Planning commission recommends approval of Dawson Trails Filing 2 site development plan

The Town of Castle Rock Planning Commission on May 8 unanimously recommended that Town Council approve the site development plan (SDP) for Dawson Trails Filing 2, a 53‑acre single‑family neighborhood that would add 256 lots, dedicating 43.5 acres of public open space and 11.4 acres of private open space to the town.

In a staff presentation, Ms. Vossler, town planning staff, told the commission that the SDP had been reviewed against the municipal code, the Dawson Trails planned development (PD) standards and the town's technical manuals for stormwater, water and sanitary sewer. "Staff has found that the proposed site plan complies with and advances the goals and objectives of the town's guiding documents," Ms. Vossler said, and recommended the commission forward the plan to council with a positive recommendation.

Larry Jacobson, with developer Westside Investment Partners, described the project and team. "My name is Larry Jacobson. I'm with Westside Investment Partners. We're the developer of the project," he said, and noted the filing includes a mix of lot types and neighborhood amenities'60‑, 45‑ and alley‑loaded lots; a neighborhood park; and trail connections to the Dawson Trails greenway.

The plan proposes three lot types: 60‑foot front‑loaded lots, 45‑foot front‑loaded lots and mostly 35‑foot (some 32‑foot) alley‑loaded lots. Developers said the northern block is primarily the wider 60‑foot lots and the southern block will have a mix of alley‑loaded and traditional single‑family lots. The filing also dedicates 43.5 acres of public open space adjacent to the SDP, as required by the Dawson Trails PD and the development agreement, plus 11.4 acres of private open space that will include a neighborhood park and trails.

Project presenters said the neighborhood will be accessed by two main collector connections via Blanca Peak Parkway and Dawson Plaza, with a roundabout shown at one Blanca Peak entry. An emergency vehicle access (EVA) was added through the northern block to meet the fire access separation standard driven by the International Fire Code diagonal‑measurement requirement; staff and the applicant said the EVA was included to satisfy that code standard rather than because of an identified traffic deficiency.

The SDP contains a planned gathering amenity called Knievel Park, described by the applicant as a playground and pump‑track feature linked to the greenway and community trail network. Presenters said trail design will combine concrete sidewalks and natural‑surface trails and will connect to the planned Front Range Trail and other Dawson Trails trail corridors. Construction of the neighborhood was described as likely to begin in 2026–2027 to align with the opening of the Crystal Valley interchange now under construction.

Commissioners asked about schools and drainage. Staff noted two elementary‑sized school sites (about 12 acres each) are identified in the broader PD and that regional drainage facilities and a master drainage plan will serve this neighborhood and upstream areas; the applicant said stormwater will be routed to the greenway and to regional basins already planned for Dawson Trails.

Motion and vote: Vice Chair McHugh moved to recommend approval of the site development plan to Town Council; the motion was seconded (second not specified in the record) and passed on a roll call vote recorded as: Commissioner Salinas, aye; Commissioner Stanley, aye; Commissioner Sawan, aye; Vice Chair McHugh, aye; Chair Waunke, aye.

The commission closed the public hearing after no members of the public spoke during the allotted public comment period. Staff materials, neighborhood outreach summaries and the technical review memos were included in the record and will accompany the item when it goes to Town Council.

What happens next: The Planning Commission's recommendation will be transmitted to Town Council for a final decision on the SDP and any associated platting or development agreements.