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OCN > 2303 > El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Feb. 7 and 21 – Citizen voices concern with county land development policy

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Feb. 7 and 21 – Citizen voices concern with county land development policy

By Helen Walklett

During February, a citizen voiced concerns about land use policy with the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The commissioners also made decisions relating to the Highway 105A project and the Jackson Ranch subdivision.

Concerns repeatedly raised over county land use policy

In recent months, El Paso County resident Tom Martin has raised concerns about land use development with the commissioners at both the regular and land use BOCC meetings.

Speaking at the Feb. 7 meeting, Martin said, “It seems that a lot of the developments that are going in, they don’t deal with the surrounding area. Just because I have a million dollars and I buy 20 acres out in Black Forest should never give me the right to put in cluster homes. This whole idea I have the right to do whatever I want with my property needs to go away. Your job is to enforce the master plan and the land code development.” He continued, “You’re just admitting that it’s a free-for-all out there in the Wild West. This isn’t good.” He added, “You put cluster homes out on Vollmer Road. I’m not against development, folks. I just think we need smart, planned development.”

Commissioner Stan VanderWerf responded, “Mr. Martin, I just beg to differ. You’re implying that we have no requirements, that we have a wild, Wild West atmosphere with land use. That is simply not true. There are thousands of requirements on the books that have to be complied with.”

Speaking at the land use meeting later the same day, Martin said, “I think there is a considerable amount of work that needs to be done with the way we go about the land use in El Paso County. I think the master plan is much too vague.” He continued, “All I can do is continue to try and bring up these issues over and over and over again. The community is screaming, ‘Please be more responsible with your land use.’”

Martin spoke again at the Feb. 21 BOCC meeting, telling the commissioners that over the last few months “you’ve put RV parks next to two-acre ranchettes, you’ve put dog kennels in one-acre subdivisions, you’ve rezoned rezones to put a hotel in Black Forest.” He ended, “I want you folks to understand that we elected you to serve us. It’s not what you feel. You should be responding to how we feel and what we feel is proper.” The commissioners did not respond.

Highway 105A project

At the Feb. 21 meeting, the commissioners approved a temporary construction easement concerning property along the side of Highway 105 owned by Cade Weaver and Kayla Gilstrap at a cost of $630.

The Highway 105A project will improve the highway to four lanes between I-25 and Lake Woodmoor Drive.

Other decisions

  • Feb. 21—the commissioners approved the issuance of an ambulance permit to Monument Fire District. The one-year license runs until Jan. 31, 2024.
  • Feb. 21—approved the final acceptance of the Jackson Ranch Filing No. 3 subdivision into the county road maintenance system.
  • Feb. 21—approved an amended resolution to approve the service plan for the Winsome Metropolitan Districts Nos. 1-4 to correct errors in the original resolution. The districts serve the Winsome development at the northwest corner of Hodgen and Meridian Roads. The original service plan was approved by BOCC in July 2019.

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

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