Introduction
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INTRODUCTION SECTION 1 VISION STATEMENT • The Safe Environment • The Sense of Community The Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP or Plan) reflects, acknowledges and • Water Supply balances the common values, rights, and needs The value statements for each category of all County residents and landowners, and can be found in the Chatfield Basin Public honors and protects its unique, diverse commu- Involvement Process Report, available from nities and resources. This intent is most effec- the Community Development Department. tively realized through citizen understanding of, Subsequently these values were validated as and participation in, land-use review processes being applicable on a County-wide basis. and public forums. This Plan builds on these community The CMP clearly states the desired com- values in developing goals, objectives, and munity vision for the future and establishes the policies to guide land-use decisions and shape guiding policies needed to achieve sustainable development. A future land use map is includ- growth over a twenty to thirty year period. ed to demonstrate how this Plan’s policies guide the desired location, use, and intensity The CMP has been developed as the of land development. Each of these compo- foundation for the County’s future growth and nents of the CMP is described below: development, and as such, is intended to provide decision makers with guidance on • Goals provide general statements how to maintain and improve identified reflecting County desires regarding community values. land-use, decision-making processes. The first County Comprehensive Master • Objectives establish a more specific Plan was completed in 1974 and conditions framework for the larger goal. in the County have been changing ever since. • Policies provide the guidelines for direction Therefore, the Comprehensive Master Plan or action. must be periodically updated to ensure the • The Comprehensive Master Plan Land community vision is achieved. Use Map illustrates future land uses and In the State of Colorado, it is the duty of the important geographic features based on county planning commission to draft and adopt this Plan’s goals, objectives, and policies. a comprehensive plan for the unincorporated Plan components address growth-related territory of the county, pursuant to C.R.S. topics such as land use, transportation, com- §30-28-106(1). munity resources, parks and open space, The CMP uses community values as the water supply, environmental quality, and basis for goals, objectives, and policies to wildlife. shape and guide future growth. An extensive This Plan is divided into land use, environ- process was followed to identify community mental, and service sections that detail the values in the Chatfield Basin area, an area community’s desired goals, objectives, and previously identified for future growth, during policies by topic and geographic area. Sec- this update. The community identified values tion background and Plan amendment pro- in 10 categories: cesses are provided to assist with using and • Access and Transportation maintaining the relevance of the document. • The Natural Environment The CMP is the instrument that establishes • The Planning Process long-range general policies in a coordinated and unified manner. Decision makers can use • Property Rights and Property Values this Plan for guidance on resource allocation, • Quiet, Peacefulness, and Privacy zoning of land, the subdivision of land, capital • Recreation improvement plans, budgeting, and County • The Rural/Unique Area work programs. Douglas County 2035 Comprehensive Master Plan Page 1-1 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER The CMP is actually a group of documents. This Plan’s sub-elements provide additional PLANS AND REGULATIONS information, and in some cases, are referenced The CMP is supported by many other plan- in the primary Comprehensive Master Plan ning documents that serve to shape develop- document. The sub-elements include: ment and the provision of County services. • Transportation Plan The chart in Figure 1.1 lists all relevant docu- • Mineral Extraction Plan ments and depicts the context within which the CMP is considered. • Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan • Recreation and Tourism Plan Figure 1.1 MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE AND MASTER PLANS WITHIN DOUGLAS COUNTY DRCOG Clean Water and State Implementation County External Metro Vision Basin Authority Plan for Air Quality Intergovernmental 2035 Plan Plans Agreements Referenced Documents Departmental Facilities Master Fairgrounds Master Budget Plan Plan Strategic Plans Other Departments Adults with Wild Land Fire Emergency Douglas County Developmental Annual Operating Medical Services Emergency Disabilities Plan Plan Subsidy Plan Operations Plan DOUGLAS COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN Sub-elements Supportive Documents Implementation Documents Population and Zoning Resolution Parks, Trails and Recreation and Subdivision Development and Planned Open Space Tourism Plan Resolution Master Plan Report Developments Douglas County Mineral Extraction Transportation Plan Building Codes Landmark Plan Designation Capital Matters of State Improvements Interest (1041) Program (CIP) Regulations Parks, Trails Roadway Design and Building and Construction Grounds CIP Standards Page 1-2 Douglas County 2035 Comprehensive Master Plan SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Figure 1.1 also shows the relationship Douglas County is home to a diversity of between the CMP and its supporting docu- wildlife including deer, elk, coyote, mountain ments and the implementation and long range lion, fox, hawk, black bear, the Preble’s plans produced by neighboring municipalities meadow jumping mouse (a threatened and outside agencies. species), and is the nesting ground of the The Metro Vision 2035 Plan is established Sharp-tailed Grouse. by the Denver Regional Council of Govern- ments (DRCOG). Metro Vision 2035 identifies DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT such things as future transportation invest- The County’s coveted natural amenities ments, growth trends, regional open space accommodate a wide array of lifestyles ranging needs and opportunities, and air and water from pastoral agricultural settings to faster paced quality standards over a 27 year horizon. urban living. It is no wonder that over 286,000 The County is a signatory to the Mile-High people choose to call Douglas County home. Compact, a voluntary agreement between Douglas County is one of the fastest growing members of DRCOG to manage growth counties in Colorado. In 2007, the County’s throughout the region by implementing Metro growth rate decreased to a modest 1.8% from Vision 2035. The CMP has historically en- the 2006 growth rate of 4.5% in 2006. Al- couraged planning goals and values highly though the growth rate between 2000 and consistent with those in Metro Vision 2035. 2010 is projected to slow, the projected popu- lation growth total of 140,000 by 2010 exceeds PHYSICAL CONTEXT the 115,000 population gained in the 1990s. Douglas County, Colorado lies close to the The County’s rural character has been center of the state along the I-25 Corridor maintained simultaneously with the more urban between the major urban activity centers of growth in the County’s northern tier, providing Denver and Colorado Springs. It encompasses a diverse sense of place and identity for new over 540,000 acres of mountain vistas, dra- residents. In 2008, the County is home to seven matic ridgelines, hills, and grass covered incorporated municipalities including Castle plains. Elevations can range from a low of Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree, Castle Pines North, 5,400 feet in the northeastern areas to the high Parker, Littleton, and Aurora. Combined, these point of 9,836 feet at Thunder Butte in the municipalities make up almost 39% of the Pike National Forest. County’s total population. The incorporated areas After the Rockies were thrust skyward, the of the County currently have 110,000 residents. volcanic, seismic, and erosive forces of nature Recreational opportunities abound within created the layers of sandstone that act as the County. Local and regional parks; ball aquifers today. Those same forces also carved fields; trails; Castlewood Canyon, Chatfield, the striking rock formations that remain. and Roxborough State Parks; and the Pike Douglas County’s vegetation is as varied National Forest are examples of some of the as its topography. Pine, spruce, and fir trees recreational amenities to be enjoyed. cover the mountains of the Pike National Douglas County has experienced significant Forest. The foothills are home to Gamble Oak, job growth since the year 2000. From 2000 to Mountain Mahogany, and Choke Cherry. The 2006, the labor force grew by 30,700, for an numerous riparian ways running throughout average of nearly 6,140 new jobs per year. While the County play host to Cottonwood trees, the jobs in the County are still mostly in the willows, and lush grasses. The mid-grass service industry; professional, technical, and prairies prevalent in the County are populated health care employment opportunities are with blue gramma, switch grass, and winter growing rapidly. This growth in the number and wheat grasses. types of jobs available has increased the possibil- ity that Douglas County residents will find employment within the County. Douglas County 2035 Comprehensive Master Plan Page 1-3 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION DEMOGRAPHICS AND is expected to reach 484,000 people. (See Figure 1.2) GROWTH Douglas County has moved from being a After the release of the 2000 Census predominately