Castle Pines North Declares 3,000 Acres Blighted

CASTLE PINES NORTH — The City Council late Tuesday declared blighted more than 3,000 acres of prime land for a new development despite concerns from residents that the process was rushed.

On Tuesday, a new law kicks in that, with a few exceptions, prevents local governments from using urban-renewal authority to declare agricultural land blighted.

Urban renewal allows cities to create tax increment financing districts so that taxes generated from the authorized area can go toward public improvements within that boundary.

"I feel like this process has been rushed," said Tori Willis, one about 70 people who packed a room at the city's community center. "I wish there was more time to talk to the community to see what we wanted."

Council members Doug Gilbert, Shelley Hamilton-Bruer, Kim Hoffman, Tera Radloff and Maureen Shul voted in favor of creating the urban-renewal area, or URA, for a project called The Canyons. Some nearby commercial and open areas were also declared blighted.

Mayor Jeff Huff voted against the resolution and received resounding applause from the crowd. Councilman John Ewing was out of town.

The urban-renewal area will mean the creation of about 650,000 square feet of commercial and office space, Anne Ricker of Leland Consulting Group said at the meeting.

About 1,500 single-family homes and 400 multifamily units would also be included in the URA.

The single-family homes to be built in The Canyons property were originally included in the taxing district but later removed.

Improvements within the urban-renewal boundary will instead be paid for mainly with commercial-property taxes.

During a 25-year buildout, the project is expected to generate $25 million in taxes for the public improvements. The money can be used for a variety of things, from roads and other infrastructure to police and fire facilities.

"This plan has been rushed," Resa Labossiere told the council. "It's been rushed for the sole purpose to include the ag land."

Critics say governments for years have abused urban-renewal laws, initially designed for cities to use to redevelop rundown urban areas. Many have instead declared as blighted undeveloped parcels of land. That prompted Colorado lawmakers to pass this year's bill, preventing them from doing so in most cases.

Ricker said despite the community's concerns, the boundary area met enough of the criteria for it to be blighted.

She also noted that there are 78 other parcels in the area, including existing commercial areas of the city that will see improvements as well.

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com