East side rezoning postponed
The turquoise outline shows the property City staff is recommending for rezoning to create
new Community Benefit use areas with interspersed Open Space use areas to replace most of its current Farm zoning.
During a public hearing at the January 24 regular meeting, the Castle Pines City Council postponed a decision on whether to approve the rezoning of land that borders both I-25 and a rural-residential neighborhood east of the highway.
After hearing public comments from neighbors to the south of the 300-acre property, council members delayed the vote to allow time to review written comments from additional referral agencies such as Douglas County, Parker Water & Sanitation District and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, to name a few.
The rezoning – which the City initiated with permission from the private landowner, North Canyons LLP – was paired with two amendments to the development in The Canyons that proposed changes to the size and shape of planning areas, which currently are designated as agricultural land. The rezoning would allow for civic and commercial uses that could bring more jobs to the area, allow for additional recreation and increase tax revenues for the City of Castle Pines, City planners said.
Neighbors expressed concerns that the proposed development would generate significant traffic and is too dense and too close to adjacent homes on Happy Canyon HOA’s 2-acre home lots.
The City’s Planning Commission also expressed concerns, previously voting 4-1 against the proposal.
The City’s public hearing was postponed until the next regular Council meeting scheduled for February 14 at 6 p.m.
By Chris Michlewicz; map provided by the City of Castle Pines
