The purpose of the Address Committee is to ensure that all addresses conform to the consistent numbering system that was developed and approved by the POA in 2006. This was done so that emergency responders could quickly find any home on SFTR.

Any new lot owner can contact committee chair Tony Riley to have an address assigned for their lot and have that address provided to the county. All that is needed is the planned location of their driveway for their home. Tony can be contacted at original_riley@msn.com or 719-859-0521.

The Santa Fe Trail Ranch Property Owners Association (hereinafter “POA”) Common Area Committee is focused on those parcels and areas within the Santa Fe Trail Ranch subdivision that are owned or leased by the POA or are encumbered by easements in favor of the POA.

These parcels and areas do not include the Exit 6 bridge, the water system easements or the Metro Operations Center which are held and operated by the Santa Fe Trail Ranch Metro District. The parcels and areas also do not include the roads within the Santa Fe Trail Ranch subdivision. The roads are the responsibility of the POA Road Committee.

These parcels and areas do include, but are not limited to, the Conservancy Parcels, being parcels J-6 through J-10, owned by The Santa Fe Trail Ranch Conservancy LLC (no connection to the POA), the areas used for the community mailboxes, and the areas used for the community trash dumpsters.

The Conservancy Parcels are encumbered by a comprehensive Conservation Easement held by The Greenlands Reserve, a charitable nonprofit Colorado corporation, and leased to the POA via a long term lease.

The Conservancy Parcels possess natural, scenic, open space, wildlife, aesthetic, ecological and environmental values which are deemed worthy of protection in perpetuity. Within Gallinas Canyon, the Conservancy Parcels include the riparian corridor formed by Gallinas Creek. Wildlife found within the Conservancy Parcels include, but are not limited to, deer, elk, bears, mountain lions, Stellar jays, red-tailed hawks and many other bird species.

The Conservancy Parcels contain two plant communities identified as “sensitive” by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. These two communities are the narrow leaf cottonwood-juniper riparian forest and the ponderosa pine-gamble oak woodlands.

The purpose of the conservation easement that encumbers the Conservancy Parcels is to assure that the property will be retained forever predominately in its natural, scenic, forested, and open space condition to preserve and protect in perpetuity the wildlife, aesthetic, ecological and environmental values as well as the forestry and water quality characteristics of the property and to prevent any use of the property that will impair or interfere with the conservation values of the property. There is no hunting, commercial use, or vehicular use allowed without prior written permission. Cattle grazing is allowed under both the terms of the conservation easement and the lease as is hiking and equestrian uses.

The Common Area Committee conducts activities, such as noxious weed control, that are in accord with the terms of its lease and the stated purposes of the conservation easement. Members of our community who are interested to helping to manage, study, and protect the Conservancy Parcels are encouraged to contact the chairperson of the Common Area Committee as assistance is always appreciated.

The POA Santa Fe Trail Ranch (SFTR) Communication Committee is a group of SFTR Volunteers whose mission is to provide technology and communications support to the SFTR community.

Currently, efforts include maintenance of the SFTR ranch web page, santafetrailranch.com, offering virtual meeting options for SFTR meetings, sharing of periodic ranch communications, as well as supporting the SFTR POA Board and committees, and the SFTR Women’s Group as requested. We also record and publish special events that are offered at the Metro Operations Center (MOC).

Minutes of the committee meetings are maintained and posted on the SFTR POA website under “Communications Committee”.

If you are interested in volunteering your talents toward any of these efforts, please contact the Communications Committee.

The Community Preparedness Committee (CPC) is a formal group of SFTR residents acting with the authority of the POA Board of Directors to provide assistance in preparation for emergency situations on the ranch and update CPC-related content on the SFTR website. It also functions as liaison to area emergency response agencies. We encourage all residents to sign up for Las Animas County Emergency Alerts that are sent via the county's Reverse-911 services. Please go to COMMUNITY > REVERSE-911 on this website for more info and to register ALL of your phones.

The Community Preparedness Handbook was created and is maintained by the CPC to provide ranch property owners important information concerning emergencies that may occur on our ranch and the procedures you should follow regarding how these emergencies will be handled by the POA Board, Community Preparedness Committee and residents. All property owners and residents are strongly encouraged to download, print, and read this document BEFORE any emergency occurs. Keep a hard copy of this document available in case online access is unavailable during an emergency.

For more information, contact the chairperson of the Community Preparedness Committee.

Please See the SFTR Calendar for upcoming events:  Community Calendar

The POA Covenant Committee enforces SFTR's Covenants. The following information is a brief summary provided by the Covenant Committee to help property owners identify and report a violation. Full covenant details are found in the document referenced above.

Covenants and Covenant Enforcement
Article V – Use Restrictions

Complaints/Enforcement (see Article VIII for complete regulations):

• A written complaint must be filed with Covenant Committee (send email to Covenant Committee Chair)
• Receipt of email will be acknowledged
• Covenant Committee will investigate
• Covenant Committee, with Board approval, will decide if there is a violation
• If violation, Property Owner will be notified (see Paragraph 8.1.2)
• Decision is reviewed, solution approved and fines imposed if necessary
• Timing of resolution will depend on situation
• Complaint filer will be kept anonymous
• Complaint filer will be informed of resolution

What constitutes a violation, allowing a Complaint to be filed:

• Paragraph 5.1 Permitted Structures
  • Building appears to violate Las Animas County building codes
  • No building permit apparent
  • Building seems to be too close to lot lines
  • Mobile home remaining after building completion
• Paragraph 5.1.1 Address Assignment
  • Sign does not meet requirements as specified
• Paragraph 5.1.2 Property rentals
  • Property appears to be rented but you are unaware of lease agreement
• Paragraph 5.3 Use of Common Areas
  • Unusual use of Common Area, and materials/equipment left in
    Common Area
• Paragraph 5.4 Increase in insurance risks, etc.
  • Anything that seems unreasonable
• Paragraph 5.5 Rules and Regulations
  • Any misuse of common areas
• Paragraph 5.8 Temporary Residences – Construction Period
  • Remains after construction
  • Appears to violate county rules/regulations
  • Appears too close to lot line
• Paragraph 5.7 Temporary Residences
  • RV’s, etc. appear too close to the lot line
• Paragraph 5.8 Signs, Advertising
  • Any signage that appears to violate this paragraph
• Paragraph 5.9 Commercial Vehicles
  • Any vehicle that appears to violate this paragraph
• Paragraph 5.10 Nuisances (subjective)
  • Excessive noise
  • Excessive light
  • Excessive odors
  • Piles/stacks of construction materials or other items
  • Unpleasant appearance of buildings or lot itself
  • Reckless driving/speeding
• Paragraph 5.11 Junked/abandoned vehicles/equipment
  • Not invisible from the road or another lot
• Paragraph 5.13 Building and Grounds Conditions (subjective)
  • Buildings not kept in good condition
  • Lot not in good repair or condition
• Paragraph 5.16 Firearms, Hunting
  • Use in Common Areas
  • Shooting appears to be across lot lines
  • Does not have Lot Owner’s approval
  • Appears to violate state laws/regulations
• Paragraph 5.17 Fires
  • Fires that appear to be in violation
  • Visible grills that violate restrictions
• Paragraph 5.18 Animals
  • Dogs left loose, not under control of Owner
  • Dogs chasing cars/cattle
  • More than 4 dogs visible on property
  • Livestock not contained, not under control of Owner
• Paragraph 5.19 Exterior Lighting
  • Any high intensity lighting

Covenants and Covenant Enforcement

THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Our Santa Fe Trail Ranch Property Owners Association Fire Mitigation Committee is dedicated to ensuring the safety of our community by reducing the risk of wildfire. Our mission is to educate, plan, and implement effective strategies that minimize the potential for property damage, loss of life, and environmental devastation caused by wildfires.

We strive to create a proactive and collaborative approach to wildfire prevention, working with residents, local agencies, and organizations to identify and mitigate potential hazards. Our committee is committed to ongoing education, training, and outreach to promote fire safety awareness and preparedness among community members.

Through our efforts, we aim to foster a resilient community that is well-prepared to withstand and recover from the impacts of wildfires. Our ultimate goal is to protect the lives, homes, and natural resources of our community, while preserving the unique beauty and character of our region for future generations.

FHWMC Meetings

The FHWMC meetings will be posted on the SFTR calendar (time and location varies so check the calendar on this website for the latest info).  We are always looking for volunteers! 

Points of Contacts for the FHWMC are:

• Ken Dixon kennethdi1962@yahoo.com
• Scott Tollefson satollefson@comcast.net
• Ryan Cavazos ryancavazos@yahoo.com

• SFTR Firewise Info
• SFTR Fire 101 Video

Events/Projects

From Kenneth Dixon:

Update for 2024 Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) and Chipping

First, I want to thank everyone that took advantage of mitigating the -50ft around their homes and/or their roadways and stacking the limbs along the road for chipping. We have spent over 75 machine hours chipping this year, which has helped our community and its homes be more prepared in case of fire.

I want to update everyone that for the 2024 season that we will only be accepting fresh cut limbs from around your home based on the -50ft area for chipping during the months of April and May. Meaning if you want to start cutting in March that’s fine. Just stack on the edge of the road starting in April.

Please email or call us to let us know there are limbs ready to chip on your site. Our contact infois listed under FHWMC on this SFTR website.

Remember this will be for April and May only. We ask after Friday May 31, 2024, there should be no stacking of limbs along the road from you -50ft HIZ.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Kenneth Dixon

SFTR POA Member

FHWMC Chairman

• CWPP Renewal (underway)
• For more information on upcoming trainings, mitigation efforts, or FireWise, please contact Ken Dixon kennethdi1962@yahoo.com.

At the 5 February 2022 meeting the Board voted to approve the formation of a temporary committee charged with reviewing and updating, where needed, our 3 primary governance documents:

• SFTR Protective Covenants, Conditions, and Requirements (CCRs),

• SFTR Articles of Incorporation, and

• SFTR By-Laws

I volunteered to lead/facilitate this effort and definitely cannot undertake this effort alone. I know there are many smart and experienced property owners (both long time and new to the ranch) who have some great ideas which could help us improve living on this beautiful ranch and improve management of our POA.

This effort is not intended to re-create the wheel. Our governance documents require periodic review to ensure compliance with changing state requirements as well as considering property owner’s concerns where appropriate.

If you have experience you wish to share or have interest in participating and are willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, please contact me directly at 360-977-8766 or wpnielsen@msn.com . If you know of a property owner who could bring value to this effort, please share this post with them.

Minutes of the committee meetings are maintained and posted below:

MAY 7, 2022 Governance Document (pdf)

APRIL 23, 2022 Governance Document (pdf)

MARCH 26, 2022 Governance Document (pdf)

MARCH 12, 2022 Governance Document (pdf)

Thank you for your consideration I look forward to hearing from you and take great care.

The Grazing Committee recommends Grazing Lessees to the POA Board. After award, they handle communications with the Rancher and manage the lease. The Committee does not have the authority to direct daily operations of the Rancher, but does have authority to ensure the lease provisions are adhered to.

Minutes of the committee meetings are listed below:

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 Grazing Committee Meeting Minutes

JANUARY 25, 2022 Grazing Committee Meeting Minutes

The Road Committee is the formal POA committee responsible for planning and supervising all contracted and volunteer maintenance work on the private SFTR road system. This private road system includes the bridge, all roads and all cul-de-sacs and all devices for the purpose of drainage such as culverts and bar ditches.

The committee is allocated the majority of the POA budget to accomplish this task through a contactor approved by the Board of Directors. The committee provides annual road maintenance via grading, road base replenishment, drainage ditch upkeep and snow plowing.

Snow plowing will commence after the storms have subsided and general accumulation has reached 5 to 6 inches or severe drifting impedes vehicle travel.

All property owners should be prepared for the possibility of reduced access to and from their property during fall, winter, and spring months. Every attempt will be made to provide continuous access, but all residents are encouraged to maintain an adequate stock of life necessities to reduce the possibility of life threating emergencies.

Santa Fe Trail Ranch has a legacy of aggressively controlling noxious weeks that can invade ranch property and rob the land of precious moisture. The ranch provides herbicide that effectively controls various types of thistle, Mexican locust, Hounds tongue, and Mullen when properly applied. The herbicide is available to property owners in early spring and can be applied throughout the growing season.

Many property owners graciously volunteer to patrol assigned ranch road segments apply herbicide as needed to control noxious weeks. As with all chemicals personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks are recommended when applying this material.

SFTR resident Carol Rawle just published a very informative article "A Thistle Wildfire" in Articles->Plants &  Gardening.

For more info and to sign up as volunteers, see the article "Weed Control Volunteers" in Articles->Plants & Gardening.

For more information about noxious or invasive weeds that are problematic in Las Animas County, click on the attached Noxious Weed Guide.

The SFTR Women’s Group provides camaraderie for SFTR women as well as its fundraising efforts for the benefit of Santa Fe Trail Ranch.

Meetings are normally held once a month at the Metro Operations Center (33712 Mountain View) and are casual and informal.

The Women’s Group takes leadership roles in such activities as the SFTR annual picnic, SFTR logo-wear sales, various other fundraising activities, the distribution of welcome kits to new ranch residents and other similar ranch community activities.

Minutes of the meetings are maintained and posted on the SFTR POA website under “Women’s Group”.

Membership is open to all SFTR property owners – residents as well as non-residents.

Contact Carol Smith at 412-477-7531 or csmith2621@gmail.com for more information.

Our Women's Group coordinates the production and sale of SFTR Logowear that is sold at ranch events to fund ranch projects. The current catalog of items is linked below. Contact Shannon Youngquist at (303) 229-1383 or shelucy2@yahoo.com for more information.