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The Beginnings of Highlands Ranch

By
Real Estate Agent with Kenna Real Estate Company

From 1937 to 1976 the land on which Highlands Ranch now sits was a large ranch owned by Lawrence Phipps, Jr.  In 1979 it was purchased by Mission Viejo Company.  Mission Viejo filed a plan with Douglas County call the Highlands Ranch Development Plan.  It called for a broad range of housing types and sizes.  The plan called for 61% of the land to be devoted to non-urban uses like open space and recreation, 31% for residential and 8% to business. 

The first homes were built in 1981 and in September 1981 the first residents moved in.  In 1997, J. F. Shea Co., parent company of Shea Homes, purchased Highlands Ranch.  Since those first homes were built in 1981, Highlands Ranch, CO grew to approximately 93,352 residents in February of 2008.  There are 28,997 homes and 3,289 apartments.  Once the community is fully developed in 2020, there are expected to be 100,000 residents in approximately 36,700 homes. 

Highlands Ranch is not an incorporated city and is under the jurisdiction of Douglas County.  Due to the large planned population, the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District was formed to provide services usually provided by city governments such as water, sewage, parks and trails, landscaping and maintenance.  The board of HRMD is made up of seven directors who are elected by the residents.  HRMD has established a partnership with the City of Littleton for fire protection and two fire stations are located in Highlands Ranch.  The community has an enhanced 911 emergency phone system.  Douglas County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement in Highlands Ranch. 

Also established was the Highlands Ranch Community Association which has a five member governing board and a community manager.  They are charged with operating and maintaining the community four recreation centers, a portion of the Back Country Wilderness Area and provide architectural control, covenant enforcement, community events and recreation programs.  Every homeowner in Highlands Ranch is a member and pays dues to the HRCA.

Highlands Ranch is a very unique community that is well run, beautiful, has lots of exciting things to do and has been the model for other similar communities around the country. 

Interested in knowing more about Highlands Ranch or in possibly relocated here?  I will be glad to help you.  Just call 720-884-6040 or email barbara@kennarealestate.com.

Barbara Salisbury

Your Highlands Ranch Expert

Kenna Real Estate

Kennarealestate.com

 

Comments (1)

Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

Good post! Great info again!

Jun 08, 2009 12:02 AM