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Erie planning commission recommends approval of Spring Hill preliminary plat, with conditions
Summary
The Erie Planning Commission on April 1 recommended approval of the Spring Hill preliminary plat — a roughly 300‑acre community proposing 632 homes, about 35 acres of public open space and a dedicated school site — while requiring remediation of identified oil‑and‑gas contamination and coordination with CDOT on Highway 52 improvements.
The Erie Planning Commission voted April 1 to recommend approval of the Spring Hill preliminary plat, a proposal for roughly 300 acres that would create 632 residential lots and reserve about 35 acres of public open space and a roughly 11‑acre school site.
Staff told the commission the preliminary plat aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan and the Spring Hill planned‑development zoning. Planning staff described the project as including 414 single‑family lots, 148 duplex lots and 70 townhome lots, roughly 44 acres of new public right‑of‑way and about 162 acres of conserved open space when private open‑space areas are counted. Staff recommended approval, subject to standard technical corrections prior to the Town Council hearing.
The applicant, John Prestwich of PCS Group, said the development team has worked with town staff for years and emphasized commitments to open space, trails and drainage improvements. He said all on‑site oil and gas wells have been plugged and abandoned, the applicant will not permit future drilling on the property, and mitigation of remaining soil contamination in the northeast corner is under way with the state agency COGCC and must be completed before final plat approval.
Public comment focused on traffic, schools and community character. In person speaker Chris Neaves urged the commission to coordinate with Frederick, Weld County and CDOT on long‑range plans for Highway 52, warning that multiple large developments along 52 could create significant congestion if improvements are not timed with new construction. Realtor and Morgan Hill resident Julie DeMartino asked whether SVVSD will build a school at the dedicated site soon, urged varied homebuilders rather than repeating product types, and expressed safety concerns about a roundabout at Highway 52 and County Road 3.
Staff and the applicant said CDOT controls the state highway and will determine whether a roundabout or a traffic signal is installed at Highway 52 and County Road 3; developer contributions and timing of improvements will be negotiated through the development agreement at the final‑plat stage. Staff added the new Frederick high school under construction should relieve some regional school capacity, and the proposed site is intended as an elementary site though SVVSD has no immediate plans to build there.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about oil‑and‑gas setbacks and remediation, drainage and the proposed double 8‑by‑6‑foot culvert under Highway 52, trail and park layouts, groundwater and soils, and coordination with public‑works access. Staff and the applicant said outstanding technical items — including final traffic analyses, remediation confirmation, and construction‑document measures for water quality and erosion control — will be resolved during final plat and construction‑document reviews.
Commissioner Dreckman moved to approve resolution P2607 recommending approval of the Spring Hill preliminary plat with the standard conditions; Commissioner Burns seconded and the motion carried on a voice vote. The recommendation now goes to the Town Council; final decisions on infrastructure timing, remediation, and detailed site plans will be addressed at the final‑plat and development‑agreement stages.
