Dear Commissioners,

Your meeting regarding this proposal was clearly structured in favor of proponents and excluded much of the working public. Scheduling such a critical discussion for 1:30 p.m. on a weekday makes it impossible for most taxpayers to attend and be heard. Meetings impacting the entire community must be scheduled at accessible times for public participation.

We respectfully request that you put an end to this proposed sports complex, which 70% of the community already rejected when first introduced—just as the community rejected the Home Rule proposal. The residents deserve the right to vote on this through a public ballot, not through closed-door meetings or developer-driven approvals that ignore the will of the people.

Below are serious, unresolved concerns that must not be overlooked:

   1 Environmental Contamination and Public Safety

The land proposed for the Zebulon Sports Complex is part of the former DuPont/Chemours industrial site — a property officially recognized by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) as contaminated and under strict environmental use restrictions.

According to the CDPHE’s Notice of Environmental Use Restrictions (NEUR), this land contains multiple closed landfills (known as Solid Waste Management Units, or SWMUs) and Areas of Concern with documented contamination, including arsenic above EPA residential screening levels, asbestos waste, blasting debris, and chemical residues in groundwater that exceed drinking‑water standards. These zones were capped or covered with engineered soil to prevent exposure and are legally restricted from activities that would disturb the soil or expose the public.

Despite these facts, Douglas County Commissioners continue to describe the site as having a “clean bill of health,” misleading the public about its condition. The only responsible path forward is full remediation and transparent public disclosure before any development — especially one involving children and families — proceeds.

  2 Traffic and Safety:

Current infrastructure cannot support additional traffic. The Titan flyover was built to accommodate Chatfield Farms and Ravenna—not 12,000 more homes and 24,000 vehicles averaging three trips per day. Waterton to Wadsworth is already dangerously undersized. Moore Road bottlenecks into one lane near Titan, and Waterton to Airport does the same at the railroad crossing. Santa Fe and Highlands Ranch Parkway remain congested even after expansion. Adding this sports complex will make an unsafe situation worse.

    3 Unfunded Project and Rising Taxes:

There is no transparent funding source for this development other than potential mill levy increases. Taxpayers are already burdened by Sterling Ranch and its numerous special districts. This proposal represents yet another tax-funded development benefiting private interests over residents.

    4  Water Table and Resource Mismanagement:

This site sits on Margin A of the local water table—a critical reserve Sterling draws from during droughts. Overuse could literally deplete the region’s water supply in a single dry season. Excessive irrigation of weeds at Waterton and Moore demonstrates irresponsible resource use inconsistent with “water-wise” claims.

    5 Wildlife Impacts:

Wildlife deaths on local roads occur daily. Despite repeated requests, there have been no meaningful efforts to reduce speed limits or add wildlife crossings. Speeding—often 55–70 mph—continues unchecked on Waterton, Moore, Titan, and Wadsworth. These animals were here long before us; protecting their habitat and safety reflects the community’s values.

    6  Educational Priorities Ignored:

Colorado ranks 31st in the nation for academic performance, yet funds are being diverted to a $70 million sports complex that serves a limited population. The majority of local children do not participate in high-cost, organized sports such as hockey or basketball. Investing in education, not recreation for the few, would better serve this community.

https://www.heritage.org/educationreportcard/pages/states/co.html

For decades, this area has been agricultural in nature. Businesses like Murdoch’s located here because of that zoning.   The owners of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, established in 2004, have faced repeated challenges from this developer—attempts to strip agricultural status, block historic bridle paths, and pressure us into exploitative offers. This pattern underscores a disregard for long-standing community members and open-space preservation.

Together, we—the residents—will continue to stand for responsible growth, wildlife protection, and fiscal accountability. We urge you to halt this sports complex proposal and submit it to a public vote, allowing the people who live, work, and pay taxes here to decide.