Town staff outlines timeline, RFP and community engagement plan for comprehensive master plan update

Town planning staff presented an introductory overview of a proposed update to Castle Rock's comprehensive master plan at the June 11 Planning Commission meeting and outlined a preliminary schedule and engagement approach.

Bridal Boland, representing town staff, described the comprehensive plan as a long-range policy guide that sets the town's vision, future land-use map, and implementation actions. Boland said the existing plan is the town's Comprehensive Plan 2030, adopted in 2017, and that state statute requires jurisdictions of this size to maintain a plan. Boland told the commission staff will present to town council on July 7 and anticipates releasing a consultant RFP on July 13 with a consultant selection and kickoff expected in August or September. Boland described the overall effort as a roughly 12-month process with extensive community engagement.

On engagement and consultant questions, Boland said the process will likely include internal working groups and broad public workshops: "I think there's, you know, maybe working groups that like internal that have a lot of work... and so that can be very helpful, to hear their opinion and how they view the community." Commissioners asked whether AI would be used for data synthesis; Boland said consultants would likely use AI tools during early data collection and synthesis and that the town already uses AI internally.

Boland provided examples of topics the update will address, noting new and emerging land uses: "We've been recently approached from a company who wants to do drone delivery. Like, how does that fit into a comp plan or our code?" He said the update will help the town decide where to direct investments for roads, water, and other infrastructure and may prompt zoning or small-area plan updates. Staff also indicated several land-use applications are expected in late summer and early fall and reminded commissioners of a noticed hearing on June 25 and a follow-up on July 9.

The commission did not take formal action on the comprehensive plan at the meeting; staff will return with further details as the RFP and consultant selection proceed.