Agenda Date: 09/09/2025
Subject:
Title
Consideration and discussion of South Suburban Parks and Recreation District's proposed Jackass Hill Park site plan revision
Body
From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
Prepared by:
|
Mike Gent, Deputy City Manager |
Presentations: |
Melissa Reese-Thacker, South Suburban Parks and Recreation, Director of Planning |
PURPOSE:
The site plan for Jackass Hill Park has been revised based on community and city council feedback, reducing the overall planned improvements for the park, while enhancing accessibility, mitigating erosion, and buffering the sightlines of adjacent private properties from the park.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty, High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners agreed to fund a portion of the project with the understanding that Littleton will submit a revised site plan to Arapahoe County Open Spaces (ACOS) that addresses many of the concerns shared by park adjacent neighbors. South Suburban Parks and Recreation District (SSPRD) held stakeholder meetings, a new public comment process, and a public meeting with its Board of Directors regarding potential site plan changes.
BACKGROUND:
The project is funded through an interagency partnership between City of Littleton, SSPRD, and Arapahoe County. During the ACOS grant evaluation process, continuing concerns from some community members helped influence the county’s Open Space and Trails Advisory Board to not recommend funding this project. Littleton city council directed staff to explore a site plan revision with SSPRD that could be presented for council consideration and eventual resubmittal to ACOS for reconsideration and concurrence.
Prior Actions or Discussions
- March 2023 - city council approval of site plan
- October 2024 - city council reviewed a revised concept plan that incorporated council’s requested modifications
- April 2025 - city council approved an ACOS grant application
- August 2025 - city council approved accepting an ACOS grant for this project with the understanding that a revised site plan be developed and presented for council consideration.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
All funds for this project have been previously budgeted and approved.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend approval of revised site plan.
ALTERNATIVES:
Littleton could choose to decline ACOS grant funds and proceed with previously approved site plan, although stakeholders have invested significant time and resources in preparing this proposed revision; or could choose to leave the park in its current condition without mitigating the erosion, accessibility, and neighborhood privacy concerns.