Housing could replace golf course

Residents of Applewood were informed on Friday, Feb. 6 about a housing development proposed by Molson-Coors on the Applewood Golf Course.

A full application for the mixed-use development, which would include 454 homes and duplexes, has not been filed with Jefferson County, said Alan Tiefenbach, planner with Jefferson County Planning and Zoning.

“We haven’t had any formal proposal,” Tiefenbach said. “At this point, we’ve seen very little.”

The 145 acres owned by Molson-Coors is zoned primarily industrial, with some agricultural zoning and commercial use.

“We’re not happy about it,” said Amy Hodges, Applewood resident. “There is so much wildlife over there and they have wetlands in the area. The impact on 32nd (Avenue) will be big.”

The 54-year-old golf course was built on top of an aquifer in 1961 for Adolph Coors Co. brewery. In order to prevent contamination of the aquifer, Coors requested golf-course personnel to maintain the grounds without the use of chemicals.

According to Golf Digest, Applewood Golf Course is “the granddaddy of so-called organic golf courses,” using nutrients such as bone and blood meal.

“They can propose whatever they want,” Tiefenbach said. “Whether it gets approved is a whole other story.”

The developer for the proposed housing plans is Kent Carlson from Applewood West Holdings.

A community meeting to inform the public about the housing development will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Manning Middle School, 13200 W 32nd Ave., just west of Alkire Street.