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Douglas County approves John Adams Academy exemption to create 26-acre school parcel in Sterling Ranch
Summary
County commissioners unanimously approved an exemption plat (EX2025-005) to create a 26-acre parcel for John Adams Academy charter school in Sterling Ranch, with staff conditions and a recorded limitation that the lot be used for the school.
Douglas County commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 12 to approve an exemption request (project file EX2025-005) that establishes a 26‑acre legal lot for the John Adams Academy charter school within the Sterling Ranch master-planned community.
Planning staff told the board the exemption follows the county’s subdivision-resolution exemption process for parcels created for public or quasi‑public uses, and staff recommended conditions that would attach to approval. Eric Pavlenec, principal planner, said the site is in the northwest part of the county, within the Chatfield urban area, and is already served by installed surrounding infrastructure.
Kevin Jonk, director of entitlements and engineering for Sterling Ranch Development Company, told the board the exemption plat ‘‘follows all the groundwork’’ laid by the earlier location-and-extent (L&E) approval and that Sterling Ranch has recorded a deed provision to dedicate right-of-way for Middle Fork Street to the county upon request. The Planning Commission had recommended approval of the related L&E application on June 2; staff confirmed the commission’s vote was unanimous.
Commissioners made and seconded a motion to approve the exemption with the two conditions presented by staff; the applicant confirmed he accepted those conditions on the record. The motion passed unanimously.
The exemption creates the legal parcel to be transferred to the charter school and includes a note that limits the exempt lot to use as the school. Staff noted that final approvals for traffic management and construction plans remain part of the site-development process and that right-of-way dedication for Middle Fork Street will occur to support future expansion if needed. The board did not receive substantive public opposition during the citizen-comment period.
The project file is EX2025-005.
