Redlands
Hiking trails to the Colorado National Monument are accessed at several points in the Redlands, including this one at the end of Wildwood Drive. (Photos by Penny Stine/Real Estate Weekly) |
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Redlands: The Redlands: Privacy, golf and views
Most Redlands residents want to preserve their privacy and their lack of urban amenities. There isn't a coffee shop on every corner or a dry-cleaners down the block. There are, however, two golf courses, nearby hiking and biking trails, and views that command big bucks to enjoy.
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Redlands: Controlled growth and commercial development
By PENNY STINE
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
There have been some recent proposals to bring a few large developments to the Redlands, but none of them have gotten past the planning commission yet. A growth plan amendment to change the zoning on one parcel of land to allow for higher density housing stalled this past week with a tie vote, which sums up the struggle happening in the Redlands. |
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[ENLARGE & EXPAND MAP] |
Growth may be inevitable, but the Redlands isn't going to go quietly into the twilight of tract housing. And no one, least of all the developer whose proposal is in limbo, really wants it to.
JUST FOUR LOTS REMAIN tin Stone Canyon Ranch. The remaining lots are all more than two acres and start at $345,000 (as of 6/07) |
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"Obviously, our plans are to do a nice development," says Darren Caldwell, whose company, Conquest Construction, has built in several exclusive areas on the Redlands, including Redlands Mesa Golf Community and High Pointe Estates. Should the proposed growth plan amendment receive approval, lot sizes will remain generous, with a residential low density of one house per half-acre to two acres.
Another large proposed project with a low-density zoning is in the planning stages. The proposal for Red Rocks Valley on South Camp near Canyon Rim and Monument Valley is a development of 156 lots on 139 acres. The proposal may go to the planning commission in June. |
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Another recent real estate deal that could have a significant impact for residents on the Redlands is the purchase of 35 acres of land near Wildwood Drive by School District #51. The school board approved a resolution to buy the land for a new high school, but the final decision won't be made until mid-June. The school board has already purchased a 35-acre high school site north of town and a 30-acre high school site on Orchard Mesa.
"Part of the discussion is the recommendation for two high schools, not just one," says school district spokesperson Jeff Kirtland. Although the school district would need to bring a bond issue before voters in order to build new schools, money was set aside in the capital reserve fund and in the last bond levy for land purchases. |
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COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT is never far away in the Redlands. |
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TIARA RADO GOLF COURSE is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, working to create good envirnmental practices and wildlife habitatt for the animals that call it home. |
The Golf Course at Redlands Mesa has also been in the news lately. BrightStar Golf Group LLC, a Carlsbad, Calif. management firm, purchased the course. At this point, there are no proposed plans to change the community or the golf course.
Tiara Rado, the city-owned golf course on the Redlands, is enjoying a busier than normal season. Their Monday night Golf Without Intimidation program opens the back nine for beginners, giving participants a punch card to keep track of the number of holes they're able to complete. The pace of play is slower, enabling beginners to get comfortable playing the game without the pressure of experienced golfers and rushed play. |
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Tiara Rado is also in an elite group of golf courses throughout the country as a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Since 2000, when Tiara Rado first became a member, the golf course has worked to implement environmentally sound practices that promote water conservation, water quality management, integrated pest management to reduce the amount of pesticides and sprays, wildlife management and outreach and education.
The program has been successful. Tiara Rado is one of the only places in the country to provide a habitat for three species of bluebirds. The course is also home to screech owls, which keep the rodent population low, and skunks that perform the job of grub control on the fairways. Some flowerbeds are designed for low-water usage, while others are designed for biological pest control. The groundskeepers at Tiara Rado don't just provide an attractive course that's in great condition for the golfers, but a course that's a great habitat for wildlife and a good steward of its resources. |
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ACE HARDWARE recently opened along Broadway in the Redlands. There are four more commercial units available for lease in that shopping area (as of 6/07). |
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REDLANDS VALLEY is a 12-lot subdivision currently under construction. There are two lots still available, and ten homes that will be for sale in the subdivision (as of 6/07). |
Although canyon views and golf take center stage in the Redlands today, there was a time when orchards dominated the scenery. Now, Miller Orchards on Star Canyon Drive is the only commercial orchard still in operation. |
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"This was all orchards, from South Camp Road to Tiara Rado," says Jim Miller, who remembers when cherries, apples, apricots and peaches were all produced on 20 neighboring orchards. This year, Miller anticipates a smaller than normal cherry crop, which should start in about a week, and a good peach crop.
Although commercial development has been slow by design on the Redlands, it is happening in a few designated areas. An Ace Hardware store recently opened next to the Monument Village shopping area on Broadway. There are five new commercial units next to it. The financial services company Edward Jones has leased one unit and should open in June. The other four units are still available. |
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FISHER CONSTRUCTION HOME in Peregrine Estates off S. Broadway recently went under contract, but homes in the neighborhood are still available (as of 6/07). |
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CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CLASSROOMS at Redlands Middle School is on schedule to be finished by the time the school year starts in the fall. |
"There might be both a deli and a pizza delivery out there," says commercial broker Jim Garber with Coldwell Banker. Although he's also talked with hair salons and specialty retailers, no one has committed yet.
For those who can't wait for the next planning commission meeting to buy a new home in the Redlands, there are developments currently available. Redlands Valley, a 12-lot subdivision off Broadway, still has two lots left. Builders doing spec homes purchased the remaining ten. Most of the builders are planning 2,200 Ð 2,300 square feet homes, with price tags in the low 400s, making it one of the most reasonably priced areas for the Redlands. |
Copyright 2007 Grand Junction Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved
Re-published with permission from GJ Sentinel
The Redlands is named for the area’s red soils and spectacular red cliffs and canyons of the Colorado National Monument, which rise as much as 2000 feet from the floor of the Grand Valley. The Redlands has a distinct character, with the varying topography, scenic vistas, open and somewhat rural feel.
One of the goals of the Redlands is to achieve high quality development in terms of site planning and architectural design especially as it relates to commercial development.
The enjoyment of the night sky is also a high priority for residents of the Redlands. Specific standards are developed in the communities to address light pollution concerns. The close proximity to the Colorado National Monument makes it that much more important that the amount of lighting in certain areas be kept to a minimum.
Residential land use comprises 72%. Agriculture land use comprises approx. 13% where lifestyle agriculture is the mainstay: orchards, pastures, roadside fruit stands, nurseries and some limited grazing on the west end. The remaining 15% of the area comprises private commercial and public/quasi-public.
The Redlands is a bedroom community and contains little local employment. The largest employers in the area are Safeway, Schools, Albertson’s and the Pepsi Bottling Company. There are a growing number of small neighborhood retail businesses; bank, convenience stores with gas stations, restaurants, mini-storage, water bottling, landscaping and nursery businesses as well as office space.
There are three elementary schools and one middle school located on the Redlands. Broadway, Scenic and Wingate Elementary Schools and Redlands Middle School. There are many churches throughout the area which you will find on my website. City, County and State agencies own/manage parks within the area. There are two golf courses on the Redlands; City owned Tiara Rado and private company owned Redlands Mesa. Numerous bicycling and hiking trails and trail connections exist within the area.
Neighborhood shopping centers are within 5 miles of most neighborhoods on the Redlands with a convenience store in between. Neighborhood parks are also plentiful and within walking distance from neighborhoods. Colorado River State Park is actually five sections of beautiful stops along the Colorado River as it flows through the Grand Junction area. From Island Acres on the east, the Colorado River State Park makes its way through Corn Lake, the Wildlife Area near 30 Road, then to Connected Lakes located in the north-central area of the Redlands and on down the river to Fruita. Connected Lakes Park has a trail system that winds through stands of tall trees and along the banks of the Colorado River. The park offers opportunities for visitors to enjoy great fishing and picnics in beautiful settings. There is an abundance of public owned land in and around the Redlands area. Much of this land is owned and managed by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
Re-published with permission from The City of Grand Junction Planning Commission
Please contact me for any additional information
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