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Resident urges council to confirm historic trail easements along Farmers High Line Canal
Summary
A Westwood Villas HOA president told the council the city and county hold long‑standing trail easements along the Farmers High Line Canal and asked staff to help preserve them as nearby development proceeds.
A longtime Arvada resident and homeowners association president urged the city council on Tuesday to research and preserve trail easements along the Farmers High Line Canal (also called the Heritage Canal Trail) after recent property sales and development activity in the corridor.
Lehi Clemens, president of the Westwood Villas Homeowners Association, presented a timeline of county and city actions beginning in 1981 that she said demonstrate intent and prior authority to acquire and preserve a trail corridor along the canal. Clemens noted a 1990 Board of County Commissioners resolution authorizing appraisal and acquisition work for a 15‑mile trail corridor and an annexation and development agreement recorded in 2000 that she said dedicated a trail easement along the eastern side of the canal for the Howard property.
"If we don't preserve the easements, the community is gonna lose the opportunity to complete this trail from Van Bibber up to Ralston Creek Trail," Clemens said, and she asked the city to assist in locating recorded easements and coordinating with Jefferson County Open Space and ditch companies. Clemens said Westwood Villas was constructed in 2006 adjacent to the canal and that portions of the HOA's buildings are 11–13 feet from the canal, underscoring the proximity and the importance of clearly documenting easements.
Council members acknowledged the request. The speaker said she has located budget records and other county documents indicating historic funding for the Farmers High Line Canal corridor and planned to provide copies for the public record. Council did not take formal action at the meeting, and staff said they would review the records and coordinate with county partners as appropriate.
Clemens asked staff to place the matter on their research list and to circulate documents she provided. The record shows no immediate policy or funding decision was made at the March 18 meeting; Clemens requested that city staff and Jefferson County Open Space staff determine the legal status and location of any trail easements and report back.
