Acres Green

Acres Green

Acres Green History by Jean Henke

The following information was compiled by Jean Henke and is provided for the personal use of Acres Green residents and possible future residents of this community.
This Neighborhood link website is the official web site of the community. If you did not go through www.neighborhoodlink.com/douglascounty/ag you have been linked to this page. Thank you for visiting.
In 1971 the fence south of County Line Road came down and the first construction equipment
moved into the pasture that is now the Acres Green subdivision. Acres Green was the first subdivision in
northern Douglas County.
There are six filings in the development. Construction began on the first filing in 1971 and ended
with filing six around 1983. Two additional homes were built on Olympus Circle in 1995.
Covenants exist for all homes in Acres Green, one set for each two filings. On May 19, 1972
covenants for filings one and two were filed with the Douglas County Recorder. Filings three and four
covenants were filed May 1, 1973. For filings five and six covenants were filed February 25, 1976.
Covenants run with the land and stay in effect unless changed by 51 percent of the property owners.
When Acres Green was first under development, Morris General - contractor for this
development, requested the formation of an Acres Green Park District through the Douglas County
Commissioners Dec. 1, 1971. The request was approved by the voters of the district during a special
election held April 10, 1973. The purpose of that district was to develop and maintain park and recreation
facilities.
Financing of the district came from property taxes levied against homeowners in Acres Green. A
bond issue for $230,000 to supplement those funds was approved by voters in August of 1974. In 1978,
the district received $2,500 from the Douglas County Recreation Board to develop Altair Park.
A dissolution and inclusion election was held October 16, 1979. This vote dissolved the Acres Green
Park District and included our parks and recreation facilities in South Suburban Parks and Recreation
District. This action was finalized by the Douglas County District court December 27, 1979. The reason
for the dissolution was the possibility of a default on the bond. Default on this bond would have resulted in
a lien on all homes in Acres Green.
Parks in Acres Green include Altair, Lonesome Pine, Sweetwater and Maximus trail. All parks
and the medians are maintained by South Suburban Parks and Recreation District. Acres Green home
owners pay property taxes to support this district.
First established in 1973, the Acres Green Home Owners? Association (AGHOA) was
incorporated in 1989. The AGHOA is a not-for-profit corporation and as such must file reports every two
years to the Colorado Secretary of State and must file corporate taxes with the IRS.
Over the years, residents have taken an active part in long-term planning for the county including
the Master Plan. Residents worked to protect the area around Acres Green from developments that would
have a negative impact on their quality of life. The previous zoning of lands around Acres Green was the
result of long, often spirited meetings with developers, county planners and commissioners.
Residents successfully thwarted the building of a tire retreading factory, a plastics factory,
Columbine Hospital and a high density apartment complex on Park Meadows Drive. They also
successfully fought the building of a gas station where the shops are on Maximus Drive at Yosemite.
Working together, residents changed county regulations to allow the leasing of land from the
county for the purpose of erecting a sign at the North entrance. They designed, funded, and built the sign
at the main entrance to Acres Green. The sign was dedicated Oct. 17, 1987.
Home owners property taxes in addition to providing maintenance are paying off a bond issue
passed in 1992 to improve various sites in and around Acres Green. From that bond issue, Lonesome Pine
Park playground equipment was replaced, the medians were replanted, Maximus Trail park was developed
and the trail was extended from Sweetwater Park between Lone Tree and Acres Green through Douglas
County Open Space to Altair Park. The bond issue will be paid off between 2012 and 2015.



Through the efforts of residents, money from the sale of the lots on Olympus Cr. was allocated to
the improvement of the Northwest corner of the field around Acres Green Elementary School and the
development of a rest area by the Willow Creek trail.
During 1996, money from the sale of the two lots on Olympus Cr. was used to landscape the
northwest corner of the grounds around the school sign. Additionally, the Douglas County School District
completed grading in preparation for the expanded parking lot. A shade shelter purchased by the PTO was
installed and correction of drainage problems began.
Residents requested and received matching funds for the development of a rest area along the
Willow Creek trail. Neighbors worked closely with South Suburban on the design of the rest area. They
coordinated efforts between Douglas County Public Works, South Suburban and the owner of the lots, Jim
Johnson, to the benefit of all. Douglas County Public Works improved the drainage, Jim Johnson provided
the grading and South Suburban provided the plan and development of the rest area. The rest area was
completed in 1996.
Residents also worked long hours with South Suburban and Lone Tree residents to arrive at a trail
proposal, between the two developments, that was beneficial to all parties. The trail runs from Sweetwater
park between Acres Green and Lone Tree. It includes the North/South connection as a walking trail and
continue on to the elementary school in Lone Tree. It winds through the Douglas County Open Space and
comes around to Altair Park. Construction was completed fall of 1996.
During 1996, residents fought and won the preservation of the bluffs (the portion west of
Yosemite). These bluffs represent 255 acres of open space in northern Douglas County. The deed was
finally presented to Douglas County February 24, 1998. The land will become a passive open space park
with trails connecting to the East/West Regional Trail.
For Make-A-Difference Day, October 26, 1996, residents began work to landscape county land at
the corner of Acres Green Drive and Apollo Court. Plastic, mulch, seeds, fencing materials, and cash were
donated by residents and non-residents alike.
During 1996 the city of Lone Tree incorporated, nearly surrounding our community. During
1997, despite overwhelming opposition by Acres Green residents and Douglas County planning and
zoning, they proceeded to rezone lands between Quebec and Acres Green Drive just north of this
community to allow retail.
An attempt was made at the rezoning hearing to allow traffic from Quebec to flow into Acres
Green through Altair Drive. That proposal was withdrawn thanks to the strong objections of Acres Green
residents who do not want their community to be used as a short cut for Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree
residents.
Since Altair Drive is a county road and the easement around Altair Drive is also within Douglas
County?s jurisdiction, residents of Acres Green would need to approve any connection of Altair Drive to
lands controlled by the city of Lone Tree.
The city of Lone Tree is responsible for the intersection at Acres Green and Park Meadows
Drives. Plans are being worked on to add a traffic light to that intersection, though no time table is
available at this writing. In order to add a stop light at this intersection, it must be redesigned so traffic can
move smoothly and safely across in all directions. At this writing Douglas County has offered some funds
to help with this reconstruction. No word if the City of Lone Tree has accepted this proposal.
Douglas County still maintains Yosemite Street and is installing a traffic light at Yosemite Street
and Maximus Drive as this directory goes to press.
During 1997, South Suburban reserved funds for construction of a multi-purpose field on the west
side of the school grounds, near Acres Green Drive. An agreement worked out with the Douglas County
School District and South Suburban Parks and Recreation allows scheduling of soccer and other events on
the grounds, while the school district maintains those grounds.
The multi-purpose field at Acres Green Elementary School was constructed during 1998. The
Douglas County School District Master Plan shows several trees in the landscape, however funds were not
available for the plantings. To help with plant trees, the AGHOA and concerned citizens including Acres
Green Girl Scouts, Brownies and Cub Scouts are coming together on April 17, 1999 (Arbor Day) to plant
several trees on the site.
A sign was erected at the East Entrance to Acres Green during 1998. That sign needs ironwork
with the Acres Green name and logo. The iron work is a project for 1999.
During 1998, the City of Lone Tree purchased naming rights to the newly reconstructed branch of
the Douglas County Public Library, formerly Oakes Mill Library, on Lone Tree Parkway at Yosemite
Street for $50,000. New residents should be aware that this library is part of the Douglas County Library,
funded by property taxes, and open to everyone.
Likewise, new residents should be aware that the outdoor pools located in Lone tree and the Lone
Tree Golf and Country Club are the property of South Suburban Parks and Recreation, which is supported
by property taxes from those living within the district, and can be enjoyed by all.
Acres Green residents are part of the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, pay district
taxes and district fees when using facilities such as pools and recreation centers. A South Suburban
identification card may be required for proof of residency. Information on obtaining an I.D. card can be
found by calling the Goodson Center. See page 29 for the phone number.
To everyone who has contributed to the well-being of this community, and to all who continue to
devote their time to improve our quality of life - thank you!

About our association

AGHOA History by Jean Henke

The following was compiled and posted by Jean Henke, recorder for the Association. The Neighborhood link website at: www.neighborhoodlink.com/douglascounty/ag is the official web site for the community. If you entered this page another way, you have been linked to it.
Thank you for visiting.

First established in 1973. The Acres Green Home Owners Association (AGHOA) is a not-for-profit corporation and as such must file reports every two years to the Colorado Secretary of State and must file corporate taxes with the IRS. Reports are filed every two years as required.
The purposes of the Acres Green Home Owners? Association are; to work towards the physical and
social improvement of the neighborhood; to attempt to prevent any deterioration of the neighborhood; to develop a sense of community within the neighborhood; to aide, assist, represent, and advance the interests of the owners and residents of the neighborhood through all lawful means; and to promote the health, safety and welfare of the owners and residents of the neighborhood, and surrounding areas.
Officers include the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Recorder. The officers are generally
elected for a two-year term. The Board of Directors is made up of the chairpersons of various committees, they are all volunteers.
The AGHOA is a voluntary organization. All homeowners are encouraged to join. Dues are $25 for a family or $15 for an individual. Seniors 60 and over can join for $5. A discount of $5 is available for residents who volunteer 10 hours to any of the committees.
In the year 2000 dues will rise to $25 for a family, $15 for an individual (or for those who are
community volunteers) and $5 for seniors. Dues for the year 2000 are collected beginning in October of
1999.
AGHOA meetings are generally held the third Thursday of every other month except Aug. (Feb., Apr., Jun., Oct., and Dec.). Meetings are held at the Acres Green Elementary school library at 7:00 p.m.

President, Jim Orgaard

The AGHOA president is responsible for conducting each home owners association meeting, acting as
a liaison between the residents, county officials, developers and surrounding areas. The president
represents the interest of the home owners to county officials and responds to all correspondence.