Jefferson County, Colorado is currently embroiled in a dispute with a local property owner, Taralyn Romero, over the county’s attempt to gain control of a plot of land next to Kittredge Community Park. The land has historically been used as a public access point to Bear Creek, but Romero recently cut off public access by erecting a fence on the property.
Jefferson County has filed a lawsuit against Romero and her fiancé, seeking to obtain the land through “adverse possession” or through an injunction. The county argues that the property is a public easement and that it would be difficult for Romero to prove adverse possession if the case were to go to court.
Romero purchased the property in March 2021 and claims that she was unaware that the land was traditionally used by the public for access to Bear Creek. She has shown old maps and surveys indicating that her property extends beyond the creek to where park visitors have access.
The disputed boundary between Romero’s land and the park is another point of contention. The county claims that the creek should be the boundary, but the creek has moved south over the years. Romero has taken a stand against the county, arguing that her property rights should be protected and that other residents should not be forced off their land.
The situation has caused division among the local community, with some supporting the county’s attempt to regain public access to Bear Creek and others siding with Romero’s right to control her own property. Real estate brokers and agents have also spoken out, with many voicing concerns about the precedent this case could set and the potential impact on property rights in the area.
As the legal battle continues, concerned citizens have started a petition calling on the Jefferson County Commissioners to drop the case and protect property rights for all residents.
Jefferson County, Colorado is currently embroiled in a dispute with a local property owner, Taralyn Romero, over a plot of land adjacent to Kittredge Community Park. Here are the main points of the conflict:
- The disputed land has been used as a public access point to Bear Creek for years.
- Romero recently erected a fence that cuts off public access to the creek, which prompted the county to take legal action.
- Jefferson County has filed a lawsuit against Romero and her fiancé, seeking to obtain the land through “adverse possession” or through an injunction.
- The county argues that the property is a public easement and that it would be difficult for Romero to prove adverse possession if the case were to go to court.
- Romero claims that she was unaware that the land was traditionally used by the public for access to Bear Creek when she purchased it in March 2021.
- She has presented old maps and surveys indicating that her property extends beyond the creek to where park visitors have access.
- The disputed boundary between Romero’s land and the park is another point of contention, with the county claiming that the creek should be the boundary, but the creek has moved south over the years.
- Romero has taken a stand against the county, arguing that her property rights should be protected and that other residents should not be forced off their land.
- The situation has caused division among the local community, with some supporting the county’s attempt to regain public access to Bear Creek and others siding with Romero’s right to control her own property.
- Real estate brokers and agents have voiced concerns about the precedent this case could set and the potential impact on property rights in the area.
- Concerned citizens have started a petition calling on the Jefferson County Commissioners to drop the case and protect property rights for all residents.
