To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation
Title
Ordinance Authorizing the Conveyance of Tract E, The Meadows Filing No. 20, Phase 1 to Douglas County School District RE-1 [Low Meadow and Celestial Avenue in Meadows Town Center] (Second Reading - Passed 7-0 on First Reading on March 28, 2017)
Body
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Executive Summary
This is an Ordinance requesting the conveyance of property in The Meadows Filing 20 to Douglas County School District (DCSD or the District) for the construction of Apex Community Elementary School (Charter School).
Meadows Filing 20 includes a 10-acre school site that was dedicated to the Town of Castle Rock by Castle Rock Development Company as required in The Meadows 4th Amendment to the Development Plan for the construction of an elementary school. The dedication was a result of density and student generations for the surrounding development.
As is normal practice, the Town of Castle Rock holds possession of the property until the DCSD has funds to construct the facility. At that time, the Town transfers the property to the District.
As a result of the last bond and mill levy ballot questions failing to pass, the DCSD has struggled with options to build and operate new schools to accommodate growth. They have been working in partnership with the Charter School over the past few months and the District’s School Board has voted to enter into a lease agreement to construct an elementary school in The Meadows Filing 20.
Typically, the District has requested property from the Town following the review and approval of a Site Development Plan and Traffic Study. For this project, the District is requesting a transfer of title to the 10-acre site to accommodate the new school building prior to starting the planning process. Their goal is to obtain the property following the 30-day referendum period that will go into effect if approved on second reading. This period will provide time for the District to finalize their lease agreement with the Charter School so that Apex Community Elementary School can secure the financing for the project’s planning and development.
Apex Community Elementary School will submit a Site Development Plan and Traffic Study as part of the review process, at which point the Town will have the opportunity to provide comments on the development.
Apex Community Elementary School is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.
Staff recommends the transfer to the District at this time.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
The Douglas County School Board approved a charter with Apex Community Elementary School in December 2016.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
The need for the school was established by the Douglas County School District through The Meadows PD 4th Amendment to the Development Plan. The school site, described as Tract E, was platted and conveyed to the Town in 2005 with the Final Plat of The Meadows Filing 20.
Budget Impact
No budget impact.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the approval of an Ordinance Authorizing the Conveyance of Tract E, The Meadows Filing No. 20, Phase 1 to Douglas County School District RE-1.
Proposed Motion
“I move to Approve an Ordinance Authorizing the Conveyance of Tract E, The Meadows Filing No. 20, Phase 1 to Douglas County School District RE-1.”
Attachments
Attachment A - Ordinance
Attachment B - Letter of Request for Conveyance from the Douglas County School
District
Attachment C - Location Map