IMPORTANT UPDATE: School District Approves Rezoning Support – 1,194+ Signatures Strong
Thank you to our growing community of 1,194+ signers for standing with us to protect our green space.
We have news about the Meridian Site property (NE corner of Meridian Village Parkway and Ridgegate Parkway). On April 7, 2026, the Douglas County School District Board of Education voted to declare the property surplus and authorize a letter of support to County Commissioners backing Shea Homes' proposal to rezone it for a multi-story affordable housing complex.
Read on below to find hyperlinks to the relevant documents of the school district resolution & letter to the commissioners, as well as the presentation slides by Shea Properties…
Quick Take
The rezoning decision now rests entirely with Douglas County Commissioners. The School District's support is one input; COMMUNITY VOICES MATTER EQUALLY.
Expect a Rezoning Application Soon
Based on the timeline of the School District's April 2026 Board approval and formal letter of support, Shea Homes is likely to submit a formal rezoning application to Douglas County in Q3 2026, with a possibility extending into Q4 2026. Once submitted, the application will be scheduled for a public hearing before the County Commissioners.
Stay Informed & Take Action
**Contact the Commissioners’ Office at 303-660-7401 or by email at bocc@douglasco.gov**
Attend the Public Hearing: When the Meridian Site rezoning is scheduled, attending the public hearing—in-person—gives your voice direct impact on the Commissioners' deliberations.
Next Land Use Meeting/Public Hearing Agenda on July 14 at 1:30 PM:
Business Meetings / Public Hearings - Douglas County --> View agenda, attend in-person or online (This option is YouTube live feed only. No public comment available)
2026 Business Meeting/Land Use Meeting Public Hearing schedule.
Thank you for your continued support. We'll keep you updated as this process moves forward.
-Lisa E.
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What Happened: Key Facts
School District Resolution & Letter
The School District:
- Declared the 9.33 acre parcel surplus property, despite originally acquiring it in 2020 specifically as a future elementary school site
- Authorized a formal letter to County Commissioners urging them to prioritize Shea Homes' Affordable Housing Project proposal
- Justified the decision citing the "high cost of living in Douglas County" and challenges recruiting teachers
Responsible parties: Douglas County Board of Education
Original Zoning Restrictions: What Shea Homes Own Presentation Revealed
Shea Homes presented to the School Board that the property's Planned Development (PD) zoning explicitly restricts P-7 use to THREE options only:
- Elementary School
- Fire Station
- Park
Critical note: Shea Homes' own slides acknowledged that without amending the PD, no other uses are allowed for this site. A multi-story apartment complex is not among the permitted uses and requires a rezoning amendment.
The "Affordable Housing Priority" – A Questionable Marketing Strategy
While the School District's letter emphasizes that the housing project would "prioritize applications from public school employees," this claim warrants scrutiny:
- The District's support letter does not commit Shea Homes to enforceable employee prioritization.
- There is no guarantee that rents will remain "affordable" or that school employee priority will be maintained beyond the initial marketing phase.
- Marketing vs. reality: The "school employee housing" framing appears designed to generate institutional support and community goodwill. However, it does not address the core community concerns about traffic, infrastructure capacity, water system proximity, and loss of green space—concerns that exist regardless of who rents the units.
- Rental preferences can change with ownership or market conditions.
Why This Matters to Your Community
The School District's support does not change the fundamental issues:
✓ Traffic congestion on Ridgegate Parkway (a key I-25 connector) and spillover traffic on W. Parker Rd and Meridian Village Pkwy remains a serious safety concern for pedestrians, cyclists, and runners
✓ Water infrastructure – A potable water storage cistern operated by Meridian Metropolitan District sits 50 feet behind nearby homes; the proposed building would be 500–1,000 feet away with no environmental impact assessment
✓ Grid reliability – Increasing power outages in the region cannot support 200+ new residential units without significant upgrades
✓ Green space loss – The community is under water restrictions; converting green space to dense residential development is inconsistent with drought-conscious stewardship
✓ Appropriate land use – The property was zoned for public benefit (school, fire station, park), not private residential development
Attachments --Click on the hyperlinks below before they are removed by the source for whatever reason
Attachment A: Douglas County School District Resolution (April 2026)
[School District Board Resolution declaring Meridian Site surplus and authorizing letter of support to County Commissioners]
Attachment B (Embedded in Attachment A): School District Letter to County Commissioners
[Board President's letter urging Commissioners to prioritize Shea Homes' Affordable Housing Project proposal]
Attachment C: Shea Homes Presentation to School Board – P-7 Land Use Restrictions (January 2026)
Zoning ("The PD") Restricts P-7 Use to an Elementary School, Fire Station, or Park
Absent Shea Amending the PD, No Other Uses Allowed for this Site
Slide 2 – P-7 Land Summary:
South Metro Fire Determined They Did Not Need Their Site
School Site Is Vacant
Douglas County Owns the Elementary School Land