Adams County approves rezoning of 39-acre parcel to allow mechanic shop, limits outdoor storage

The Adams County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a rezoning request that changes about 39 acres from Agriculture‑3 (A3) to Industrial‑1 (I1), clearing the way for a proposed mechanic shop to be built by DNK LLC, an entity associated with Hammond Infrastructure.

Staff planner David Dowski opened the land‑use hearing, describing the site southeast of East Kfax Avenue and Cavanaugh and explaining that the current application is narrower than prior requests. “The request before you is a rezoning request to change the zoning map designation from agriculture 3 to industrial 1 on approximately 39 acres,” Dowski said during his presentation. He told the board that a previous 2022 application sought higher‑intensity I2 zoning and that the 2024 board denied an I2 request; the current I1 proposal is the applicant’s scaled‑back approach.

The county’s planning staff reported that the parcel lies within the Colorado Air and Spaceport sub‑area (CASP) and that planning referrals produced one public comment in support. Planning staff recommended approval (staff referenced case RCG 20226‑6) and noted that the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval on April 23. Staff also said CASP did not submit a formal referral comment but conveyed through departmental channels that it had no concerns about the reduced I1 request.

Applicant land‑use counsel Caitlyn Quander said DNK LLC (owned by Hammond Infrastructure) owns the parcel and wants to build a new and larger mechanic shop to keep and expand its local operations. “We request approval of the rezoning to I1,” Quander told the board. She said groundwater allocations and the water‑court permitting process for an on‑site well are already in place to support the proposed use.

Board members focused questions on water supply, road access and outdoor storage. Staff said the applicant intends to repermit an on‑site well through the water‑court process and that development of the site will require a future development plan and engineering review. Planning development manager Jen Butter clarified the county standard for outdoor storage in I1: outdoor storage may not exceed 25% of building area, and vehicles stored longer than 72 hours are counted as outdoor storage.

Commissioners also sought and received clarification about coordination with the nearby City of Aurora’s industrial zoning. Staff said Aurora’s I2 is its highest‑intensity industrial district and that Aurora did not raise objections to either the earlier larger I2 proposal or the current smaller I1 request; Aurora’s referral comments focused on transportation coordination rather than zoning objections.

Several commissioners recalled that prior county debate centered on I2 compatibility with CASP and concerns about extensive outdoor storage if I2 zoning were granted. They said the applicant had responded by returning with a narrower I1 proposal that limits intensity and provides a pathway for a single‑parcel development plan. One commissioner moved approval “with four findings of fact and one note,” and the motion passed unanimously.

The board’s action changes the zoning designation but does not approve a detailed site plan or building permits. If the rezoning is recorded, the applicant must return for change‑of‑use site‑plan review and engineering approvals before construction can begin. The hearing record shows the county will review required buffering, access improvements (including upgrades to Kavanaugh to support the site entrance) and compliance with development standards.

The board approved the rezoning as recommended by staff and the Planning Commission; the meeting adjourned at 10:22 a.m.