North Fork Ranch developers raise hair in Happy Valley

Photo by Michael Woodward, Reporter

A LOOK AT THE PLANS - A concerned audience poured over maps supplied by the North Fork Ranch developers at a presentation at the Happy Valley Elementary School.

Understanding, concern, and anger were all in attendance March 28 as the North Fork Ranch developers presented their plans at a meeting at the Happy Valley Elementary School.

The two-hour meeting showed that the proposed development, although still sporting a tremendous 3,642-acre footprint, has been scaled back in several areas.

The developers have omitted the resort and commercial developments on Olinda Road and Happy Valley Road, as well as the golf course. The developers are also using lower density residential zoning on the project border areas on Happy Valley Road and Olinda Road.

Victor Grotlisch, project manager and managing partner of North Fork Holdings LLC, said that extra schools, fire protection and waste management would be taken care of by the project.

To alleviate much of the visual impact of the development along Olinda Road, a large earthen mound alongside the road, called a berm, would be built.

“They’re trying to accommodate us and make it feel like a rural area, but there will be a lot more traffic,” Johanna Trennery said. “It is already like a freeway on Canyon Road. ”

Happy Valley Road would become a four-lane road. The developers did not say how this would come about.

Information about the proposed equestrian center and trail system was limited to the locations of each. Grotlisch said it was too early to determine who would manage the centers.

Developers said that the project would necessitate three to four new wells. These wells would add capacity to the Clear Creek Community Services District (CCCSD). The developers have also presented their plans to the CCCSD.

At the meeting, audience member George Blankenship-Kleis said he has a well, and he was concerned about the accountability of the developers. He wondered what would happen if the water table dropped because of the project’s water needs.

Blankenship-Kleis said that his well was 120 feet deep and he wanted to know whether the developers would compensate him for a deeper well.

The developers responded to his question that his well was “not very deep.”

“It hasn’t given me any problems in 30 years,” Blankenship-Kleis retorted.

The developers took his information and offered to put a monitor on his well when the developers dig a test well. Audience members were also concerned why only one test well would be dug, when three to four wells would be required for the project.

Another point of contention was that the developers intend to maintain the Happy Valley lifestyle.

One audience member pointed out that the lifestyles between of current residents and the newcomers would be incongruent. She said that people who move in don’t want to smell horses and pigs — Happy Valley residents want to raise animals.

“This development belongs in a city, not in a rural area,” said Colleen Wogoman with applause following her remark.

“It’s too bad we couldn’t just make it a big park and keep it green,” Trennery said. “But if this (development) doesn’t go through, the next people that come through might even be worse.”

Information from the developers is available online at www.northforkranch.org.