Residents, HOA leaders urge commission to keep comprehensive-plan criteria in SIP reviews

Multiple residents told the Planning Commission they opposed removing comprehensive-plan-related criteria from Site Improvement Plan review, saying those criteria provide meaningful public input and guard against incompatible development.

"The comprehensive plan is the best documentation that we have defining what the citizens of Castle Pines want their city to be," said Mary Brown, who noted the plan was developed with community input and should guide approvals. Doug Gilbert, president of HOA No. 1, told the commission he worried that removing the criteria "just invites litigation," citing earlier local cases and urging staff to provide written consistency analyses with each SIP.

Lori Ball said limiting approval to a technical checklist would narrow the commission’s ability to require adjustments to address neighborhood character, traffic and safety concerns. Public commenters asked commissioners to table or amend the proposal so that community voice remains effective in the review process.