Ken-Caryl board affirms ownership of South Hogback open space; President Joe Levy says he will resign

The Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District board voted unanimously on March 17 to adopt a resolution reaffirming the district’s intent to retain ownership of the South Hogback Open Space and to refrain from further discussions with Jefferson County about conveying the property.

President Joe Levy read the resolution before the vote, citing the property’s acquisition history and the December 2025 South Hogback Natural Resource Management Plan. After board discussion he said the district would “refrain from any further discussions with any representatives of Jefferson County regarding a potential conveyance of the South Hogback open space,” and the board moved to adopt the resolution by roll call, which recorded a 5–0 vote in favor.

Why it matters: the South Hogback comprises roughly 935 acres identified in district materials as ecologically significant; the resolution formalizes the board’s direction to keep the property under district ownership and to pursue the management plan adopted in 2025.

Board discussion focused on whether the resolution’s wording—specifically the phrase “owned and managed only by the district”—would unreasonably restrict the district’s ability to contract for management services. Legal counsel James advised that the board could safely emphasize ownership while retaining flexibility to engage third parties under the district’s oversight, telling the board that “owned really conveys what you’re mostly focused on.” Directors said they would work with counsel to ensure the final wording matched the board’s intention.

Public comment before the vote was extensive and sharply focused on long-term protections for the land. Resident Phil Shriver urged the board to consider a recorded protective covenant that would “run with the land” and incorporate deed restrictions; Randy Stafford and other residents urged legally binding protections and raised concerns about past coordination with Jefferson County open space staff.

Levy announced his intention to step down. In a personal statement during the conversation, Levy described receiving “personal attacks” and said, “It is my intention to, resign from the board after this meeting this evening,” adding that he planned to continue serving the community in other ways. Several board members and residents expressed regret at the loss of his service and thanked him for his years on the board.

What happened next: After discussion and brief amendments clarifying management language, the board held a roll call and adopted Resolution 26-101 confirming the district’s intent to retain ownership of South Hogback; vote recorded 5–0. The board then moved on to other agenda items, including unanimous approval of two additional routine resolutions.

Next steps: The board signaled it will work with counsel to finalize resolution wording and consider residents’ proposals for stronger, recorded protections (such as protective covenants or conservation easements) as part of implementation of the adopted management plan. Levy suggested the board appoint an interim chair to coordinate next month’s agenda and the process for filling his seat.