, but, because the property was outside of Lone Tree�s designated annexation area, the town charter required voter consent as well.

Supporters believe that a yes vote means that Lone Tree residents will have a voice in how the property develops over time and will give them amenities such as a recreation center and the chance to live close to where they work. The first development will be a recreation center. There are plans to start building within the next six months.

Backers say that the project will be a model of smart growth, and will include a well-rounded mix of housing and business development along a key transportation route. Critics believe the project will be too densely packed.

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