Castle Rock Town Council Meeting Summary – April 1, 2025

The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers, 100 North Wilcox Street. Mayor Jason Gray presided; Mayor Pro Tem Laura Cavey attended remotely, and all seven council members were present. The council approved consent items, heard extensive public testimony, considered quasi-judicial land-use matters, and voted 7-0 on most items. The open meeting adjourned to executive session at approximately 9:20 p.m.

Council Comments and Proclamations

• Mayor Gray opened with personal remarks after losing a friend and encouraged residents to reach out to loved ones. Councilmember Davis explained the distinction between town-owned open space and privately owned undeveloped land. Councilmember Brooks and Councilmember Dietz praised the Castle Rock Fire Department banquet, and Councilmember Dietz spoke in support of home rule.
• Mayor Gray read a proclamation declaring April 2025 Water Conservation Month, noting Castle Rock residents reduced water consumption by more than 20% over the last 10 years and that Castle Rock Water has a goal of 18% conservation by 2055. The proclamation had been approved on March 18, 2025, by a vote of 7-0.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 7-0: the FY2025 budget supplemental appropriations ordinance (ORD 2025-011, second reading), the additional construction contingency for the Hudick Excavating/HEI Civil reservoir project (RES 2025-038), the 2025 Arbor Day Proclamation, and the March 18, 2025 Town Council meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brian Speagle asked whether the town could purchase "Memon Ranch" to preserve it and expressed concerns about traffic, runoff, and Castle Rock's quality of life as development continues.
• During ORD 2025-012, many Crystal Valley residents, including Oscar Duran, Maria Rios, Rick Vaughn, Elena Stansfield, Susan MacAfee, Jeff Richmond, Ritam Banergee, Alicia Maison, Emmanuel Ehason, David Cosel, Chris Tracy, Martina Pierce, Hannah Kelly, Dana Bonham, and Jason Miller, opposed the conveyance. Their concerns included loss of open space and the disc golf course, future school need, traffic and intersection safety, drainage and flooding, emergency access, health effects of construction near homes, property values, HOA and tax impacts, and the planned $500,000 payment to Douglas County School District. Several speakers asked the council to table or reconsider, and Hannah Kelly proposed directing the $500,000 to the planned elementary school if the conveyance proceeds.
• During RES 2025-040, a resident named Marsha voiced concern about increased traffic and school capacity if Pine Canyon is developed, describing Woodlands as already dangerous and Founders Parkway as a "zoo."
• During ORD 2025-013, Steve Snodgrass said 1,000 feet of notice was insufficient, noting that Pine Canyon is 13 times larger than a 40-acre parcel.

Town Manager and Staff Reports

• Staff provided calendar reminders and updated the annual recruitment of citizen volunteers to town boards and commissions, with applications due April 28 and interviews scheduled for May 13.
• Legislative update: Kristin Read reported about 65 new bills introduced that week. Staff recommended opposing a bill changing emergency communications radio system funding and a bill that would reduce transportation funding. The construction defects bill opposed by council was postponed indefinitely, and modifications to the Colorado Open Records Act passed and were awaiting the governor's signature. Council voted 7-0 to affirm staff's recommended positions on state legislation and direct staff to communicate them to the town's legislative delegation, CML, and others.
• Planned public outreach open houses were scheduled for August through October.
• Tara Vargish, Director of Development Services, presented development updates, including new applications: Unity on Wolfensburger, converting a 70-unit hotel into 50 condominiums for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Dawson Trails E2, a 104-townhome site development plan. She also reviewed numerous pre-applications, explaining that pre-applications are not formal applications and are intended to help developers understand process requirements.

Municipal Court Judge Appointment

• RES 2025-039 appointing David J. Thrower as Presiding Judge of the Castle Rock Municipal Court and approving his service contract passed 7-0. Mr. Thrower introduced himself, and Mayor Gray noted the interview committee unanimously recommended him. Councilmember Dietz said it was important to have someone who is part of the community.

Quasi-Judicial Hearings

• ORD 2025-012: First-reading ordinance to convey a 20.9-acre site, Lot 1, Block 2, Crystal Valley Ranch Filing 14, from the Town of Castle Rock to CVR PA3A LLC. Staff explained that the 2006 development agreement required reconveyance to the original owner if the Douglas County School District gave written notice it would never build a school. The school board declared the site surplus on January 28, 2025, and the town received the letter on February 3, 2025. Greg Brown, managing partner of Crystal Valley, said his proposal was 112 single-family homes and that infrastructure was planned for the full 3,475-unit buildout. After public comment and council discussion, the council voted 7-0 to table the ordinance.
• RES 2025-040: Eligibility hearing for the Pine Canyon annexation petition submitted by JRW Family Limited Partnership LLLP. Staff reported the property is approximately 535 acres, 100% of landowners signed the petition, and the property is more than 60% contiguous with the town boundary. Council approved the eligibility resolution 6-0; Councilmember Bracken was not present for the vote.

Additional Public Hearings and Discussion Items

• ORD 2025-013: First reading to amend mailed public-hearing notice distances and HOA notification requirements. Staff recommended expanding notice for projects of 40 acres or more from 500 feet to 1,000 feet and requiring notice to HOAs within a half-mile. Councilmember Dietz moved, and Council approved, an amendment setting the notice distance at 1,500 feet for projects of 40 acres or more. The ordinance passed first reading 7-0. Note: the agenda labeled this item as second reading, but the minutes and transcript show it was presented and approved as a first reading at this meeting.
• ORD 2025-014: First reading to amend exterior lighting regulations by limiting the holiday-display exemption to typical low-intensity lamps and prohibiting lasers, strobes, and similar high-intensity lights while preserving exceptions for security and emergency lighting. It passed 7-0. As with ORD 2025-013, the agenda label indicated second reading, but this was a first reading.
• DIR 2025-015: Five-Year Capital Improvement Program update. Staff presented the town's recommended Douglas County priorities for CDOT projects. Councilmember Brooks argued that widening US 85 should be a higher priority due to crashes and fatalities. Staff agreed to make US 85 widening the town's top CDOT priority, swapping it with the first-listed project. Discussion also covered the Crowfoot Valley signal, targeted for late summer/early fall, and the proposed signal at Founders Parkway and Crimson Sky, estimated at about $1 million with roughly $200,000 available; staff proposed advancing the remaining amount from fund balance.
• RES 2025-041: Resolution approving the First Restated Intergovernmental Agreement with Parker Water and Sanitation District for shared use of Newlin Gulch Aqueduct No. 2. Mark Marlowe explained it allows Castle Rock to move about 150 acre-feet of water from Walker Reservoir to Rueter-Hess via Cherry Creek, with about 3% stream losses and a service cost of roughly $101 per acre-foot. The resolution passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Voted 7-0 to affirm state legislative positions, approve the agenda, approve the consent calendar, appoint David J. Thrower as Municipal Judge, table ORD 2025-012, approve amended ORD 2025-013, approve ORD 2025-014, approve RES 2025-041, and extend the meeting.
• Approved RES 2025-040 (Pine Canyon annexation eligibility) 6-0, with Councilmember Bracken not present.
• Directed staff to make widening of US 85 the town's top CDOT priority and to explore alternatives for unfunded transportation projects.
• Adjourned to executive session on matters relating to the Platte Valley Water Partnership Fremont Butte Reservoir land purchase and legal advice on sewer infrastructure, with no return to open meeting.