Jefferson County approves rezoning for Prospector at Evergreen to allow mixed-use building with up to 24 units

The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning on Aug. 5 to allow a mixed‑use development called Prospector at Evergreen, 31033 American Parkway, that will permit ground‑floor office space with a maximum of 24 residential units above.

Alexander (Alex) Folkes, case manager for Jefferson County Planning and Zoning, summarized staff review and told the board the proposal generally conforms with the Comprehensive Master Plan and Evergreen Area Plan. Folkes reported that the applicant’s trip generation analysis projects an average of "211" daily trips and that Jefferson County Transportation & Engineering and the Colorado Department of Transportation raised no outstanding objections; CDOT reserved the right to require a new access permit during site development review.

Folkes said the proposal places the building in the northwest corner of the 1.13‑acre parcel to reduce visual impacts on nearby single‑family homes and that wildfire mitigation, architecture and other standards will be reviewed during site development plan and building permit stages. The staff report, he said, included service letters verifying fire, water and sewer service from Evergreen Fire Protection District and West Jefferson County Metropolitan District and noted law enforcement coverage by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Sarah Sanderson, the owner’s representative and architect for the project, told commissioners the new ODP updates an earlier plan and is intended to be a stand‑alone document enabling the owner to develop the site within updated standards. Sanderson said the current application streamlines prior ODP contradictions and that the project team will comply with the county’s architecture and wildfire mitigation standards during the site development process.

The Evergreen Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval on July 9, and commissioners voted to approve the rezoning at the Aug. 5 hearing. Commissioner Kerr moved for approval and the motion passed with all three commissioners voting aye.

Next steps: if the rezoning stands, the applicant must file a site development plan and, subsequently, building permits; CDOT may require an updated access permit during those reviews. Planning staff said additional technical reviews (wildfire mitigation, CDOT access, architectural compliance and site development) will occur before site construction begins.