Herald HigHlands RancH 3.21.13-32
Highlands Ranch
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 18
March 21, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
Ranch nearly at commercial build-out Shea VP talks past, present, future of community By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com Imagine Highlands Ranch being home to Elitch Gardens. For those who are new to the area, that idea might be far-fetched, but those who have been around a while probably know there was a time when that was a real possibility. Not many have been in the Ranch longer than Shea Properties Vice President John Kilrow, who talked about the citizen backlash to Elitch’s and much more on March 13 during a special presentation on the past, present and future of the community’s development at the Highlands Ranch Cham-
commeRcial development in the aRea Highlands Ranch Denver Tech Center Metro Denver
Avg. cost/square ft. $19.99 $21.09 $23.33
Space available 19% 20% 25%
ber of Commerce monthly luncheon. “It almost turned into a fisticuffs,” Kilrow said of the battle surrounding the possible placement of Elitch Gardens on the west side of the community in the mid-1990s. “In the end, the folks in charge (of development) at the time, Mission Viejo, said `If you really don’t want it we’re not going to bring it,’ and the deal ended that way.” Elitch Gardens wound up downtown, and Mission Viejo was acquired by Shea Properties a few years later in 1997. Since then, Shea has engineered the final stages of development as Highlands Ranch, now 32 years old, nears its build-out. Residential build-out is not that far off,
Kilrow said, and as for commercial real estate, the community has reached the end of the line, save a few restaurants and small business operations that may still be coming in. “We actually have quite a few landholdings, but our last remaining commercial property to be developed is within the Highlands Ranch Business Park,” Kilrow said. “We’re at the end of our commercial development. We’d have to go into the open space to do any more, and I don’t think that would go over very well.” Kilrow said that the fact that 65 percent of Highlands Ranch’s 22,000 acres is dedicated to open space and non-urban usage is a real point of pride for Shea and for the community. It also has helped bring businesses in. “The open space makes a big difference,” he said. Build-out continues on Page 9
Shea Properties Vice President John Kilrow addresses members of the Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce during a March 13 luncheon at the Highlands Ranch Mansion. Photo by Ryan Boldrey
Former coach gets probation Lavoie reaches plea bargain in sex case, avoiding second trial By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
The Highlands Ranch Community Association Backcountry Wilderness Area camps give young people the opportunity to engage with the outdoors in numerous ways. Studies have shown that getting outside has numerous benefits and that too much screen time could be linked to ADHD. Courtesy photos
Time outdoors important for youths Unstructured play is key in mental, physical development By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews. com Whatever happened to “Go outside, and don’t come back until dinner time!”? Kids just don’t play outdoors the way they used to and, according to numerous studies, that is starting to create problems — from ADHD to obesity. “Kids have more demands on their time than ever before,” said Mary McCormac, education coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “But when it comes to unstructured play outdoors, where kids are outdoors exploring, that is only happening about 30 minutes a
The Highlands Ranch Community Association Backcountry Wilderness Area offers activities including horseback riding. week on average. “When you compare that to screen time, it is amazing. Kids from ages 8 to 18 average about 44.5 hours a week in front of
some form of screen, whether it is a phone, computer or television. That’s like a full-time job.” McCormac said part of the problem comes from parents
who are concerned with safety issues, such as their children encountering weather, wildlife or strangers while playing outside. Those situations can all be educational, she said, and it’s important that kids know how to respond if those situations present themselves. Another issue is that kids’ lives are planned out much more than they used to be, but McCormac has a solution for that. “If scheduling every minute of a child’s life is where we are today, then the best thing we can do is recommend that people also schedule that time,” she said. “I think a lot of times people get caught up with `I don’t know what to do with my kids outdoors,’ and `I don’t want to have to drive my kids all the way Outdoors continues on Page 13
A former Mountain Vista High School wrestling coach and English teacher, who was charged for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old student while employed at the school, avoided a retrial upon reaching a settlement March 15. Frank Lavoie, who was tried on three counts of felony sex assault on a child by a person in a position of trust last September, had all three charges dismissed after pleading guilty to a fourth count of misdemeanor promotion of obscenity to a minor. Lavoie spent four days on trial in September, but the jury was unsuccessful in reaching a verdict and Judge Paul King ruled a mistrial at that time. Under the agreement, the former coach is expected to receive probation for two years, be required to pay restitution, have no Lavoie contact with the victim, enter into sex treatment therapy, have no contact with anyone under 18 until it is deemed appropriate by the treatment team, and register as a sex offender. Lavoie, who had been looking at up to 12 years in prison for three alleged 2009 incidents involving the victim, will be sentenced formally May 21 by King when the victim has the opportunity to be present and address the court. As part of the agreement, Lavoie will not serve any jail time. Speaking on the decision to go forward with an agreement and not retry the case, Deputy District Attorney Jay Williford said, “Without a doubt, the jury’s result at the previous trial had an effect.” Williford, who was filling in for fellow Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo at the disposition, added that there was also consideration given to the victim having to endure a second trial. As standard practice, Colorado Community Media does not list the names of victims in cases involving claims of sexual assault.
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