“Let’s roam free” – that’s the slogan of the recently built Makanta community in Douglas County, which boasts 50 percent open space. But now some residents are upset to learn that the landscape they had hoped for is being developed.
“This is the view I see every time I look out of my living room,” Sheridan Roffman said.
Open space was a big reason Roffman and her family chose to move to Makanta in August 2022. This community is located just northeast of Castle Rock off Crowfoot Valley Road.
CBS
“People who could see open space paid higher land fees,” Roffman said. “Now those homes are closed, people have moved in and the land they paid for has been sold.”
In 2023, more than 400 acres of land south of Makanta was annexed, rezoned for residential development, and sold as Canyons Far South. Makanta developer Hines is also developing Canyons Far South. The development is approved for 474 single-family homes and 217 acres of open space.
Roffman said she knew the development was coming, but was told that a 23.5-acre parcel near her home was vacant land in Makanta.
“I immediately noticed that the curved line was now a straight line,” Roffman said of the site's development plan.
Roffman doesn't want to lose his voice or take a hit on property values. She said Makanta still promotes the area as an open space. A map available on Makanta's website included the parcel as of last week. Those maps were removed after CBS Colorado contacted Hines.
“Something is wrong here. They didn't tell us. And when we reached out to the developer, Hines, over a month later, we haven't heard back,” Roffman said. said.
A spokesperson for Hines told CBS Colorado in a statement: “Hines is aware that certain homeowners in the southernmost tip of Makanta have identified certain land adjacent to Makanta and Canyons Far South as vacant land within Makanta's southern boundary. “We understand that they may have an expectation that they will be designated otherwise.” This is an incorrect assumption and Hines makes no formal guarantee or promise to this effect. ”
A spokesperson said the map on Makanta's website is for illustrative purposes only and is subject to change.
The city of Castle Rock says the land was originally zoned for a golf course and never for open space, but Roffman claims he was told his opinion would remain here.
“Makanta is a great community. I love living here, and I don't want us to become a lesson in bait-and-switch tactics for developers,” Roffman said.
A spokeswoman said Mr. Hines has no marketing responsibility for the homebuilder. Mr. Roffman's home builder, Toll Brothers, has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Site development plans for Canyons Far South are under initial consideration with the City of Castle Rock. Neighborhood meetings and public hearings will be held regarding the plan.
