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Council backs application to acquire 5.5-acre parcel near Clear Creek for open space and flood mitigation
Summary
Wheat Ridge approved a resolution supporting an application to Jefferson County Open Space to help acquire about 5.5 acres at 4150/4152 Kipling Street, citing floodplain constraints, potential channel work with Mile High Flood District and likely environmental mitigation and demolition costs.
The Wheat Ridge City Council voted April 14 to approve a resolution supporting an application to Jefferson County Open Space’s Land Conservation Partnership Program to acquire property at 4150/4152 Kipling Street for open space and flood mitigation.
Parks and Recreation project lead Brandon Altenberg told council the parcel is about 5.5 acres where roughly 2.25 acres lie in the floodway and 3.25 acres lie in the floodplain. He said existing structures—approximately five buildings including a 1940s house and a carriage house—are in poor condition and that demolition and environmental mitigation will likely be required. Altenberg said Mile High Flood District is negotiating with the owners and funded a Phase I environmental site assessment that began about a week and a half before the meeting.
Altenberg said the site sits at a chokepoint on Clear Creek near the Kipling Street bridge and offers an opportunity to widen the creek and reduce downstream flood risk. He said the city is coordinating with the Mile High Flood District and Jefferson County Open Space; depending on final offer values, the city may seek county funding to supplement flood-district contributions. He warned that acquiring partners would likely add deed restrictions (reverters) limiting future uses to parks and recreation.
Councilors asked detailed questions about structures, the Phase I environmental assessment, potential asbestos and lead paint, who would bear costs for channel work and whether mitigation could reduce neighboring flood insurance. Public-works director Maria D’Andrea and staff said a broader engineering study by Mueller Engineering through the Mile High Flood District is underway for the reach from Kipling to Wadsworth and that cost-sharing and timing remain to be negotiated.
Mayor Pro Tem Stites moved to approve resolution 21-2025 to support an application to Jefferson County Open Space; Councilor Ulm seconded. The clerk recorded the motion carried with all voting in favor.
