I’ve been seeing plenty of wildlife posts on Nextdoor recently, and HRCA Backcountry has been sharing some of their 2025 favorites each Tuesday this month. Check out their latest Instagram post here (my favorite is the one with bears taking a dip). Speaking of wildlife, today we're taking a deeper look at Sterling Ranch Amendment 15, which includes a new wildlife corridor alongside 4,000 additional homes. It's a longer read than usual, but worth it.
Sterling Ranch Amendment 15
On February 10th, Douglas County Commissioners approved Amendment 15 to the Sterling Ranch Planned Development — a decision that rezones 595 acres and increases the community's dwelling cap from 12,050 to 16,050 homes.
Sterling Ranch was at about 25% buildout (now 18%), with roughly 3,000 homes and 10,000 residents. At full buildout, the community would house an estimated 58,000 people.
What the amendment does:
Rezones 595 acres from agricultural, rural residential, and general industrial to Sterling Ranch PD
Adds 4,000 homes to the approved cap
Designates ~185-194 acres as open space conservation (wildlife corridor buffer for Louviers)
Clears the way for Zebulon, a planned 500-acre sports complex
The Planning Commission recommended approval 5-1 on January 12th. The Board of County Commissioners approved it 2-0 on February 10th.
The document itself
Multiple speakers at the meeting noted the sheer volume of information. The BoCC estimated the amendment packet ran approximately 650 pages, with roughly one-quarter dedicated to water documentation. One Louviers resident noted, “The amendment itself is 400 pages. I have it sitting on my desk at home.”
Who supported it
Residents of Louviers largely spoke in favor. The amendment includes a 185+ acre wildlife corridor and open space buffer adjacent to their community — land that was previously zoned for potential industrial use.
“It's a huge downzoning for us in terms of the area directly adjacent to Louviers,” said Robert Howard, a Louviers resident. “My home is currently adjacent to that rural residential that is empty and it'll eventually be open space conservation, which is fantastic.”
Sterling Ranch representatives emphasized the cleanup of former industrial sites, including ruins from an old DuPont dynamite factory, and restoration of what they call a “non-functioning” elk migration corridor currently blocked by fencing.
Who opposed it
Plum Valley Heights — a 29-home equestrian community dating to the early 1970s — spoke against the amendment. Unlike Louviers, they don't receive an open space buffer. Instead, the Waterton Business Park is planned to extend across Moore Road from their community.
“This development is right against an existing community that's been an equestrian community since the early 70s,” said Anne Sheflin, a 39-year resident. Sheflin noted that the Waterton Business Park extension — on the east side of Moore Road, opposite Plum Valley Heights — was added late and never discussed in Sterling Ranch's meetings with residents. “That's a real problem for us.”
Residents also raised concerns about:
Process: Multiple speakers said the timeline felt rushed despite the massive documentation
Traffic/Fire: Roxborough-area residents requested a wildfire evacuation study before approval — noting that traffic studies aren't the same as evacuation planning. A retired fire chief with 32 years of experience warned that adding thousands of vehicles to limited egress routes "causes me concern." Douglas County does not require evacuation studies; Sterling Ranch says they're focused on fire prevention infrastructure first.
On schools: Douglas County School District estimates 800-1,000 additional students from the development. Even with land dedications from the developer, school construction is taxpayer-funded (~$60M per elementary, ~$100M for middle/high).
The water question
Paul Messenich, a property owner on Moore Road, raised pointed concerns about water supply:
“The letter asserting water availability comes from Dominion itself, which is a conflict of interest and not a suitable or independent analysis. More than 50% of the supply is groundwater which is not renewable. The remainder depends on contracts with Aurora that expire. The public has not been shown a backup plan for drought, contract expiration, or low reservoir conditions.”
A review of Dominion Water's board confirms the overlap: Brock Smethills, President of Sterling Ranch Development Company, serves as Director and Secretary of Dominion Water. His father Harold Smethills holds the Treasurer seat. The district's website describes three of five board members as “independent” — but the developer's family controls two of five votes on the entity responsible for certifying water adequacy.
Weeks before the February 10 hearing, the Colorado Division of Water Resources sent a letter to Douglas County Planning stating: “it is unclear if the aggregated demands associated with the additional 4,000 units that are part of this Amendment will meet the 0.25 af/sfe limitation.” The state also noted the estimates “do not appear to be consistent” with water demands approved by the county in 2021, and that “the State Engineer's Office has not received enough information to render an opinion regarding the adequacy of the proposed water supply.”
Sterling Ranch counters that they serve 100% of current residents with renewable water and that their homes use “significantly less water than other homes built in Colorado.” Dominion Water and Sanitation District provided will-serve letters confirming capacity.
Sterling Ranch also noted that water adequacy is formally determined at the preliminary plan stage — not at rezoning. “At that time the state engineer will review the application and the water portfolio and issue an opinion on the adequacy of water,” said Kevin Johnk, director of entitlements. “It's a very extensive process, but it's not required at this level.”
What's next
The approval clears the path for future site-specific development, though each phase will require additional review.
Questions worth considering
The facts above are what happened. Below are questions that came up during research — not criticisms, just things worth thinking about:
On timing: Sterling Ranch is 25% through its current entitlements. Why lock in another 4,000 homes now rather than closer to buildout when infrastructure needs are clearer?
On wildlife corridors: Sterling Ranch has two existing wildlife corridors they describe as “pristine.” But the new corridor requires significant rehabilitation — including removing fencing, demolishing old factory ruins, and routing utilities through it. What data exists on whether wildlife corridors adjacent to sports complexes and active construction actually function as intended?
On water: Colorado is in the midst of a dry winter — snowpack is well below average and drought conditions are deepening statewide. Douglas County's own draft 2050 Water Plan warns that “if water is used in the same ways and at the same levels that it has been in the last 25 to 50 years, it elevates the risk that sufficient supplies may not be economically available to fully meet demands.”
Yet in a 2+ hour public hearing for 4,000 new homes, water didn't receive as much attention as you'd expect. The will-serve letter came from a water district whose board includes the developer's family. The state questioned the math weeks earlier. Is this level of scrutiny adequate for a decision that largely locks in water demand for decades?
On schools: The school district anticipates 800-1,000 new students. In a world where AI is reshaping education, do the schools being planned look like schools as we know them?
On alternatives: The land being rezoned was previously zoned for agricultural and general industrial use. One section was planned for county fleet operations with “mag chloride domes.” Residential development with open space buffers is arguably a better outcome than industrial. Is the real question not whether to develop, but how?
On housing prices: Sterling Ranch buildout is projected over 20+ years. Will adding 4,000 approved homes meaningfully impact housing costs in Douglas County, or is the timeline too long to matter?
This was a longer read than usual — and honestly, it's still just scratching the surface. Water, development, schools, fire safety — each of these topics is deeply nuanced. We wanted to give you the facts and raise the questions worth asking.
We went deeper on this one — local development news, not just what's opening. Want us to do these occasionally?
Sources
Douglas County Board of Commissioners Land Use Meeting, February 10, 2026 (YouTube), CBS News Colorado: "School land compromise allows for middle and high, additional elementary school in Colorado's Sterling Ranch" (December 2025), The Gazette: "Massive Zebulon sports complex being eyed by Douglas County" (February 5, 2026), Douglas County Planning: Project file ZR2025-014, Dominion Water & Sanitation District Board of Directors (dominionwsd.org/board-of-directors), Colorado Division of Water Resources letter to Douglas County Planning re: Sterling Ranch Planned Development 15th Amendment, Project No. ZR2025-014 (January 5, 2026), Douglas County Draft 2050 Water Plan (douglas.co.us/documents/2050-douglas-county-water-plan.pdf), "Winter drought continues to deepen across Colorado" — Colorado Public Radio, January 20, 2026
Results from last week’s poll: Do you play pickleball?
Yes, all the time — 11%
Yeah, occasionally — 28%
No, but I want to learn — 32%
No interest — 29%
Sponsorships
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Saddle Up
Music & Concerts
Lone Tree Arts Center - SPARK! Love Song Sing-Along - Thu 2/19, 1:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Rhett Haney - Thu 2/19, 7:30-11:30pm
Wide Open Saloon - Gritty Velvet - Fri 2/20, 7-10:30pm
PACE Center - Parker Symphony: Awe-Inspiring American Women - Fri 2/20, 7:30pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - Jazz at Lincoln Center: Great American Crooners - Fri 2/20, 7:30pm
Takoda Tavern - Thick as Thieves - Fri 2/20, 7:30-11:30pm
Wild Goose Saloon - HOMESLICE - Fri 2/20, 8pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - That Eighties Band - Fri 2/20, 8:30pm-12:30am
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Freddy Rodriguez Legacy Jazz Band - Sat 2/21, 6:30pm
105 West Brewing - Sarah P and the Dirty Logger - Sat 2/21, 6:30-9:30pm
The Stagecoach Saloon - Walker Williams - Sat 2/21, 6:30-10:30pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - The Petty Nicks Experience - Sat 2/21, 7:30pm
Takoda Tavern - These Guys - Sat 2/21, 7:30-11:30pm
Wild Goose Saloon - Hillbilly Demons - Sat 2/21, 8pm
The Studio @ Mainstreet - Chris King - Sat 2/21, 8:30-11:30pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - That Eighties Band - Sat 2/21, 8:30pm-12:30am
The Studio @ Mainstreet - In The Groove - Sun 2/22, 12-3pm
PACE Center - Grand Kyiv Ballet: Swan Lake - Tue 2/24, 7pm
Wild Goose Saloon - Scotty Austin - Tue 2/24, 8-11pm
Family
Southridge Recreation Center - Lunar New Year Celebration - Sat 2/21, 12-4pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - Passport to Culture: Journey to Oz - Sun 2/22, 1:30pm & 4pm
Food & Drinks
COFF33 - Pages & Pours: Uncorking a Vibrant Life - Fri 2/20, 6-8pm
Sinners & Saints - Bourbon Cocktail Class - Wed 2/25, 6:30-8pm
Arts & Culture
Alidade Brewing - Galentine’s Wreath Workshop - Fri 2/20, 6-8pm
Cantril School Building - Ground & Restore Workshop - Sun 2/22, 1-3pm
Nightlife & Entertainment
The Studio @ Mainstreet - STUDIO Trivia & MUSIC Bingo - Thu 2/19, 5:30-7pm
Wild Goose Saloon - Atoms Open Mic - Thu 2/19, 7-11pm
The Studio @ Mainstreet - OPTIMUS CLUB Karaoke - Fri 2/20, 8pm-12am
The Studio @ Mainstreet - Rion Evans Comedy Show - Sat 2/21, 6-7:30pm
Wide Awake Eatery - Comedy Show - Wed 2/25, 7:30-9pm
Special Events
Buff City Soap - Grand Opening - Fri-Sun 2/20-22, 10am-6pm
PACE Center - Parker State of the Town - Wed 2/25, 3-5:30pm
On the Horizon
The Schoolhouse - Moms Unhinged Standup Comedy Show - Thu 2/26, 7pm
PACE Center - The Ten Tenors - Thu 2/26, 7pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Red Mountain Highway - Thu 2/26, 7:30-11:30pm
Southridge Recreation Center - Therapeutic Recreation Sweetheart Dance - Fri 2/27, 7-9pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - Lone Tree Symphony: Winds of Destiny - Fri 2/27, 7:30pm
Wild Goose Saloon - Tribute Night: Live Wire (AC/DC) & Kickstart My Heart (Mötley Crüe) - Fri 2/27, 8-11pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill - Guild of Ages - Sat 2/28, 8:30pm-12:30am
Need more events? Check out https://dougcoevents.com
Hometown Headlines
Correction: King Soopers Marketplace Coming to RidgeGate (East of I-25)
TLDR: Last week we said Lincoln & Yosemite — that was wrong. Lone Tree Village is actually being built in the RidgeGate Couplet District, east of I-25 at RidgeGate Parkway. Opening in 2027.
I-25 Off-Ramp Closure Starts Tonight in Lone Tree
TLDR: Beginning Thursday at 9 PM, the northbound I-25 to Lincoln Avenue off-ramp closes for Lone Tree Mobility Hub construction. Detour via E County Line Road. Runs through Monday, February 23 at 5 AM. Allow 10 extra minutes.
Sky Ridge Hospital Ranked Top 1% Nationally
TLDR: HCA HealthOne Sky Ridge in Lone Tree named among the top 50 hospitals in the US for "overall clinical excellence" by Healthgrades.
2.1 Million Square Feet of Commercial Space Planned for Castle Pines
TLDR: North Canyons Development Company will build 2.1M sq ft of commercial space. Shea Homes has already sold over 1,275 of its 2,000 planned homes in the area.
Charlie the Wallaby's Big Adventure in Highlands Ranch
TLDR: Douglas County deputies responded to reports of a "kangaroo" hopping through a Highlands Ranch neighborhood — only to discover it was Charlie, a wallaby with his own Instagram. Safely returned home.
Parker Library Opens Digital Content Studio
TLDR: The library now offers state-of-the-art software and professional-grade equipment for customers to create podcasts, videos, and other digital content.
Abandoned Dog and Puppies Find Forever Homes
TLDR: A dog and her puppies found neglected in Parker last summer now have forever homes. New owners credit a CBS Colorado article for connecting them.
New Community "Apex at Cobblestone Ranch" Debuts in Castle Rock
TLDR: Richmond American Homes unveiled a new Castle Rock community with "thoughtfully designed" homes.
French Aerospace Firm Sodern America Chooses Douglas County for U.S. HQ
TLDR: Sodern, a French manufacturer of star trackers and space cameras for satellites, is opening its first U.S. facility in Douglas County. Expected to create ~20 jobs in engineering, production, and supply chain. Beat out Alabama, California, and Texas.
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