Living in Solterra

Snow Removal

When it snows in Solterra, there are multiple organizations and guidelines to remove snow from the streets and sidewalks. In summary, these are the conditions:

  • For Solterra Patio Homeowners: Advance HOA Management will generally clear snow from walks, sidewalks and driveways when the depth typically reaches 2 inches, unless further snow is expected, then they will wait until the snow is over. Streets will be plowed per the Lakewood snow plan.
  • For Fossil Ridge Metro District property, including certain Brookfield Signature
    and Duet homes*, Cardel Townhomes and private W Evans Pl: Sidewalks will be
    plowed when the snow depth is 2/4* (see definition below) inches or greater. The private
    W Evans Place street, Cardel Townhome alleys, and the alleys/private streets where the
    Brookfield Signature and Duet homes are located will be plowed when the snow depth
    is 4 inches or greater within 24 hours after the snowfall. Note: If the snow is predicted for
    more than the amounts indicated above, plowing will not occur until the storm has
    ended. * Only applies to the Brookfield Signature and Duet homes where entrance to the
    garage is from an alley or private street.
  • The Retreat parking area and sidewalks are cleared even when there is a trace amount of snow.
  • For all other Solterra homeowners: Sidewalks must be cleared of snow within 24 hours of snow ending by the homeowner. Public streets will be plowed per the Lakewood snow plan.
  • For public streets accepted by Lakewood: Lakewood has a comprehensive plan for snow removal. S. Indiana Street is a Priority 1 street, so it will be plowed before any other street in Solterra. Collector streets, school zones, hilly residential streets and shopping areas are Priority 2 & 3. Dead end and cul-de-sacs are plowed only when snow depth seriously impedes vehicle mobility and melting is not forecast to occur quickly.
  • For unaccepted streets: Brookfield will plow some of the unaccepted streets on the west side of Solterra when the snow depth is 8 inches or greater.

Snow Depth Definitions

In the early fall, snow usually melts quickly as the ground is warm, and the temperatures are generally warmer than the mid winter. In winter, since the temperatures are low, the snow may last longer before melting. In the spring, the sun is higher and the temperatures warm up quickly, and thus the snow also melts quickly.

For these reasons, the snow depth for clearing varies according to the following schedule:

Sidewalk Snow Depth for Clearing by Season
Season Months Snow Depth
Fall September & October 4 inches
Winter November through February 2 inches
Spring March & April 4 inches

In the following descriptions, a snow depth of 2/4* indicates the above schedule.

When are my streets and sidewalks plowed?

For the streets that have been accepted by Lakewood, City crews begin plowing and sanding Priority 1 streets when snow begins to accumulate on the pavement. After the Priority 1 streets have been adequately cleared, crews move to Priority 2 & 3 streets.

City of Lakewood Snow Plow Routes Map

City crews work around the clock until the snowfall has stopped and all priority streets have been plowed and sanded to an acceptable level.

Priority routes are routinely plowed and sanded during each snowstorm. Sanding provides traction and is normally done only at intersections, on hills and curves or in specific problem areas.

Once all Priority 1, 2 and 3 streets are adequately cleared, other residential streets are plowed when the snow depth seriously impedes vehicle mobility and melting is not forecast to occur quickly.

Lakewood Snow Plan Details

Lakewood Snow Plan Map

For more information on snow removal in the Solterra Patio Homes area, please visit the Advance HOA website.

The crews will plan to clear the sidewalks when the snow depth is greater than 2/4* inches and the snow is predicted to stop. They usually will not start until the snowfall is predicted to end. The crews may start early in the morning after the snowfall and may come back if there is significant drifting. Sidewalks and walks to the steps are plowed/shoveled, residents are responsible for their steps. If the snow depth is 4" or more, the Cardel Townhome alleys will be plowed within 24 hours after the snowfall. Residents may have to clear a path through the wind- rows to their garages. Snow is pushed to the end of the alley and is not removed.

Note: If the storm is predicted for more than the amounts indicated above, plowing will not occur until the storm has ended.

The District provides the contractors to remove the snow on the sidewalks, alleys and pathways on District owned land. If you have questions or concerns, please contact CRS at (303) 381- 4960.

View the full contracted snow removal map

The public streets will be plowed per the City of Lakewood Snow Plan.

The District will have the sidewalks plowed when the expected snowfall is 2/4* inches or greater. If the snow depth is 4" or more, the street will be plowed within 24 hours after the snowfall. Note: If the storm is predicted for more than the amounts indicated above, plowing will not occur until the storm has ended.

Removal of snow from all sidewalks adjacent to homeowners’ homes is the homeowner’s responsibility. If there is a mail box kiosk adjacent to the homeowner’s property, the snow removal around the mail box is the homeowner’s responsibility. Homeowners must pile the snow in their yard, and not in the street. There are some mailboxes on District property, and the District is responsible for snow removal.

Lakewood Municipal Code requires all sidewalks to be cleared of snow 24 hours after the last snowfall. Call the Public Works Department at 303-987-7975 to report a sidewalk that has not been cleared.

The streets will be plowed per the City of Lakewood Snow Plan. Call 303-987-7950 or visit Request Lakewood.

Sidewalks along the major feeder roads and within the open spaces are generally on District property, as is the Retreat and the Townhome walks. The crews will plan to clear the sidewalks when the snow depth is greater than 2/4* inches and the snow is predicted to stop. Typically they will start at the Retreat area, then W Evans Place (Private), then the Cardel townhome area (Wesley, W Baker & Orion Cir), then work on S Indiana, W Iliff and W Wesley. The next areas are the sidewalks on District cul-de-sac areas, internal parks and paths and finally the tributary sidewalks. They usually will not start until the snowfall is predicted to end. The crews may start early in the morning after the snowfall and may come back if there is significant drifting on upper Indiana and the tributary paths.

The full Snow Plowing map is shown here:

On the map, orange is the 2/4* inch trigger, while blue is the 8 inch trigger.

The Retreat parking area and sidewalks are cleared even when there is a trace amount of snow.

Note: If the storm is predicted for more than the amounts indicated above, plowing will not occur until the storm has ended. If you are concerned regarding snow removal of District maintained property, please contact CRS at (303) 381-4960.

The streets will be plowed per the City of Lakewood Snow Plan.

Because some streets have not been accepted by the City of Lakewood, Brookfield has contracted to plow the streets when the snow depth is 8 inches or greater.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Brookfield at 303 790 6331.

If the snow depth is 4" or more, the street will be plowed within 24 hours after the snowfall. Note: If the storm is predicted for more than the amounts indicated above, plowing will not occur until the storm has ended. This only applies to the Brookfield Signature and Duet homes where entrance to the garage is from an alley or private street.