Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - September 1, 2026

The Castle Rock Town Council met Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers and adjourned at 10:55 p.m. The agenda included consent items, a town manager and drought/water report, a quasi-judicial site development hearing for the 112-acre Chateau Valley subdivision, a resolution supporting Colorado Proposition 134 (the 'Protect Women and Girls Sports Act'), a second-reading school land/fee ordinance, a discussion of Title 9 code revisions, and a US 85/CO 86 traffic and safety contract. The meeting drew extensive public testimony from residents, a petition group, and Douglas County School District representatives.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda's consent calendar listed: two second-reading ordinances (Items 7-8) annexing and zoning 16.12 town-owned acres; a public nuisance ordinance (Item 9); a zoning text amendment ordinance (Item 10); a sole-source purchase agreement with Transwest Freightliner for four Class 8 dump trucks (Item 11); a Dewberry Engineers agreement for Phase 1 of the Sedalia Gravity Collection System (Item 12); a reimbursement-intent resolution for water/sewer improvements (Item 13); a Dyslexia Awareness Month/Drive for Dyslexia Day proclamation (Item 14); and the August 18, 2026 meeting minutes (Item 15).
• Note: the provided transcript does not record a separate roll call vote on the consent calendar; it moves from the Town Manager's report to the quasi-judicial hearing. The minutes were not available for verification.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Unscheduled comments: Dean Legatsky, a former District 3 council candidate, criticized the August 18, 2026 censure attempt against a council member as lacking notice, verification, or a right to respond, and asked council to adopt a written censure process and a disclosure rule for board appointees. David Miles, identified as a Design Review Board member, downtown business owner, and resident, renewed his request for council to censure Councilmember Mark Davis and asked for formal investigations by the town, Douglas County, and the state attorney general, citing text messages he said Davis admitted sending and deleting. Amy Wing urged support for Proposition 134 and questioned the ethics and recusal of several council members. A resident asked Public Works to make older Coach Line bike-lane markings match the newer section.
• Chateau Valley (Item 16): Many residents spoke against the plan as proposed. Vanessa Kiley said more than 1,300 residents signed the 'Reject and Revise Chateau Valley' petition and asked for a minimum 150-foot buffer and greater preservation of forested land/open space. Other speakers raised water supply and high bills, traffic and road connections, narrow streets, public safety response times, wildlife corridors, floodplain and federal wetland approvals, privacy, and a claimed lack of current resident support. Some asked council to deny or continue the project; some suggested the town purchase the property. Speakers cited a community survey finding 73% support for preserving more natural areas, a claimed 7,989 homes in the development pipeline, water bills of $549 and $408, the 423-to-402 home reduction being about 4.9%, and a concern that the homes were characterized as affordable despite being around $600,000. One long-time senior resident asked for a senior ombudsman and criticized the $3-per-month senior water discount as inadequate. One resident called the traffic study 'bogus.'
• Proposition 134 (Item 17): Supporters included Amy Winju, Matt Smith, Jimmy Graham, Clifford Hancock, Dana Baum, a Protect Kids Colorado board member, and Christopher Waterman; they argued the measure protects girls' and women's sports and locker rooms and is common sense. Opponents included Anya Zavadil, Keith, Angela Thomas, and Megan Zavadil; they argued the town should not take a position on a statewide ballot issue outside its municipal purview and that voters should decide.
• School land/fee ordinance (Item 18): Douglas County School District Board President Susan Meek, board director Tony Ryan, Long Range Planning Committee chair Michael Kemp, DCSD attorney Sarah Kellner, and other district representatives asked council to table the ordinance, citing planning timelines, bond-funding requirements, legal concerns, and a risk that no future school could be built in Castle Rock. Angela Thomas questioned whether the ordinance solved the underlying Crystal Valley coordination problem. Chris Spike asked staff to work with the district/county and to confirm the ordinance closes the loophole that allowed a Crystal Valley school site to revert to the developer.

Town Manager's Report and Drought/Water Update

• The Town Manager gave calendar reminders including open houses and a September 9 Sports Center tour, and said Parks and Recreation had a record-breaking concert season. He reported the budget would be introduced at the next meeting, with first and second readings in October and final assessed valuation in December; he cited $100 million in sales tax and $1.5 million in property tax. He said assessed valuation for Castle Rock has gone down. He proposed rescheduling the canceled July 4 fireworks to November 11 with the same contractor. He and the fire chief recommended banning fireworks sale and use at Stage 1 of fire restrictions, rather than the current approach that bans use at Stage 1 and sale at Stage 2; that decision would be considered with Title 9.
• Water Director Mark Marlowe said the drought is not over; Douglas County conditions are worse than in May, July was the second-warmest month on record, and the South Platte is below average and near record lows. Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at their lowest levels since construction. Community response to Stage 2 reduced average daily demand from 18 million gallons per day in early July to about 14.8 million gallons per day, an approximately 20% reduction. He recommended moving to a Stage 1 drought declaration with voluntary conservation and every-third-day watering. Marlowe said the drought is a temporary peak-demand issue, that new development must secure water supplies before approval, and that approved developments already have water planned. He also said the turf-rebate program could be examined for backyard turf.

Development Services Project Updates

• Staff reported new quasi-judicial applications including Birkencotter Motors auto sales, a landmark designation at 422 Front Street, a Quick Trip convenience/fuel/car wash, and a wireless cellular facility at Fire Station 152. Pre-applications included Texas Roadhouse at the Outlet Mall pads, a Quick Quack car wash, Commerce Bank, an Emporium addition, a Perry Street parking lot, a nonprofit food-truck kitchen at 505 Jerry Street, Cantrell School rezoning, Castlewood Ranch Metro District signage, Castle Rock Autoplex changes, and Dawson Trails commercial lots. Staff said about 30% of pre-applications become formal applications.

Quasi-Judicial Hearing: Chateau Valley (Item 16)

• Applicant testimony from Rusty Hall of Highline Engineering on behalf of Chateau Valley LLC: the 112-acre site would contain 402 homes, including 148 duplex lots and 254 single-family detached lots, one future clubhouse, 50 acres (45%) of open space, 3,700 linear feet of concrete regional trail, and 2,800 feet of soft hiking trail. The proposal is a 28% reduction from the 561 allowable units under the 1983 Young American PUD. Traffic engineer Mike Rocha said counts were updated in January 2025 and that under 2045 build-out, existing street capacity would not be exceeded; the lower density would reduce traffic generation by approximately 28% compared with allowable density.
• Staff said four neighborhood meetings were held and the proposal was reduced from 423 to 415 to 402 homes. Water supply for the development has been planned since 1983; new homes in Castle Rock have no front-yard turf and reduced backyard turf requirements. Staff clarified that Memmen Ridge open space owned by the town is separate from the private trees on the Chateau Valley site. The applicant proposes transplanting 60 mature trees and replacing them if they do not survive; staff stated the code-required tree count is 181 and the proposal includes 1,946 trees including transplants.
• Council questions covered tree removal, buffers, traffic, and road connections. Staff said the minimum buffer is 30 feet, varying to 60 feet and more than 100 feet. Existing Valley Drive/Plum Creek operates at level of service (LOS) C or better, while Valley Drive/Fifth is currently LOS F in the AM peak and E in the PM peak before construction. Under 2045 build-out, Valley/Plum Creek would operate at LOS D or better (southbound left turn at D; other movements C or better), and Valley/Fifth would operate at LOS A if signalized. The applicant modeled both full connections and limited-connection/emergency-access scenarios; both reportedly work. Councilmember Davis recommended closing Ash and Elm to public through traffic; Eton would remain connected.
• After testimony, Councilmember Brooks moved to direct staff to explore acquisition of adjacent and forested portions of the property using available mechanisms, including possible condemnation; the motion passed unanimously. A suggestion to explore purchase of the entire property for permanent conservation was discussed but no separate vote was taken. A motion to continue Resolution 2026-098 to the first meeting in January 2027 passed unanimously. Council discussion cited the need for better buffers, more land preservation, and a better plan before reconsideration.

Proposition 134 Resolution (Item 17)

• Staff explained Initiative 109 will appear on the November ballot as Proposition 134. After public comment, Councilmember Bracken spoke about his personal experience with Title IX elimination of his wrestling program; Councilmember Brooks said council routinely takes positions on state legislative matters and called the initiative a grassroots response to failed state legislation; Mayor Pro Tem Cavey, Dietz, Davis, and Gray all voiced support. The resolution passed 7-0.

School Land and Cash Fees Ordinance (Item 18)

• Council considered second reading of Ordinance 2026-027, which would amend Section 16.08.120 to create a review process for school-dedicated land and cash fees, including dialogue with DCSD and neighborhood notice/public hearing before removal of a school designation. Councilmember Hollingshead declined to recuse himself despite being a DCSD employee; the town attorney said recusal is each councilmember's call unless there is a clear violation.
• The Douglas County School District requested a tabling and further negotiation over timelines and legal issues. Councilmembers Bracken, Hollingshead, and Mayor Gray said the timelines appeared too restrictive for school planning and bond cycles; Councilmembers Davis, Brooks, Dietz, and Mayor Pro Tem Cavey said the town has maintained unused dedicated properties for years and that the ordinance preserves future opportunity for public input and future school discussions. The ordinance passed 4-3. First reading had been approved 5-2 on August 18, 2026.

Title 9 Code Discussion (Item 19)

• The town attorney presented a comprehensive update to Title 9 of the Municipal Code, originally adopted in 1968, with new definitions, offenses against public peace/property/government, unlawful interference with an educational institution, parental responsibility, noise-control changes required by Hobbs v. City of Salida, restitution/public service, and penalty levels up to 364 days in jail and $2,650 in fines. Separate proposed ordinances would add corporate retail-theft reporting within 96 hours with anti-retaliation protections, ban retail Kratom sales, and address fireworks sales during fire restrictions.
• Council discussion was direction only. Mayor Pro Tem Cavey expressed concern that 96-hour retail-theft reporting could strain police-retailer relationships. Councilmember Brooks suggested keeping the additional ordinances separate because there was not consensus, said he was not in favor of the fireworks-sales change, and supported outreach to retailers. Staff said outreach could occur and the ordinances could return on September 15, 2026.

US 85/CO 86 Traffic and Safety Plan (Item 20)

• Staff presented Resolution 2026-100 approving a professional services agreement with Felsburg Holt & Ullevig for a safety and operations study of US 85 and CO 86/Founders Parkway. The current-year budget allocation is $750,000; the contract is just under $700,000, with the remainder held as contingency. The study will use CDOT's procurement selection process, take about a year, and inform future capital projects. The Public Works Commission recommended approval unanimously. Councilmember Hollingshead noted the corridor is a regional connector; staff said regional growth will be included in the modeling. The resolution passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Chateau Valley Resolution 2026-098 was continued to the first meeting in January 2027; the acquisition-exploration motion passed unanimously.
• Proposition 134 support resolution passed 7-0.
• School land/fee Ordinance 2026-027 passed 4-3 (Davis, Brooks, Dietz, and Cavey yes; Hollingshead, Bracken, and Gray no).
• US 85/CO 86 contract resolution passed 7-0.
• Title 9 discussion produced direction to keep additional ordinances separate and conduct retailer outreach; no vote was taken.
• The council adjourned at 10:55 p.m. by unanimous vote.