Arapahoe County planning commission recommends approval for Mountain View Gardens minor subdivision

The Arapahoe County Planning Commission on April 7 recommended approval of PM26-001, Mountain View Gardens T12 Minor Subdivision, a proposal to divide a 2.3-acre parcel into four single-family lots under R-1C zoning, with four conditions attached and a cash-in-lieu payment to the Cherry Creek School District totaling just under $45,000.

Kat Hammer of Arapahoe County Public Works told the commission the application met the county’s Land Development Code standards for a minor subdivision, noting the site is a remnant of Tract 12 in Mountain View Gardens and that proposed lots would range roughly from 18,000 to 22,000 square feet. She said Cherry Creek Water and Sanitation District provided a will-serve letter for water service and that Colorado Geological Survey had raised questions about collapsible soils and stormwater infiltration but staff and the applicant’s consultant had addressed those concerns in follow-up testing.

Applicant Jim Latsis of Latsis Custom Homes described the property as a former tree farm and horse pasture and said the proposed design would preserve healthy mature trees where feasible. Latsis said the project team coordinated with South Metro Fire and the Cherry Creek Water and Sanitation District, and that the plan includes regrading and repaving areas affected by utility work and constructing a fire-access hammerhead. “We’ve built over 15 homes with geothermal heating and cooling,” Latsis said, adding the team has held multiple neighborhood meetings and worked with adjacent property owners on construction timing and traffic management.

Commissioner Randall Miller pressed the applicant for details about the soils testing and drainage. Latsis said the soils engineer responded to repeated requests for information and conducted additional testing; staff and the applicant concluded the soils are suitable for lightly loaded foundations and that the proposed infiltration basin would manage anticipated storm runoff without adversely affecting neighboring properties. Miller also asked about the road and utility arrangements; Latsis said the road would remain private, the developer will extend sewer to the site and the two new homes will pump basement flows as needed to reach the main, and Denver Water requested that several nearby homes be tied into a new six-inch main being installed for the project.

No members of the public testified on the application at the hearing. Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval based on staff findings and the four listed conditions; Commissioner Saul seconded. The motion passed, recorded in the transcript as passing “on a vote of 5 to 0,” with Commissioner Latsis recused from consideration of the case.

Next steps: The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action, per county procedure.