City of Denver versus Beth Eden Baptist Church

[Jerome]

Eminent domain!
City sues for use of a mountain road of a Fundamentalist Baptist church camp:

Denver sues Beth Eden Baptist Church for access to new mountain park

"Denver does not have access to Axton Ranch", and "a local church has refused to sell it access to the only road [Camp Eden Road] leading into its new mountain park".

"'Despite over a year of communicating about an easement and many months negotiating the terms of an easement, the two parties were unable to reach an agreement,' Denver wrote in an eminent domain lawsuit."

"'Denver requires access to Axton Ranch promptly to manage and protect its property, and to ultimately allow for public access and enjoyment of Axton Ranch,' the city claims."

"The city’s plans for Axton Ranch Mountain Park have met resistance from neighbors in that rural area for years. A group of residents calling itself Preserve Coal Creek Canyon warned in 2021 that the park will bring traffic, crime and vagrants"

 

[JPPT1974]

Wonder if this case will drag on until it possibly reaches the US Supreme Court?!

 

[Salty]

It might

 

[Piper]

Beth Eden is a good, solid church.

 

[Salty]

OK - but what makes the church think that crime will increase?

 

[Jerome]

OK - but what makes the church think that crime will increase?

"Beth Eden has sought assurances from Denver that...the city has a plan to police trespassing and other illegal activity in the area. But the city has not provided those assurances."

"'Fire is the biggest issue', said Eric Telesmanich, who has lived next door to Camp Eden for 33 years. 'Then it’s safety, security, traffic and trash'."

"'We moved here with the idea of being in a quiet mountain area so that we don’t have to deal with city stuff', said Cassin, 'and with the crud that comes along with that'."

"[Already some from the city], erroneously believing that Axton Ranch is already a park, have made their way on occasion to Camp Eden Road and the private property that surrounds it....'There has already been some vandalism up here and that’s with the few people driving here now. When it’s thousands of people, you could imagine', said resident Joel Furnace."

 

[Jerome]

City of Denver abandons eminent domain lawsuit, will pay the church $100,000 for road access

"The agreement ends an eminent domain dispute that rankled residents of Coal Creek Canyon, 40 miles northwest of downtown Denver."

"In 2021, the Axton family donated its 448-acre ranch to Denver....Beth Eden Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge owns Camp Eden and Camp Eden Road, which runs through the camp for a quarter mile, ending at the entrance to Axton Ranch. The Axtons have been able to use the road due to a handshake agreement they have with the church. When it came time for Denver to buy public access to the road, the church balked."

"On May 31, Denver’s finance director sent a letter to Beth Eden offering $20,000....The church declined....Denver sued Beth Eden and asked a Jefferson County judge to let it take access through eminent domain. Meanwhile, the two sides kept negotiating. On Oct. 30, the Denver City Attorney’s Office informed Judge Jason Carrithers that a settlement had been reached and asked him to close the case. He did so the next day. That settlement calls for the city to pay $100,000 to Beth Eden; to snowplow and otherwise maintain the road; to put up 'No Trespassing', 'No Parking' and 'Slow – Children at Play' signs; and to be liable for injuries that occur....In exchange, the church grants Denver an access easement."

 

[Salty]

This OP started over 2 years ago --- oh thats right the government was involved.