That land was likely already zoned for development. Land that is currently empty is not necessarily open space. Land may have been previously approved for residential, mixed-use, or other development. In this case, that land is approved for development in the future, but property owners just haven't begun construction yet.

The Canyons was annexed into the City of Castle Pines in 2009. At that time, the 3,343 acres of the Canyons annexation were approved for 2.1 million square feet of mixed-use commercial space, 2,500 residential units, 1,400 acres of open space, and other smaller uses. This agreement was negotiated between the Castle Pines City Council and the landowner.

Through a few amendment applications in the years following 2009, The Canyons is now approved and zoned for up to:

• 5,000 residential units
• 2.1 million square feet of mixed-use commercial space
• 177 acres for community benefit (e.g., medical, entertainment, large employers, etc., subject to approval by City Council)
• 1,280 acres of open space
• 79 acres for potential school sites
• 316 acres for parks
• 35 acres for civic uses
• 1.5 acres for a fire station

If a project has already been approved, it has already gone through the required steps and public engagement processes and will move forward. For projects that have not yet been approved, there are numerous opportunities to provide input about aspects, such as the final design, throughout the community development process. However, approved zoning (commercial, residential, etc.) in The Canyons cannot be changed without the landowner's consent. Visit the Land Development Process webpage for more information about these opportunities.

When the land in The Canyons was zoned, the developer dedicated land to construct a future school. The Douglas County School District determines when to build a school based on its analysis and anticipated population growth. The City of Castle Pines cannot require the Douglas County School District to build a school in a specific area or by a specific date.

During the original planning processes for The Canyons, valuable habitat in open spaces was dedicated to preserve wildlife habitat that frequent the area.

The Canyons development has future plans to increase roadway capacity and access based on the final residential and commercial planned buildout of the area. Examples include future connections to I-25 via Happy Canyon, additional lanes for Canyonside Boulevard, and a connection to Crowfoot Valley Road.