Lone Tree
Voice
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 48
SANTA’S ON THE JOB
December 13, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlonetreenews.com
Residents are loving Lone Tree 2012 survey again finds satisfaction with community By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Santa uses some of his strategies to get a picture with 2-year-old Joaquin Diaz, who was not too sure about the stranger with the white beard at the Park Meadows mall. Turn to Page 8 to learn more about the Santa business. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Entertainment District vision unfolds Land planners call for walkways, financial buy-in By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com In land planners’ vision, the area now known as Lone Tree’s Entertainment District would boast a promenade-style walkway with fountains, play areas and greenery. The amenities would link businesses and tempt visitors into not just lingering, but making it a destination point. A redesigned Park Meadows Drive, the thoroughfare that serves it, likewise would prompt drivers to slow down, look around and pull into the area to explore all it has to offer. That’s the future that the planners outDistrict continues on Page 7
The Lone Tree Entertainment District, southeast of Yosemite Street along Park Meadows Drive, offers businesses including a movie theater; Mexican, Indian, Japanese and American restaurants; indoor sky diving; bowling; laser tag; and a cigar lounge. The city hopes to make the area more inviting. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Researcher Tom Miller worried he was boring the Lone Tree City Council. For the third time running, his company offered them a glowing report on residents’ satisfaction. “I hope this doesn’t get terribly, terribly repetitive,” Miller, president of the Boulderbased National Research Center, told the council during its Dec. 4 meeting. “These are very positive results.” Lone Tree conducts a resident survey every three years, the first in 2006. Results each time have revealed a happy population. As they did in 2009, 98 percent of the 2012 respondents rated overall quality of life “excellent” or “good.” That puts Lone Tree second among 33 other Front Range communities surveyed by NRC, and 11th among 400 nationwide. “Folks said by large percentages this community has a great reputation,” Miller said. “People feel safe here. They are likely to stay here. All of the city services got quite high ratings, higher than other places. It’s hard to find opportunities in a report that’s so positive.” City employees gained similar reviews. “Your employees are really the face of the community, so this is definitely something to celebrate,” Miller said. But in open-ended survey questions, residents said they want more — more high-end restaurants and retail, trails, recreational facilities, affordable housing and cultural events. And, in many instances, fewer — fewer traffic lights, fast food restaurants, fees at city amenities and taxes. Many also called for bigger and better, with repeated requests for a bigger library and redesigned recreation center. Councilmembers were unsurprised but pleased by the results. “It’s very nice to be in a situation where the vast majority approves,” Councilmember Harold Anderson said. “I think Lone Survey continues on Page 22
WHAT THEY WROTE Among the responses to the open-ended survey questions about Lone Tree quality of life: • “The biggest downside to Lone Tree is that it lives up to its name. Given it is a newer development area, there is a severe lack of foliage/trees.” • “We moved here six years ago anticipating a Cherry Creek North. Please pursue this.” • “Allow me to shoot the damn rabbits taking over my yard. They crap all over and carry disease. I cannot trap them and the city does nothing to help.” • “Develop area around Super Target and arts center to be more like Streets of Southglenn.” • “Redistrict from Douglas County and make a Lone Tree School District.” • “Keep focused on building a sense of community or downtown. We are still too much a parking lot and restaurant community.” • “Cabela’s? Whose idea was that?” • “I am a happy and pleased inhabitant of `the Tree.’ No specific recommendations.”
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