Denver, Littleton sue Bow Mar over road gates
Two neighboring cities filed suit to block the Town of Bow Mar from installing gates on public streets, citing emergency access concerns.
By Martin Reynolds ·
The City and County of Denver and the City of Littleton have filed a lawsuit against the Town of Bow Mar to stop the installation of gates on public roads. The legal action targets specific plans to restrict vehicle access in the small community south of Denver.
The dispute began in June when the Bow Mar Board of Trustees approved a plan to gate public roads. The town cited the need to reduce traffic volume as the primary reason for the move. The initial proposal included gates at several community entrances.
In September, Bow Mar Mayor Bryan Sperry indicated the town was exploring a compromise. He stated that the town was considering installing just one gate on Sheridan Boulevard, south of Tufts Avenue, rather than multiple gates. This location is further away from Denver's main roads. Despite this potential scale-back, many homeowners at a September Board of Trustees meeting supported the original multi-gate plan. One resident argued that the town needed to privatize roads immediately to protect the community.
Not all residents agreed with the gating proposal. Another resident at the same meeting noted that the town was never planned to be a gated community. Denver and Littleton officials said they have attempted to engage with Bow Mar for several months. The cities offered to assist with targeted police enforcement to address traffic issues without closing roads.
The lawsuit argues that Bow Mar's decision will make emergency response more difficult for residents of both Denver and Littleton. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston issued a statement saying Bow Mar does not get to decide what is or is not a public road. He added that the town should not make life less safe for drivers in neighboring cities.
Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter said public roads should serve the public rather than exclude people from their own community. He stated that he will continue to demand equal access for Littleton and Denver residents who share the regional network. Denver Councilman Kevin Flynn, whose district borders Bow Mar, expressed regret that Bow Mar chose not to collaborate. He said his residents are angered at being blocked from safe access to the public right of way.
The Town of Bow Mar declined to comment on the lawsuit. The next step involves the court process, where the cities aim to keep the roads open for public use.
