Week of April 6, 2023
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastlePinesNewsPress.net
VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 33
County to oversee Rueter-Hess Reservoir recreation County leaders,
residents worry about property taxes Many wait for Polis’ plan BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Scenery at Rueter-Hess Reservoir, off Hess Road just west of Heirloom Parkway near the Town of Parker.
Will boost access BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County is poised to take charge of recreation at a major body of water in the county in an arrangement that will allow for more access, county officials say. That means more time for paddle-
boarding, canoeing and kayaking starting with this year’s water recreation season at Rueter-Hess Reservoir near Parker and Castle Pines. Officials also plan to eventually offer recreational fishing. Opportunities to enjoy the reservoir area will expand based on an agreement by the county and the municipalities that sit near the water, providing more staff and a streamlined financial structure for
PHOTO BY JOHN OTT
overseeing recreation. “Combining partner contributions into one budget makes sense, and it maxes our potential,” said Amy Knopp, a county recreation official, speaking to Douglas County’s elected leaders about the changes to the partnership among the county and municipalities. The reservoir is a drinking-water SEE RESERVOIR, P9
South metro leaders oppose Polis’, Democrats’ housing bill Would strip local control BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As Gov. Jared Polis works to find a solution to the lack of affordable and attainable housing in Colorado, local leaders are voicing concerns over the sweeping legislation proposed through the state Legislature known as SB23-213.
The bill would preempt a great deal of local control over land use by setting state mandates for greater housing density and reduced parking requirements. Nearly a week after Polis and Democratic lawmakers unveiled the land use bill to address the growing housing crisis, Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully said the biggest issue is taking away local power. “Arapahoe County is a reflection
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
of the good that is happening in our state,” she said. “We have come together to look at our successes and take on our challenges. I have some concerns on how this one-size-fitsall approach is going to work.” Warren-Gully said with 13 cities and towns in Arapahoe County, many of them are already working together to address the housing issues and what can be done at the SEE BILL, P11
Some Colorado homeowners reaped the benefits of skyrocketing home prices in recent years, selling homes for much more than they paid to buy them. But for those who stay put, there’s a drawback: When home prices rise, so do families’ property tax bills. And this May, property owners in Douglas County could be in for a shock. Property values — as determined for tax purposes — could rise by around 40% to 50% on average, one of the county’s elected leaders says. “If you had a tax bill last year that was $6,000, next year in 2024 you’ll pay $9,000 unless the legislature does something to control the increase,” said Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas. Property taxes partly fund county governments, but they also fund SEE TAXES, P8
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