Hello Team! We now have almost 7,000 signatures on our petition — thank you! To put that in perspective: only 3,031 people voted in the 2024 mayoral race in Lone Tree, and back in 2000, when the mesa tops were “zoned” for rural residential housing, Lone Tree’s population was just 4,873.

If everyone shared this PETITION LINK with just one more person today, we’d be well on our way to reaching our next goal of 15,000 signatures.

Also, please don’t worry about donating to Change.org — those donations do not go to our efforts directly, they go to Change,org’s efforts to share the petition more widely on their platform. The best way to help is simply sharing the link and spreading awareness. IF you feel led to help donate to our efforts, please email us at savethelonetreebluffs@gmail.com and we’ll speak directly.

Recap: The November 13 Brookfield / RidgeGate Meeting

Because of this community’s support, the meeting was standing-room only — we even exceeded the fire-code limit and had to turn people away at the door. That turnout speaks volumes, and we’ll need that energy in every phase of this battle.

Brookfield/RidgeGate hired a public relations firm to run the meeting, aiming to “sell” the project and make Hillcamp seem inevitable. But residents didn’t buy it. Their claim that they were there to “listen” to our concerns also didn’t hold up to scrutiny.

Here are the key takeaways from the meeting:

• Hillcamp is only in Step 2 of 5 in the development process   — this project is far from approved, and we still have a voice.
• The developers keep saying it was “zoned in 2000,” but zoning is not approval. Owning land does not mean unrestricted development rights.
• Their own plans contradict their statements that the East/West Regional Trail will be unaffected. Brookfield saying they’ll add new “trails” to Hillcamp is not the same as preserving our existing open-space trails and views.
• Residents in Surrey Ridge and McArthur Ranch were told that Lone Tree will control access through their unincorporated communities — even though those neighborhoods strongly oppose any access through their roads.
• Major concerns — including water supply, fire risk, drainage, landslides, and wildlife disruption — were minimized or ignored.
• There is a concerning lack of transparency regarding any prior agreements between RidgeGate and the City of Lone Tree. The City has stated that any road or bridge must go through formal approval; RidgeGate claims they already have development rights.

Keith Simon of RidgeGate Investments/Coventry Development repeatedly stated that “residents approved” this type of development back in 2000. That statement is misleading. Subdivision approvals come from the City, not from a public vote. If residents could vote on Hillcamp today, the results would be clear.

A lot has changed in 25 years — population, infrastructure, environmental conditions, and community priorities. Decisions today must be based on current realities, not outdated zoning or assumptions from two decades ago.

How You Can Help

1.      We’re forming committees to organize outreach, research, and community coordination so we can be more effective together. If you’d like to get involved, email us at savethelonetreebluffs@gmail.com.  We have opportunities for both behind-the-scenes roles and in-person community work.

2.      Share the petition with neighbors, friends, coworkers, and groups — hikers, bikers, parents, and nature enthusiasts all have a stake in this. We need your help getting to GROUPS of people!

3.      Contact City and County leaders — the Mayor, City Council, Douglas County Commissioners, and the Planning Director — and tell them what the bluffs, trails, and mesa tops mean to you.  Here is a link to a pre-written Lone Tree email  and a link to a pre-written Douglas County email. ANYONE can send an email even if you don’t live in Lone Tree or Douglas County.

4.      If you know a journalist big, medium or small that wants to cover this ongoing story, please send us an email at savethelonetreebluffs@gmail.com  Check out SAVE THE LONE TREE BLUFFS media coverage here:) CBS NEWS & The Douglas County Lantern

5.      Do you want to put flyers out at your business about our efforts? Let us know and we’ll drop some by!

Together, We’re Making an Impact

We’ve already proven that this community is paying attention — and that we won’t back down. The developers know we’re organized, informed, and united in protecting what makes Lone Tree special.

Let’s keep the pressure on, continue showing up, and make sure that the bluffs, trails, and mesa tops remain protected for generations to come.

We appreciate your support and effort Save the Lone Tree Bluffs Community, thank you so much!