A parcel of land at the northeast intersection of McCaslin Boulevard and Coalton Road in Superior, also known as Town 15, will not be rezoned as open space, as officials have deemed further consideration of the current comprehensive plan update is needed.

The Superior Planning Commission voted 6-2 to not recommend that the Superior Town Council rezone the parcel as recreational open space, during the commission’s Tuesday evening meeting.

While commissioners recognized the town has continuously “kicked the can down the road” on the decision of what to do with the land, many stated that rezoning the parcel during a comprehensive plan update was ill-timed and “awkward.” A comprehensive plan is a guiding document with goals, strategies and actions that town officials use to make decisions on land use, transportation, economic vitality, housing and community resilience.

According to town documents, the 15-acre lot has always been vacant, although several proposals to develop the land have been presented over the past 25 years. Superior purchased the lot in 2014 for $1.2 million. The land has a projected value of up to $30 million, according to Planning and Building Director Renea Stavros.

The parcel is currently zoned to provide community activities and services, such as banking or a restaurant, for the Rock Creek Ranch neighborhood, which is north of the property. The lot is surrounded by open space.

In April, the Superior Open Space Advisory Committee voted to suggest to the council the lot be zoned as open space. Kara Neuse, chair of the Open Space Advisory Committee, said during public comment that the committee believes this is the right time for such a step.

The Open Space Advisory Committee “argues Town 15, in its undevelopment, has become vital open space land. (The committee) believes Town 15 is a critical parcel to designate as permanent open space given its location with the east-west Rock Creek ecological corridor,” Neuse said.

The parcel provides a view corridor, habitat for local wildlife and access to the open space across McCaslin Boulevard, Neuse said. She said the committee wants the parcel to be rezoned as natural open space — not recreational open space.

Commissioner Steve Witte said rezoning the property before the comprehensive plan update feels like putting the “chicken before the egg.” Commissioner Ryan Mojo agreed with Witte, and said a decision to rezone the area is “awkward,” considering Superior is currently rewriting its comprehensive plan, which will address the land.

Once property has been zoned open space, according to town code, voters would have to choose whether it could be rezoned as something else. Commissioner Amanda Vaughan said that considering the value of the property, she’s not comfortable rezoning the lot.

“Everyone may want to make this open space, but I don’t think we’re there yet,” Vaughan said.

Commissioners Lonny Rose and Michael Gordon voted in favor of rezoning the lot to recreational open space, citing how many residents are in favor of doing so. Gordon agrees that there does need to be a wildlife corridor on the parcel, but said many residents are overwhelmingly supporting a recreational use there.

The Superior Town Council is scheduled to speak about the rezoning during its Monday meeting.