Planning Commission Regular Meeting - 2026-01-12
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Douglas County Planning Commission approved three major land use items: a zone map change for 106 acres on Echo Valley Road from estate residential to agricultural (unanimous), a comprehensive master plan amendment to expand the Chatfield urban area by approximately 250 acres (5-1), and the Sterling Ranch PD fifteenth amendment adding 4,000 dwelling units and rezoning 595 acres including the former DuPont/Chemours property (5-1). The Sterling Ranch approvals enable development of the Zebulon Sports Complex and preserve 185 acres as wildlife corridor buffer for Louviers.
Key Decisions (3)
Echo Valley Road Zone Map Change (DR2025-009)
Rezoning of approximately 106 acres owned by Cisco Land Company LLC from estate residential to agricultural one (A-1) along Echo Valley Road in Southern Douglas County. Property is part of Perry Park Ranches horse breeding operation and owner plans to place it in conservation easement with Douglas Land Conservancy.
Chatfield Urban Area Expansion CMP Amendment (DR2025-011)
Comprehensive master plan land use map amendment to include approximately 250 acres in the Chatfield urban area, including 46 acres for Douglas County Sports Complex (Zebulon), 48 acres for county storage, and land between EVOC and Moore Road. Originally proposed 440 acres but reduced after referral comments requested keeping 185-acre wildlife corridor in Louviers rural community designation.
Sterling Ranch PD Fifteenth Amendment (ZR2025-014)
Rezoning of approximately 595 acres from agricultural one (A-1), rural residential (RR), and general industrial (GI) to Sterling Ranch Planned Development. Includes 63-acre Burgess property and 532-acre Chemours/former DuPont property. Increases total dwelling units from 12,050 to 16,050 (4,000 additional units). Designates 194 acres as open space conservation for wildlife corridor and Louviers buffer.
Zoning Changes (3)
Echo Valley Road, Southern Douglas County (three parcels)
Cisco Land Company LLC / Matt Flavin
Burgess property, East of Rampart Range Road approximately 3,000 feet north of Waterton Road intersection
Sterling Ranch Development Company
Chemours property, Southeast of Moore Road and Waterton Road intersection
Sterling Ranch Development Company
Development Activity (5)
Sterling Ranch Waterton Business Park
595 acres rezoned to planned development with D2 base designation and special character zone E overlay for business park uses. Includes 4,000 additional dwelling units bringing total PD capacity to 16,050 units. 194 acres designated open space conservation.
Zebulon Sports Complex
Approximately 46-50 acres for Phase 1 of regional sports complex facility
Perry Park Ranches Conservation
106 acres rezoned from estate residential to agricultural one for horse training and breeding operation, to be placed in conservation easement with Douglas Land Conservancy
Chatfield Basin Water Reclamation Facility
Wastewater treatment facility currently under construction, expected online by 2027 to serve Sterling Ranch and surrounding communities
Douglas County Elementary School at Sterling Ranch
Elementary school with groundbreaking scheduled for January 15, 2026
Market Signals (6)
Housing Demand
Sterling Ranch is the number one best-selling master planned community in Colorado and number 42 nationally, with approximately 3,000 homes sold and 10,000 residents currently.
Infrastructure
Douglas County received $20 million in federal ARPA funds for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in Northern Douglas County, with Dominion Water and Sanitation District matching those funds.
Commercial Demand
Sterling Ranch residents provided strong feedback requesting more commercial development, driving the inclusion of special character zone E for business park uses in the Waterton Business Park area.
Sentiment
Commissioner Hampton voted against the Sterling Ranch expansion citing concerns about density increases (33% more units on 16% more land) and cumulative impacts on Douglas County's rural character.
Infrastructure
Transportation improvements totaling $288 million are scheduled for Sterling Ranch subareas in the 2050 transportation master plan, with Sterling Ranch contributing approximately $90 million through various mechanisms.
Housing Demand
Douglas County School District anticipates 800-1,000 additional students from the 4,000 new Sterling Ranch units, noting that growth does not pay its own way for school construction which costs $60 million for elementary and $100 million for joint middle-high schools.