Representing the Citizens to Preserve Douglas County coalition, Donna Wilson, CEO of Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation (left), and Castle Pines Village resident Babetta Ferris (right) give a presentation to city officials.

by Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Terri Wiebold

A growing number of citizens and groups have joined with the Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation (Cherokee Ranch) and the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) in their opposition to the proposed expansion of the Sedalia Recycling Center and Depository. Cherokee Ranch and HRCA both border the proposed project.

The Citizens to Preserve Douglas County (CPDC), as of this writing, includes Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation, The Sanctuary, Highlands Ranch Community Association, Castle Pines Homes Association, Castle Pines Golf Club, Country Club of Castle Pines, IREA, Tom Barenberg, Split Rail Fence & Supply Co., Denver Mountain Parks Foundation, and Sacred Heart Retreat House.

Cherokee Ranch CEO Donna Wilson and Village resident Babetta Ferris recently made a presentation to Castle Pines City Council asking that a formal position be taken or resolution be made against the expansion of the Sedalia Landfill, and to consider joining the CPDC. City Mayor Jeff Huff and council members said that the request would be taken into consideration and that they would respond shortly.

The Sedalia Recycling Center and Depository is considering expanding its current 124-acre facility into a 358 acre-planned development district (PD) project called the “Sedalia Sustainability Center.” The current facility, owned by Sedalia Land Company (a Waste Connections Inc. company), is located approximately one-half mile north of Sedalia along U.S. Highway 85, and has been in operation since 2006.

It is zoned A-1 with Sse by Special Review, and includes a 67-acre solid waste disposal site for non-hazardous, non-rotting waste, along with limited citizen’s recycling. The PD will include the rezoning of a total of 358 acres (in two non-contiguous land areas) by incorporating the existing 124-acre landfill property, adding four A-1 residential parcels (totaling 17.7 acres) adjacent to the existing landfill to be used for the recycling facility, and adding 215 acres of A-1 land north of the existing landfill for the future waste disposal area.

Members of CPDC are deeply concerned about the potential impacts the proposed landfill expansion may have on view sheds, water, air, noise, wildlife, traffic, ongoing charitable and business enterprises, and other concerns. For further information about Citizens to Preserve Douglas County, please contact Donna Wilson, CEO of Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation, at e-mail or Gary Debus, Community Manager of Highlands Ranch Community Association, at e-mail.

For additional background, refer to The Castle Pines Connection July 2010 story on the Sedalia landfill at
http://www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/news/2010/qtr3/cpc/recycling.html.