Developer outlines 59.66‑acre continuing care campus in Westminster; neighbors press on views, trails and utilities

Erickson representatives presented details of a proposed continuing‑care retirement community (CCRC) for a roughly 59.66‑acre site in Westminster, describing a campus layout, open space dedication and a phased plan that would include residential buildings, shared amenities and new trail connections.

The developer said the campus will dedicate 10.35 acres of open space, preserve no‑build areas and apply multiple height‑sensitivity zones established during the prior Preliminary Development Plan (PDP). Marcus Pachner, the team’s land‑use and community outreach consultant, said the project is now in the Official Development Plan (ODP) stage where detailed site design, building placement, architecture and landscaping are finalized.

The team described amenity and connectivity features such as a perimeter 10‑foot multiuse trail open to the public (access at designated gate points dawn‑to‑dusk), internal six‑foot pedestrian walks, pollinator gardens developed with the Butterfly Pavilion, outdoor dining, a pool and enclosed pedestrian bridges that respond to the site’s slope. Haley Gillespie of North Design presented visual studies and said architects designed for “porosity” — placing taller buildings in some locations to preserve east‑west view corridors.

The developer emphasized regulatory steps already completed: a comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning and a PDP that defined allowable heights and development envelopes. “Those three documents — the comprehensive plan, rezoning and PDP — are really the regulatory framework for how we move forward,” Pachner said, adding that the ODP will go through city referral agencies and staff review before returning to planning commission and city council.

Residents repeatedly pressed for technical details. The team said a full traffic analysis was completed for the number of units and anticipated employee trips, that signal work at 104th is driven in part by fire‑access needs and that shuttle services would be part of reducing resident vehicle trips. On utilities, the developer said it has submitted electric and gas applications to Excel Energy and is coordinating utility studies; the team said some full build‑out scenarios could require system extensions.

On wildlife, the developer said it intends to exceed city mitigation requirements for prairie‑dog relocation but that relocation plans and details were still being developed with city staff and consultants. The team also said public land dedication (PLD) requirements will be met through a combination of fees and parkland dedication tied to the number of units.

The developer pledged to provide additional renderings from the neighborhood view corridors, to share ODP submittals posted on the city website and to re‑check and expand its notification list for neighbors who reported not receiving prior notices. Jacob Kovic, identified as CEO of the development company, reminded the room that land‑use entitlements and height allowances had been set earlier in the PDP and that the ODP stage focuses on design, landscaping and site details rather than reopening height entitlements.

Next steps: the developer will continue ODP revisions in response to agency comments and the neighborhood meeting feedback, share materials with attendees and advance the ODP through the city review process.