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Week of April 6, 2023
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LittletonIndependent.net
VOLUME 134 | ISSUE 37
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 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, SEE HOUSING, P10
South Suburban hosting board elections Property taxes tied to district BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Stephanie Ellis presents information on the City Ditch piping project to citizens at a Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce PHOTO BY NINA JOSS “Thought Co-op.”
Englewood taking steps to improve water taste, smell Piping project moves forward BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
George Gastis, the owner of Grow + Gather in Englewood, told a group of residents at the Engle-
wood Civic Center that he generally receives positive feedback about his restaurant and marketplace. But one thing customers consistently complain about is the water, he said. “And then it’s left up to a 22-yearold staff member barista, trying to explain the technicalities of the water issues in Englewood,” he said. “It’s not just the taste, which is first
and foremost … Coffee machines, dishwashers and all those things — the maintenance costs on those are compounded because of the water situation.” For him and several other local business owners at the meeting, improvements to Englewood’s water could not come fast enough. SEE WATER, P9
Six candidates are competing for two seats on the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District board of directors. The May 2 election will be the district’s first regular election in an odd-numbered year, after 2019 state legislation changed timelines to stagger county and special district elections. The district’s board election is accustomed to seeing very low voter turnout, with just over 1% of eligible voters casting ballots in 2022. “With any election, your vote matters,” said Jennifer King, the designated election official at South Suburban. “We encourage people to participate in these elections because these are the decisionmakers of what’s going on in the district.” District background
South Suburban, which formed in 1959, is a regional provider of parks and recreation services. The special SEE ELECTIONS, P24
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 28
T BEFSTHE O T S E B
2023
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