Crowsnest presents a substantial long-term financial risk for the city of Castle Pines

● Expenses such as increased administration staffing to manage a 64% population surge and higher public safety costs due to the site’s isolation could transform the projected $3.3M surplus into a deficit necessitating higher taxes.

● The financial benefit of Crowsnest relies on its 50 acres of commercial space... However, this land maybe later amended to be residential which would result in the city servicing this area in a deficit. Meaning, higher taxes. For example, the developer for The Canyons put in 5 or 6 amendments to change the development... so there's no guarantee this won't happen at Crowsnest. 

● Although the developer will pay the one-time $72M fee for the expansion of Crowfoot Valley Road, the city of Castle Pines inherits the perpetual maintenance liability. If Crowsnest fails to generate the lofty sales tax revenue stated in its projections (see above), then the residents of Castle Pines subsidize this “flagpole” road forever.

Public safety and street maintenance may be impacted

● Fire and sheriff response times may increase when we need them if additional safety personnel are not hired to provide coverage for the annexation’s proposed 64% population surge.

● Maintaining our existing roads may be threatened due to the “maintenance debt” inherent with the annexation.

Castle Pines property values could decline, as Crowsnest will be high-density residential with little open space

● High-density housing lowers property values. 

● Crowsnest is slated for approximately 4,000 residential units on 750 acres—which is 350% denser than the combined average of Castle Pines—while dedicating a lowly 9.4% to open space.

● By comparison, The Canyons will have 5,000 residential units on 3,343 acres with 38% of the land dedicated to open space.

Loss of habitat for bald eagles, elk, deer, and other wildlife

● The 750 acres targeted for the Crowsnest annexation is frequented by elk, bald eagles, deer, and other wildlife.

● Developing Crowsnest will disrupt open space and wildlife corridors.

● Once this land is bulldozed, the habitat is lost forever.

Castle Pines will lose its small-town character where people feel a strong sense of community and “feeling of belonging”

● People choose to live in Castle Pines because of its small-town character, abundant open space, and the strong sense of community.

● Residents pay a premium to live in Castle Pines via higher home prices and property taxes because they feel these city attributes are worth it.

● It will be impossible to create a strong sense of community with the residents of Crowsnest because it will be an “isolated island” located miles from our city’s border. This distance will make it extremely costly to integrate Crowsnest into our nature trail and road systems.

● If Castle Pines sacrifices what truly makes this city special, then property values could fall.