Plans to build a massive new sports complex in Douglas County took a major step forward Tuesday night, as Douglas County commissioners approved contracts and financing on the project.
The special business meeting was packed with members of the Colorado community with strong feelings on the incoming Zebulon sports complex in Sterling Ranch. Douglas County says 50 people signed up to speak in favor of Zebulon in public comment, and 28 against.
The county usually goes in order of who signed up for public comment, but told CBS Colorado that Tuesday night they chose to let Chair George Teal call people based on their position for or against so that a mix of opinions would be represented. Many attendees who opposed Zebulon were not happy about this, some saying they signed up more than an hour before the meeting but were never called.
CBS 
“I demand a continuance,” “cowards!” “listen to the people” and “this is a joke!” were just a few of the exclamations attendees shouted in the dramatic moments that have seemingly become common at these meetings.
Still, many community members say the sports facilities are sorely needed and would provide much-needed access for youth in Douglas County.
“The ice is needed, and it’s not just for hockey, it’s for all ice sports,” said Kathy Redmond, Castle Rock hockey mom.
Hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball and pickleball are all sports that Zebulon would create facilities for, along with dining and recreation amenities. Supporters say the complex would bring sales tax revenue to Douglas County.
“We’re excited to be a part of this. It’s something that I think we need,” said Mark Holzemer, president of youth club team Slammers Baseball. “It’s a long drive every weekend, so it’s nice to have something that’s going to be closer to home for our families.”
Youth sports leagues in Douglas County have long been calling for more sports fields.
Douglas County 
Other attendees aren’t so excited about the project.
“We were not represented with a vote whether or not we wanted this complex,” said Jodi Messenich, who lives next to Sterling Ranch.
Douglas County commissioners wound up voting on four Zebulon items Tuesday night:
• A $2.7 million contract with developer KT Development for phase one design and construction.
• A $12 million agreement with SR Construction LLC for infrastructure improvements. According to Sterling Ranch, the LLC was formed this year and is managed by a Sterling Ranch affiliate.
• A $140,000 contract with Stifel for financial advising services.
• A resolution to finance Zebulon with certificates of participation, also known as a COP.
COPs are tax-exempt lease financing agreements that do not need to be approved by voters.
“It’s a huge concern. It’s massive debt,” said Messenich.
The county estimates Zebulon will cost a total of $100 million, and that youth club team Slammers Baseball may contribute up to $17 million of that.
“We’re going to come to the table with capital to build a complex, build a building, and pay for the fields,” Holzemer said. “We’re still getting the bids back, but the general consensus is around $12 million to $15 million is what the cost of the building and the fields is going to be.”
CBS 
The county says Highlands Ranch Aquatics may also become a partner and pay for the additional cost of an Olympic sized swimming pool.
The county says the revenue from Zebulon will pay back the COPs, although they couldn’t share detailed revenue projections just yet.
The county says if needed they would use taxpayer parks dollars, but they don’t anticipate needing to. The county says open space dollars would not be used.
“What they’re planning is not sustainable. The way they want to fund it is a debt model that doesn’t work. Douglas County is debt-free right now. This project will put Douglas County in significant debt for decades,” said Messenich.
“And they’re transferring the debt from the developers onto us!” Roxborough neighbor Denise Martinez added.
Martinez and Messenich believe this site is not the right one for Zebulon.
Many commenters raised environmental concerns about the land, which is a former dynamite manufacturing site.
“Saying that they’re going to build a play place for kids, and there’s contaminants right there. It is so wrong. Our kids need to come first. Their safety needs to come first,” Martinez said.
The county says the land has been cleared for development by CDPHE, and one nearby area where PFAS was found in the soil will be remediated at Sterling Ranch’s cost.
After some commotion in the meeting following the closure of public comment, commissioners ultimately approved all four items.
“Absolutely this will be used, and absolutely it will be full, and it will be profitable and sustainable,” Redmond said.
“We want the kids to have parks. We want the kids to have recreation. We want all of that. We just want it on clean land. We don’t want to go in debt,” Messenich said.
The county says they will have a kickoff meeting with the developer next week. They expect construction could start as soon as October of this year, and they are targeting completion of Zebulon for December 2028.