WATCHDOG GROUP LAUNCHES PUBLIC FACE WITH WEBSITE by Pamela Lawson, Reporter High Timber Times December 9, 2004 During the November elections, when Conifer residents poured over leaflets and listened to their neighbors' views about a Conifer inclusion into the Foothills Park and Recreation District, the name of one community group surfaced more than others'. That was Preserve Our Mountain Community, a watchdog group formed in 1996 that claims a middle ground approach to land use and development issues. Two weeks ago the organization posted a new website, stirring residents' curiosity at their sudden public presence. The group had talked about a website for years, Sandra Ketchledge, chairwoman of the organization explained, and it found an affordable Webmaster. But it also was in response to some of the controversy that ignited about the organization during the Foothills inclusion election. The group was among other groups and individuals that sent out fliers or ran ads voicing objections to the measure. POMC representatives favored a local rec district and raised roughly $3,000 in modest donations of $5 to $15 in a grass roots effort to stop the inclusion. "People were asking who is POMC? What gives them the right?," Ketchledge said. "We don't speak for Conifer. We present one thought or idea on issues - and it's an organized thought." POMC is similar to Evergreen's North Area Balanced Landuse Effort (ENABLE) and Lookout Mountain's Canyon Area Residents for the Environment (CARE). They are all referral agencies that Jefferson County planning staff contacts when development projects are proposed. In addition, POMC has served on Jefferson County's regulatory advisory committee when county regulations have been upgraded. "Developer is not a four-letter word," Ketchledge said. "We believe in open dialogue." Tim Carl, Jefferson County's acting planning director, said these organizations serve a worthwhile purpose. "We send these groups referrals and they are really good about sending us their thoughts about the impacts on their areas," he said. "Generally speaking we usually get better response from these umbrella groups than HOA's and smaller associations." POMC's goal, according to its website, is to preserve specific aspects of mountain living but it is not against growth. Conifer is a diverse community made up of different socioeconomic groups, which contributes to its uniqueness. "You can't show up and shut the door — people are going to come," Ketchledge said. "But if we don't protect certain aesthetic resources they will be gone." Membership fluctuates based on hot button issues in the community. Currently, there are 75 individual members. This number does not include the several homeowners associations that are members, which total roughly 200, Ketchledge said. The new website lists many of the projects the group has been involved with along the corridor over the last eight years from cul-de-sac, ridgeline and large development issues to negotiations for mountain lights along highway 285 in Conifer during highway construction by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Steve Cohen, a builder in the Conifer community, has had contact with POMC on three projects. "I always had reasonable dealings with them," he said. "I thought they helped our process. We had open discussions and we worked out our disagreements." Benji Pitsker, the owner of a land surveying business in the area has crossed paths with POMC "tons of times" over cases he was directly or indirectly involved in. One of those included a personal project to restore a historic bed and breakfast in Kings Valley on land he owned. "I think they really do have the best intentions for the mountains," he said. "There have been times that I didn't agree with their viewpoint. But I believe in their mission or goals - they are not the big road block that people perceive them to be." POMC's community efforts have included following the county directed water study of the Bear Creek watershed, helping to preserve Beaver Ranch, opposing a once-proposed sex offender facility from being built in Pine and involvement with community plan updates. The group, along with a three residents, recently lost a lawsuit with Jefferson County over land use issues with the developers of Village at Elk Crossing now called the Conifer Town Center. "My only issue was that it cost us tens of thousands of dollars to defend ourselves over an issue already decided by the county commissioners," Dave Copffer, an applicant on the project, said. He met with POMC members early on about the large commercial project but both he and Ketchledge disagree about when and why the relationship ceased after that. Currently, there are four POMC board members, including Ketchledge and her husband Jim with three remaining slots open. Ketchledge, who manages engineers for an aerospace firm, will hand over the chairmanship next year. The group provides quarterly newsletters, does occasional surveys, polls or questionnaires to gather information and perspectives from members. Some developers take the initiative to contact them. Striving for the middle ground on land use and development issues is not an exact science. The outcomes aren't always the expected ones on anybody's part. Ketchledge remains pragmatic about some of those. "If I'm not happy and they're not happy it's probably the right plan."

WATCHDOG GROUP VOWS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT by Pamela Lawson, Reporter High Timber Times July 27 2000 CONIFER — Like a teenager who grows up overnight and finds their favorite pants too short and their accountability shifting, the Conifer community may be outgrowing its current bedroom community lifestyle. A recent proposal by Jefferson County to put a juvenile sex offender home near Pine is a clear indicator to some that this unincorporated community will continue to be impacted by outside forces. That awareness is demanding a certain level of accountability, even participation in community developments, lest residents find themselves squeezed out of precious options. “This used to be a sleepy community but now it’s one thing after another,” said Sandra Ketchledge, president of Preserve Our Mountain Community, a community land-use watchdog group. “And it is only going to get worse. People move up here imagining a certain lifestyle and instead of them adapting they want their environment to adapt to them. Developers are sitting here saying ‘we’re with you,’ and you’ve got the county commissioners saying ‘go business.’ “What these people don’t know, is that every week there are decisions being made by the county that are going to change their way of life here and they don’t even know it. “For the last three years, the County Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) has been changing development regulations. We have a POMC representative on it but how many people are even aware of that?” According to Ketchledge, hot button issues like the possible sex offender facility are the easier ones. “What we have seen is that people rally when it’s something near and dear to their heart. Otherwise, so many people come home, go to work, come home, go to work, they probably don’t even have the time to walk their own property. But decisions continue to be made that will impact their future.” Ketchledge praises the efforts of the newly formed HOME committee (Help Our Mountain Environment) for their quick action and follow-through regarding the juvenile facility. She cautions, however, that “too many times organizations are single-issue. Once the situation is over with the organization is over, instead of doggedly pressing on. Residents like Jane Spooner concur. She has been a part of POMC since 1997, motivated to join by a well-crafted newsletter on the organization. Spooner woke up to development realities when there was a proposed rezoning in Shadow Mountain Estates. “I watched the difference we made in mitigating some of the negatives of the project,” said Spooner. “We impacted the amount of lots that were allowed to be developed, and in the end the Board of County Commissioners required a deceleration lane going uphill on Shadow Mountain Drive, and that a waste management system be put into place. “The highlight was when the developer expressed a desire to work with POMC on future projects.” When Spooner was invited to be a POMC board member in 1998, she was wary. I had served on association boards before,” said Spooner. “And it was far from a positive experience, there was a great deal of tension and strife. This time, my fears were unfounded. The group respects one another. They work well together, and are an efficient team. No one off load’s responsibility — we all do what needs to be done.’ “The conversations I’ve had with POMC have been refreshing,” said developer Steve Cohen. Cohen is in the final stages of approval for the Elk Run Plaza, a business complex to be built in Kings Valley near Long Brothers Garage. “There have been reasonable discussions about what their wishes are. I would say they actually try to help in keeping development in perspective. I opened up to them, I took a chance, and they received me rather well, they had some good thoughts and I thought it was a very positive experience.” Dave Davis, president of Davis and Associates, land developers and consultants for Conifer and Evergreen, has dealt with the group as well. “In recent months, and perhaps within the last year, I have worked with them fairly closely,” said Davis.” I think it is a very good relationship and although we don’t necessarily agree on everything, we have made a number of compromises, and so have they, coming up with a balanced approach for everybody involved.” Davis remembers when POMC was just getting started five years ago and how unorganized it was. “I think that initially, things were being addressed in more of a panic mode.” said Davis. “They are more organized; they handle things in a timely manner, sooner than before. I think they are valuable to the community and they create a balanced and realistic approach to development. I have made it my policy to contact them now when I get involved in projects. Overall, it’s a positive relationship.” According to board member and former POMC president Bob Lewis, POMC is similar to ENABLE (Evergreen North Area Balanced Land Effort). Both organizations attempt to stay aware of land-use issues that may be of concern to homeowners groups and individuals, and inform themselves about those issues so that it might inform the community. According to Lewis, there is a difference in membership from ENABLE. “Where ENABLE seeks representation primarily from homeowners associations, the presidents or some other representation of an organization at their meetings — and we seek that too — but we also seek support from individuals as well, said Lewis. In fact, more of our membership is comprised of concerned individuals than it is of representatives of home owners associations.’ The efforts of POMC focus primarily on the mountainous areas of South Jefferson County. The organization has provided council to groups in Park County interested in similar issues, but they are not currently active in Park County. For an unincorporated county, without a governmental entity, organizations like POMC, the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis are the ones charged to establish a community voice. According to Lewis, the Chamber has a specific interest in promoting the local businesses and commercial interests in the area. The Kiwanis promote plans and programs that provide services to the community. POMC focuses primarily on land-use issues, though all three of the organizations have cross-membership. POMC opposes developers who try to push projects by fiat and not involve the community, said Lewis. POMC is behind a community that grows according to the Conifer Corridor Community Plan. The group has been active in the Community Plan revisions, currently underway, and the efforts regarding purchase of Beaver Ranch. Reacting to issues when they pop up and are a direct concern to a person is not the best way to go about protecting the future of a community,” said Lewis. “It’s much better for people to stay informed, stay involved, whether or not the particular issue has a direct impact on them.” “There are things happening everyday, every week up here,” said Ketchledge, who receives 20 to 30 calls a week regarding development issues. “Some are big issues, some are small scale, but when you add up the little things every week that impact people’s lives that’s where the difference is.” For further information about the organization, call 303-838-3032.

In 1997, the Rocky Mountain News published an article on the formation of P.O.M.C. entitled: CONIFER-AREA RESIDENTS PUT HEADS TOGETHER MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY GROUP AIMS TO INFLUENCE PATTERNS AND POLICIES OF AREA GROWTH Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) 7/20/1997 Charley Able Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer The article stated that "A new organization hopes to add focus and expertise to growth issues in the Conifer area from Tiny Town to the Park County line." "Our purpose is to find a way to constructively mitigate the impacts of growth and (assure) quality of growth in the Conifer area," said Bob Lewis, the chairman. "We want to get involved and help communicate and shape those things." Lewis said, "We are not a politically based organization, and we are not a single-issue based organization. We want people with a variety of interests and those who can bring a particular expertise to the organization." "We think there ought to be some community input and when we talked to (county personnel) they said `Wonderful, we've had nobody to speak to about these things.' " The article stated that "Jefferson County has asked the group to organize forums on issues affecting the area. The first will be conducted by the county's Road and Bridge Department Aug. 4 at the Elk Creek Fire Department station on U.S. 285 at Richmond Hill Road. " "We are seeking membership of those people willing to be active on one or more issues," Lewis said. "We are more interested in activity and willingness to work than we are on getting huge numbers of people involved."