The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved Jan. 23 a zone-map change to reclassify approximately 106 acres along Echo Valley Road from State Residential to Agricultural 1 (project DR2025-009).

Trevor Bedford of Community Development presented the request and explained the rezoning would bring the property into closer conformance with the Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan for the West Plum Creek non-urban sub area. "The request for zone map change, from a state residential to agricultural 1 for approximately 106 acres," Bedford said.

The applicant, represented by Matt Flavin, said the land is being used for grazing and horse breeding and that he is coordinating with the Douglas Land Conservancy to place the property in a conservation easement. "We are working with the Douglas Land Conservancy to try to conserve all of that new acreage, the 106 acres on Echo Valley Road," Flavin said.

Staff reported no objections from referral agencies or the public; the Planning Commission recommended approval at its Jan. 12 hearing by a vote of 6–0. Commissioners moved, seconded and voted to approve the zone-map change during the Jan. 23 hearing.

The rezoning aligns the parcel’s official zoning with observed agricultural uses and an asserted conservation intent; final conservation easement terms and any separate easement approvals remain subject to subsequent processes.