Prospect Recreation and Parks District, a special district that serves unincorporated Jefferson County, Fairmount and Applewood, is getting closer to a deal to take ownership of Applewood Golf Course.
Jefferson County Commissioners voted in favorof a $1.1 million grant to help buy the course at their May 31 meeting. The commissioners added the Jefferson County Open Space Reverter on the property.
The reverter states an Open Space property is deeded for so long as all of the property remains within Jefferson County boundaries and is used by a public entity for public open space, park or recreational purposes, according to information provided by Kate McIntire, public engagement director with the county. Commissioners also approved an additional limitation that the property shall be managed as an 18-hole public golf course, along with any additional park, open space, or recreational uses, for ten years after Prospect Recreation & Park District acquires the property.
If these requirements are not met, the ownership of the property reverts back to the County.
The vote comes after months of relative silence as the district and Molson Coors, the course owners, negotiated a deal.
"We don't know a lot about the negotiations because everyone signed a non-disclosure agreement," said King Browne, a board member of the Applewood Property Owners Association and a member of the Save Applewood Golf Course Coalition, which successfully battled to stop development on the course "It's been a very long process, but we're very hopeful we're nearing the end."
Colin Wheeler, with Molson Coors, said the company cannot comment on the potential sale because of the non-disclosure agreement.
Efforts to protect the golf course began in February 2015, when it was announced Coors was selling the course to Applewood West Holdings and a rezoning application had been filed for the development of around 400 homes.
Residents in the Prospect Parks district passed two ballot measures in November 2015 to raise funds to by the course: Measure 5B, which adds a one-mill levy increase for operating costs and ongoing maintenance of all Prospect Recreation and Park District properties, and Measure 5C, which allows the district to incur debt to finance the purchase of the golf course property, up to $9 million.
Two days after the measures passed, the agreement to purchase Applewood Golf Course and the rezoning application with the county, to designate the Applewood Golf Course as residential land, were dropped.
Coors has given Prospect Parksa letter of intent to sell the property to the district for $13.5 million. The letter states Prospect's intent to take over the remainder of Touchstone's (Applewood's current management company) lease and operate the course for the next 10 years.
Browne also added Prospect is looking to develop a master plan with the community's input for future recreational opportunities and amenities.
Prospect is also applying for a $3 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, which will be decided on June 13, according to Kathy Lower, a member of the Save Applewood Coalition.
"It's been a nerve-wracking few months, but we're feeling positive," she said. "We're still working on securing a water source for the course, but we have options."
Applewood currently buys its water from Coors, Browne said. Prospect is working with Coors and other third parties to get water to the course at an affordable rate. In a worst case scenario, the golf course would be allowed to revert to its natural state and be operated as an open space park, not unlike Crown Hill,a park and wildlife refuge in Wheat Ridge.
"Just getting the letter of intent from Coors is huge, and we're thankful to them for all their work," Lower said. "We're grateful for everyone's support, and eager to have this wrapped up."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Applewood-Golf-Course-deal-close,214988
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