A multi-family mixed-use development is planning to bring 85 apartments and townhomes, as well as 6,200 square feet of commercial space to include a restaurant and retail, to the Meadows Town Center area of Castle Rock.
At the Jan. 17 Castle Rock Town Council meeting, the council approved the site development plan for the mixed-use project, which is spread out across three parcels of land at the intersection of Mercantile and Future Streets.
The southwest plot of land will have 41 townhomes in six two-story buildings with 96 parking spaces and resident amenity area with a pool. The southeast plot is planned for 23 apartments in one four-story building with 29 parking spaces. The northeast plot will feature 21 apartments with 27 parking spaces on-site for residents, as well as the retail and restaurant space and an additional 59 street parking spaces for commercial customers.
Both the townhomes and apartments will be for rent. The apartments will be a mix of one and two bedroom units.
Though the project meets the parking requirements in the Meadows, council members voiced concerns about it not providing enough spaces. According to Director of Development Services Tara Vargish, the Meadows requires one parking space per bedroom for multi-family residential developments.
However, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bracken said he felt resident parking would still overflow onto the street and cause issues.
“I think the businesses around there are going to struggle with that volume of activity and lack of parking,” Bracken said. “It’s now being consumed up by residentials versus the town center.”
Bracken asked the developers, the Garrett Companies, if they would be willing to reconfigure the site plan with more parking, but a representative for the developers said the project already includes as much parking as it can.
“We have combed through each parcel separately and we feel we have maximized as much parking as we can get on there,” Stephanie Fuentes, of the Garrett Companies, said.
Mayor Jason Gray said he agreed with the concerns for parking, but didn’t feel it was fair to put the burden on the developer when they met the required standards. Gray added that he believed adding residential units to the area would help make it more vibrant.
“To change the parking requirements midway through is not fair for the applicant,” Gray said. “I also believe, and look at downtown Castle Rock, that crowded is good. Not being able to park is bad, but crowded is good. It’s a fine line, I get it, but the town center needs more people, not less.”
Council member Laura Cavey said she echoed Bracken’s concerns about the area being underparked.
“At some juncture, we need to have a discussion about that area and possibly revising the ordinances or the code over there, so that the area doesn’t fail and people can park,” Cavey said.
The council unanimously approved the site development plan and also agreed to have a future discussion about parking requirements in the Meadows.
