Quincy Farm Conservation Easement
Cat Anderson was deliberate in the wording and the requirements set forth in the conservation easement for Quincy Farm. She chose Colorado Open Lands to oversee the easement, believing that this organization would ensure that Cherry Hills Village followed not only the spirit of the easement but also, and most importantly, the contractual requirements set forth in the document.
Unfortunately, Cherry Hills Village has decided to interpret the easement to fits its plan to turn both the east and west side of Quincy Farm into full, dusk to dawn recreational access areas. That’s not what Cat Anderson wanted and it’s not what is set forth in the easement.
The conservation easement clearly states on Page 7: "The West Area may (only) be used for Preservation Uses . . . and for Agricultural Uses. . . and managed primarily as a natural area with limited public access.”
Colorado Open Lands opposed Cherry Hills Village’s plan for the West Side
When a grantor — the person who owns a property — creates a conservation easement, they must convey that easement to a qualified preservation organization. For Quincy Farm, that nonprofit is Colorado Open Lands (COL), one of the largest land trusts in Colorado. Once in place, easements are perpetual, binding both current and future owners to protect the conservation values of the property.
Colorado Open Lands is legally empowered to ensure the provisions of the easement are respected and upheld. They have communicated to Cherry Hills Village on multiple occasions that they do not agree with the direction, access plan and other provisions set forth by Council and staff for the West Side of Quincy Farm.
COL has repeatedly told Cherry Hills Village that sun up to sundown access violates the easement and has the potential to harm the conservation values.
Among several communications to Cherry Hills Village, on February 22, 2019, Colorado Open Lands said that “We are concerned that your proposal to allow extensive public access of the Farm may negatively impact the Conservation Values of the Property.” Colorado Open Lands went further on July 2, 2019 to say “Unfortunately, we do not believe that the type and extent of public access in your proposal (sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week) is consistent with the conservation easement. Specifically, we do not believe it is ‘limited’ and is not consistent with the Preservation Uses as defined.”
The full letters are available by clicking here. An excerpt of the letter shows COL’s concerns, which Cherry Hills Village has, to date, dismissed.
Despite being told by Colorado Open Lands that the plan violates the easement, Cherry Hills Village has moved forward with construction to place a permanent trail on the West Side of the property and open it to access from sun up to sundown. The City didn’t notify neighbors of construction and has not addressed concerns about monitoring of the property, traffic, parking or the potential for visitors to vandalize Quincy Farm.