To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Tara Vargish, P.E., Director, Development Services
Brad Boland, AICP, Planning Manager
Title
Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Chapter 2.16 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code Regarding the Castle Rock Planning Commission (First Reading)
Body
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Executive Summary
At the January 20, 2026 Town Council meeting, staff presented proposed amendments to the Town Code related to the Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Master Plan. Town Council provided direction for staff to proceed with preparation of an ordinance for consideration at the next meeting.
The proposed amendments update outdated language, clarify the advisory role of the Planning Commission, and better align the Code with current planning practices, statutory authority, and how the Town of Castle Rock uses its Comprehensive Master Plan today.
Discussion
At the prior Town Council meeting, staff requested direction to proceed with amendments to Town Code provisions related to the Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Master Plan. Town Council provided direction for staff to move forward with preparation of an ordinance for consideration at the next meeting.
During the recent review of Town Code, staff identified that the existing language governing the Planning Commission’s role and the content of the Comprehensive Master Plan has not been updated in many years. The proposed updates are intended to modernize and clarify the code and are not intended to expand or alter the fundamental authority of the Planning Commission or Town Council.
The proposed changes would:
• Clarify the Planning Commission’s advisory role in the Comprehensive Master Plan process;
• Reinforce that the Comprehensive Master Plan is an advisory policy document;
• Make clear that the Comprehensive Master Plan does not adopt or amend zoning or subdivision regulations, but instead provides guidance for future regulatory actions;
• Improve overall readability and organization of the code language.
The comprehensive plan elements outlined in the code are intended to be broad in nature and do not preclude the incorporation of additional elements or topics that may be identified through public engagement or by the Town Council as beneficial to the community.
Updating this code language at this time is beneficial as the Town prepares to initiate an update to the Comprehensive Master Plan and provides logical transition into planning for that future process.
Budget Impact
No fiscal impact is associated with these code amendments. The proposed changes are organizational and clarifying in nature and do not create new programs, staffing requirements, or regulatory obligations.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends updating Chapter 2.16 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code to remove outdated language, clarify the advisory role of the Planning Commission, and better align the Code with current planning practices, statutory authority, and how the Town of Castle Rock uses its Comprehensive Master Plan today.
Proposed Motion
Option 1: Approval
“I move to approve the ordinance, as introduce by title.”
Option 2: Approval with Conditions
“I move to approve the Ordinance, with the following conditions: “ (list conditions)
Option 3: Continue item to next hearing (need more information to make decision)
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on [date], at [time].”
Attachments
Attachment A: Proposed Ordinance