No Traffic Through Theodore Ridge Subdivision

Theodore Drive, at Tamarack Road, is closed to traffic.

On Wednesday two concrete barriers were placed to on Tamarack Drive to stop traffic at the city's border.

Arnold councilmen decided to close the road for the safety of Theodore Ridge residents, which reside west of the barrier, said Ward 2 Councilman Jeff Fitter. 

Residents have taken every step to slow drivers speeding through the neighborhood. Signs have warned about children playing in the area and about the 20 mph speed limit, Fitter said.

When the speeding continued, the city installed stop signs, speed humps, increased Arnold police patrols and painted the speed limit on the subdivision streets, Fitter said. Some residents even placed large rocks on their lawns’ borders to keep vehicles off their grass.

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Read about the residents' fears for their children

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Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz said he discussed the idea of closing Tamarack Road with Mayor Ron Counts, Police Chief Robert Shockey, Rock Community Fire Protection District Fire Marshall Lloyd Montgomery, and City Attorney Bob Sweeney prior to the city council meeting at City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., on March 15.

“We need to tell the Jefferson County Council we are closing the street,” Moritz said about Tamarack Road during the meeting.

Moritz said he wants the city to close Tamarack for at least a couple of months. “If that doesn’t work then we’ll work on something else.” 

Sweeney said the city needed to talk to the Jefferson County council because a county operates a street that connects to a city street.

"So the argument could be that the county has the right to have that street open,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney said the city needed to explain, to the county government, that stronger methods are needed to slow traffic in the subdivision.

The barriers are a temporary solution, Sweeney said. “To demonstrate we are taking a cautioned approach to this (issue) and to see the barriers effect on traffic in the area.”

After 30 or 60 days, then Arnold may have the proof needed to convince the county government to close Tamarack Drive permanently, Sweeney said.

The county decided to open Tamarack Drive when the Theodore Ridge subdivision was created years ago, Sweeney said.