A request to annex a little more than 28 acres along Ridge Road
and nearly 35 acres near Lake Gulch Road into The Oaks development
in Castle Rock didn’t pass through the Castle Rock Planning
Commission Aug. 22.

The proposed annexation of 34.95 acres, known as the Burchett
Annexation, and 28.47 acres, known as Castle View Estates, would be
included in a major amendment to The Oaks of Castle Rock planned
development. As a result of the annexation, more than 251.15 acres
would then be rezoned.

The proposed zoning would allow up to 354 single-family houses
with densities ranging from 1.12 houses per acre to 4.75 houses per
acre. The gross density was factored at 1.4 houses an acre. It also
included 73.89 acres of public and private open space and 16.92
acres of land for a community park.

It was the proposed density in the Castle View Estates
annexation that vexed members of the audience and the planning
commission.

Neighbors of the Castle View Estates site expressed concerns
about the density and increased traffic on Ridge Road.

The applicant, Michael Blumenthal, agreed that some of the land
dedicated as open space was environmentally sensitive.

However, Castle View Estates, adjacent to Ridge Road, does not
fall in any environmentally sensitive areas identified by the
master plan, Brasel said.

Traffic also was a concern.

Described by one resident as dangerous, Ridge Road has a
90-degree turn at the southeast corner of the Castle View Estates
property.

The resident said he is building a house on south Ridge Road and
has seen four accidents with injuries.

He said he has seen people speeding and cutting corners. From a
safety standpoint, he said there is the potential for a
death.

When the resident spoke to Douglas County about the road, he
said he was told there was no money to straighten it.

That section of Ridge Road is county property, said Shani
Porter, development manager. The town and county are working on an
agreement for the town to annex Ridge Road.

The proposed annexation of Ridge Road from Enderud Boulevard to
1/4 mile south of Mikelson Boulevard will appear before the town
council at its regular council meeting at 6 p.m., Aug. 26, in
council chambers, 100 N. Wilcox St.

The town council likely will hear the request at 6 p.m., Nov.
25.