Hoeppner Letter to Commissioners

1573 S Uinta Way

Denver, CO 80231

October 6, 2016

Mr Brian Weiss, Planning Commissioner

Public Works and Development, Arapahoe County

Lima Plaza

6924 S Lima Street

Centennial, CO 80112

Dear Commissioner Weiss:

On May 17 of this year you and three of your colleagues bravely voted not to increase the density on the west side of South Uinta Way.  We as a neighborhood are grateful for that.  Now the same amendment is coming up again but this time it is worded for three properties to be changed.  These three belong to the same three property owners who approached the Planning staff late last year and asked how to change the subarea plan.

South Uinta Way is a relatively narrow street which is currently experiencing increasing traffic due to the new homes that Denver permitted adjacent to the Highline Canal which are accessed from Uinta Way.  Some of those homes are not yet occupied which will increase traffic even more.  We are concerned that the infrastructure will have to be increased if this first step to alter the subarea plan is adopted.  This is only the first assault on the neighborhood.  If the amendment passes there will be other developers who will be pushing to increase the density. 

If approved this will drastically change the ambience of the neighborhood forever . This area provides a balance to the increased development that is going on on the north side of Parker Road and provides a wildlife corridor and mountain views. Towering 100 year old ponderosas line So Uinta Way.  This is an oasis and people bought homes here because of the rural atmosphere and open feel.  Not a day passes that someone doesn’t say to me “Wow, I never knew this was here! It’s so beautiful!”

We urge you to stay strong and vote once again to preserve our neighborhood.  As you may remember a survey was done of the neighborhood which indicated that 2/3 of the neighbors oppose increasing the density.  We realize that because of the current housing boom inDenver there is pressure to develop parcels but this boom will not continue forever, and we fear we will be left with a neighborhood which has become just another crowded suburban street.  Please vote against the amendment, #F16-002.   Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Fred and Margaret Hoeppner