Since 1921 - Jefferson County, Colorado

updated 7/16/25

Information about Jefferson County's draft Comprehensive Master Plan

Imagine if developers were allowed to build multi-story, high-density apartment and townhome buildings anywhere and everywhere between Colfax and Wide Acres Rd. That would happen under a draft proposal released recently by Jefferson County. This is real. (see below) If the proposal is approved, 3- and 4-story apartment buildings could line the north side of Wide Acres Rd. and the streets connecting Wide Acres to Colfax, adding hundreds of apartments, people and cars to our neighborhood. Our neighborhood would become like Denver.

What you can do to help stop this

Upcoming Open Houses

It's important to attend to voice your concerns! Jeffco is holding Open Houses throughout the county to give citizens the opportunity to learn about the changes to the Comprehensive Master Plan and talk directly with planning staff. This is your chance to tell staff directly of your concerns and objections. These are informal events. It's a room full of displays and tables and you walk through at your leisure. Therefore, arrive at any time and spend as much or as little time as you like. You should be done in less than a half-hour.

Open Houses Near Us

Arvada:

Date: Wednesday, July 16

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: Apex Center, Randall Room, 13150 W 72nd Ave, Arvada (Click for Map)


Golden:

Date: Monday, July 21

Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Jefferson County Administration and Courts Building, Faye Griffin Room, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden (Click for Map)


Others (click here for details)

  • Evergreen - Thursday, July 17
  • Conifer - Tuesday, July 22
  • Littleton - Thursday, July 24

Comment Online or by Email by July 30

You are encouraged to provide comment on BOTH the CMP and the Future Land Use Map. Jeffco's planning department collects all comments, categorizes them and considers them seriously. Your comments will have an impact.

There are two ways to submit comments. Planning staff prefers they be submitted online. That can be a bit confusing, so we provide a brief tutorial. The benefit is you can comment directly on the document and map, so your comments are automatically associated with specific sections and locations. The other is via email. Either way, your comments will be considered.

Links to Information

Here's What Happened

In 2023, the County launched its Together Jeffco initiative, a complete update of its land use codes and other planning documents. The process includes input from Jeffco citizens and many other stakeholders. In late June, the County released the latest draft of the Comprehensive Master Plan, which recommends what the County determines is the most appropriate land use for all areas of unincorporated Jeffco. In conjunction with the release of the draft CMP, the County released a new draft of its Future Land Use Map. The map sets the land use throughout the Wide Acres neighborhood as Urban Residential, allowing high-density apartment buildings and townhomes just like you see in Denver anywhere in what now is a rural neighborhood with narrow streets and no sidewalks. The County is now accepting comments on both the draft CMP and draft map. Comments must be submitted by July 30.

State Law HB24-1313

In 2024, Governor Polis proposed and signed a bill – HB24-1313 – that MANDATES cities and counties allow Denver-type, high-density housing throughout the metro area. It designates “transit corridors,” which include all properties within a quarter mile of a bus route and half mile from a rail station. And that’s where super high-density developments, from 15 to 40+ dwelling units per acre, mostly go. The bill does not care what currently exists along those routes, including a 100-year-old neighborhood like ours. Some local governments – Arvada, Westminster, and others – have chosen to fight the mandate on state constitutional grounds of usurping the authority of local governments instead of complying, and have sued the governor. To date, Jeffco has chosen to comply.

High Density Housing Proposed for Wide Acres

The Wide Acres neighborhood dates back more than 100 years, making it one of the oldest in unincorporated Jeffco. It was established in 1921 and originally consisted of single-family homes on large lots. In more recent decades, both single-family homes, duplexes and some triplexes have been added on smaller lots. Many of the duplexes are rental properties, with a good number of long-term renters. There is also a group home for seniors.

When an earlier draft of the map was released in February, the County identified the best use for Wide Acres was to continue with its existing uses. But in the June draft, there was a dramatic change. The County is now proposing that Wide Acres transition from single-family homes and duplexes to an area of high-density apartment buildings and townhomes. The proposed densities start at 15 dwelling units per acre and should average 40 dwelling units per acre. That's a gigantic jump from the 3 to 3.5 dwelling units per acre that now exists.

Jeffco's Proposal

When an earlier draft was released in February, it showed recommended land uses in the Wide Acres neighborhood and the south part of Applewood remaining essentially as they are today. But, we believe, it was changed for the latest draft due to the state law. Now, the neighborhoods on both sides of Colfax, are designated Urban Residential.

Click map to enlarge

URBAN RESIDENTIAL (URB) (from draft CMP)

Urban Residential development is encouraged in activity centers and along major transportation corridors, near a mix of other uses, near existing or planned transit, and supported by a multimodal transportation network. These areas should highly encourage bicycle and pedestrian facilities that access goods, services, employment, etc. while also providing direct connections to the transit network. These areas anticipate a mix of high-density, attached residential unit types including condominiums, apartments, multiplexes, along with preservation of mobile home parks. Maximum densities should be evaluated in conjunction with available services, impact on traffic and circulation, and relationship to adjacent planned and existing uses.

Residential uses should generally be more than 15 du/ac and an average 40 du/ac where high-frequency transit stations and corridors exist. Considerations and management strategies for high-density recommendations in Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs) will be further detailed in the Area Plans and supported by transportation corridor studies.

  • Primary Uses: Attached residential units, large apartment and condominium complexes and multiplexes, mobile homes, townhomes, and care facilities.
  • Secondary Uses: Mixed uses (e.g., restaurants, office, retail), live-work units, ADUs, schools, community uses, recreational facilities, neighborhood parks, and open space.
  • Compatible Zoning: Higher density residential or mixed-use districts.
  • Existing County Example(s): Tanemara near South Simms and West Bowles avenues; Sixth Avenue West II Townhomes; and Redstone Ridge Condominiums.


To submit comments or questions, or to be added to our email list for updates, email us at protectwideacres@outlook.com