Developer Chris Fellows (left) walks the Lagae Ranch property while talking with HOA1 residents.

By Lane Roberts

On Saturday, October 14, more than 30 Castle Pines North residents from HOA1 attended a meeting with the developer of the Lagae Ranch parcel, Chris Fellows. The parcel is located behind King Soopers and adjacent to HOA1.

For almost three hours, Fellows, principle of HF Holdings, LLC, and owner of the 240-acre parcel, toured the site with homeowners and answered numerous questions.

The majority of the residents who attended the meeting, which continued at the Community Center, reside in homes that back directly to the Lagae parcel; open space that is set to soon change.

Questions and concerns from residents evolved following a mailer entitled, “News From Across the Fence Post,” that was created and distributed by HF Holdings in late September.

During the meeting, HOA1 residents expressed concerns related to potential traffic issues regarding a proposed site for a new school and proposed ball fields and parks.

Fellows said he has a promise to help American Academy, a Castle Pines North founded Charter School, find a school site on this parcel. Residents of HOA1 question the location of the school.

“I question why they want to build a school in the middle of a neighborhood when it’s a commuter school,” said Stacie Sneider, HOA1 resident. “Traffic will be a huge problem.”

Approximately 40 percent of American Academy’s currently enrolled students reside in Castle Pines North. “The school was originally founded with the intention of being located in Castle Pines North,” said Jackie Santos, HOA2 resident and American Academy board member. Enrollment at American Academy is currently at capacity, but preliminary plans for the new school facility call for 640 students in grades K-8, which would offer 203 additional seats for new students.

Later in the meeting, Fellows made a commitment to HOA1 residents to search for an alternative traffic solution to vastly improve access from the northern portion of the parcel to the proposed school location. “If you can come up with a plan to mitigate potential traffic impact on Monarch, you will get much more support from us,” said another HOA1 resident.

Other residents also expressed concerns about visual impacts of having a school on the parcel. Fellows’ proposed site plan shows the school as an area he says is, “most desirable and that will be of least impact to HOA1 homes.”

According to Fellows, homes that currently back to the Lagae parcel will be buffered in many areas by open space and native scrub oak. Other homes in the area will be adjacent to a proposed park and various ball fields. No homes in HOA1 will back directly to the proposed school site or to future proposed new homes.

By the end of the meeting, Fellows and HOA1 had agreed to continue to work together to find amicable solutions for all parties involved.

To share comments about the Lagae development or for more information, please e-mail editor@cpnhoa.org.