Update: The petitioners, VT Crowfoot Valley Landco, LLC, submitted an updated annexation petition to the City. See the information below for details about the review process.

The City of Castle Pines has received an updated petition from VT Crowfoot Valley Landco, LLC., to annex a group of properties, known as Crowsnest, an approximately 795-acre property adjacent to and including portions of Crowfoot Valley Road east of the Canyons. The property is currently located in unincorporated Douglas County. See the map for an overview of the boundary for the land included in the petition.

The timeline for City Council consideration of an annexation is primarily determined by state law and requires a public hearing and the passage of an ordinance. Once a property is deemed eligible for annexation by meeting certain criteria under state law, the City Council will evaluate whether the annexation is beneficial to the City in making a final decision. If the property is annexed, the property must be zoned within 90 days.

Annexation is the process by which a municipality may incorporate additional land within its jurisdictional boundaries. The most common method of annexation is a petition from the landowner(s), which usually involves a negotiated agreement that sets forth the terms of annexation and obligations of the petitioning property owners and the municipality.

For more information, view the annexation application timeline below. If you have questions, contact the City's Community Development Director Donna Ferguson at Donna.Ferguson@CastlePinesCO.gov.

Annexation Petition Timeline:

• January 13: City Council considers Substantial Compliance Resolution.
  • The purpose of the meeting is to consider a resolution on whether the City Council finds the annexation petition in substantial compliance with state law (the requirements of the Municipal Annexation Act of 1965) and to set the Eligibility Hearing date on the proposed annexation. This is the first step in the annexation process; it does not mean that the City Council supports or opposes the policy question of whether the property should be annexed. It determines whether the petition complies with state law.
• February 24: City Council holds an Eligibility Hearing and considers:
  • A resolution making findings of fact and conclusions as to the eligibility of the land to be annexed to the City. This is the second step in the annexation process; it does not mean that the City Council supports or opposes the policy question of whether the property should be annexed. It determines whether the property is eligible for annexation.
• March 5: The Planning Commission considers the applicant's proposed Planned Development zoning in order to make a recommendation for the City Council's consideration.
  • This is a quasi-judicial process. The Planning Commission cannot discuss this specific matter outside the public hearing.
  • If you would like to provide public comment, you can speak in person at the meeting (virtual public comment is not allowed for quasi-judicial items) or submit a written comment by sending it to the City Clerk at Tobi@castlepinesco.gov. To be included in the packet, written comments must be received by the City Clerk by February 25 at 4:30 p.m.
• March 10: The City Council considers ordinances on whether to approve the proposed annexation, annexation agreement, and Planned Development zoning for the property on first reading. This step is held if the Council finds the petition for annexation to be substantially compliant during the January 13 meeting and if it is deemed eligible for annexation during the February 24 meeting.
• March 24: City Council considers the following:
  • An ordinance to approve the annexation (second reading).
  • An ordinance to approve an annexation agreement (second reading).
  • An ordinance to approve the Planned Development zoning for the Crowsnest property (second reading).
    • This is a quasi-judicial process. City Council cannot discuss this specific matter outside the public hearing.
    • If you would like to provide public comment, you can speak in person at the meeting (virtual public comment is not allowed for quasi-judicial items) or submit a written comment by sending it to the City Clerk at Tobi@castlepinesco.gov. To be included in the packet, written comments must be received by the City Clerk by March 18 at 4:30 p.m.

Resources:

• Annexation Petition
• Title Commitment Maps
• Landowner Authorization Letters
• Zoning Map
• Water Supply Evidence 
• Presubmittal Comments
• Presubmittal Comment Responses 
• Fiscal Impact Analysis - Prepared by Petitioner 
• Fiscal Impact Analysis Review - Prepared by City of Castle Pines Consultant
• Annexation Impact Report

The City received a second submittal from the applicant on February 9. The documents that were updated by the applicant are listed below:

• Zoning Narrative
• Planned Development Set
• Phase 1 Drainage Report and Plan
• Traffic Impact Study
• Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
• Natural Resources Assessment
• Planned Development Closure Report