General FAQ's:
Q: What will the home price ranges be at BackCountry?
A: BackCountry will feature a diverse variety of homes sizes, price ranges and lifestyles. Currently BackCountry features five collections of single family homes which include Shea’s first three collections (Shadow Walk, Water Dance and Sprit Trail), as well as its Whispering Wind “Luxury Villa” Collection. Berkshire Homes joined BackCountry in the spring of 2008 offering the “Sanctuary” Collection – a highly personalized offering available on only 22 homesites within BackCountry. Custom homes sales have begun at BackCountry, with homesites being offered by eleven of Denver’s finest custom builders. Two future ‘lifestyle’ type products will also be offered, giving BackCountry a total of eight different home collections. The base pricing for Shea’s collections ranges from the upper $500s to high $600s. Berkshire’s “Sanctuary” Collection starts from the mid $900s. Custom homes start at $1.2 million to well over $2 million.
Q: What will the lot sizes be at BackCountry?
A: Along with a variety of home styles and price ranges, there will be a variety of lot sizes at BackCountry. We anticipate more space between homes than typical. Planning efforts are focused on larger, more gracious front yards, with longer drives, homes immediately adjacent to open space, and large landscaped islands in cul-de-sacs. All of this is planned to provide a much larger lot feel, as well as a street scene that is more open and unique.
Q: Will there be “lot premiums” at BackCountry?
A: Pricing outlined on each collection’s price sheet may not reflect upgrades, options or lot premiums. Be sure to ask your sales team for further information about these additional costs. Many of the lots at BackCountry back to open space or other quality elements and will feature lot premiums. To date, we anticipate that lot premiums at BackCountry could range from $0 to over $100,000.
Q: What will be the responsibilities of the BackCountry homeowners association?
A: BackCountry is a unique community in Highlands Ranch with a large open space and trail system, private amenities and private roads. The Association will gradually take over ownership and maintenance of 707 acres of private open space, the private clubhouse and pool facility (“Sundial House”), the entry gate systems, gatehouse and roadways.
Q: What are the association assessments expected to be for BackCountry?
A: It is anticipated that monthly assessments for the BackCountry Association will be $250 per month. This will cover open space maintenance and irrigation costs, snow removal on private roads, Sundial House and pool facility operating costs, curb-side trash collection, long term reserves and replacement accounts, administrative and management costs, and staffing assistance for association sponsored activities and programs. Some neighborhoods in BackCountry will have specialized services, for instance, townhomes with exterior maintenance responsibilities. These homes will have an additional assessment that is specifically based on the costs associated with those services.
Q: Have the fencing materials been selected for home sites and what will the height restrictions be?
A: In order to preserve the open space feel found at BackCountry, we've selected open rail fencing for this community. Materials are similar in look to those currently being used along the community’s perimeter and areas backing to open space. Height cannot exceed five feet.
Q: Explain the private streets to me. Will there be a guard at the entry gate?
A: BackCountry is a private, gated community. As such, the monthly assessments for the BackCountry Association include maintenance of these private roadways, along with snow removal. Additionally, with the intimate street layout throughout the community, there will be some areas within BackCountry that do not feature on-street parking. However, please remember, there will be ample designated street parking throughout the community. In-depth information on this topic will be available by contacting your sales representative. The gatehouse will be staffed during business hours ensuring that all visitors start at the Discovery Center and receive the required gate access card. Please see a Discovery Center representative for specific details about obtaining a gate access card and how the access system will function.
Q: You’ve said that BackCountry will have approximately 707 acres of open space. Acreage calculations are a mystery to me … help me understand what 707 acres of open space means. And, how big is the entire community of BackCountry?
A: Overall, BackCountry is approximately 1,100 acres. Of that, some 400 acres have been set aside for residential, while the balance of about 650 acres is open space. That includes the open space corridors and park areas within the community, as well as the 467 acres of private open space at the community’s southern border. To give you a sense of scale of the open space, a standard football field is a little larger than one acre, right around 1.2 acres. This means that the private open space in BackCountry is about the size of 560 football fields. Redstone Park, including the stadium site, is approximately 45 acres …. the private open space would be equal to about 15 Redstone Parks. Another way to think about the size of the community is in dimensions - Backcountry is 1.7 miles wide from east to west, and 1.3 miles wide from north to south.
Q: That’s a lot of open space – what is included in these areas?
A: The open space has two major components. The first area, of about 240 acres, includes the open space corridors surrounding the neighborhood enclaves, six neighborhood parks including park areas around the Sundial House (private clubhouse), and the Discovery Center (information center at entry). It also includes several miles of hard and soft surface trails, trail lighting, and irrigation ponds.
The second area is 467 acres of natural open space which is just south of the top ridge of the community. This natural open space was carved out of the larger Backcountry Wilderness Area several years ago, and set aside specifically for the private use of BackCountry homeowners. Referred to as South Rim, this open space area includes over 7 miles of hiking and biking trails and is a great place to hike, bird-watch, get in a serious run through hills and valleys, enjoy seasonal changes to the scrub oak and pines, or find a quiet place to watch for wildlife. BackCountry residents also have immediate access to the trails and open space areas within Highlands Ranch’s 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area.
Q: What will the Sundial House be like?
A: Sundial House will be a private facility, reserved for the exclusive use of BackCountry homeowners and their invited guests. The site for Sundial House was carefully chosen for the outstanding views. It’s located at one of the highest points in the community, and from different vantage points, you will be able to see Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, Longs Peak, downtown Denver and the Backcountry Wilderness Area.
It’s anticipated that this approximately 12,000 square-foot facility will include fitness/cardio rooms, a movement studio, treatment and social gathering rooms, meeting and community rooms, as well as several unique spaces like the grand lobby and terrace, pub/bar area and a demonstration kitchen. Sundial House will also feature outdoor decks and an open air grand terrace, perfect for watching Colorado's magnificent sunrises and sunsets. Programming of community events/activities and gatherings within the Sundial House is of the utmost importance and will remain a focal point at all times.
Q: When will all of the amenities be completed?
A: We are excited to announce that Phase I of the BackCountry community amenity complex is complete. This includes the outdoor pool and adjoining poolhouse, view terrace, hot tubs and fire pit. In addition, Overlook Park, portions of Reflection Park, the outdoor ampetheatre and the trails within the South Rim open space area are complete. This, along with numerous community trails already in place, will provide an intricate system of soft surface trails within BackCountry as well as an incredible connection to the Douglas County Regional Trail system, which will traverse the 8200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area.
Sundial House, the luxurious retreat and private lodge exclusively for BackCountry residents and their guests to enjoy, which occupies Phase II of the Sundial complex, continues to progress through construction. Currently, the anticipated open date is Summer/Fall 2010.
Q: Will I still be able to use other Highlands Ranch facilities?
A: Yes, BackCountry is part of the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA). All HRCA-owned recreation centers, parks, trails and open space within Highlands Ranch boundaries are available to BackCountry owners. There is a separate assessment paid to HRCA by all homeowners in Highlands Ranch, including BackCountry homeowners.
Q: What schools will children within BackCountry attend?
A: Per the school district, only families that can provide proof of a signed sales contract for a home at BackCountry will be able to enroll their children into Stone Mountain Elementary School. The Middle School is RanchView; High School is ThunderRidge.
Q: I’m interested in participating in the governance of the BackCountry Association. How can I get involved?
A: There will be many opportunities for homeowners to be involved in a large association such as BackCountry. As the community grows, homeowner involvement on committees will be an integral function. Committees are the backbone for event planning, activities and programming, financial research, newsletter and communications, neighborhood watch programs, architectural review, and coordination with other community entities. Over time, homeowners in BackCountry will be elected as corporate officers and members of the Board of Directors to fill developer-vacated positions.
Q: Now that I’ve given my $2500 financial commitment check in order to be added to the BackCountry Priority List, please explain the process for obtaining a refund should I decide I’d like to discontinue participating on the BackCountry Priority List.
A: All financial commitment checks are completely refundable up to the point that they are used as part of the home contract process. At that point, the monies can be used towards down payment, designer options, etc. and as a buyer, you will be able to discuss how to use those funds with your sales person. To obtain a refund, we simply ask that you submit your request in writing, (or via email), and outline where you’d like the check to be returned if that address is different from the one we have on file as part of your Priority Information form. Please allow up to 25 business days for your refund.
Send letter or email to:
Email: Jennifer Fairbanks – Jennifer.fairbanks@sheahomes.com
Mail: Shea Homes
ATTN: Jennifer Fairbanks
9135 Ridgeline Blvd., #200
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
