119 signatures
Collection finished
Petition is addressed to: Jefferson County Planning & Zoning, BOCC
Jefferson County Planning & Zoning’s Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) process both provides guidelines for development decision making in unincorporated areas and creates maps that identify land use recommendations for every parcel. Current mapping in the CMP’s Evergreen Area Plan (EAP) area for the El Rancho Activity Center (ERAC) shows several parcels with other existing zoning as “appropriate” for future commercial/industrial uses. This mapping is contradictory to the EAP, which explicitly recognizes existing commercial zoning as more than adequate to meet market demand and stipulates that no additional rezoning for commercial/light industrial uses should be necessary in the ERAC.
In recognition of existing surrounding land uses and community priorities articulated in the Evergreen Area Plan, this petition asks Jefferson County Planning & Zoning and the Board of County Commissioners to:
- limit commercial development in the El Rancho Activity Center to existing commercial zoning, centered on Highway 74 and excluding I-70 Exit 251
- withdraw residential and Community Use parcels from CMP mapping for future commercial use in the ERAC, and map Community Use in the ERAC
Please join your neighbors to support these changes to County planning. For full context, maps, and further explanation, visit this link:
http://tinyurl.com/54j8awvy
The full text, along with this petition and its signatures and comments, will be delivered to Jefferson County Planning and Zoning and the Board of County Commissioners in February 2024 in the context of the present and ongoing Comprehensive Master Plan revision process (see https://togetherjeffco.com for more information about that initiative).
Thank you.
Reason
Existing Comprehensive Master Plan mapping has already drawn attention to the parcels of concern from would-be developers. This petition seeks to correct the discrepancy between the Evergreen Area Plan and CMP mapping by defining specific revisions and requesting that EAP guidelines take precedence. Historical master planning for commercial development has been reversed in the foothills I-70 corridor before. The reasons to do so at the ERAC warrant this attention for the benefit of current and future residents, our existing community investments, and the scenic and historical values of this area.
Petition details
Petition started:
01/15/2024
Petition ends:
02/12/2024, 22:59 MST
Region:
United States of America
Topic:
Environment
News
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Dear supporters,
Jefferson County's DRAFT Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Plan are available for comment. The documents are online and comments can be left in the documents at https://togetherjeffco.com until February 27, 2025.
The issues we proposed through this petition last spring have not been addressed in the draft plans:
1. that the El Rancho Activity Center be centered on Hwy 74 and exclude I-70 Exit 251, and that commercial use be limited to existing commercial zoning.
2. that the existing, long-time Community Use area be recognized in County mapping and not be mapped for future commercial use as it is now.
The El Rancho Activity Center boundary is still shown as extending all the way down US 40 and including the beginning of Ruby Ranch at I-70 Exit 251, all shown as envisioned future commercial use. That vision not only entails properties that are not presently zoned commercial, but would lead to a mile-long commercial strip adjacent to I-70 and high-intensity commercial use adjacent to rural residential neighborhoods.
At the same time, the Community Use areas at El Rancho (Alpine Rescue, Foothills Fire Department, Park-n-Ride and associated transportation assets) are still illustrated as appropriate for future commercial use in the County's map. There is still no Community Use recognized at El Rancho in the County's map or in the Comprehensive Plan document (chapter 2, page 16).
Those points must be made again now. Thank you again for taking the time to provide comments to the County.
The Save El Rancho Campaign -
Petition was submitted
on 21 Jan 2025Dear supporters,
You may recall a year ago that the Save El Rancho Campaign contributed a proposal to Jefferson County's "Together Jeffco" process asking that future commercial land use in the El Rancho Activity Center be mapped as to exclude the area surrounding I-70 Exit 251. You are receiving this email because you signed a petition in support, and thank you. Jeffco is still preparing their revised plans for public review later this spring.
At this moment, the residential properties addressed by that petition are preparing to undergo rezoning from A-2/MR-1 to "PD-lite" based on modifications to the MR-1 zoning. This is in an effort to resolve the current split zoning and to maintain their residential use. Preliminary to the formal application, there is a virtual community meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 1/21, hosted by Planning & Zoning: https://www.jeffco.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=12709&month=1&year=2025&day=21&calType=0
It is important that the community support this proposed rezoning to maintain residential use of these parcels and help preserve the rural character of the area surrounding Exit 251. See our web page for further information: https://www.save-el-rancho-campaign.com/29659rezoning.html
Thank you.
The Save El Rancho Campaign -
Changes to the petition
on 16 Jan 2024
Debate
Evergreen is a beautiful and natural area. We and others have moved here to be out of the city. Please, let's keep it a mountain retreat! The proposed truck stop and other commercial properties will definitely change the purpose of our serene mountain town. Keep commercial in the city and not in our pristine natural environment.
Water and traffic are major concerns as well as changing the pristine, serene mountain environment. If I wanted to live in a city, I would have purchased in Denver area. Please keep Evergreen rural and stop expanding Denver.
