Castle Rock — The Town Council voted 6-1 on Oct. 21 to reconvey a 20-acre parcel in Crystal Valley back to the developer and to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) using "Site Plan B" (also described as option 3), which shifts the proposed development 45 feet west to increase buffers between new homes and an existing neighborhood.

The parcel, described in the council packet as Lot 1, Block 2, Crystal Valley Ranch Filing 14, had been conveyed to the town previously as a potential school site; last year the Douglas County School District notified the town it would not use the site for a school. Under the original development agreement a path exists to reconvey the parcel to the developer if certain conditions are satisfied. Staff and the developer developed three layout options and an MOU reflecting a preferred layout (option 3 / site plan B) that increases lot-line-to-lot-line buffering on the east side of the new development (buffers range from roughly 86 feet at the narrowest up to about 135 feet in other locations).

Tara (staff planner) explained that to achieve the larger buffer the town would rezone and swap a 45-foot strip on the west side of the parcel with the developer and use previously contributed impact funds for a future roundabout at West Loop Road and Rhyolite Park. She said any final site development plan would return to council for review.

Public comment included a petition asking the council to consider an alternative "option 4" that would preserve a 250-300 foot buffer; residents argued that option 3 still placed high-density lots too close to existing homes and would reduce open space and property values. Representative signers explained they had gathered neighborhood signatures and asked the council to delay a final vote until staff could present a fourth option. Several residents said they paid premiums for lots bordering open space and asked for additional protections.

Developers and staff said option 3 represented substantial concessions and avoided creating additional public road connections into the existing neighborhood; staff noted the reconveyance follows the development agreement. Council debate focused on how much additional buffering was feasible without creating significant grading and infrastructure changes and on the history of the parcel transfer to the town and the $754,000 set aside by the developer for future Crystal Valley Parkway improvements.

Councilmember Hollingshead moved to approve the resolution and MOU adopting site plan B (option 3); Councilmember Brooks seconded. Roll call was Hollingshead — yes; Bracken — yes; Davis — yes; Brooks — aye; Dietz — no; Mayor Pro Tem Kavey — yes; Mayor Gray — aye. Motion passed 6-1.