Kittredge Park Creek Access Jefferson County CO Adverse Possession case

Jefferson County Colorado After homeowner blocks creek access to park visitors, the county seeks ‘adverse possession.

As a real estate broker in Jefferson County, I must say it scares me that the county can do this to a landowner. Is this a new precedent? Will I need to disclose to buyers?

When I hear stories like Taralyn’s I say to myself “If they can come for Taralyn Romero’s land they can come for ANYONE’S land”. This should terrify everyone that hears about this land grab by a local government for no other reason than “mob rules”.

Every single real estate broker and agent should join in on this fight! A person can not be a real estate agent and not find this to be absolutely appalling. Jefferson County Commissioners should NOT have the authority to do this to a landowner. Our schools are cutting bus routes and we are suing private landowners for a “swimmin’ hole?”

The fact the Denver New Channel is against the homeowner tells you exactally who you should side with. It isn’t the Jefferson County

Attention: County seeks “adverse possession” to seize land from Jefferson County property owner
Interest: Taralyn Romero on her 8-acre lot in Kittredge Park Desire: To get married and start a family, without being sued by her own county
Action: Please sign the petition calling on the Jefferson County Commissioners to drop this case. If enough of us speak out, we can stop them before they get away with this.

Jefferson County Colorado After homeowner blocks creek access to park visitors, the county seeks ‘adverse possession

As a real estate broker in Jefferson County, I must say it scares me that the county can do this to a landowner. Is this a new precedent? Will I need to disclose to buyers?

When I hear stories like Taralyn’s I say to myself “If they can come for her land they can come for ANYONE’S land”. This should terrify everyone that hears about this land grab by a local government for no other reason than “mob rules”.

Every single real estate broker and agent should join in on this fight! A person can not be a real estate agent and not find this to be absolutely appalling. Jefferson County Commissioners should NOT have the authority to do this to a landowner. Our schools are cutting bus routes and we are suing private landowners for a “swimmin’ hole?”

The fact the Denver New Channel is against the homeowner tells you exactally who you should side with. It isn’t the Jefferson County

BELOW IS A RECAP OF THE SLANTED ONE-SIDED DENVER NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT Taralyn Romero:

For 35 years, the public had accessed Bear Creek through a plot of land next to a community park. Recently, though, another person cut off access and claimed that she owned this property.

KITTREDGE, Colo. —

Neighbors in this quaint community are divided over a dispute between Jefferson County and the homeowner who blocked access to a creek she claims runs through her property.

For 35 years, visitors to Kittredge Community Park had been able to access Bear Creek by way of a plot of land next door. However, this changed in April when heated exchanges between some parkgoers and new neighbors led the latter group to erect a fence cutting off public access via their property.

Shortly after Taralyn Romero roped off the land, Jefferson County filed a lawsuit against Romero and her fiancé to obtain the land through “adverse possession” or through an injunction. It is the county’s contention that the property is a public easement. In addition, Jefferson County Attorney Michael Rourke said it would be extremely difficult for Romero to prove adverse possession if she were to take the case to court.

Romero said when she bought the property in March 2021, she didn’t know that the land was historically and traditionally used by the public for access to Bear Creek. Romero said she is willing to negotiate a settlement with the county, but that it would have to be done in court.

Romero showed the NEWS old maps and surveys indicating that her plot of land extends beyond the creek to where park visitors have access.

Part of the property fight is the disputed boundary between Romero’s land and the park. The county contends in its lawsuit that the creek should be the boundary; however, the creek has moved south over the years. Romero said she has taken a stand against the county to protect her property rights and to prevent other residents from being forced off their land. Romero said if the government can take her land without compensation, then it could do so with anyone’s land in unincorporated areas as well.

Romero argues that her surveys and maps show that despite the creek’s changing position, her plot of land hasn’t changed. Dickson said he sees “both sides” of the issue—that while parks were designed to have access to creeks, landowners should be able to exercise property rights when necessary.

Romero said the county has used her case as an example of what can happen when people don’t comply with its land-use policies. She said she was told by a county official that if she had “played ball,” then they would have allowed her to keep her property. Romero said she’s not against parks but believes government should compensate property owners for taking their land—something that doesn’t happen often enough, she added.

Although most people in Kittredge are unhappy about Romero’s presence, the large and sympathetic following she has built up on her TikTok page allows her to share anecdotes of (and receive sympathy for) living with a large crowd while battling against local government.