Jefferson County planning staff and project leaders briefed commissioners Aug. 5 on a reconsideration of site uses at the Global Energy Park ("Glow Park") state-owned campus and on next steps if the state elects to pursue housing earlier than previously planned.

Chris O'Keefe, the county Planning & Zoning director, explained that the proposed site is state-owned and that, under county zoning that mirrors state statute, the project may proceed through a location-and-extent (L&E) process that is available for public projects on state property. He said L&E is intended to provide a more structured public-process timeline for large public-use projects and that the planning commission—not the Board of County Commissioners—has authority to make the final location-and-extent decision when a complete application is filed. O'Keefe added that staff will not start the statutory L&E review clock until the county receives a complete application and that staff prefers to provide a full review and written recommendation to the planning commission.

Lou Cordova, director for the Global Energy Park effort, described an exploratory shift: because federal timing for lab tenants has slowed, the state is considering swapping the previously planned lab and housing areas so housing could be advanced sooner. Cordova said the idea is early-stage and exploratory and that the state would issue an RFQ (request for qualifications) in the fall to gather market and design proposals that would inform whether housing is feasible on the North Campus. "What the ask is here today is, do you think this is worth exploring?" Cordova said.

Staff emphasized the scope of issues that an L&E submission would have to address, including infrastructure, flood/drainage, traffic, wildfire risk and compatibility with land-use plans. County Attorney Kim Sorrels advised commissioners in executive session and, after that session, the board directed staff to provide a public clarification email to residents: the board will not be responding to the state's request for approval of concept or L&E because the county does not have a role in approving concept or the L&E decision absent a filed application. Sorrels said, "the board of county commissioners will not be responding to this request because the board does not have a role in the approval of, either the concept or the L and E process as that the L and E process would be something for the planning commission if and when an application is actually filed."

Commissioners asked for more clarity about state statutory authority for L&E eligibility and requested that staff provide additional materials and return with a timeline and public-notice plan. Lou Cordova said the RFQ will produce proposals with economic and design data to inform county and state decision-making; the earliest possible infrastructure groundbreaking would be 2026 if the project proceeds through the full process.

No final land-use decision or application was filed on Aug. 5. Staff described the current step as an informational briefing and asked for permission to explore an RFQ; commissioners expressed an interest in receiving further details and legal context. Staff will publish Q&A and coordinate next steps and legal review as requested by the board.