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Douglas County approves rezoning of Happy Canyon tracts F and G to open space
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a zone map change reclassifying two county-owned tracts in Happy Canyon Filing 4 totaling 12.1 acres from State Residential to Open Space Conservation to preserve wildlife habitat and neighborhood open space.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on June 10 approved a zone map change to reclassify two county-owned parcels in Happy Canyon Filing 4 as Open Space Conservation.
Trevor Bedford, senior planner with Douglas County Planning Services, told the board the request would rezone Tracts F and G — a combined 12.1 acres — from State Residential to Open Space Conservation. "This zone map change rezones county owned property to open space conservation that has been historically used as wildlife habitat," Bedford said.
The change follows referral and public-review steps in the county zoning process. Bedford said no referral agencies objected, the Happy Canyon Homeowners Association and one nearby property owner submitted written support, and the Planning Commission recommended approval 5-0 at its June 2 public hearing.
The parcels are in central Douglas County within the Comprehensive Master Plan High Plateau Non-Urban Subarea. Tract F is about 2.7 acres and Tract G about 9.4 acres, the staff presentation said. County planning staff and public commenters cited wildlife habitat and neighborhood open-space use as reasons to protect the tracts now that adjacent development in the Town of Castle Rock is approaching.
A resident identified as Joe Campbell of Highlands Ranch and a representative described as the Ridge West/Hetman County homeowners association president spoke in favor at the hearing. Commissioners also praised planning staff for their packet materials and referral documentation.
A commissioner moved to approve the Happy Canyon Filing 4 zone map change (project file DOC2024-005). The motion carried unanimously.
The rezoning changes only the county's map designation; any future management or planned uses of the tracts will follow county open-space rules and department review.
