A big hitter in the development world has entered the lineup for the Windsor sports complex and vows to make the project a reality while possibly bringing his minor league baseball team to Northern Colorado.

Jeff Katofsky, a California-based private developer and owner of the Orem (Utah) Owlz minor league team, has taken over development of what is currently called the Colorado National Sports Complex. The complex will be located on 100 acres at the Diamond Valley Sports Complex in Windsor and cater mostly to traveling baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse teams from around the country.

While Katofsky has taken over the project, Steve Chasteen, the former owners’ representative, construction manager and public face of the project, is out. Chasteen said he is battling “very serious health-related issues.’’

“I’m in charge now, and it’s going to get done and done my way,’’ said Katofsky, a practicing trial lawyer who is based in Sherman Oaks, California, and has developments across the country. “When I say something is going to get done, it will get done. I have proven that.’’

Chasteen said it made sense for Katofsky to take over ownership because of his vision and interest in being more involved in the project.

“I initially felt uneasy about the whole process, knowing how hard I worked on it for the community,’’ Chasteen said. “However, it was never in my plans to be the principal day-to-day guy, and now the project and community has that guy and he will do them and me proud.’’

Katofsky, a self-described sports junkie, has owned the Owlz since 2004. Last year, he was close to building a youth sports complex with a multi-use stadium, hotels and retail in Pueblo before the deal fell through. It was to include moving the Owlz to Pueblo in 2020.

Katofsky said the Windsor sports complex will retain many of the amenities the proposed Colorado National Sports Complex included, such as multi-use synthetic fields, baseball/softball fields, an indoor facility, a multi-use stadium as well as possibly two to three hotels and retail shops, mostly restaurants. He said he will change the complex's name.

Katofsky said the complex will work under the same agreement that was struck with the former development organization. Windsor officials were at a conference Wednesday and not available to verify the agreement.

That agreement was unanimously agreed upon by the Windsor Town Board in March. It calls for the town to essentially give CNSP 50 acres of vacant land on which to build hotels and retail shops. The northern half would include many of the sports complex facilities.

Katofsky said Greeley-based Hensel Phelps will build the entire complex and will be an investing partner. He said many of the original investors, including former Colorado Rockies player and current broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs, remain on the team. Katfosky said Spilborghs called him after the Pueblo deal fell through to see if he was interested in the Windsor project.

Katofsky would not go into detail regarding what the complex would include but said it will be a “legacy project’’ and “sports mecca.’’

“One of the things I’ve learned over the years is I will not tell you what will go in there until I know we have a project that works and is affordable,’’ he said. “I can tell you I don’t do deals unless I run them. It’s that simple. I’m not a passive investor and developer.’’

Katofsky would not specifically say if he would move the Owlz to the complex, only saying “right now, the Owlz are in Utah.’’

However, there are indications a move could happen. He told the Pueblo Chieftain last year that his team’s lease is coming up and he was looking at six cities that would fit into the Pioneer League. Any move would require Major League Baseball and Pioneer League approval. The Pioneer League includes teams in Utah, Idaho, Montana and two in Colorado. The Colorado Rockies have a team in Grand Junction, and the Milwaukee Brewers have a team in Colorado Springs.

The multi-use stadium Katofsky envisions in Windsor is similar to the Owlz stadium. It would have permanent seating for about 3,000 with additional room on surrounding grass berms and concourse standing room to increase capacity to 6,000. He said adding people on the field would increase capacity up to 20,000. He said the venue would host youth and high school games of various sports, graduations and concerts.

He said the earliest construction could start is this fall but that could be pushed back to late winter. He is obligated per the agreement with the town to have one multi-use field in by March and another one by March 2022.

He expects the project to be phased in over four to five years and at build-out to draw as many as 1 million annual visitors.

He said the favorable weather, population growth of Weld and Larimer counties and strong economy of the area are reasons why Windsor was appealing to him.

“Not everyone likes growth, so some won’t like this,’’ said Katofksy, who first visited Windsor a year ago. “What I can say is I only build things first class and I have a good track record of doing work in small towns that helps the economy and brings jobs. All I can say to those people who don’t approve of it is that I hope when we build it you will come to enjoy it.’’

Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life — be it news, outdoors, sports, you name it he wants to report it. Have a story idea, send it his way. Email him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or find him on Twitter at @MilesBlumhardt. If you find value in these stories, support Miles and the other journalists at the Coloradoan by subscribing atColoradoan.com/subscribe.