Castle Rock Town Council Meeting: RidgeView Annexation, Budget, and Policy Actions – October 20, 2026

The Castle Rock Town Council convened on October 20, 2026, to consider a wide range of items including the annexation of the RidgeView Town Center, approval of the 2027 budget and fee ordinances, a neighborhood traffic calming appeal, and several policy ordinances. Council members also offered comments on development infrastructure, campaign finance, and term limits for the Downtown Development Authority.

Consent Calendar

The council approved the consent calendar (7–0), which included:

• Ordinance adopting the 2027 fiscal year budget (second reading).
• Ordinance amending stormwater, water resource, and wastewater fees (second reading).
• 16 resolutions approving 2027 funding agreements with community partners, purchase agreements for fire apparatus, trail construction and maintenance agreements, construction of a Park‑N‑Ride facility, and amendments for the Chatfield Pump Back and McMurdo Gulch projects.
• Minutes of the October 6, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jack Hennessy proposed the town adopt a new municipal flag, presenting a design and stating it could be used on merchandise to generate revenue. He offered the design to the town in exchange for recognition. (Resident)
• Jeff Guarente voiced concerns about license plate readers, citing his 15‑year experience of being stalked and arguing that the surveillance system threatens freedom and could be abused. (Resident)
• Justin Costa (Army veteran, resident) spoke in support of the neighborhood traffic calming appeal for Coltin Trail, questioning the accuracy of the speed data and requesting measures to improve safety.

Discussion Items

Town Manager’s Report

• The Town Manager conducted the formal graduation for the Your Town Academy class, reading names and presenting certificates. He also provided calendar reminders for upcoming board appreciation events, Veterans Day closures, and the election‑night meeting.

Water Rights Update

Mark Marlowe reported that Castle Rock Water, in partnership with Parker Water and the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, successfully settled with all 50 opposers on a water right for the Platte Valley Water Partnership without going to water court. The water right will yield 15,000–16,000 acre‑feet annually, with a refill of over 7,000 acre‑feet and a 26‑year average of over 6,000 acre‑feet. The town’s cost was about $885,000, less than anticipated.

Council Comments and Motions

• Mayor Jason Gray shared personal family news and offered condolences for community losses.
• Councilmember Mark Davis clarified he is not opposed to development but emphasized the need for proper infrastructure upfront, citing the downtown sewer system’s limitations.
• Councilmember Max Brooks reported on a state legislative audit regarding metropolitan districts and made a motion to place an item on the November 17 agenda to repeal the term‑limit prohibition for the Downtown Development Authority and replace it with a policy conforming to state statute (two consecutive four‑year terms, with eligibility after four years off). The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (7–0).
• Councilmember Tim Dietz underlined the need for proper downtown infrastructure before approving taller or denser projects.
• Mayor Pro Tem Laura Cavey discussed campaign contributions from a committee she associated with development interests, disclosing that a $30,000 filing included $10,000 checks from an LLC with opaque ownership. She called for future council action on campaign finance disclosure, board recusal standards, a downtown infrastructure capacity review, and a public conversation on height limits along Wilcox Street.

RidgeView Town Center Annexation (Quasi‑Judicial)

The council heard a presentation from applicant George Mattione and his team for three related items:

1. Annexation of 10.54 acres west of North Ridge Road.
2. Initial planned development zoning.
3. Approval of a development agreement with vested rights through December 31, 2036. The project includes up to 54,000 square feet of commercial space, a minimum of 6,000 square feet of full‑service restaurant space, one drive‑through (permitted only in the southern planning area), and $1.8 million in road improvement contributions. No public comment was received. The council approved each item by a vote of 7–0, with some members expressing hope that the drive‑through use would be limited to less intensive uses.

Neighborhood Traffic Calming Appeal – Coltin Trail

Staff presented data showing the street had 538 vehicles per day (above the 500 threshold) but 85th percentile speeds of 25 mph westbound and 27.5 mph eastbound (below the 30 mph criterion). The applicant requested an appeal, and resident Justin Costa spoke in favor. The council voted unanimously to direct staff to collect additional traffic data within 30 days and report back.

Ordinance Requiring Corporate Entities to Report Theft

Deputy Town Attorney Mark Smith presented a revised ordinance (continued from September 15). Staff recommended limiting its scope to thefts of $2,000 or more and removing difficulties in defining a large corporate retailer. After debate, Councilmember Max Brooks moved to adopt the ordinance with two amendments: striking the prohibition against employee retaliation and adding a council review by June 2027. The motion passed 4–3 (Davis, Brooks, Dietz, Cavey in favor; Hollingshead, Bracken, Gray opposed). Second reading is scheduled for November 17.

Fireworks and Open Burning Restrictions (Second Reading)

The fire chief confirmed that, per council’s first‑reading direction, the restriction on fireworks sales under Stage One had been removed. The council approved the ordinance unanimously (7–0).

Affordable Housing Commitment (Proposition 123)

Staff Tara Vargas explained the resolution to authorize the town manager to file a commitment with the state for 250 affordable housing units (2027–2029) and to adopt fast‑track permitting procedures. The council approved the resolution 7–0.

Budget Amendment (Third Amendment to 2026 Fiscal Year)

Finance Director Chris Mueller presented a supplemental appropriation of $4,187,058 in expenditures, offset by $1,550,000 in revenues, primarily to cover higher‑than‑expected medical‑insurance claims (now approaching $1 million per month). The council approved the ordinance on first reading (7–0).

Cigarette Sales Tax Exemption Elimination (First Reading)

Staff presented an ordinance to eliminate the exemption for cigarettes from the town’s sales tax, along with other clarifying provisions. The change is expected to be revenue‑neutral (the town currently receives about $150,000 annually from the state’s excise tax). The council approved the ordinance 7–0.

Executive Session

The council voted unanimously to recess into executive session to discuss real‑estate matters related to the proposed Chateau Valley residential development, with the meeting not reconvening.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent calendar unanimously (7–0).
• Approved motion to place DDA term‑limits change on November 17 agenda (7–0).
• Approved RidgeView annexation, zoning, and development agreement (each 7–0).
• Directed staff to gather new traffic data on Coltin Trail within 30 days (7–0).
• Approved ordinance requiring corporate theft reporting, as amended (4–3).
• Approved fireworks/open burning amendment (7–0).
• Approved affordable housing resolution (7–0).
• Approved budget amendment (first reading) (7–0).
• Approved cigarette tax exemption elimination (first reading) (7–0).
• Approved motion to enter executive session (7–0).