Kite, Bauschke to head Clear Creek delegation

Commission Chairman Kelly Kite will represent Douglas County during a special conference to settle issues surrounding the Clear Creek development in North Douglas County. Commissioner Jim Baushke will serve as alternate, as approved by county commissioners Thursday.

Scheduled for Dec. 8, the conference will convene at the behest of the Supreme Court, in the hopes of resolving the conflict out of court.

"The settlement judge will be in control and many times the process requires more than one meeting," said Douglas County District Attorney Scott Doyle. "The December date will just be the opening of the conference process."

The Clear Creek development was originally approved for 91-single-family lots, a golf course and clubhouse, but according to developer John Serpa, the project was not economically feasible considering the amount of infrastructure required.

His new proposal includes 366 single-family homes, 18 timeshare or guest lodges, and a private golf course, the homes would be located on 221 one-acre lots and 155 8,000-square-foot lots.

The Douglas County commissioners approved the new proposal.

The Alpine View Estates Property Owners Association subsequently sued the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and Serpa last December, asking the court to force Douglas County officials to reverse the ruling.

District Judge David Gamble ruled in favor of the Alpine View residents in June, calling the commissioner's decision both arbitrary and capricious.