Week of August 18, 2022
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 39
City approves housing diversity requirements in Dove Valley City council OKs changes that will require more types BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Centennial City Council approved changes that will require more housing types to be developed in parts of Dove Valley during its Aug. 1 meeting.
The decision came following a presentation by David King, Centennial’s development services specialist, on behalf of the city’s staff, recommending the city amend its land development code to adopt a new residential overlay district as a way to increase housing diversity in Centennial. According to the staff report for the ordinance, about 78% of the housing stock in Centennial is single-family housing. The city is
currently undergoing a housing study to identify housing issues in Centennial, King said. “The study is ongoing, but a clear consensus has formed from the community and from council that there is a need for more housing options and diversity within the city to serve current and future residents,” he said. To encourage the development of different types of housing, city staff recommended council adopt a new
overlay district, called the “Dove Valley Residential Overlay District,” located south of East Arapahoe Road near Centennial Airport. An overlay district is essentially an area that has special zoning standards. Under the Dove Valley overlay district adopted by council, any future property developments within the district that are zoned as “urban residential” must SEE DOVE, P11
Crashes, pursuits highlight chase-policy differences Despite opposition, council approves rezoning plan for Potomac Park Planning & Zoning disagreed BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Policies on when to pursue a suspect differ between Douglas County and Littleton.
Douglas County, Littleton differ BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
At least five crashes have occurred in the City of Littleton since 2019 after police pursuits by Douglas County deputies who were following suspects, some of whom were believed to be in stolen vehicles, records requests and prior reporting show.
The wrecks highlight stark differences between chase policies for the Littleton Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, with Douglas County granting officers more reasons to engage in a pursuit. The most recent case was July 29, when an allegedly stolen car pursued by Douglas County deputies ran a red light and caused a crash at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Bowles Avenue around 11:43 p.m. Other incidents include a crash in early December 2021 when Douglas
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County deputies pursued an allegedly stolen truck from unincorporated Douglas County before driving into the back of the vehicle and causing it to crash on Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. The driver, who ran onto the road and was hit by an officer driving to the scene, suffered injuries and was taken to a hospital. A pursuit in early February 2019 preceded a fatal crash involving a driver of a stolen car who was fleeing Douglas County deputies. That speeding driver hit another vehicle
During its Aug. 1 meeting, Centennial City Council voted 9-0 in favor of rezoning Potomac Park, located near the Arapahoe County Detention Center, from “public open space and recreation” to “business park 50,” after about 22 people voiced opposition during the public hearing. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission had also unanimously recommended city council deny the rezoning ordinance, while city staff recommended approval. The Potomac Park area, which is owned by the City of Centennial, is about 44 acres of land located in between South Potomac Street and South Blackhawk Street, below East SEE PARK, P2
SEE DIFFERENCES, P8
OFF TO SCHOOL
First-year teachers getting ready for 2022-23
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