To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Katherine Smith, Acting Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
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Ryan Seacrist, PE, CIP Program Manager, Public Works & Development
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Subject:
title
C19-007 Gun Club Widening - Acceptance of Right-of-Way from Rippey Commercial Investors, LLC to Arapahoe County
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The approval and signature of the Board of County Commissioners is sought for the acceptance of Right-of-Way (ROW) as part of the CORE Transmission Line relocation agreement. The property is located on the west side of South Gun Club Road, generally located between the E-470 ramps and East Belleview Avenue.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Plan for future service, infrastructure, and fiscal needs.
Background and Discussion: In anticipation of the upcoming South Gun Club Widening project, County staff worked with a developer adjacent to the project, Rippey Commercial Investors, LLC (Rippey), to negotiate acquisition of right-of-way, easements, and relocation of transmission lines owned by CORE Electric Cooperative (CORE). The agreement is beneficial for both the County and Rippey. County staff including individuals from the planning division, transportation division, and attorney’s office staff met with managers from Rippey to negotiate the terms of the agreement over multiple meetings. The attached relocation agreement has been agreed to by both groups in principle. The existing ROW along this section of Gun Club is approximately 89 feet. The total ROW needed for the final Gun Club widening project is 141’.
In order to accomplish this need, the agreement will dedicate 32’ of ROW and 20’ of public use easement (PUE). These property acquisitions will give the County the needed width to accomplish the project. Rippey will also dedicate new easements for the relocation of the CORE transmission lines that will be located on the west side of their property adjacent to E-470. The County will provide coordination and fund the relocation of the CORE transmission lines to the final location. This funding was previously approved by the Board and is 50/50 cost split with City of Aurora. These funds are already with City of Aurora. The relocation of the utility lines are awaiting the final utility design and acceptance of these parcels prior to procurement of the equipment and construction. The relocation of these lines are required for the widening.
The PWD Transportation Division and County Attorney’s Office presented the agreement to the BOCC on September 28th, 2026, during a study session. The Board was in favor of approving the agreement and is on the agenda for acceptance on October 27th, 2026.
Alternatives: The alternative is to not accept the properties, this leaves the County with needing to acquire right-of-way and easements in the future for the Gun Club Road Widening project. This cost is estimated to be millions of dollars and significant time in additional negotiations. Also, if the County constructs improvements prior to development, the cost for those improvements would solely be the County’s.
Fiscal Impact: The cost estimated for the right-of-way and easements are at no cost. The cost to relocate the CORE transmission lines is currently estimated at $2.0M and is a 50/50 split between the City of Aurora and has been previously funded.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: N/A
Concurrence: PWD staff believe approval and signature on this relocation agreement is in the best interest of the County.