COUNTY APPROVAL URGED FOR STERLING RANCH  WATER CONSERVATION PLAN

Pat Gallagher, (left) Red Fern Run, former Roxborough Park Board of Directors member and the principal author of One Roxborough's "Planned  Success"  themes, says that the "Sterling Ranch water plan is an ambitious and historic effort that could well be the blueprint for future residential water use in Colorado."

In its 138-page filing with Douglas County, Sterling Ranch Principal Jack Hoagland, asks for a revision in the County's Zoning Regulation, Section 18A (Water Supply Standards). The current regulations require the availability of .75 acre-feet of water availability for each new residence constructed.  This equates to the use of 245,000 gallons of water per year.  Sterling Ranch asks for a reduction to .286 acre-feet of water availability (93,000 gallons) per year. 

Gallagher said that every aspect of the Sterling Ranch Water Plan for a "water efficient community" is detailed in the County appeal.  He said that "only those professionals in the water use and planning area will completely understand the wealth of information"  presented, but, "it was not difficult for me to come away with the conclusion" that the .286 acre-feet standard is achievable with even modest water wise behavior."  Gallagher has tracked the water consumption at his residence since 1994.  He said, "In nine of the past eleven years, annual water consumption at our residence has averaged 61,000 gallons per year (.187 acre-feet).   For the current year (2009) our usage has been 48,000 gallons (.147 acre-feet).  This is approximately half of the .286 acre-feet standard sought in the Sterling Ranch waiver appeal.  These consumption levels have been delivered without any more than ordinary water conservation measures."

The plan submitted to the County has been sent to interested parties as part of the "Referral" process wherein interested agencies and groups are invited to review the plan and submit their comments to the Community Planning and Development Department.  Further information may be obtained on the County Web site, www.douglas.co.us.  Click on "What's New/Hot Topics" under Land Use.  On-going correspondence and submittals related to this project are available.  Sterling Ranch principal, Jack Hoagland, is shown at right on the Sterling Ranch land last summer.

Key elements of the water conservation program for potential Sterling Ranch residents include:

• All SR residents will implement a Waterwise Home Certification Program to minimize indoor (and outdoor) water use.  The program will require that toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, kitchen faucets, bath faucets, and showerheads will meet high-efficiency water standards.  The fixtures and appliances must be installed prior to occupancy.
• When homes are re-sold, the Water District will conduct a point-of-sale audit to verify water efficiencies and recommend upgrades.
• The average amount of irrigated areas included with single-family detached residences will not exceed 1,500 square feet.
• Sub-surface drip systems will be required for all plantings and narrow turf areas.  
• All landscaping plans must be approved by the Water District.
• Once installed, all landscaping and irrigation systems will be inspected to ensure compliance.
• Water meters will be installed on indoor and outdoor residential water lines.  Thus, the dual meters will enable the Water District to monitor each type of use.

The Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors, following its review of the Sterling Ranch plan and Gallagher's analysis, indicated its support of the program to Douglas County planners.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board said, "this advance helps to conserve Colorado's limited water resources today and for future generations."  "We therefore commend Sterling Ranch for their innovative approach to conservation and hope this model will set the stage for future developments in Douglas County and throughout the State."

FACT-FINDING SESSIONS HELD ON
TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES IN ROX PARK

A Special Meeting of the Foundation's Board of Directors was held on January 14 -- the first of two sessions to deal with traffic safety issues. The  first session, attended by 81 members of the association, took an "outward" look at the issue -- featuring a series of presentations by specialists in this area.  A second session, scheduled later in January, will take an "inward"  look at the issue -- presenting traffic monitoring data and statements by HOA members.

The first presenter was Attorney Deborah Oppenheimer, a partner in the foundation's law firm, Hindman Sanchez. She pointed out  that a homeowner association, under Colorado law, is bound by its adopted governing documents. To deal with traffic and traffic safety issues, a substantial revision of existing governing documents may be required. She also indicated that the homeowner associations do not have the rights of a Police Department. "The homeowners association is never going to have perfect compliance with local speed limits." She did say that an association has several options including the establishment of a radar and photo radar systems that could track speeders. Any fines levied against homeowners would be limited to those who are members of an association -- no fines could be levied against visitors to the community. All solutions, she said, come with a cost.

Robert Kinney, the principal traffic engineer for Douglas County, who has over 30 years of traffic engineering experience, indicated that Douglas County, on its roads, has a policy banning speed humps. He said that they are particularly difficult because of the problems of snow plowing and emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicles are slowed down, and potentially damaged, by the placement of speed humps in the community. He suggested several possibilities for slowing traffic and he indicated his preference for striping on both sides of a road---narrowing of traffic lanes by using striping as a way to affect traffic behaviors. He said the creation of a roundabout could also slow traffic. In some cases, homeowners association newsletters  print  photographs and names of their members who are substantially exceeding the speed limits. He also pointed out that recently homeowner associations have come under  the motor vehicle traffic code. This could require additional changes in Roxborough Park, particularly changes in signage.

The Captain of the  Patrol Division for the Douglas County Sheriff's office, and Roxborough Village resident, Tim Moore said off-duty sheriff's deputies can ticket drivers in communities with private roads for only five reasons -- careless or reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and improper backing, etc.  Off-duty deputy officers would not be permitted to ticket for exceeding  posted speed limits. Capt. Moore also said that several communities in Douglas County, including Perry Park, have had excellent experience with radar speed limit signs -- signs that post  the speed limit and then  measure the actual speed traveled by a vehicle.





Roxborough Park Gen. Manager Trudy Peterson, reported on her study of the Department of Emergency Services at Castle Pines Village Homeowners Association. In that HOA, 15 armed emergency service officers, using five vehicles, patrol the community. This is a very expensive organization costing over $1.7 million per year.  The personnel are EMT-trained and can issue "HOA Tickets."  An "HOA Court" is established.  If a resident fails to pay a fine, a lien is placed on the property.  The lien is often collected years later when the property changes hands.




The Operations  manager for Spear Security Services, Jason Stibley, said that a private security company could, using radar guns, issue "HOA tickets" to drivers that are exceeding the posted speed limits. In this illustration, any fines levied would be issued by an HOA court. If the homeowner failed to pay the fines, a lien would be placed against that homeowners property.

Nearly all of the experts agreed that in the Roxborough Park residential community, with 80% or more compliance at or near posted speed limits, no traffic problem exists. However, several did recognize that there are isolated incidents where a small portion of the drivers are substantially exceeding the posted limits and could therefore be the subject of additional monitoring or other activity.

The Foundation conducted two member surveys in 2009. A majority of the members of the association responding to the survey wanted the Foundation to continue to develop strategies related to traffic and traffic safety issues. In the second survey, the responses were quantified according to four geographic areas -- north, south, east, and west. The perception of residents  related to traffic in each of these geographic areas will be presented and discussed at the second fact-finding session, where an inward look at the Foundation and its activities in traffic safety will be reviewed. That meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 26 at 6:30 PM at the Community Center. Several speakers indicated that those residents in the eastern section of Roxborough Park -- near the entrance to the community-- take the brunt of the traffic and noise in that nearly all vehicles that enter the park must pass this eastern section.

At the second fact-finding session, all residents will be given an opportunity to provide their thoughts on this issue.  Those who wish to have a formal place on the agenda should contact the general manager, Trudy Peterson at the following e-mail address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

ROXBOROUGH PARK ENDS 2009 WITH SECOND-HIGHEST SNOWFALL IN THE PAST DECADE

The Roxborough area has had 92.5 inches of snow in 2009 for the period ending December 31.  The results for the past ten years for the same period are as follows:

                                    Early Season Snowfall            Full Season Snowfall

2009                             92.5 inches                                         ----

2008                             38 inches                                            128.5 inches
2007                             50.5 inches                                         124.75 inches
2006                            100.5 inches                                        172.00 inches
2005                             32.5 inches                                           79.5 inches
2004                             39.5 inches                                          122 inches
2003                             17.5 inches                                            91.5 inches
2002                               9.0 inches                                          113.75 inches
2001                              22 inches                                              63 inches
2000                              26.5 inches                                           92.75 inches

The careful measurements are by Marcia and Pat Gallagher at their home on Red Fern Run. The Full Season Snowfall numbers are from September through May. 

AUDREY BRODT, LOREN McFALL, PAM PAGE AND JERRY THOMAS  SEEK TWO  FOUNDATION BOARD SEATS

Two new Board Members will be elected to serve three-year terms on the Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors.  They will replace current President Greg Liptak and current Treasurer Dave Thomas who have completed their terms. The Board of Directors is composed of five members.  Current Members, whose terms will continue, include Vice President Herb Livingston, Secretary KC Van Niman, and Member-At-Large David Irwin.

In alphabetical order, the candidates are Audrey Brodt, Loren McFall, Pamela Page and Jerry Thomas.



Audrey Brodt, Totem Run, (l.) seeks a position on the Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors.  She holds a PhD from Northwestern University, and is a Licensed Psychologist.  Following clinical work, she became a consultant to business.  She also hosted a local radio show.  She is a member of the Board of the Colorado Psychological Association, and has lived in the Denver area since 1983. 

She has been a resident of Roxborough Park since 2001 and served as a member and later as Chair of the Traffic Safety Committee several years ago.     



Loren A. McFall, (r.) Raspberry Run, has been a resident of Roxborough Park for six years.  He is currently a Senior Computer Systems Analyst for the Lockheed Martin Company.  He has been with the Company since 2000.  Earlier, he was a loan officer for six years and an agricultural entrepreneur for thirteen years.  He holds a BS in Agriculture and a BS in Business Administration from Colorado State University and an MS in Applied Management from Rensselaer Polytech.  Loren says, "I love this community and will do everything in my power to keep it a beautiful and wonderful place to live for all home owners."



Longtime Roxborough Park resident, Pamela L. (Pam) Page, Snow Cloud Trail, (l.) has served as a member of the Foundation's Budget Committee for the past two years. She purchased her home and moved to Roxborough Park in 1990.  For the last 18 years, she has been a Management Consultant, providing strategy and operations process improvement recommendations and implementation support to clients, primarily in health care and customer service.  Earlier, she was a corporate controller/finance manager.  She hold Bachelors and Masters  Degrees in Biology from the University of Illinois, as well as a Masters degree in Accounting and a Masters degree in Business.  She currently serves as the President of the Rocky Mountain Illini Club.  Her husband is Philip K. (Phil) Rock.   Pam indicates that her career now permits her to be more heavily involved in Roxborough Park.


Jerry L. Thomas (r.) Lost Arrow Run, served 18 years at American Airlines, in management positions in many corporate departments.  He also provided management consulting services to numerous construction companies in the Breckenridge and Aspen areas.  A native of Louisiana, he holds a BS from LSU, and an MBA from Duke.  He has lived in Colorado since 1995, and moved to Roxborough Park in 2008.  He and his wife, Liz, have four children, including two in the Roxborough Elementary Schools. 

A "Meet The Candidates" Night will be held at  7 PM on Tuesday, February 9, at The Community Center.  Members will vote and the results will be announced at the Foundation's Annual Meeting in late February.  The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board of Directors.

CELEBRATING LOCKHEED MARTIN'S
RICH LOCAL HISTORY

Editor's Note:  Flo Tonelli, Willow Broom Trail, mother of seven, grandmother of 16, and writer extraordinaire, prepared this article and picture for the e-News.  Thanks, Flo!

Ralph Dergance, Littleton resident and president of the Lockheed Martin Retirement Association, spoke recently to dozens of residents at the Roxborough Area Historical Society's annual meeting.

Those attending were aware that their corporate neighbor plays a role in the nation's aerospace success, but few realized the history behind the giant corporation and its contributions to the nation's aviation, defense and space program during the past five decades.

Dergance described how the company traces its beginnings to the turn of the 20th century when Glenn L. Martin organized his east coast company around a modest airplane construction business.  Through the years Glenn Martin employed men who became icons in the development of the airplane and defense industry:  Boeing, Curtiss, Douglas and others.


When the United States was in the midst of the Cold War during the 1950's and the company was called upon to assist in the nation's defense. Martin chose a site--owned by the U.S. government and private ranchers--in southern Jefferson County to initiate the Titan I ICBM program.

At left are Lockheed Martin Retirees (except for current employee Brian Renstrom) l. to r. Ed Bathke, Barry Swanson, Ralph Dergance, Brian Renstrom, Bill Good, Kate Blacklock, Chet Foat, Bert Paredes and Merle Nauman.

It was "out of town and out of view," Dergance said, a perfect setting where a plant could be built behind the hog back and not be seen.  The hogback also provided a buffer from the noise of Titan rocket engine tests. 

"Titan went from blank paper to flying within three years," Deregance said proudly.  Over its 50-year life span, 568 were built, 386 were launched.  Titan's multiple phases, from I through IV, made it the most successful defense and space launch vehicle program ever developed.  It marked the end of an era when the last one flew out of Vandenberg AFB in 2005.

Pictures taken in 1955 show the first buildings being constructed at the base of the foothills across a rugged terrain.  Dergance said that portions of a Butterfield stagecoach road heading into Waterton Canyon can still be seen today.  Rattlesnake hunters came from bordering states to clear the terrain so construction could be completed.  Among pictures shown by Dergance was one of President Dwight D. Eisenhower viewing the early construction and Titan I ready for testing.

In 1961 Martin merged with American-Marietta to become Martin-Marietta.  In the 1994, it merged with Lockheed Corporation to become Lockheed-Martin.  Another company, United Launch Alliance, was formed by Lockheed-Martin and Boeing in 2006 for the design and manufacture of the Delta and Atlas families of launch vehicles.

Those attending were surprised to learn that hundreds of different systems and products for space, defense, aviation and communications have come out of the Waterton plant.  Employees have engineered, designed, developed, manufactured or participated in such programs as Titan, the Gemini, Skylab Space Station, Space Shuttle, Viking Lander, Phoenix, Magellan, Cassini and dozens of others.

Surprisingly, Mission Control for several programs is conducted on site.  The next generation of Global Positioning Satellites will be built here.  The contract for the next generation-manned spacecraft, Orion, was awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2006 and engineers  are busy designing the larger Apollo-like vehicle that will replace the Shuttle.

The plant has grown to house 140 separate facilities on 5,000 acres.  Lockheed-Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered here, employs over 17,000 people.  More than 4,300 are currently working at the Littleton plant in Waterton Canyon. Several former employees attending the meeting swapped stories about working there.  One, Chet Foat, had his original badge number, 00003, on his nametag.

Degrance, a 40-year employee of the company Glenn Martin began more than 100 years ago, has an American flag pen on his sport coat, a symbol of the pride in his former company's contributions to the nation's defense and space programs and to the Littleton/Denver area.

Roxborough Area's Historical Society's next program, Trails Across the Arkansas/Platte Divide will be held Thursday March 25.  For more information check out the organizations Website www.roxhistory.com.

"ROXBOROUGH RENEGADES," NEW 4-H CLUB ORGANIZES IN LOCAL AREA.

The inaugural meeting of a new 4H club called the "Roxborough Renegades" took place in December of last year. 4H offers a variety of projects for Douglas County and Colorado State Fair participation not only in animals (beef, goat, llamas/alpacas, chickens, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, sheep, swine, pocket pets, horses, dogs), and animal judging (horse, livestock, meat, rabbit, and consumer choice), but also in veterinary science, horseless horse, gardening, weeds, bicycle, computers, electric, geospatial, small engines, robotics, power of wind, entomology, forestry, outdoor adventure, range management, sportfishing, shooting sports, wildlife, ceramics, global citizenship, leadership, leathercraft, photography, woodworking, visual arts, cake decorating, child development, clothing construction, fibers and fabrics, artistic clothing, consumer savvy, financial champions, foods and nutrition, breads, specialty foods, food preservation, heritage arts (crochet, ethnic arts, knitting, needle arts, quilting, rug making, spinning, weaving, and macrame), home environment, and self-determined project.

More information may be obtained from Dani Owen, organizational leader, at 303-995-8237.  Roisin McEwen from Braley Acres, along with Lynnlee Farrell and Teresa Hamilton, are helping with the new organization.

ROXBOROUGH RESIDENT RECOMMENDATIONS

The e-Newsletter will soon publish its semi-annual "Roxborough Resident Recommendations," a listing of suppliers and vendors submitted by subscribers.  Those who appear in the listing are willing to travel to Roxborough and have provided quality service.  The e-Newsletter takes no responsibility or liability for the products and services recommended by our subscribers.  You may anonymously recommend additional suppliers (or critique those on the list) by sending an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  There is no fee to advertisers or vendors who are listed--the RRR is a free service. 

"LIGHTS OF WINTER" EXHIBIT PLANNED

A "Lights of Winter" photography exhibit will open February 15th at the Roxborough Park Community Center under the auspices of The Art Committee of Roxborough Park.  Committee Chair KJ Simon, Thunder Run, has issued an invitation to all Roxborough Park photographers to submit works that "exemplify the lights of winter, skies, terrain, etc." Amateur and professional photographers are invited to enter the exhibit.

Roxborough Park resident, Lynn Paden, Rain Dance Trail, captured this beautiful sunrise shot from her deck with no special equipment or lenses.  She has titled it, "Colors at Dawn Adorning Arrowhead."  It will be entered in the Lights of Winter Exhibit.

Those who wish to enter their works should send in digital images by February 1 to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Or, works framed and ready to hang with picture wire may be brought to The Community Center by February 5.

The exhibit begins with a Reception for Roxborough Park residents on February 14th. The pictures may be viewed in The Community Center through March 26.  Any questions may be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

LOCAL ARTIST COLETTE RENEE BROOKS CHOSEN FOR FIRST LIBRARY EXHIBIT

Roxborough Neighborhood Library Manager Leslie Good and Roxborough Arts Council President Patricia Jenkins,
 show Colette Brooks painting of the Eiffel Tower

Paintings by Arrowhead Shores resident Colette Renee Brooks have been chosen by the Roxborough Arts Council for the first gallery display at the Lockheed Martin Community Room in the Roxborough Neighborhood Library in the Roxborough Marketplace.  A number of her works are on display, using a new gallery system provided by the Library.  Each piece is priced and 10% of the sales price will go to the Library Foundation.  The show will continue in the Community Room, frequently used by groups from the Roxborough area, through February.  Works by Roxborough Park artist, Maryann Leake Baisley will then go on display.  Colette Brooks Web site is www.artisanaccents.com.

SEMINAR SCHEDULED; NEW ARROWHEAD CHEF TO BE INTRODUCED

Roxborough Park resident and Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor, Elizabeth Thomas, Lost Arrow Run, will  host a lunch presentation on retirement income strategies on February 9th at 12:00 noon in On The Rocks Grill.  The title of the presentation is "Will Your Retirement Income Last", and it is designed to help explain investment options for retirement-focused investors.  It will also serve as an introduction to the new chef at On the Rocks Grill, since guests at this luncheon will enjoy some of the first meals he will prepare in his new role. Executive Chef Anthony Trujillo joins Arrowhead with over 20 years of culinary experience.  He was most recently Food and Beverage Manager at The Lodge Casino in Blackhawk.   Those wishing to learn more about retirement investing, while supporting our local restaurant, should RSVP to Janet Curzon, 303.689.8036 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TAI CHI LECTURE AND
DEMONSTRATION PLANNED

 A lecture and interactive demonstration of Tai Chi by Jackie Schumway and Joe Brady (l.)and Jaqui Schumway will be held in early Spring at the Roxborough Park Community Center.  Details will be available soon. Joe Brady and his wife, Jacqui, are Directors of the Tai Chi Project and TCM College of Sports Medicine of Denver, Colorado. They have been leading specialists in aging and physical activity for over 25 years. Joe is a licensed clinical acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Jacqui specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise through physical education and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado.  Just what is Tai Chi?  People of all ages study T'ai Chi to relax under stress, to look and feel younger, and to improve abilities in a wide range of physical activities.  For centuries the ancient art of Taijiquan (T'ai Chi) has managed to acquire and maintain some of the highest levels of physical activity compliance in the world. With an estimated 100 million practitioners in China alone, Taijiquan is currently the most popular form of organized physical activity in the world.
For further information, contact Herb Livingston at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 303-904-3993.  For more details about Joe and Jacqui, go to http://www.taichidenver.com.  If there is sufficient interest, a regularly scheduled class may develop.

Greg Liptak, Editor and Publisher
Roxborough e-News
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