Board approves Riverpark ditch relocations, authorizes contract amendment to extend work and switch power connection

The Englewood Water and Sewer Board on May 12 approved temporary construction easements and crossing agreements enabling three utility crossings for the Riverpark development and voted to amend the City Ditch piping and relocation contract to extend the developer’s completion deadline and change the planned power source for a measurement flume.

The action affects a mixed-use Riverpark development at South Santa Fe Drive and Mineral Avenue in Littleton. Stephanie Ellis, an engineer with Englewood Utilities, told the board the project includes relocating and piping the city ditch and that the proposed crossing work will include two crossings by Xcel Energy and one by Comcast. "Both Excel and Comcast will notify the city prior to this work being completed so that we can inspect it as needed," Ellis said, adding that the new utility lines will maintain or exceed the minimum 1.5 feet of vertical separation from the city ditch pipe.

Ellis said the board must approve a temporary construction easement to allow contractor access to install utility lines and a crossing agreement defining terms for the crossings. The board asked whether the city charges a ditch‑crossing fee; Ellis said the city does not charge such a fee at this time.

On a related item, the board approved a proposed amendment to the existing agreement with Evergreen (the developer) that extends the contract end date to Aug. 31, 2026. Ellis said the amendment allows Evergreen additional time to finish remaining punch‑list items and to install the electrical instrumentation and controls for a newly installed measurement flume. The amendment also would allow Evergreen to fill the old open‑channel section of the City Ditch before final acceptance of the new pipeline, subject to coordination with the city and requirements such as bypass pumping where shutdowns are needed.

Ellis said the amendment includes a requirement that Evergreen provide a performance bond covering the cost of remaining work and confirms the city's continued ability to use the new infrastructure or bypass facilities if needed. She also described a change from a solar power package to a direct connection to Xcel Energy for the flume: "For long‑term operational and maintenance cost savings," Ellis said, staff recommended switching to direct power once Xcel service becomes available at the site.

Board members asked whether the relocated ditch alignment was a new easement; Ellis said a relinquishment and grant of easement had been approved last year by the Water and Sewer Board and City Council. The board approved both the set of crossing agreements (agenda items 5a.1–5a.6) and the contract amendment (agenda item 5b) by voice vote.

The approvals authorize staff to proceed with the crossing agreements and to finalize the amendment terms described at the meeting, including the extended end date, the performance bond requirement and the switch to an Xcel Energy connection for the measurement flume.