Approvals pave the way for new homes, schools and parks

By Chris Michlewicz; graphic courtesy of the City of Castle Pines

City Council approved a request late last year from North Canyons Development Company, LLC to subdivide 90 acres into five developable lots for a subdivision and a 35-acre park on the east side of Cross Canyon Trail, south of Castle Pines Parkway.

Motorists who use Castle Pines Parkway/Hess Road east of I-25 have surely noticed significant development activity in The Canyons neighborhood over the last two years, and City approvals late last year have cleared the way for that trend to continue.

Late last year, Castle Pines City Council approved a final plat to subdivide 168 residential lots and dedicate 15 acres for a future school site southeast of the intersection of Canyonside Boulevard and Westbridge Drive, extending to the south border of The Canyons development (exhibit A). Another 14 acres will be reserved for parkland, and 74 acres will be designated as open space.

The approved residential lots – requested by Shea Canyons LLC – will range in size from 6,000 to 12,000 square feet and accommodate single-family detached homes.

In December, North Canyons Development Company, LLC received approval of a final plat to subdivide 90 acres into five lots for the future development of a subdivision and a 35-acre park on the east side of Cross Canyon Trail and south of Castle Pines Parkway (exhibit B).

Canyon Forge Drive currently intersects on the east side of Canyonside Boulevard and extends to the roundabout intersection with Cross Canyon Trail (exhibit C). The approval by City Council allows for the extension of Canyon Forge Drive to the east and north from the roundabout, and a road that will eventually intersect with Castle Pines Parkway/Hess Road, according to planning documents on the City’s website.

The Canyons, a planned development comprising of a mix of commercial and residential development on 3,342 acres, was approved by the City of Castle Pines in 2009, and allowed a maximum of 2,500 dwelling units and 49 acres for school land. Later amendments increased the number of allowed units to 5,000 and the school land dedication was increased to 79 acres. The City, developers and the Douglas County School District anticipate a need for at least an elementary school, middle school and high school to serve the residents on the east side of the City at full buildout.

Although land has been graded for future construction and dirt has been piled northeast of I-25 and Happy Canyon Road, the latter will not be connected to any road in The Canyons for the foreseeable future, according to a city planner.

Life Time [Fitness] announced plans last year to build a 109,000-square-foot health and wellness center on the southeast corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Canyonside Boulevard, with a tentative opening date in the first quarter of 2024 (exhibit D). Other commercial projects are also planned on the west side of The Canyons, as are multifamily developments, pending City Council review and approval.