Squabble With HOA Keeps Flood Victims From Returning Home
GLEN HAVEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A squabble with a homeowners association is keeping hundreds of flood victims from returning home.
Glen Haven is a century-old village about seven miles northeast of Estes Park. The flood wiped out a road into town and 400 property owners are being denied access to a trail road that's the only possible way in.
It's been six weeks since the flooding and 200 homes in "The Retreat" neighborhood in Glen Haven still can't be reached.
"Now that the road has been repaired enough to get part way up we have discovered what they call a historical road and we're not being allowed to access it," resident Rebecca Lorenz said.
The 400 people who live in the community were told they could use the private road that runs through a cattle ranch. But Lorenz says a fight between The Retreat's HOA and the ranch owner is stopping them from going home.
"Now that we have access, it's right there, and we're not being allowed to use it just seems very wrong," Lorenz said.
The owner of the ranch told CBS4 she would allow homeowners to use the road with a written agreement from The Retreat's HOA, but the HOA board refused to sign the agreement without any explanation.
All five board members declined to comment but posted a letter on the topic on their website.
"Our RLA Board of Directors have had to make this very difficult decision based upon their desire to protect the long-term interests and integrity of the association," The Retreat HOA spokesperson Jim Boyd said in the statement. "I will not go into the reasons for this decision, but know that it was an extremely difficult decision for the board."
The board also says any future convoys through the historical road are unlikely, meaning the 200 homes cannot be reached for another three to four weeks while the main road is finished being repaired.
"It's very disappointing," Lorenz said. "If there is a reasonable way to go home, let us go home."
Lorenz says she plans to file a petition in district court to get permission to use the road, but even that would take weeks. So for now the 400 people will remain homeless for at least a few more weeks.
Colorado Floods: How To Help
The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.
