Douglas County objects to Brightar Road annexation over traffic concerns

Douglas County commissioners on May 5 voted unanimously to object to an annexation and rezoning request for 3154 Brightar Road, a proposed 67‑unit townhome project on 9.3 acres.

Commissioner Martin Rexton led the motion to object after staff and DOT representatives described traffic and safety concerns in the Brightar Road corridor. Bruce Mercer of Douglas County Department of Transportation told the board Brightar Road carries roughly 10,000 vehicles per day and is increasing by about 1,000 cars per year; he said developers working with the city have pledged to fund a new traffic signal at Brightar Road and the Brightar Connector to relieve congestion.

Despite the city's planned signal and developer contributions, several commissioners and residents said existing bottlenecks at Douglas Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Highway still create safety and access problems during peak hours. County staff said transportation concerns alone may not satisfy statutory standards for objection but recommended submitting a letter outlining traffic and related issues to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The board unanimously directed staff to file a formal objection and authorized the chairman to sign related documents.

Why it matters: An objection from the county is a formal step in the annexation process and signals local government concerns that could influence state review or negotiations, particularly when rapid industrial and residential development has changed travel patterns in the corridor.

What’s next: County planning staff will prepare the objection letter and submit it to DCA. The board asked DOT to follow up on signal timing and other mitigation measures while the annexation is reviewed.