Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - January 20, 2026: Zoning, Water Agreements, and Board Policy Changes
Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - January 20, 2026: Zoning, Water Agreements, and Board Policy Changes
The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including a controversial zoning amendment for Crystal Valley Ranch, approval of a major water purchase agreement for WISE water, amendments to board and commission policies, and several other routine items. Councilmembers were present, with Councilmember Hollingshead arriving late and Councilmember Brooks absent for one vote. All actions are noted with vote tallies.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) the consent calendar containing three items: Ordinance 2026-002 amending municipal code sections on disposition and lease of real property; Resolution 2026-005 for an infrastructure agreement with Tallgrass Colorado Municipal Water, LLC; and minutes from the January 6, 2026 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Crystal Valley Ranch Zoning (Item 10): Resident Susan McAfee spoke in opposition, stating that the proposed land swap provided an unequal buffer for existing homes (15 feet on the north end vs. 135 feet on the west side). She presented an alternative plan eliminating four lots to improve the buffer and urged council to condition approval on her revised layout.
- Board and Commission Code Changes (Item 15): Three members of the Public Art Commission—Dana (TriArt), KC Neel, and Chair Jen Perry—requested removal of the residency requirement, arguing it would severely limit qualified volunteers. They noted that many members live just outside town boundaries and that the commission requires specialized art expertise.
Discussion Items
- Legislative Positions (Town Manager's Report): Council debated tracking and opposing several state bills, including SB26-005 (fairness in municipal court), SB26-018 (child name change suppression), and the PEEPS Act (restricting FLOCK license plate readers). Councilmember Brooks asked to hold off on opposing the privacy bill pending more information. A motion to affirm staff's recommended positions passed 6-0.
- Water Quality & Drought Briefing: Mark Marlowe, Director of Castle Rock Water, reported one of the worst snowpacks on record, with the South Platte Basin tracking at historic lows. He noted that Castle Rock Reservoir 2 is full and that a drought declaration is unlikely until outdoor irrigation season. Water quality maintenance (chlorine burn) is scheduled to begin February 2. The Chatfield Watershed Authority by-laws update was also presented, with Castle Rock seeking two voting members as the largest financial supporter.
- Crystal Valley Ranch Zoning (Second Reading, ORD 2026-001): After public comment, Councilmember Dietz initially moved to approve with conditions based on Ms. McAfee's revised plan, but rescinded after staff clarified that such conditions were more appropriate at the site development plan stage. The final motion to approve as presented (Option 3) passed 5-2, with Mayor Gray, Hollingshead, Bracken, Davis, and Brooks in favor; Mayor Pro Tem Cavey and Councilmember Dietz opposed.
- Dawson Trails Development Agreement Amendment (First Reading, ORD 2026-003): Staff presented amendments allowing up to 1,500 residential building permits and commercial permits (but not occupancy) before the Crystal Valley Interchange opens. The amendment also relaxed rear yard landscaping requirements. The Council approved unanimously 7-0.
- America 250 - Colorado 150 Grants (DIR 2026-001): Assistant Town Manager Kristin Read recommended three grants of up to $10,000 each to service partners (Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County Housing Partnership, DDA) and three to community organizations (Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance, Haven HOA, Historical Society). Approved unanimously 7-0.
- Street Renaming (RES 2026-006): Approved unanimously 7-0 to rename the segment of South Interstate 25 Road from Plum Creek Parkway to Crystal Valley Parkway to South Wilcox Street, effective upon annexation completion. Staff budgeted up to $45,000 to assist affected properties.
- Axon Enterprise Agreement (RES 2026-007): Police Chief Cauley presented a third amendment to purchase 25 additional body-worn cameras for $673,778 over 5.5 years. Mayor Pro Tem Cavey recused herself due to a conflict of interest. Approved 6-0.
- Board and Commission Code Changes (First Reading, ORD 2026-004): The Council debated residency, remote participation, and attendance requirements. After discussion and public comment, several amendments passed unanimously: 1) Preference for Castle Rock residents for the Public Art Commission, with second preference for Douglas County residents; 2) Absence limit changed from 15% unexcused to 26% total absences; 3) Castle Rock Water Commission may allow remote attendance upon Council adoption of a remote attendance policy; 4) Staff to study Code of Conduct practices in other municipalities. The ordinance as amended was then approved unanimously 7-0 on first reading.
- Planning Commission and Comprehensive Plan (DIR 2026-002): Staff recommended updates to Chapter 2.16 to clarify that town code supersedes state regulations and that the comprehensive plan is an advisory document, not an ordinance. Council directed staff to bring back an ordinance reflecting these changes. Approved 6-0 (Councilmember Brooks not present).
- WISE Water Purchase (RES 2026-008): Castle Rock Water will purchase 250 acre-feet of WISE water from Pinery Water & Sanitation District for $2.138 million ($8,553 per acre-foot), plus a water delivery agreement allowing Pinery to buy back water in summer up to 0.75 mgd at cost. The purchase reduces the average cost of Castle Rock's WISE water from ~$32,000 to ~$29,000 per acre-foot. Approved unanimously 7-0.
- Highway 85 Wastewater IGA (RES 2026-009): Second amendment to the IGA with Douglas County adds $984,296 to the project budget, with Castle Rock receiving a 25% surcharge on all system development fees plus interest until repaid. Approved unanimously 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Streetlight at Castle Rock Museum: Approved 6-0 after Councilmember Davis motioned and Councilmember Dietz seconded. Town Manager Corliss committed to implementing.
- Crystal Valley Ranch Zoning (ORD 2026-001): Passed 5-2 on second reading. The developer receives zoning approval per Option 3; buffer and layout details will be addressed at the site development plan stage.
- Dawson Trails Development Agreement (ORD 2026-003): Approved 7-0 on first reading. Allows up to 1,500 residential permits and commercial building permits but no occupancy before Crystal Valley Interchange opens.
- America 250 Grants (DIR 2026-001): Approved 7-0; staff to disburse funds to six recipients.
- Street Renaming (RES 2026-006): Approved 7-0; effective upon annexation of the road segment.
- Axon Cameras (RES 2026-007): Approved 6-0 (Cavey recused); contract amendment for 25 body-worn cameras.
- Board and Commission Ordinance (ORD 2026-004): Approved as amended 7-0 on first reading; second reading expected in February 2026.
- Planning Commission Authority (DIR 2026-002): Staff directed to draft ordinance updating Chapter 2.16; approved 6-0.
- WISE Water Purchase (RES 2026-008): Approved 7-0; executed IGA for purchase and delivery.
- Highway 85 Wastewater IGA (RES 2026-009): Approved 7-0; second amendment to funding agreement.
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned to executive session at 8:45 PM to discuss legal strategy regarding Douglas County School District property.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'll open first with the invocation. Heavenly Father, we ask for your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. We gathered here today intent on doing good work. We seek to represent fairly and well those who get into this task. Help us engage in meaningful discussion. Give us clarity and strength to use our best judgment and skills. Bless his community, its residents, businesses, and visitors, and help us continue doing good work in your name. Amen. Call the meeting, roll call, please. Councilmember Hollingshead is not present. Councilmember Bracken. Present. Councilmember Davis. Oh I forgot. Councilmember Brooks. Present. Councilmember Deeds. Here. Mayor Pro Tem KB? Yes. Mayor Gray. Here. Please rise for the Plus allegiance. One nation. I'll go ahead and start with Council comments. First, I want to thank everybody who's online and in person for being here tonight. You know, I uh thought we had we've had a pretty good start of the new year and um a lot of things going on. We have that in before I think before or right after our next council meetings, we have the the uh the fireball, and and that that's a lot of fun, it has a lot of importance uh uh to myself and I'm sure all the council members as well. And uh I just hope everyone has a nice beginning of new year and uh welcome to the end of January already. Councilmember Bracken. Yeah, thank you, Mayor. I just wanted uh thank uh Dan and his department for um handling a few areas around town on short notice, laying some gravel down, um not important to all the folks around town, but the the folks that live back in that area really appreciate it and uh handled it quickly and and efficiently. So appreciate that. Thank you. Councilmember Davis. Yes. First of all, I'd like to say thank you to everybody who's in this room. We thank you for uh uh your hard work, mostly the town staff. That a lot of a lot of folks don't know that they did a full day today and then they come in here after that to uh spend the five hours with us. So uh the fact that you guys do that twice a month is just uh really thankful for that. So thank you all for that. Also, I'd like to make a motion for uh streetlight at the Castle Rock Museum. Uh I'm part of the Historic Preservation Board and I visited that place quite a few times and it is very dark down there, so I'd like to make a motion to get a stoplight, or yeah, not stoplight. A uh a uh street light in front of the the Castle Rock Museum. Second. May I add? We have a first and a second from Davis and from Deets and again go ahead and Councilmember Deeds. Thank you, Mayor. And in be spending some time there myself too.
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