Candelas is the largest master-planned community in Arvada, Colorado. The residential portion of the community is developed by Terra Causa Capital and GF Properties Group, with residences built by Century Communities, Richmond American, Ryland Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, Village Homes, and various custom builders. Plans exist for commercial development in the future, in the form of two mixed-use commercial spaces, and a town center, comprising some 7.1 million square feet of commerce in the community. The formal plat was filed with the Jefferson County Recorder on April 21, 2011.
Geography
The Candelas master planned community is within the most north-western quadrant of Arvada in Jefferson County Colorado. The development borders the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge all along its northern property line. Candelas is divided into six subsections from east to west: Parkview, Mountainview, Canyonview, Valleyview, Townview, and Skyview.
Location
The Candelas community is located in the southwestern quadrant of land formerly known by the Department of Energy and EPA identifier "Rocky Flats Plant Operable Unit #3, Offsite Area" at the intersection of Candelas & Coal Creek Canyon Road. Candelas is the only planned community to share property lines with the former Rocky Flats Plant. Previously, only the Villages of Five Parks and the Whisper Creek developments were located in such close proximity to the former plant. Residents within the Operable Unit #3 Off Site Area will use State Highway 93 to access Golden, Boulder, or the US-36 corridor.
Natural Hazards
The Candelas development is located where geography and topography foster and enhance severe weather, including winds in excess of 80/mph. Certain severe weather events have brought winds over 140 mph to the location, including devastating windstorms in January 1982 caused in part by the Chinook winds. In addition to high wind hazards, the area experiences extreme winter weather conditions, severe thunderstorms, and wildfire.
The location is south of the former site of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons production facility. Environmental groups have expressed concern that the radioactive and toxic contaminants from plant operations and accidental releases have not been sufficiently remediated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Public Health Service and U.S Fish and Wildlife Service - although the amount of research is very limited and sparse and mostly funded by groups with commercial interest— say the public’s exposure to the contaminants has not posed any significant risks. An EPA Superfund Record of Decision dated June 3, 1997 stated that official radionuclide testing of the plant site following nearly a decade of plant inactivity showed topsoil sample levels safe enough to warrant discontinuation of further sampling. The report indicated that no remediation efforts would be required because building restrictions for lands in close proximity prevented new construction, and noted that "Continued suburban expansion is also anticipated in the area south and southeast of RFETS, primarily around Standley Lake, and in western Arvada along the 64th Street corridor."
Critical to the final expansion and development of Candelas, notably the commercial sector of the community, is the development of the Jefferson Parkway. The proposed Parkway/toll road would require the transportation infrastructure be constructed north to south along the most eastern portion of the former plant site. The construction of the toll road has garnered concern over the disturbance of contaminated soil which could in fact cause another wave of plutonium contamination in Arvada and surrounding areas.
Surface Water Control Systems
Surface water control systems created in the final phases of plant remediation collect contaminated runoff from the creeks and streams around the plant into holding ponds. These systems reduce the chance of direct runoff entering Standley Lake and protect Great Western Reservoir and Woman Creek Reservoir.
Prior Examples Affecting Property Values of the Surrounding Community
Property value decline during the Rocky Flats Advisory Notice period, in 1989, when the FBI and Department of Justice raided the plant, nearby properties experienced a significant degradation of property values. Zillow's Home Value Index is currently at $603,000 and is forecasted to increase by over 4% over the next year.
Opposition to development
In the fall of 2013, attorneys for the land developers sent cease and desist requests to one activist, Michelle Gabrieloff-Parish, and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center after Gabrieloff-Parish criticized the Candelas development in interviews with local media outlets.
