In This Section
The below map shows the boundaries of property owned by the City of Lakewood (shaded in green). Basically, Lakewood owns the property between W. Alameda Pkwy and the SolterraCommunity, as well as the eastern walkway from the dog park to Coyote Gulch Park. Lakewoodalso owns most of the land along the Bear Creek Tributary from W. Evans Ave to Wesley and from Wesley to beginning of the rocks at the large retention pond/water feature just north of Yale Ave on the west side of Solterra, Lakewood’s property also includes the gulch between S. Orchard St./W. Auburn Ave and the Brookfield homes along S. McIntyre St.
Map source: https://gis.jeffco.us/webmaps/jmap/
Fossil Ridge Metropolitan District 1 (the District, shaded in orange) owns the detention (Indiana) pond along S. Indiana St. and the large retention (Tributary) pond north of Yale Ave. The District also owns all the open space between homes, the Retreat area, the parks and playgrounds, along with the common areas along Indiana, W. Iliff, Wesley, and Yale. General Shale owns the clay mine to the west of Solterra (shaded in blue), and CDN Red Rocks (shaded in pink) owns the property at the corner of Yale and McIntyre.
It is not clear from the reduced version of the map, but the District owns strips of land within the townhome area. Properties within the community which are owned by Solterra LLC (Brookfield) are not shown on this map.
During the development of Solterra, the roads, sidewalks, the open spaces, the dog park, and the landscaping were all completed in stages, which are identified by the Solterra Filings 1-21. Once construction of the roads, sidewalks, open spaces, and common area landscaping is completed, it must be reviewed and accepted by both Lakewood and the District. There is an intergovernmental agreement between the District and Lakewood defining who has the maintenance responsibilities for all the improvements within Solterra. For all the property owned by the District, there is no question that the District will maintain the landscaping. For the Lakewood-owned property shown in green on the map above, the maintenance agreement requires that the District will maintain the property for three years after acceptance by the city. The maintenance includes mowing, weed control, irrigation including water, and electric costs and plant material replacement. Lakewood now maintains the native area north of the Retreat and along the eastern corridor (sidewalk/ pathway) to Coyote Gulch Park.
The agreement states, in summary, that the District will always maintain the city-owned landscaped areas along Indiana and within the tributary. This land is owned by Lakewood but maintained by the District. The District also maintains all the landscaping along the rest of Indiana, W. Iliff, Wesley, Yale, and McIntyre. Additionally, the path connections between the Lakewood open spaces and the nearby Solterra streets are also the District’s responsibility to maintain
Once the Bear Creek Tributary (the central corridor) property and all the features are accepted by Lakewood, maintenance will revert to them after three years. After acceptance, the property will be maintained by Lakewood including mowing, weed control, and sidewalk maintenance. However, in contrast to the other corridors, the District will continue to maintain the permanent landscaping and irrigation to include tributary turf areas, trees, and shrubs.
The stormwater detention and water quality ponds along the tributary are maintained by the District. The detention pond structure north of Wesley is maintained by Lakewood. The large pond area at the end of the tributary and north of Yale is owned by the District, and the water feature, pond and pump will be solely maintained by the District. The stormwater detention pond area along S. Indiana is owned by the District. The Indiana pond structure is maintained by Lakewood.
Since the gulch area west of S. Orchard St. and NE of McIntyre has not been developed yet, it is not possible to define responsibilities there at this time.
The community parks and playgrounds within Solterra are maintained by the District once the park warranty period has expired.
There are a number of contractors who provide services within the accepted District grounds and properties. These include the maintenance and operation of the Retreat, landscape maintenance, as well as water and wetlands maintenance in the Bear Creek Tributary.
The District has employed Schultz Industries, Inc. for landscape maintenance in the accepted filings. Maintenance includes turf grass mowing, edging, blowing, weed control, fertilization, aeration, maintenance of the rock beds, flower beds, control of insect infestations, tree maintenance and irrigation of all turf, plants, shrubs and trees. Native grass areas are normally cut once per year after the warm season grasses have produced seed heads. Beauty bands (the two foot-wide strips along the sidewalks) are cut on a regular schedule. The Schultz contract also includes emptying the trash bins along the walks, refilling the dog waste dispensers, trash and debris pickup in the common areas, and removing dead shrubs or trees.
If you have questions or concerns with the landscaping of District areas within Solterra, please contact CRS at 303-381-4960.
In order to mitigate any parking issues or accidents throughout the community, the Solterra Homeowner Association asks that you remember a few vehicle parking tips, some of which are described in the HOA Declarations:
Garages should be used for vehicular parking and not for storage of personal property in a manner that prohibits vehicular parking.
Cars shall be parked first in garages, then in the driveways servicing the home, and parked on the street last. The streets in Solterra are public, but please make sure to park on the street only as a last resort.
Please advise your visitors to park in front of your home as to not block or inconvenience access for your neighbors.
Commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, campers, boats, etc., must be kept in an enclosed garage or stored at an offsite facility.
For recreational vehicles or travel trailers, there is a 48 hour provision to load or unload the vehicle if it’s necessary to park on the City street, and only if it is parked directly in front of the dwelling unit of the vehicle’s registered owner. (Lakewood Municipal Code, 10.33.075)
For boat, horse and utility trailers, there is a 6 hour provision to load or unload the trailer if it’s necessary to park on the City street, and only if it is parked directly in front of the dwelling unit of the vehicle’s registered owner.
Stored vehicles and vehicles which are inoperable or do not have current operating licenses are prohibited on the property except within enclosed garages. Inoperable vehicles, including those that are not currently licensed, cannot be parked on the street. To report any illegally parked vehicles, please contact Lakewood Police Dept. nonemergency number 303-987-7111.
With homeowner help, we can keep the community free of accidents or problems! For any questions or concerns regarding parking, please contact Overlook Property Management at 303-991-2192.
Landscapers are required to obtain a no cost public way permit for parking equipment prior to commencing
Trees and bushes must not encroach onto the public right of way, or obstruct public street signs such as street names and stop signs.
The Lakewood City Code 8.06.100, Projection into public way states:
Where any vegetation upon private property projects into or encroaches upon any public way in such a manner as to visually or physically impair, obstruct or endanger pedestrian or vehicular traffic or to present a potential hazard or potential damage to public or private property, the parks manager may give written notice to the owner requiring the removal, trimming or other treatment of such vegetation. Such notice shall require the corrective action to be completed within 30 days after the owner's receipt of the notice. The clearance height of any vegetation over sidewalks and walkways shall be not less than eight feet measured vertically from the walk to the first foliage. The clearance height of vegetation over public streets and public alley ways shall be not less than 16½ feet measured vertically from any point in the street to the first foliage. The parks manager is authorized to prohibit plantings on private property in locations that will, at maturity, encroach upon the public way as set forth in this section.
Where any vegetation upon private property projects into or encroaches upon any public way in such a manner as to visually or physically impair, obstruct or endanger pedestrian or vehicular traffic or to present a potential hazard or potential damage to public or private property, the parks manager may give written notice to the owner requiring the removal, trimming or other treatment of such vegetation. Such notice shall require the corrective action to be completed within 30 days after the owner's receipt of the notice.
The clearance height of any vegetation over sidewalks and walkways shall be not less than eight feet measured vertically from the walk to the first foliage. The clearance height of vegetation over public streets and public alley ways shall be not less than 16½ feet measured vertically from any point in the street to the first foliage.
The parks manager is authorized to prohibit plantings on private property in locations that will, at maturity, encroach upon the public way as set forth in this section.
Refer to Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 8.06
To report obstructions of sidewalks or signs and obstructions caused by overhanging trees or bushes, call the City of Lakewood Forestry Division at 720-963-5240
For the single family homes in Solterra, the lawn area between the sidewalk and the street is owned by the homeowner. The trees planted in this “Tree Lawn” area are specified by the City of Lakewood Filings for Solterra.
If you have a dead tree(s), your tree(s) must be replaced with the same species of tree that was on the initial landscape plan and filing. All trees must be 2½ to 3 inches in caliper. Owners are not permitted to alter or change plant material (grass & trees) installed by the Builder or the Declarant in street/tree lawn area. Replacement of dead trees with a different tree requires approval from the DRB and City of Lakewood. Approval is not required to replace dead trees in the street/tree lawn area with like species of similar size.
Temporary signs are permitted in the common areas within Solterra; however the following limitations apply:
Realtor advertising and directional signs in the common areas are only permitted between 7:00 PM on Friday and 7:00 PM on Sunday. That time limitation will be extended if a federal holiday occurs on a Monday. Any real estate sign that is not removed at the designated time will be removed and disposed of by the District. The District will not be held liable for the disposal of signs that are in violation of this policy.
Open house signs may only be displayed in the common area on the day of the event and must be removed within an hour after the event closure. These signs may not be affixed to street signs, traffic signs, fencing, or mailboxes in the community. Balloons and flags may be utilized if they do not obstruct vehicular sight lines, are securely fastened, and removed with signs.
Yard, garage, and estate sale signs may only be displayed in the common area on the day of the event and must be removed within an hour after the event closure. These signs may not be affixed to street signs, traffic signs, fencing, or mailboxes in the community. Balloons and flags may be utilized as long as they do not obstruct vehicular sight lines, are securely fastened, and removed with signs.
Affixing signs and/or notices to mailboxes or mail kiosks is strictly prohibited by the U.S. Postal Service
Key Point: Pick up your pet’s poop
Many of us have the enjoyment of owning a pet or pets (specifically dogs). With that enjoyment comes responsibility when taking our dog(s) for walks within the community.
This is a reminder to please be mindful of where your dog(s) relieve themselves during the walk. Please refrain from having your dog urinate on your neighbors' lawn. Our bluegrass variety of turf is very susceptible to burning from dog urine and it's extremely hard to re-grow the affected area without replacing the turf. Please utilize the common areas for this action.
In regards to the common areas, it is important that you always clean up after your dog using your own refuse bag or one along either the West or East side of the community walkways.
Please ensure you dispose of your dog's waste in a trash can and don't leave the bag lying along the sidewalk.
Let's keep our community clean and healthy for all of our neighbors!
Like the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot, the fabled poop fairy has been the stuff of legend. Flying undetected in parks, neighborhoods and schoolyards, she was said to follow close behind dogs and their owners, picking up what the dog left behind before flying off to the next canine creation. A widespread belief that she existed seemed to reassure some that cleaning up after one’s dog was optional.
In response to a growing number of poop piles, and a growing number of citizen complaints, the Jefferson County Animal Control office has partnered with local park districts and homeowner associations to bring you this public service announcement:
Because we feed our dogs food that’s different from the food wild animals eat, dog waste does not biodegrade quickly like wild animal waste. And due to the large number of pets in suburban neighborhoods and local parks, this hardy dog waste accumulates.
Dog waste can contain harmful organisms like E. coli, Giardia, Salmonella, roundworms, hookworms, and Cryptosporidium. These can be passed on to you or your pet and may cause health problems.
Bacteria in dog waste can harm water quality in creeks and rivers and alter the ecosystems of these stream corridors. Humans who come in contact with creek water can also face health hazards.
Animal feces must be cleaned up regularly and must not cause excessive odor. To report a violation, call Code Enforcement at 303-987-7566.
Jefferson County ordinances make "failure to clean up dog feces in public places" a petty offense with a fine of at least $30. Many local park districts have similar regulations and fines.
The following are the Lakewood Department Of Community Resources Rules and Ordinances as they apply to Regional Parks. The complete rules are listed on the Lakewood Municipal Code website.
The references (9.32.090, etc.) refer to the chapters in the Municipal Code.
No alcohol other than malt beverages are allowed in any City of Lakewood park (9.32.090 & 100). No alcohol or dogs allowed in the Big Soda Lake Beach area.
It is unlawful for the owner of any dog or other animal, excluding cats, to permit the same to run at large within any park, community center, or recreation facility of the city, except in designated areas (9.32.300).
No person shall possess, import, export, ship, transport, release, place, plant, or cause to be released into the City any aquatic nuisance species (9.32.325) Park rangers are authorized to temporarily stop, detain, and inspect any conveyance of aquatic nuisance species.
Archery is permitted only in designated areas. The use of hunting points and broad head arrows is prohibited in designated archery ranges.
Boating in designated areas only. (9.32.320 A, B). All Colorado State Boating regulations apply.
Camping is allowed only in marked, designated areas of Bear Creek Lake Park. Camping is not allowed outside of Bear Creek Lake Park campground. (9.32.250).
Campground Rules and Regulations are at: Bear Creek Lake Park
It is unlawful for any person to take, collect, gather or posses any vegetation, rock, wood or other natural object within any park. (9.32.265)
All commercial activities including horse drawn carriages are prohibited without the Director’s approval. (9.32.120,330,340)
It is unlawful to discharge, fire or shoot any air gun, slingshot, pellet gun, blowgun, bow and arrow, paintball guns, air soft guns, single-stage projectile, multi-stage projectile or projectile launching device in any park. (9.32.280)
No owner, or other responsible party, shall allow any dog to enter any water areas in any park in the City except as approved by the Director and in approved areas.
The following requirements apply to all operators of E-Bikes. Refer to: E-Bikes and Powered Scooters
It is unlawful to sell or use fireworks. (9.32.290)
It is unlawful to possess or use any glass bottle or other glass container within or upon the grounds of any park, unless authorized by the Director. (9.32.370)
It is unlawful for any person to swim or wade in any outside body of water, including irrigation ditches, within any city park or recreational facility, except in designated areas (9.32.390, 9.33.020). Nudity is Prohibited (9.32.210)
It is unlawful to place, set, or attend traps on park lands except as authorized by permit, or to possess, pursue, wound, take, or acquire any wildlife (9.32.180). Feeding of wildlife, except squirrels and birds, is prohibited within the City of Lakewood.