City council approves five‑year extension for Top of Paradise master plan after residents raise construction and safety concerns

The Woodland Park City Council voted unanimously to grant a five‑year extension of the Top of Paradise amended master plan for a 40.69‑acre parcel owned by Ventus LLC, keeping the previously approved entitlement for 38 single‑family lots in place. Planning staff told the council the master plan was annexed in 1975 (ordinance number 6, series 1975) and amended in February 2005; staff said the parcel is zoned suburban residential and utilities planning has reserved 38 individual water taps for the site.

Planner CJ (staff) said Title 17 of the subdivision regulations does not set specific criteria for master plan extensions, so staff used a practical approach and found the extension reasonable; the planning commission held a public hearing Aug. 14, 2025 and recommended council approval. Frankie Venezuela, representing Ventus LLC and participating by Zoom, told the council the applicant requested the five‑year extension to preserve the previously approved plan and that "everything is to remain as it was previously approved."

Multiple residents spoke during the public‑comment portion and urged the city and developer to reduce construction impacts on nearby neighborhoods. Claudia Miller and Virgie McClendon described heavy construction traffic and noise on Majestic Parkway during recent nearby projects, citing up to 25 truck loads per day hauling material and visible street damage. "Speed bumps are needed on Majestic Parkway," McClendon said, and she urged engineers to consider alternative construction entrances such as Paradise Valley Drive, Ponderosa Way, Sun Valley Drive or a cul‑de‑sac off Falcon's Rest to distribute construction traffic and reduce safety risks for seniors and pedestrians. Residents also expressed concern about evacuation routes in case of wildfire and said they had not received a neighborhood impact study or noise study prior to the hearing.

Council members asked staff clarifying questions about prior activity on the master plan area; staff and the applicant said several subdivisions within the amended Top of Paradise master plan have been platted and that at least one house in the broader area is under construction. After discussion the council member moved to approve the five‑year extension; the motion passed on a roll call vote with council voting yes unanimously. Council did not adopt any new construction conditions at the vote; discussion included requests from residents that staff and the applicant consider alternative construction access and traffic mitigation during future permitting and engineering steps.