Burning Tree Ranch Neighborhood News and Updates
Aug-21-2025 PETITION TO STOP THE METRO DISTRICT PROPOSAL!
The proposed Metro District for the Sundown Oaks development immediately adjoining BTR to the south, if approved, could have major negative impacts on our community and other surrounding communities. Those negative impacts include contamination of our water supply from the Upper Dawson Aquifer. The final stage in the approval process will be on Sep. 9th, when the Douglas County Commissioners will consider and vote on the proposal.
Our neighboring community, Bannockburn, has developed an online petition which each of us can sign, as it is crucial to make our voices heard on this issue. The petition site provides a condensed discussion of the issues related to the Metro District, based on research by the Franktown Citizens’ Coalition II (FCCII). The petition will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners prior to their decision on the proposal.
Please follow the link below to read the information, and to sign the petition in support of stopping the Metro District proposal for the neighboring Sundown Oaks community.
Please also consider attending the Board of County Commissioners Hearing on the proposal to make your voice heard (Sep. 9th, 2:30pm).
REMINDER: FIRE MITIGATION GRANT AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE
This is a reminder regarding the fire mitigation grant offered by the CSFS. The application window on this grant is short. This is a community grant, where at least 15 BTR lot owners would be required to commit to having fire mitigation work done on their property and included in the grant application. The mitigation work will focus on the three defensible space zones around structures one wants to defend from wildfire (0-5’, 5-30’, 30-100’), with the work done by a contractor chosen by the CSFS; additional mitigation work beyond the three zones on one’s lot would also qualify in the grant. For information on the three zones, click the following: https://burningtreeranchhoa.org/fire-mitigation , scroll down to ‘Downloads’ and download the ‘Home Ignition Zone Guide’, pp. 8-9.
The application for this grant is fairly involved, thus the Franktown Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) office would build and submit the application, and manage the mitigation work. The Franktown CSFS office requires the list of 15(+) lot owners by September 1, 2025, and would shortly afterward conduct an informational meeting. They would then build and submit the application by October 9, 2025. Fire mitigation work would be done late 2026. If you are interested, please see the following overview, with more information available at the link below. If you are interested in having work done on your lot, please let the BTRHOA Board know of your interest (so we can tally the number of interested parties toward the 15 lot owner threshold: please include your name, address, phone number, email, and approximate acres to be treated on your lot). Note: if one wishes to be included in the application, you will need to have a CSFS assessment of your lot ($93) so they can determine the fire mitigation work needed for your lot, plus an approximate $40 fee for the CSFS to build and submit the application. Upon completion of the work, you would pay the contractor for the work done on your lot, and be reimbursed 50% of the fire mitigation work cost by the CSFS. https://csfs.colostate.edu/grants/forest-restoration-wildfire-risk-mitigation/
Apr-1-2025 BEARS ARE ACTIVE
It's that time of year (mid-March through late November) when bears have come out of hibernation, roaming the neighborhood in search of food, and occasionally raiding bird feeders and trash left out for pickup. For helpful information on these issues and on co-existing safely with bears, we recommend the following website:
https://cpw.state.co.us/living-bears
WILDFIRE MITIGATION REVIEW OF YOUR PROPERTY
Would you like to get a professional wildfire mitigation review of your property that is free of charge? The Franktown Fire Department provides that service. By calling the Fire Department at 303-688-3811 and requesting that review, you can schedule a visit by the staff where they will instruct you on wildfire mitigation priorities, and areas of prevention improvement for you to focus on. You can expect the review to take approximately ½ hour.
DOUGLAS COUNTY SLASH/MULCH SITE
The Slash/Mulch site at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock will be open for the 2025 season Apr. 12 - Oct. 25, on Saturdays only (weather permitting). For more information click the following link: https://www.douglas.co.us/public-works/slash-mulch-program/
ARE YOU RECEIVING HOA EMAILS?
If you have not been receiving BTRHOA community communication emails, please click the "Contact Us" link below to let us know so we can update the distribution lists with your correct email address.