YOUR AD HERE »

Jonathan Lowe: Narrow interests in Frisco

Jonathan Lowe
Ophir Mountain Village
Frisco, CO Colorado

It is disheartening that the decision-making capacity of Frisco’s town council is once again going to be farmed out to a lopsided and cumbersome referendum. Similar to the Peninsula and Home Depot phenomenon, narrowly scoped interests of those who are fervently against the Peak One parcel development (who apparently don’t trust their town council to decide on future development of town-owned land that is not open space) threaten the broader interest of those who live in the Miner’s Creek drainage.

I suspect that the Friends of Frisco Open Space (FFOS) will sell their agenda as some form of environmentalism over the coming weeks. I find this approach pretty problematic. Are we going to rally to save the BMX track on the Peak One parcel? Or perhaps the traditional dog poop zones in that area? Or are we really just concerned that real estate values of adjoining properties may not increase at their historic rate? What is FFOS really trying to preserve?

On the Peninsula, are we going to save the long-since-destroyed clear-cut, beetle-killed, dammed-up landscape of this gift from the beloved Denver Water Board? The natural heritage of that area was blown to pieces decades ago. Oooh, and what if we damaged lovely character of the land next to I-70? No one even poops their dogs there.



These are not environmental interests. These are anthropocentric interests regarding property values and frontcountry recreation on landscapes that have already been permanently altered. FFOS, you are going to have to rustle up some boreal toads real quick to push any sort of viable environmentalist argument.

The FFOS states clearly on their website “We are dedicated to preserving the character of Frisco.” I take this to mean that they want to preserve the current housing environment and perpetuate the ongoing pattern of inflated costs and decreasing census at Frisco Elementary. Does this sound like a healthy growing community to you?



The obstructive politics of FFOS need to be seen for what they are. The character of Frisco is only as vibrant as its community. The FFOS agenda will degrade the community and continue the chronic stricture that impedes a sustainable environment for families and workforce.

I implore Frisco voters to vote “No” on this needless referendum, and to consider the mission statement of your town council: “To preserve a family oriented and economically vibrant mountain community that thrives on citizen involvement, respects our community character and natural environment, and enhances our quality of life.” This town council does not need to be micro-managed by a referendum. Clearly their agenda is more inclusive, expansive and better thought out than that of FFOS.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.