The Jefferson County Planning Commission has recommended against the approval of a proposed chairlift-access mountain bike park in Conifer — taking a unanimous vote that is a bad sign for the first-of-its-kind attraction in Colorado.
Jeffco’s county commissioners, who have final say over the future of the 250-acre Shadow Mountain Bike Park and a special use permit the project is seeking, are scheduled to take up the proposal on Oct. 1.
The planning commission voted 7-0 against the bike park on Monday night. The park would feature a dedicated chairlift to ferry riders uphill and 16 miles of trails winding down an 830-foot vertical drop for the payoff ride.
The project has faced fierce opposition for years from neighbors living along Shadow Mountain Drive. They have voiced concerns about the park’s potential impact on wildlife, traffic, water, wildfire danger and the tranquility of life in the foothills of Jefferson County.
The project underwent three public meetings in front of the planning commission this month, culminating in Monday’s vote. Cassie Pearce, a spokeswoman for Jefferson County, said the planning commission expressed concern about the project’s impact on wildlife and also had misgivings that property tax revenues generated at the site will fully cover the cost of county-provided services, especially emergency services, associated with the park.
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“We are gratified that the planning commissioners heard our arguments and agreed with us that a commercial bike park doesn’t belong in a residential neighborhood with winding two-lane roads, and only one way in or out in case of a wildfire,” Barbara Moss Murphy, founder of the nonprofit group Stop the Bike Park, said in a statement after the vote.
One of the principals behind the proposed park, Jason Evans, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday morning.
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