[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6252976,"mediaKeyId","3184166-10b0fe51628d567916fb1677cc889930","parentId",3184166,"title","Planning commission backs Pine Canyon annexation and PD zoning; commissioners split timing on votes","audioSeconds",6106,"startMs",1076000,"endMs",7182000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184166-10b0fe51628d567916fb1677cc889930&start=1076&end=7182","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184166-10b0fe51628d567916fb1677cc889930/thumbnail_1076000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252976/Castle-Rock/Douglas-County/Colorado/Planning-commission-backs-Pine-Canyon-annexation-and-PD-zoning-commissioners-split-timing-on-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252976-aa36c3ddf8f49380aa3e6b3fbbcc9dfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770740526&Signature=KKHYaskD7R4GgGdLv3Fv0xxCUmr9ryHdxbX2UvPpoZzQFBL~Oy1q1ZmlwxO6tlhRGNwUZqLXOFq9Na~TmRSAbigb9P~P8ln0BW5lNKMB5AgDExZzeRD0-0qkBVhRGRidZJr1LicQdIgn4W-Ew2tGmOOKSXoh~S9s-c01NorinqTmzkx4Q9g2aoPW68mjl2u3v4GKAbwZHOHgZuteg4os0N-5rlobmKb~LjpZZ1zPUJNzArIN7Uv-zM3gfZmki9VNV-1LFNYNmd~Vu28NMcmuNS6ONdu~tM3viJDATOaCuH4uCeqZ0gtP3YlIxFExB5gIOsKeiWRRcO9QBH1iiby97A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Castle Rock, CO","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Castle Rock Planning Commission on April 24 voted to recommend Town Council approve both the annexation of the 535‑acre Pine Canyon site and the accompanying plan‑development (PD) zoning that would allow up to 1,800 residential units and a mix of single‑family, multifamily, commercial and open space uses.

Commissioners opened a lengthy staff presentation that summarized a multi‑year history of the property, which had active county applications between 2013 and 2020. Town staff and the property owner executed a pre‑annexation agreement in December that the staff said clarifies water service, traffic study expectations, view‑plain/tree protection standards and other regulatory commitments if annexation proceeds. Tara Vargasch, planning staff, told the commission the town's primary objective is to have the property developed under Town of Castle Rock standards rather than under unincorporated Douglas County jurisdiction.

The applicant team, represented by landowner Kurt Walker and consultant Marcus Pockner, described the PD plan as a reflective plan that matches densities to adjacent neighborhoods. The PD application proposes roughly 800 single‑family units concentrated east of I‑25 and up to 1,000 multifamily units concentrated along the interstate (a mixed‑use edge north of the existing Bluffs Apartments). The overall concept includes about 32% open space, a 72‑acre homestead area to remain in private agricultural use, and approximately 8.5 miles of trails. The applicant described a flexible parcel (PA‑6) that could be a boutique resort/spa or could be built as single‑family homes; the resort option would not increase the capped number of single‑family units but could change the mix within the cap.

Water was a key focus of commission questioning. Town water staff reported the applicant will dedicate roughly 757 acre‑feet of groundwater to the town for the development and reserve about 106 acre‑feet for ongoing agricultural irrigation on the homestead area and adjacent town open space; the town said it would supply renewable water sources and that the developer would pay system development fees for renewable water as the project grows. Planning staff stressed that if the property developed in the county it likely would rely on private wells and a private wastewater plant, and that annexation would allow integration with the town's renewable water plans, wastewater services and impact‑fee funding that supports regional capital projects.

Traffic and infrastructure were discussed at length. The developer has an existing traffic study (multiple iterations since 2013) and the pre‑annexation agreement permits staff acceptance of the current study for zoning review; site development plans will require updated traffic studies and the PD commits to a number of off‑site intersection improvements identified in the current study. Staff and the town's transportation planner said the town's transportation master plan has long anticipated development of this parcel and that required improvements would be paid by the developer as part of the approved scope.

Public comment included support and opposition. Speakers raised public safety concerns about a recently installed high‑pressure natural gas pipeline on the property and asked the town to consider setbacks and construction limits; other commenters expressed worries about traffic, school capacity and overall density. Several attendees urged that any approval require updated traffic work and careful phasing.

After public comment the commission voted first to recommend annexation to Town Council (recorded as approved) and then to recommend approval of the PD zoning. The plan‑development motion passed on a recorded vote of 7‑0; the annexation recommendation was recorded as approved by the commission earlier in the meeting (vote recorded in the transcript as 6‑0).

Why it matters: Pine Canyon is a large undeveloped inholding that sits inside or adjacent to existing Castle Rock neighborhoods. Annexation would place the site inside town jurisdiction, applying Castle Rock standards for roads, water, wastewater, parks and open space, and requiring payment of the town's impact fees for capital improvements. Because of its size and proposed mix, the development would have long‑term effects on traffic, schools, water resources and parks across the community.

Next steps: Planning Commission forwarded both items to Town Council. The annexation and PD zoning will proceed to separate Council actions; if Council approves, future site development plans for individual planning areas will return to the town and require updated traffic studies, detailed tree preservation and grading plans and final public‑land dedications for parks and potential school sites.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Castle Rock Planning Commission on 2025-04-24 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Castle Rock Planning Commission voted April 24 to recommend Town Council approve annexation of the 535‑acre Pine Canyon site and the accompanying plan‑development zoning that would allow up to 1,800 residential units and mixed uses.","taxTitle","Castle Rock, Douglas County, Colorado","taxId",8866,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6252982,"Planning commission recommends Town Council approve rezoning for Wellspring IDD housing at Park Street and Wolfensberger Road",910,190000,1100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184166-10b0fe51628d567916fb1677cc889930&start=190&end=1100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184166-10b0fe51628d567916fb1677cc889930/thumbnail_190000.jpg","/articles/6252982/Castle-Rock/Douglas-County/Colorado/Planning-commission-recommends-Town-Council-approve-rezoning-for-Wellspring-IDD-housing-at-Park-Street-and-Wolfensberger-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252982-f247fa098e5dd92810d93a93cb72e7e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770740526&Signature=Akcyt7vNzmjOSVSFNXAKET3kCz08Qn1Ob2quTkreRWuMiHNfehrwz3GxOuyZZ1eXPPNG7QwSPXlSgn8fF2EVFTbwtk4k6hLMVPW1828vSA2ZfdIASoWMJu5nn5fRRxwFetCJ2qyV14058KTDwX7wNuaup6LuxJCuotWFRIrenkLGwCejFEEU0ROQM~-JrplX5UW2tinUtl0bY0ALqO~cVxGfsRuR-WMyhGdjOpqMMvFKV6OMm0SrR9g70ibDbFv3qMyZKyd5bNjpuneUDNUAu-8B544xzY4wRU-nRwJjd1jH~so0O9yJa0XpEQlDL903MD1eSgMcVnLh1dhJlaPLmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning commissioners on April 24 unanimously recommended that Town Council approve a plan‑development (PDP) rezoning to allow Wellspring Community to expand residential and program services at 826 Park Street and 200 Wolfensberger Road.

Town staff presented the PDP and said the rezoning would permit a place of worship, multifamily housing and IDD program/office space as permitted uses and would establish a tailored parking ratio for IDD residential units. Staff concluded the proposal meets the municipal code criteria and Castle Rock's guiding documents and recommended Planning Commission forward a recommendation of approval to Town Council. The Town Council hearing is scheduled for May 6.

Nicole De Vries, executive director of Wellspring Community, told the commission Wellspring is a Castle Rock nonprofit that runs a day program and employment cooperatives for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. De Vries said the proposed project, called Unity on Wolfensberger, would add 24 residential condominium units and 17,000 square feet of program and office space to double Wellspring's current program capacity over time. She said Wellspring's day program currently serves about 101 individuals per week (roughly 60 per day), including an online program for 26 people, and that the organization provides transportation for 54 participants each day.

De Vries said 14 of the units at the adjacent Unity on Park development are occupied by adults with IDD and described the new 24 units as an integrated community: 14 of the Wolfensberger units would be set aside for adults with IDD; the remaining 10 units would be a mix of staff housing (four units), parent purchases and market sales. She said federal Medicaid rules require integrated settings and Wellspring intends a mixed community of residents with and without disabilities.

One Castle Rock resident, Julia McConaughey, spoke in support of the project during public comment, praising integration and Wellspring's community programs. After public comment the commission voted to recommend approval of the PDP to Town Council. The motion passed on a recorded vote of 7-0.

What happened next: the commission's recommendation sends the PDP to the May 6 Town Council meeting, where council members will make the final decision. If Town Council approves, future site development plans will provide lot‑level details, building layouts, parking and landscaping. Staff and applicants told commissioners that detailed site plans and any subsequent building permits will be subject to town review and conditions.

Why it matters: the rezoning would change allowed uses on two properties to permit IDD housing and program space and create a parking standard tailored to the proposed IDD residential use. Proponents told the commission the project expands local residential options and day‑program capacity for adults with IDD; opponents did not appear in this record.

Community and next steps: staff recommended approval and has scheduled the item for Town Council consideration on May 6. If Town Council approves the PDP, the applicant will return with site development plans for specific neighborhoods and buildings, where commissioners and the public will see the final layout, landscaping and parking plans.","Planning commissioners on April 24 unanimously recommended that Town Council approve a plan‑development rezoning to allow Wellspring Community to expand residential and program services at 826 Park Street and 200 Wolfensberger Road.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission backs Pine Canyon annexation and PD zoning; commissioners split timing on votes

Planning commission recommends Town Council approve rezoning for Wellspring IDD housing at Park Street and Wolfensberger Road