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Commission recommends approval of Mountain View Gardens rezone amid geological questions
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended approval (5–0) of a rezoning to allow four single-family lots in Mountain View Gardens, while county staff and the applicant said they will continue resolving Colorado Geological Survey concerns about soils and drainage during subdivision review.
The Arapahoe County Planning Commission on Feb. 17 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve a conventional rezoning for a 2.3-acre parcel in the Mountain View Gardens area to R1C, clearing the way for a four-lot single-family subdivision. The recommendation passed 5–0; Commissioner Latsis had left the room and did not vote.
Kat Hammer of Arapahoe County Public Works summarized the proposal and supporting referrals, noting Cherry Creek Water & Sanitation District had provided a well-served letter and that the county's technical review had granted a site-specific variance for a vegetated infiltration basin to address drainage. Hammer said staff found the rezoning consistent with the sub-area and comprehensive plans and recommended approval to the Board.
The applicantrepresentative from Lot's Custom Homes described plans to build four single-family homes, preserve mature trees where possible, repave and extend a private access road, install a new water main and hydrant to meet fire-protection requirements, and use a dedicated infiltration basin for drainage. He told the commission the project was developed with neighborhood outreach and that the company seeks to "protect and maintain as many of the healthy existing trees as possible."
A recurring issue in the hearing was a set of comments from the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) about soil conditions and the proposed infiltration basin. The applicant said its soil testing and a soils engineer's report found the soils were suitable for the proposed foundations and that prior nearby projects had not shown foundation problems. The applicant also said an on-site well is not practical to use and will be professionally abandoned and capped.
Commissioner Savi asked how the county would resolve differing technical opinions between CGS and the applicant's engineers. Kat Hammer said staff will continue coordinating with CGS and determine whether additional site-level requirements should be imposed during the subdivision review; she emphasized that the current rezoning application is limited to the change of zone and does not itself finalize lot configurations or site-level engineering.
A public caller, Edward D. Ford of Arvada, told the commission the data he reviewed "pretty much ... satisfies the Colorado Geological Survey concerns" and said modeling indicates groundwater rise near the infiltration basin would be small and that impacts 50 feet from the basin would be measured in tenths of a foot. The commissionthen voted to recommend approval to the Board of County Commissioners.
The record shows staff and the applicant will continue to work through CGS recommendations as the project moves to the subdivision and engineering reviews, where final lot layouts, drainage designs and any required mitigation will be resolved.
