Douglas County approves Range preliminary plan for 399-acre residential development with conditions

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on May 27 unanimously approved a preliminary plan for the Range subdivision (project file SB2024-048), clearing the way for 550 single-family lots on roughly 399 acres east of U.S. 85 at Airport Road.

The plan includes about 240 acres — roughly 60% of the site — set aside as open space, two access points to Highway 85, and commitments for water and transportation infrastructure. "The Range preliminary plan proposes 550 units on 399 acres in Planning Area 1 and Planning Area 2," said Mike Paseka, representing planning services for Douglas County.

The board’s vote follows a staff recommendation and a unanimous Planning Commission recommendation (7–0). The approval was conditioned on a set of requirements the county listed for final plat and construction, including confirmation of water supply, dedication of land for a future Airport Road/Highway 85 interchange and an open-space protection agreement.

Why it matters: The Range is a large residential project abutting Highlands Ranch backcountry and Cherokee Ridge Estates. The development’s design emphasizes open space and wildlife corridors and will require new water and sewer infrastructure and road improvements that affect regional partners, including CDOT and Dominion Water and Sanitation District.

Key details and approvals - Density and layout: 550 detached single-family lots clustered in two planning areas, with lot sizes ranging from about 5,625 to 23,854 square feet; the PD sets a 4,000-square-foot minimum lot area and a 35-foot maximum building height. - Open space and wildlife:…