Castle Rock council sends downtown height change back to staff, approves grants, ordinances and water contracts

Castle Rock Town Council met June 17 and took a series of policy and administrative actions, including directing staff to return with an amendment to lower allowable building heights in the downtown overlay district, approving a pilot kiosk program for home builders, awarding community grants, adopting an amendment to the town's public indecency code, updating local rules for accessory dwelling units and approving engineering agreements for two water projects.

The council voted unanimously on the motions and ordinances after discussion and public comment. The meeting also included a joint settlement statement from The Rock Church and the town about a long-running land-use lawsuit.

Why it matters: The downtown overlay change and ADU updates affect how and where housing and businesses can develop in Castle Rock; the public indecency amendment clarifies enforcement on live adult performances in public spaces; the water agreements fund design and permitting work for projects that aim to increase long-term water supply; and the council's grant decisions distribute limited town funding to local nonprofits and school programs.

Downtown height limit: staff directed to draft ordinance

Council member Mark Davis introduced a motion asking staff to prepare an ordinance to lower the maximum height in the downtown overlay from six stories to four and return it for council consideration at a future meeting. The motion was seconded and passed 6-0. Council members stressed the need to avoid retroactively affecting already approved projects and asked staff to analyze potential property-rights and litigation risks.

Council member Max Brooks asked staff to also consider shifting the boundary of the downtown core farther south (toward Plum Creek) when drafting the amendment.

Kiosk pilot for home builders

Council member Brooks also asked staff to bring back a pilot program to allow kiosks for home builders as a form of wayfinding and community information in new residential developments. He framed the proposal as a limited, pilot test with a later review to determine whether the program should continue. The council approved the request to place the item on a future agenda by a 6-0 vote.

Quarterly community grants

Council considered nine applications to the second-quarter 2025 Council Community Grant program. The council majority moved to fund eight applicants at $500 each, excluding a first-time applicant named Green Thumb that staff indicated may be based outside the county. With that amendment, the motion passed 6-0. The eight awardees (each $500) are: Third Meal (food support), Heavy Athletics (youth weightlifting), Lady Trailblazer Inc. (STEM leadership for girls), Castle View Gridiron Club, Castle Rock Orchestra, A Precious Child, Castle View High School Band Booster, and Casa Country Assisted Living (landscaping improvements for a memory-care community). The council noted the program's $16,000 annual budget and discussed reviewing the grant program during the upcoming budget process.

Settlement with The Rock church

Pastor Michael Palhemas of The Rock addressed the council and read a joint statement with town staff announcing a settlement of litigation between the church and the town. According to the joint statement read by Andrew Nemeth, the parties reached an agreement permitting The Rock to operate an on-site temporary shelter ministry in two trailers currently on the church's property and to partner with organizations such as the American Red Cross for emergency services. The statement says the town may install fencing or landscaping to partially screen the units; the settlement is intended to balance the church's exercise of religious freedom with the town's land-use objectives.

Public indecency code amendment

Town attorney Mike Hyman presented an amendment to Chapter 9.06 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code to explicitly prohibit performances of live adult entertainment in public places or in locations where the conduct may reasonably be expected to be viewed by the public. Hyman said the amendment fills a gap in the town's code and explained that the ordinance defines prohibited conduct and provides for municipal-court prosecution. After public comment—one resident urged the council to reject the measure as vague and potentially targeting LGBTQ+ performers—the council voted 6-0 to adopt the ordinance.

Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance update

Planning staff presented a proposed update to the ADU regulations, driven in part by recent state legislation (identified in the packet as House Bill 24-1152). Key changes the council approved by ordinance include making detached ADUs and additions administrative approvals (removing the prior use-by-special-review public hearing requirement), removing the long-standing deed-restriction owner-occupancy requirement (staff retained a requirement that the owner occupy the primary structure at the time of permit application), clarifying setbacks (including a 5-foot minimum rear setback if not otherwise specified), and setting size limits (ADUs may not exceed 50% of the primary dwelling or 750 square feet, whichever is greater; detached/addition footprints are capped consistent with code). Council members and staff said the updates will streamline permitting; the ordinance passed on a 6-0 vote.

Cantrell House property and right-of-way vacation

Parks staff updated council on renovations and programming at the Cantrell House historic property and asked the council to vacate a 20-foot alley shown on the original plat that runs through the parcel. Staff said the alley is obsolete and that vacating it would aid future replatting and zoning cleanup; the council approved the first reading of an ordinance to vacate the alley 6-0.

Water projects: Plum Creek diversion upgrades and Platte Valley Water Partnership

Council approved two engineering/service agreements related to long-term water strategy: - A services agreement with Dewberry Engineers for final design, permitting and construction-phase support for Plum Creek diversion upgrades (including a screened crossing and an infiltration gallery to improve capture and reduce maintenance). The council approved the contract by resolution 6-0; staff described the work as preparatory design with construction anticipated in winter 2026–27. - A resolution to retain Wheeler & Associates to support Castle Rock's role in the Platte Valley Water Partnership water-rights case (a multi-jurisdictional Colorado project to develop long-term supply on the South Platte). Staff described the work as complex, involving multiple subconsultants and water-court filings; the council approved the contract 6-0 and staff said additional appropriations may be discussed during upcoming budget work.

Police event security and community events

Chief Collie briefed the council on public-safety preparations for recent large events (car show and protests). The department said it increased on-scene officers, used drone and camera assets and deployed newly purchased barricades to secure ingress/egress; council members and residents commended the department's work.

Executive session and personnel actions

The council convened an executive session to discuss annual performance evaluations for the town attorney and town manager. Returning to open session, the council approved salary increases in separate motions: the town attorney's salary was increased to $250,000 effective July 1, 2025, and the town manager's salary was increased to $277,000 effective June 1, 2025. Both motions passed 6-0.

What's next

Staff will return to a future agenda with the draft downtown overlay amendment, the kiosk pilot proposal, final language for the ADU administrative procedures and any required budget changes for water-court work or the grant program. Council discussed reviewing the grant program as part of the 2026 budget process.

Ending: The council adjourned after routine consent items and a full docket of presentations and public comment.