Democrats make ghost guns illegal in Colorado

can until last year.

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Unserialized Firearms and Firearm Components is on its way to Governor Polis for signature after passing the State House on May 5, having passed the Senate on April 28. The bill won the support of every Democrat, except Sen. Kevin Priola, who was a Republi-

SB23-279

No Republicans in either the State House or State Senate voted yes for the bill that prohibits, “on and after January 1, 2024, knowingly selling, offering to sell, possessing, transferring, purchasing, or transporting an unfinished firearm frame or receiver, a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm, unless it has been imprinted with a serial number as required by federal law.” The bill also prohibits the manufacture of a frame or receiver of a firearm by anyone who does not hold a federal license to do so.

The bill is supported by 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner, who was the Republican nominee for Colorado Attorney General in November 2022. It is also supported by Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, both of whom are Republicans, though presently serving their cities in a non-parti- san role.

Anyone in the state who has an unserialized firearm in his or her possession must have that firearm imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee by January 1, 2024 for it to be legal.

A first offense under this new law is a class one misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense is a class five felony.

This is the fifth and final bill of the 2023 legislative session passed to address gun violence. Previous bills, signed by Governor Polis on April 28, require a three-day waiting period to purchase a gun, increase the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21, expand the list of those who can request implementation of the red flag law, and allow gun violence victims wider access to sue gun sellers and manufacturers under certain circumstances. fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

Aurora approves multifamily project in Eagle Bend over neighbors’ objections

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On April 24, the Aurora City Council upheld the decision of its Planning & Zoning Commission’s (P & Z) approving the Echelon at Eagle Bend Multi-Family Site Plan with adjustments on a vote of 8 to 3. Voting to support the project and P & Z were Council Members Crystal Murillo, Steve Sundberg, Ruben Medina, Juan Marcano, Alison Coombs, Curtis Gardner, Danielle Jurinsky, and Dustin Zvonek. Voting against the project and P & Z were Mayor Mike Coffman and Council Members

Françoise Bergan and Angela Lawson.

In Aurora, a land use project that meets the elements of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and other applicable requirements need only be ap- proved by P & Z. The only role of the city council is to hear an appeal of that decision, should one be requested. That is what occurred with this project.

Aja Tibbs, senior planner in the city’s planning development services department, told the council that the property is 14.73 acres on the southeast corner of E. Aurora Parkway and S. Quemoy Way, just east of the Heritage Eagle Bend (HEB) 55-andover Planned Development. She explained that the entire area is governed by the Eagle Bend General Development Plan (GDP) which contains the building and development standards for the area. Development projects must also be harmonized with the applicable zoning standards, the UDO, and the city’s comprehensive plan.

Originally zoned for assisted living, the property was rezoned to multi-family residential in 2006, making that a use by right. It remained vacant until 2022, when a developer, Garrett Properties from Indiana, bought the land to build a multi-family complex named Echelon, which will have 260 units over 10 multi-family buildings, a clubhouse, pool, and maintenance building, plus a dog park and open space path.

Five of the ten residential buildings are two or three stories located along the back and interior of the site. The other five are four stories, located along Aurora Parkway. “Parking requirements are met by a mixture of tuck-under parking, detached garages, and surface parking,” Tibbs told the council.

She went on to explain that city staff and P & Z found the development in compliance with the applicable approval criteria, that it furthered Aurora’s

“Housing for All” principle, and that existing city infrastructure and public improvements have sufficient capacity to serve the development. Tibbs also noted

Aurora approves multifamily project

Continued from page 2 that the proposal “will improve and expand existing bicycle and pedestrian conductivity through the site in the community through Aurora Parkway.”

Finally, Tibbs said, “The project is compatible with surrounding institutional and residential uses. The proposal has minimal external impacts on the surrounding area and provides housing opportunities for Aurora residents on a vacant parcel designated for multifamily use,” adding that, “adverse impacts are mitigated.”

For those reasons, she reported that P & Z voted unanimously to approve the site plan and adjustments on March 8, 2023.

On March 17, the Eagle Bend Metropolitan District appealed the planning commission’s decision and on March 20, 27 abutting property owners from HEB also filed an appeal. Both were based on the appellants’ belief that the project was not in compliance with the Eagle Bend GDP and that city staff, along with P & Z, had incorrectly determined that the project met applicable standards for architectural style, maximum allowed building height, and usable open space.

Ashley Bedell, vice president of development for The Garrett Companies, testified to the council that, “Since our initial filing in May 2022, we have worked with staff to confirm our project complies with the Eagle Bend GDP and the UDO. This was validated by the approval we received from P & Z on March 8 (which) came after the commission’s careful consideration of the same issues raised on appeal by the neighbors.”

She continued, “The GDP anticipated more intense uses, including commercial and multifamily, would occur along Aurora Parkway, a major arterial.” Bedell went on to describe the great care that had been taken to ensure appropriate setbacks and transition between Echelon and HEB when decisions were made about building types and building placement.

Describing the role of the project in the community, Bedell said, “Not only will this project fill a need for middle housing within the City of Aurora, it will appeal to a variety of residents through two different building types,” referring to the five four-story elevator buildings on the north side of the project, compared to five buildings on the south that will be, “more of a 2 ½ story home that’s more like a duplex or a townhome that has direct entries.”

Finally, she presented a chart showing that Echelon will have fewer units, more parking, and larger setbacks than what is required by the GDP and UDO.

Next, Will Schippers testified to the council on behalf of the Eagle Bend Metropolitan District that the proposed Echelon development did not meet architectural design, height, or neighborhood harmony require- ments because, “The Garrett four-story Echelon buildings are more representative of a hotel,” and, “It is inconceivable that the authors of the Eagle Bend GDP would have ever envisioned a hotel-type building being a part of any residential area within Eagle Bend.”

Schippers concluded, “The

City of Aurora has no obligation, nor the authority to allow noncompliance with the GDP standards just to make the project financially feasible or desirable to Garrett. The district requests that the City of Aurora not approve the project as designed and recommends Garrett eliminate all four-story buildings,” adding,

We will also offer small-group tours of the historic 17 Mile House and barn. This is a FREE event, but registration is required. Registration:

“When Garrett recently wanted to relocate their offices, they did not choose Aurora. They moved their offices from Lone Tree to the Denver Tech Center,” which shows that, “Garrett is not invested in this community.”

HEB resident James Folk

Continued on page 5

Shred-a-thon is on Sat., May 20, from 8 a.m.-12 in Centennial. Learn more at

I know it’s the beginning of summer when the fruit trees all blossom in the same week. It must be God that sends all the trees a message to shower the nation with the beautiful blossoms that promise another day.

***

I also note that it is the beginning of summer when a bug splashes on my windshield, always right in front of my face on the windshield and the spray and wipers can’t wash the spot. I used some cold coffee to clean the windshield last week, coke also works well.

***

The Villager is enjoying their location at the Streets of Southglenn. We’ll keep on, keeping on, enjoying our work and the wonderful readership that we enjoy from our subscriber base. I think we’ve had some really good newspapers this past year. At least the newspaper judges thought so and readership remains at a high level. We’re really pleased with the tribute edition to iconic figure John Madden Jr. who celebrated his 93nd birthday at his residence in Greenwood

Village. He is truly one of the pioneers of the area and a visionary for our South Metro area.

***

I’m glad the masks have disappeared, very few spotted these days. Most of the senior care centers now do not require masks to enter. It’s been a tough two years dealing with Covid19, but most of us made it through. My nose still runs slightly, which never occurred prior to my two inoculations. Any of you have strange maladies from the shots?

***

I work at home most of the time and then make my rounds for meetings and events. The Cancer League Hope Ball is on the schedule for Saturday night. The event is an extraordinary event put on by volunteers to support cancer victims and research. Gary and Barbara Reece are stellar leaders of the organization, along with dozens of volunteers.

*** Western Conservative Summit is arriving with a bevy of powerful speakers kicking off June 9-10 at a new location from last year’s

Gaylord Event Center. This year the Summit will be held at Hyatt Regency Denver. The event is a chance to hear notable speakers from across the nation and keep abreast of national political activities. The presidential election is already starting to dominate the national news. It appears to me at this point in time that we’re going to have a rerun of the Trump/Biden contest that will be political warfare.

***

On other fronts, I arose at 3:30 a.m. Saturday to witness the King Charles III Coronation. The British Empire still loves their royalty and the pomp and pageantry was magnificent. The impressive ceremony went off perfectly with massive crowds jubilantly cheering on the new king and queen. One of our writers, Anna Lee Frolich, is a 17th great niece related to British royalty and was invited to the resurrection of King Richard III’s tomb discovered in a parking lot. I’m reminded that the founding fathers asked General George Washington if he wanted to be king and he declined the offer. We became a Republic with Democratic principles guided

New Zealand is open for business and travel

New Zealand closed its borders due to COVID beginning in February 2020, finally reopening to visitors over two years later, in August 2022. As an island country, border security is far easier than in the US for example.

I had the opportunity to visit recently, for both work and fun, 3 days of each. For work, I am an ophthalmology consultant in the eye department, where I once worked full time about 20 years ago. I have maintained my license and visit once or twice a year to assist in the eye clinic where their national health service has perpetual long wait lists for eye care.

I combined this trip with a hiking and kayaking adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island.

Getting to New Zealand is easy but not for the faint hearted as the flight from the US to Auckland is about 12 hours.

Nonstop flights depart daily from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston via United or Air New Zealand. Several flights per week depart from Chicago and New York City, but these flights are even longer and out of the way if traveling from Denver.

Fortunately, flights from the US leave at night and if you can sleep on the flight, arrival early in the morning, two days later due to crossing the international date line, is not so bad. Even better is a lie flat business class seat. The day lost going to NZ will be recovered when you return to the US. Clockwise I often arrive home before I departed NZ.

An easy to obtain electronic travel visa is required but there are no longer any COVID requirements, either testing or by the Constitution.

***

The Nuggets looked tired in Phoenix Sunday night, losing two games, and now come back to Denver tied at 2-2 with the Suns. The Suns shooting has been phenominal. Hard to defeat a team that keeps making three-point shots. Games are really entertaining to witness and Jokic is terrific but looking exhausted.

***

I’m predicting that the Congress will pass a new budget and our government will kick the national debt down the road to September.

Best way to reduce the debt would be to sell all the vacant government lands in the west to private citizens and eliminate the debt and put that property on the tax rolls. It was once proposed as the “Sagebrush Rebellion.” A movement in the western United States in the 1070s and 1980s that sought major changes to federal land control, usage, and disposal policies in 13 western states.

Let Americans own a piece of our country. *** vaccination. A day in Auckland is a good way to relax after a long flight and chip away at some of the inevitable jet lag.

BY BRIAN C. JOONDEPH

After that, the adventures begin.

New Zealand has 14 national parks and stunning scenery, especially in the South Island.

From volcanic plains and glaciers to rain forests and fiords, there is much to see and do, especially if you enjoy hiking. The hikes vary in length and difficulty, but there is something for everyone. I recommend the guided hikes where you stay in a comfortable lodge, enjoying a soft bed, hot shower, delicious meal, and glass of wine, rather than bunking in an open hut, especially if it is raining, a frequent phenomenon along their West coast.

New Zealand is mostly cashless, and a credit or debit card will make purchases much easier. Mobile phones work just fine over there. My carrier is AT&T and for $10/ day I can use my phone just as I use it at home – calls, messages, email, and web browsing.

The culture has a British flavor as NZ is part of the Commonwealth, but the accent is distinct from the UK and similar to, but still different than that in Australia. There is also a heavy Māori influence, the Māori being New Zealand’s indigenous peoples.

Although a long trip, NZ is an easy country to visit and well worth it if you are looking for an out of the way adventure. Given the travel distance, I would recommend at least two weeks to get a good taste of the country.

Bon

voyage!

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Reverend Martin Niemoller “In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”

2020 Member