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OCN > 2307 > El Paso Board of County Commissioners, June 6 and 20 – Townhome development off Woodmoor Dr. withdrawn from agenda

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 withdrawn from agenda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A 52 single-family townhome development off Woodmoor Drive was withdrawn from the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) June 20 land use agenda.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 townhome development withdrawn from agenda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property on the east side of Woodmoor Drive, which was due to be heard at the June 20 BOCC land use meeting, was withdrawn by the applicant.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.

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