Heather Guthless, a member of Jefferson County planning staff, told the Conifer Area Council on Feb. 20 that county planners have two new pre‑applications and four rezoning updates in the Conifer area and urged public comment on a partial draft of the county’s Together Jeffco planning documents.

The update matters because rezoning changes set how land can be subdivided and what uses are allowed. Guthless said one rezoning — a 22‑acre property on Shady Hill Circle near Highway 285 and Richmond Hill Road — would change a minimum lot size from 10 acres (MR‑2) to 5 acres (MR‑1), aligning the parcel with the area plan if wildfire mitigation requirements are addressed at rezoning rather than subdivision.

Guthless described pre‑applications as preliminary reviews that are not public noticed and said 40–50% of pre‑applications do not move forward. She outlined two pre‑applications: one to correct split zoning on a parcel off Crystal Way and another to combine three lots off L Star Lane near the 285/Park‑and‑Ride area because a prior subdivision “was never properly subdivided.”

When an applicant files formally, Guthless said, the county requires a community meeting before submission, then staff referrals to agencies and property notices, followed by two hearings: an advisory hearing before the Planning Commission and a final hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. She said the Pine Grove case — rezoning commercial to planned development to allow existing residential uses — had Planning Commission approval and was scheduled for the commissioners on Feb. 25.

Guthless also described a roughly 10‑acre proposal within the Conifer activity center — the wedge between Highways 73 and 285 — that would allow light industrial, office, limited outdoor storage and residential uses. She noted outdoor storage is not recommended by the area plan.

On countywide planning, Guthless said Together Jeffco is asking for public input on partial drafts of a comprehensive plan and a transportation mobility plan through Feb. 27 and pointed attendees to togetherjeffco.com to comment on text and maps. She emphasized these partial drafts are advisory documents and, she said, “Per state statute, those items are adopted by the Planning Commission.” Guthless said a fuller draft is expected in April with hearings before the Planning Commission in September.

For case‑specific questions, she directed residents to the case manager information in the packet and invited follow‑up conversation after the meeting.

Nut Graf: The county’s Conifer cases include neighborhood rezoning proposals that could reduce minimum lot sizes and permit new uses; several items are near formal hearings, and planners are soliciting public comment on partial drafts of countywide guides that will shape future land use and transportation priorities.

Additional details: Guthless said the Shady Hill Circle rezoning would require wildfire mitigation planning at rezoning rather than at subdivision; she described the formal process for referrals, public notice and hearings and stressed the timing when public comment is most effective. She advised residents to review the case manager contact information in the meeting packet and to submit Together Jeffco comments online by Feb. 27.

Ending: Planning staff left case manager contact information in the meeting packet and offered to speak with residents after the presentations; Guthless said she would be available following the meeting for questions.