Developer seeks Douglas County plan change for 4,000 homes near Castle Pines
After Castle Pines annexation stalled, the Crowsnest developer turned to Douglas County for a master plan change that could clear the way for up to 4,000 homes on 800 acres east of Parker.
Douglas County planning commissioners tabled the Crowsnest master plan amendment 7-0 Monday, keeping alive a proposal that could open the door to thousands of homes east of Castle Pines. Ventana Capital and VT Crowfoot Valley Landco, LLC, are no longer relying on Castle Pines annexation; they are now trying to win a county land-use change for the nearly 800-acre site that borders Parker along the Crowfoot Valley Road corridor.
Crowsnest is a 794.5-acre master-planned community that could support up to 4,000 homes. Earlier descriptions put the project at 3,650 homes. At the larger figure, the plan works out to roughly five homes per acre, before counting the retail, open space and road network that would have to fit around it.
The annexation route in Castle Pines stalled after local opposition. Castle Pines City Council approved Resolution 26-23 on March 24 to begin drafting an annexation policy, and VT Crowfoot Valley Landco, LLC, withdrew its petition the same day. Before that withdrawal, Castle Pines leaders had advanced the annexation after a packed Feb. 25 public hearing and an initial reading, while Parker Mayor Joshua Rivero urged Castle Pines to deny the request over concerns about roads, stormwater and amenities.
The public fight has centered on what an 800-acre development could mean for the surrounding Douglas County communities. The developer has argued the project could bring 1,200 new jobs to Castle Pines and increase tax revenue. A fiscal impact review of the annexation proposal projected a 236% increase in annual property tax revenue, and the city’s annexation and zoning impact report dated Jan. 29 identified 16 parcels tied to the site.
Douglas County's comprehensive master plan now controls the next step. If Douglas County amends its comprehensive master plan, the Crowsnest property could move toward a residential buildout that would reshape traffic patterns near Parker, add pressure on school capacity and require major water, sewer and road extensions in the Castle Pines-Parker area.
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