What is the size of the Blue Sky Ranch development site in terms of total acres?
The proposed Blue Sky Ranch development encompasses approximately 970 acres and consists of 842 single-family residential lots. To put that in context, the project footprint is roughly 1.5 square miles, the vast majority of which will remain as open land, trails, and natural prairie.
How many acres are proposed to remain undeveloped and be utilized for parks, trails, and open space purposes?
Consistent with current Elbert County zoning requirements, the proposed Blue Sky Ranch development will dedicate approximately 40% or ~377 acres of the 970-acre property to parks, trails, and open space areas, and open space easements. This is ~377 acres of net new, publicly accessible parks, trails and open space that does not exist today. This commitment is intended to preserve the natural character of the property while providing meaningful recreational amenities, open space connectivity, and wildlife preservation opportunities throughout the community.
How does the proposed Blue Sky Ranch development preserve and protect the heavily forested southwest quadrant of the Black Forest, including its trees, wildlife habitat, and natural character?
Following multiple discussions with neighboring property owners, preservation of the Black Forest and existing tree coverage in the southwest quadrant became a primary focus of the Blue Sky Ranch planning process. In response, the development team made significant revisions to minimize impacts and preserve this important natural area.
Detention ponds were relocated outside heavily forested areas to maximize tree retention, and the clubhouse was repositioned to better integrate with the existing landscape while limiting disturbance. The adjacent park area is intended to remain minimally developed, with improvements limited to those necessary for safe public trail access.
Residential lots surrounding this area are proposed at 2.5 acres, creating meaningful separation between homes and the existing tree canopy. Building envelopes will be designed to avoid mature trees wherever possible. Additionally, the Blue Sky Ranch PUD Guide includes specific tree protection and preservation standards governing the identification, protection, and replacement of trees when removal is unavoidable.
Our objective is to thoughtfully integrate development while preserving the property's existing character, tree coverage, and wildlife habitat to the greatest extent practicable.
Why did the development team decide to reduce the proposed residential density from 1,448 homes to 842 homes, and what factors influenced that decision?
We significantly reduced the scale and overall density of the Blue Sky Ranch project in response to feedback received through multiple community meetings, as well as input from County staff and, most importantly, the neighboring property owners surrounding Blue Sky Ranch.
Throughout the public outreach process, community members expressed concerns regarding the originally proposed number of homes and impacts on the surrounding area. While the project has adequate water resources to support our original proposal, we fully recognize the importance of responsible water stewardship and the concerns related to potential water depletion. By reducing the project from 1,448 lots to 842 lots at full build-out, the overall projected water demand has been substantially decreased.
In addition to lowering overall density, the revised plan incorporates several changes directly influenced by community and neighbor feedback. These revisions include preserving additional tree-covered areas, eliminating smaller lots adjacent to existing neighboring properties, and incorporating larger 2.5-acre lots along the exterior boundaries of the development to create a more compatible transition with surrounding land uses.
We believe these modifications represent a thoughtful and balanced approach that better aligns with community expectations while still allowing for a high-quality and responsibly planned development.
What is the anticipated construction schedule for Blue Sky Ranch, including the expected groundbreaking date and estimated buildout timeline?
Upon approval, construction of Blue Sky Ranch could potentially commence during the first or second quarter of 2028, following completion of the final entitlement and permitting processes.Based on the current project scope and anticipated phased development approach, full build-out is expected to occur over approximately 10 to 20 years, depending on market conditions, absorption rates, and builder participation.
Where are you sourcing the water to service Blue Sky Ranch?
We understand water is a precious resource in Colorado and Elbert County. While we have adjudicated and decreed water rights in all five aquifers beneath our land, we recognized the importance of limiting our usage of the Upper and Lower Dawson aquifers. As such we’ve committed to using the deeper aquifers, namely the Arapahoe and Denver, to serve homes within the Blue Sky community. This commitment means less competition with our neighbors for water resources.
What are your plans for road improvements and infrastructure?
Blue Sky Ranch will be responsible for constructing and funding significant infrastructure improvements necessary to support the community and ensure safe, efficient transportation throughout the development. These improvements will be completed in phases as development occurs and in coordination with Elbert County and applicable service providers.
Planned infrastructure improvements include the paving of County Road 29 from 166 on the north to 154 on the south. Blue Sky will also pave the unpaved portion of CR 154 from CR 29 to just west of Friendly Land.
Additional improvements will include primary internal roadways, enhanced access points along County Road 154 and County Road 29, utility infrastructure, water and wastewater systems, drainage facilities, parks, trails, and open space amenities. The development will also construct a new spine road connecting CR 154 and CR 29, creating improved circulation within the community and distributing traffic across multiple access points.
A comprehensive traffic study has been completed to evaluate current and future traffic conditions. The recommendations from that study will guide roadway improvements and will be implemented in accordance with County requirements. As each phase of development progresses, additional roadway improvements will be constructed as warranted by traffic volumes and development activity.
Our goal is to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth while creating a safe, reliable, and well-planned community that serves both future residents and the surrounding area.