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El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 14 – Three commissioners sworn into office; chair and vice chair appointed

By Helen Walklett

At their first meeting of the year on Jan. 14, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to appoint its chair and vice chair for 2025. Three commissioners also took the oath of office, two for the first time.

Chair and vice chair appointed

The commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Carrie Geitner as chair. Commissioner Holly Williams was appointed as vice chair. Geitner has held the chair since October 2024 when Commissioner Cami Bremer stepped down to transition into her role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way. She remains a commissioner.

Commissioners sworn in

The Jan. 14 meeting was halted part way through its agenda to allow for the swearing in ceremony for new and returning commissioners. Geitner, representing District 2, has been re-elected to another four-year term in office. Newly elected Commissioners Cory Applegate and Bill Wysong also took the oath of office. Wysong replaces former Commissioner Stan VanderWerf, and his district includes the towns of Palmer Lake and Monument.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, June 6 and 20 – Townhome development off Woodmoor Dr. withdrawn from agenda

By Helen Walklett

A 52 single-family townhome development off Woodmoor Drive was withdrawn from the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) June 20 land use agenda. The BOCC did approve a rezone application and a minor subdivision application for Black Forest properties during June.

Woodmoor Dr. townhome development withdrawn from agenda

A combined rezone and preliminary plan application by Lake Woodmoor Holdings LLC proposing 52 single-family townhomes on a 7.53-acre property on the east side of Woodmoor Drive, which was due to be heard at the June 20 BOCC land use meeting, was withdrawn by the applicant. No future date was set for it to be heard.

The application was heard at the May 18 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting where the vote to recommend for approval was 6-1. Commissioner Eric Moraes was the nay vote. Neighbors raised concerns at that meeting about water availability and traffic, particularly in relation to the nearby schools and pedestrian safety. See https://www.ocn.me/v23n6.htm#epcpc.

Vessey Road rezone to RR-2.5

Also at the June 20 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request to rezone a 14-acre Black Forest property from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential). It is located west of the intersection of Vessey Road and Black Forest Road and south of the intersection of Vessey Road and Pine Castle Drive.

The applicant has also submitted a minor subdivision application and wishes to divide the property into a three-lot subdivision with each lot being four acres or greater. This application is currently under review.

The request was unanimously approved as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It came to the BOCC from the May 18 Planning Commission meeting with a recommendation for approval. At that meeting the item was pulled from the consent calendar and elevated to a full hearing after concerns were raised that the rezone would allow the applicant or a subsequent owner to ask for five lots in the future. This concern was alleviated by adding a condition that the applicant abide by the 4-acre lot sizes set out in the subdivision application. The applicant agreed to this.

Kinch minor subdivision

At the June 6 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request by Paul and Amy Kinch to subdivide their 29.12-acre property on Milam Road into three 5-acre lots and one 14-acre lot. The subdivision does not require a rezone as the land is already zoned RR-5.

The applicants plan to build a new home on the larger lot and sell the other three. They state in their letter of intent that the subdivision will allow them to better maximize the use of their land.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no further discussion. It came to the BOCC with a recommendation for approval following the May 4 Planning Commission hearing.

Appointments to the Planning Commission

At their June 6 meeting, the commissioners approved four appointments to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Jay Carlson was reappointed for a second term as a regular member with a term running until June 1, 2026. He is the commission’s vice chair. Commissioner Christopher Witney, who has been an associate member, was appointed as a regular member with a term running until June 6, 2026. New to the commission, Jeff Markewich and Wayne Smith were appointed as associate members for a one-year term running until June 6, 2024.

Regular members may serve two three-year terms. Associate members are appointed for one year and may serve two consecutive terms. Members can apply to serve more than two terms.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissionersarticles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Dec. 10, 12, and 17 – Two Tri-Lakes developments approved

By Helen Walklett

During December, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard requests relating to the proposed Monument Ridge East development south of County Line Road and directly east of I-25 and the Urban Landing development off Struthers Road. They also approved a request in Black Forest that will create six single-family lots.

Monument Ridge East approved

At the Dec.12 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted to approve joint requests for two rezones and a preliminary plan for the proposed Monument Ridge East development. The property is just under 60 acres and is directly southeast of the intersection of Interstate 25 and County Line Road, southwest of the intersection of County Line Road and Doewood Drive, and a half-mile north of the intersection of Monument Hill Road and Misty Acres Boulevard.

It is currently zoned a mixture of PUD (planned unit development), RS-20000 (residential suburban) and various commercial zonings. Before the applications to the county, the property was twice part of unsuccessful attempts to annex it and land west of I-25 into the Town of Monument. In total, the development will have 37 single-family detached and 303 attached residential units.

The requests were heard at the Nov. 21 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting where the discussion included compatibility with the neighborhood, increased traffic, and density. The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend for approval the rezone to RS-6000 (residential suburban). However, the vote to recommend approval of the higher density RM-12 (residential, multi-dwelling) was tied 4-4, meaning that request came to the BOCC with no recommendation. On the preliminary plan, the vote to recommend approval was 5-3 with three commissioners feeling unable to vote in favor when they disagreed with the RM-12 zoning request. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12epcpc.

The RS-6000 rezoned land is the almost-19 acres to the east of the planned extension of Misty Acres Boulevard to County Line Road. The applicant plans to create 37 single-family lots there with a commitment to 15,000-square-foot lots against the existing 20,000-square-foot lots on the property’s eastern boundary.

The higher-density RM-12 zoning concerns the 40.51-acre portion west of the extension which is bordered on the west by I-25. A condition added to the approval commits the applicant to develop only single-family detached and single-family attached in this area to ensure that no multi-family rental units are built.

Kylie Bagley, principal planner, Planning and Community Development Department, said 98 adjacent property owners were notified and county received 134 emails stating opposition to the applications.

Craig Dossey, with Vertex Consulting Services LLC and representing the applicant, said what could be built under the current zoning would have a far greater impact than what was being proposed under the rezoning. He said, “What we are really looking at in this entire development, whether you’re talking about RM-12 or RS-6000, is attached, single-family, detached single-family and two family as well as public park and open space. We are not proposing multi-family.”

During the public comment section of the hearing, six neighbors spoke in support, preferring to see residential development over commercial.

Harold Larson, a Doewood Drive resident, said he had expected to see a commercial development and a residential-commercial mixture developed like every other exit on I-25. He described the current proposals as “a win for me personally and for a lot of members in my HOA.” Another Doewood Drive resident said he feared a lack of a decision at the meeting would leave the property zoned commercial.

Twelve people spoke in opposition raising concerns about the RM-12 zoning, traffic (particularly in relation to the re-routing of Monument Hill Road through the development and to schools) and the integrity of the applicant.

Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind said the density was too high and voiced concerns about the town’s ability to adequately police the development. He stated it would have a significant financial impact on the town and other municipalities in the area and that Monument’s Police Department was already short staffed. Monument Town Councilmember Kenneth Kimple spoke by phone to oppose the RM-12 zoning due to incompatibility. He also raised concerns about policing resources and traffic, particularly in relation to the nearby schools.

A Monument resident said, “Please do not allow this so-called development to go forward without actual plans and especially with as little insight as to what will actually be built.” A neighbor said, “I think part of the reason there’s been a lot of resistance is because there’s just been an erosion of trust. It seems that every time you come to one of these meetings, the plan we’re looking [at is] different.” He continued, “Every time we see Mr. Dossey speak, it’s all the terrible things that could show up there, that we’re saving you from this. The same developer who’s putting a Buc-ee’s across the street, one of the largest consumer gas stations in the nation! They’re not really saving us from anything.”

Dossey said the Town of Monument has a comprehensive plan that sets out its intention for development of the property. He explained the plan designated it as “mixed use,” which means commercial and typically higher-density residential and sometimes attached single-family homes. He added that he felt the applicant had been unfairly characterized and that he had been very tolerant and very patient, particularly with the Town of Monument.

As well as the condition setting out the type of housing that can be built in the RM-12 zoned area, the commissioners added a condition to the preliminary plan approval that limits the number of units that can be built to 340-37 single-family detached lots and 303 attached residential units. This is in line with the numbers for which there is a finding of water sufficiency in the water supply review.

All three requests were approved by a vote of 4-0, with Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. excused. With the preliminary plan approved, final plats may be approved administratively.

Urban Landing development approved

The Urban Landing development of 49 single-family homes on 6.58 acres at the southeast corner of the intersection of Struthers Road and Spanish Bit Drive, south of the Big R store, came to the BOCC Dec. 17 meeting from the Planning Commission with a recommendation for approval. The developer, Elite Properties of America Inc., is requesting a rezone from R-4 (planned development), a now obsolete zoning category, to PUD (planned unit development) and approval of a preliminary plan. See Planning Commission article on page < 17 >.

The applications were scheduled to be heard as consent items, meaning there would be no discussion, but two neighbors were present to voice opposition. Neighbor Sean Tourangeau raised a number of concerns, including light pollution, increased traffic, density, noise pollution, increased crime, water availability, and trespassing concerns. He said, “The amount of traffic that’s going to be going into this area will also increase and will make it even harder to get in and out of our community.” Kevin Beechwood, a Chaparral Hills resident, who also spoke at the Planning Commission meeting, again voiced his opposition to the development, pointing out that the applicant planned to put 50 units on a property which is the size of one Chaparral Hills’ lot.

The vote to approve was unanimous. VanderWerf said, “It appears to me that this is a better choice than multi-family homes in this particular location.”

Six-lot development approved in Black Forest

At the Dec. 12 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a request by Wayne-Anthony Custom Homes for approval of a 35-acre final plat to create six single-family lots. The property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and is on Mariah Trail, about a mile south of Highway 404 and a mile west of Black Forest Road.

The application came to the BOCC from the Nov. 7 Planning Commission meeting where the vote to recommend approval was unanimous. The BOCC heard it as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

2025 budget adopted

At the Dec. 10 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt and appropriate the 2025 budget. It prioritizes critical needs and investments in road construction, the county courthouse, stormwater projects, and public safety.

Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, said, “This budget is a total revenue source of $500 million and does include an $8.3 million TABOR refund that will be on 2024 property tax bills payable in 2025. This will be allocated to residential, real properties and [be] approximately $36 per household.”

Commissioner Holly Williams said, “This is a fantastic budget. I am incredibly proud of our staff who put it together.”

Honoring Commissioners Gonzalez and VanderWerf

Also at the Dec. 10 meeting, the work of departing Commissioners Gonzalez and VanderWerf was recognized with proclamations honoring their service. VanderWerf’s district includes the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument.

Both have served two four-year terms and will leave office in January 2025. The new commissioners joining the board in January are Fountain City Councilman Cory Applegate, who replaces Gonzalez, and Bill Wysong, president, Mountain Shadows Community, and Westside Watch co-founder, who takes over from VanderWerf.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other EL Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Nov. 5 and 14 – Approval of two Tri-Lakes developments

By Helen Walklett

During November, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved development requests for the Waterside at Lake Woodmoor development off Woodmoor Drive and the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development north of Hodgen Road.

Waterside at Lake Woodmoor

At the Nov. 14 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve rezone and preliminary plan requests for the 44 single-family townhome development, Waterside at Lake Woodmoor. The property is east of Woodmoor Drive, south of Deer Creek Road, and borders the lake to its east. The applications came to the BOCC from the Oct. 17 county Planning Commission meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval.

The property is part of a development plan for the Waterside Condominiums, which were approved by the BOCC in 1983. This would have seen 83 condominiums built, but the development never moved forward. In 2023, the current owner proposed a rezone and preliminary plan that would have seen 52 single-family townhomes developed. The application was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission by a vote of 6-1 but was withdrawn by the applicant before the BOCC hearing. This new application proposes eight fewer units.

The rezone application requested that the 7.53-acre property be rezoned from R-4 (planned development) to Planned Unit Development (PUD).

Woodmoor resident Tim Rowan spoke at the BOCC hearing to raise concerns about traffic, particularly around school drop-off and pick-up times. He said, “Somewhere between 44 and 88 vehicles are going to be added at rush hour to Deer Creek Road every day directly across from the junior high.”

He continued, “It’s going to be a miserable impact on the neighborhood.”

“If there is a plan to widen Deer Creek Road and to lessen the impact on the junior high students, my neighbors and I would like to see it,” Rowan said.

Jim White, also a Woodmoor resident, also raised traffic concerns and described the development as “another eyesore within our beautiful community.”

Commissioner Holly Williams said she was satisfied the approval criteria had been met. Approval of the preliminary plan means that subsequent final plats and other agreements may be approved administratively.

Settlers Ranch

Also at the Nov. 14 land use meeting, the commissioners approved requests for a rezone and final plat for the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development. This will see a total of 24 single-family residential lots created. The requests came from the Oct. 17 Planning Commission meeting with recommendations for approval.

The 78.71-acre property is situated north of Hodgen Road, west of Steppler Road, and east of the currently developed part of Settlers Ranch, which consists of single-family detached lots varying between 2.5 and 5 acres. The development adjoins the Abert Ranch and Settlers View subdivisions to the north. The property is in two separate areas that are joined and served by Settlers Ranch Road.

The BOCC approved the Settlers Ranch development in January 2005 for a total of 86 single-family lots. The current application to rezone from PUD to RR-2.5 (residential rural), concerns only the 53.53-acre part of the property to the north and west. It adds six lots to this part of the development, which was originally planned to have 10, therefore increasing the total number of lots to 92.

The 22.51-acre portion of the property to the south and west remains a PUD with eight lots varying from 2.5 to 2.74 acres.

The BOCC heard the requests as consent items, meaning there was no discussion.

Final budget direction

At the Nov. 5 meeting, Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, attended to receive final direction from the commissioners on the proposed 2025 preliminary balanced budget. The commissioners made no changes to the budget as presented to them at their Oct. 8 meeting. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11epcbocc/

The $530.8 million budget is now scheduled to be adopted at the Dec. 10 BOCC meeting.

Chair Carrie Geitner told Simmons, “I think the fact that there is no new direction today is just a testament to the incredible amount of work that has gone into this budget over many, many months from both you and, your team, and our county administrator.”

The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 8 and 15 – County presents its 2025 preliminary balanced budget

By Helen Walklett

During October, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard proposals for the 2025 county budget. The commissioners also voted to appoint Commissioner Carrie Geitner as chair. Current Chair Cami Bremer is preparing to leave for a new role in 2025.

2025 preliminary balanced budget

The county Financial Services Department presented the preliminary balanced budget at the Oct 8 BOCC meeting.

Bret Waters, county administrator, said, “I am pleased to present a conservative budget that emphasizes public safety, roads, and stormwater infrastructure.” He added, “We also submit a responsible budget with healthy financial reserves.” Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, stated that the budget’s priorities were to ensure a stable financial future for the county.

The $530.8 million budget prioritizes investments in road infrastructure and public safety. It includes a one-time allocation of $12 million into roads for resurfacing, construction, and safety improvement projects. This investment is part of a multi-year plan to address the existing backlog and brings the 2025 road and bridge allocation to $41.3 million.

The proposed budget also includes $4.5 million toward courthouse infrastructure to increase capacity in anticipation of the allocation of additional judges, $4.2 million for a stormwater improvement project, and $1.2 million to public safety departments and offices.

It includes a $8.25 million TABOR refund. If approved, residential property taxpayers will receive an equal share of this refund on their 2025 property tax bill, amounting to about $36 per residential property. The county has also announced a 13.7% reduction in the 2025 property tax mill levy due to TABOR, which will provide tax relief to all property owners.

The budget also proposes maintaining $9.23 million in emergency reserves.

Bremer commented, “We’re in a really great place. In an unsure economic environment, I see a very sure thing in how El Paso County will continue to serve its citizens.”

At two other BOCC hearings in October, county departments and offices set out their critical needs. The public is encouraged to participate in the budget-setting process and may attend and comment at the budget hearings Nov. 5 and Dec. 10 or directly with officials. The BOCC will give its final direction on the budget at the Nov. 5 meeting. The budget is scheduled to be adopted at the Dec. 10 meeting.

The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/

Geitner appointed chair

Also at the Oct. 8 meeting, the commissioners voted to appoint Geitner as chair for the remainder of 2024 with immediate effect. Geitner replaces Bremer, who will assume the role of vice chair for the remainder of the year. The leadership change follows Bremer’s announcement that she will transition into her new role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way in early 2025 and is intended to ensure a smooth transition.

The two will serve in these roles until the Jan. 14, 2025 BOCC meeting, when the commissioners will elect their 2025 leadership.

Planning Commission reappointment

Also in October, the commissioners voted to reappoint Eric Moraes to the county Planning Commission. His second term will run until Oct. 8, 2027.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other EPC Board of County Commissioners articles