El Paso Board of County Commissioners, March 17 – Highway 105 easements approved

• The BOCC released the following statement on March 10 regarding Buc-ee’s
• Monument waiver approved
• Flying Horse North rezoning approved

By Marlene Brown

During the March meetings and as the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) widening of Highway 105, also known as the Highway 105B project, continues moving east, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved temporary and permanent easements along Highway 105, Lake Woodmoor Drive to Martingale Drive. Easements will be used for construction, drainage, slope, and ingress and egress to the construction site.

The owners have agreed to accept the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and the Permanent Easements and Special Warranty Deed have been approved and compensation has been accepted.

At the March 17 meeting, the BOCC approved the 2026 MOA for the Black Forest Slash and Mulch Program. The program was started in 1995 by a group of volunteers on land leased from the State Board of Land Commissioners, adjacent to Herring Road, to accept slash. Slash is defined as tree debris, including branches, leaves, and pine needles. The slash is then ground into mulch, which is given away free of charge.

The volunteers created a nonprofit corporation known as SAMCOM (Slash and Mulch Committee) in 2011 and have entered into the MOA every year since then. SAMCOM has successfully managed the program, which was approved by the BOCC for another year. The program promotes food forest health, effective long-term strategies, and wildfire hazard mitigation, which includes educating residents on reducing hazardous fuels on private land.

The BOCC released the following statement on March 10 regarding Buc-ee’s

“Buc-ee’s has not submitted an application to El Paso County for development, nor has any development application been submitted for the referenced property. We cannot speak to any intentions of Buc-ee’s or the property owner.

“Property owners are not required to disclose their future plans for a property when requesting a boundary line adjustment or grading permit. Please direct any and all questions related to intentions to those parties.

“Property owners have the right to make decisions about their property, as long as they are following the law. The county follows processes to allow property owners to make changes to their property in compliance with the law. The county takes seriously its legal obligations and the rights of all interested parties, including respecting the constitutional private property rights of citizens. Under the law, property owners are entitled to a fair process where the Board of County Commissioners remains neutral (including no ex-parte communication) prior to conducting a formal hearing where they review evidence and make a decision based on criteria previously established in the Land Development Code.” https://planningdevelopment.elpaso.com/buc-ees/#

Monument waiver approved

The Town of Monument (TOM) requested approval of a waiver for an annexation impact report for 18.522 acres, consisting of about 1.67 miles of public right-of-way known as Beacon Lite Road and Beacon Lite Road Water Tank Site, also known as Lot 1 of the TOM Beacon Lite Road Tank Subdivision Exemption Plat. Because of the annexation of the right-of-way and the municipal utility tank site, there is no extension of services, no district impacts, and no effect on schools, so no impact report is required. The resolution was approved by the BOCC, and the TOM can move forward with the annexation.

Flying Horse North rezoning approved

Preliminary Plan/Planned Unit Development—A request by PRI #2, LLC c/o Elite Properties of America, for approval of a map rezoning of 1499.72 acres, Flying Horse North Filings nos. 6-8. The Preliminary Plan shows 299 single-family lots, includes 91.5 acres of open space, and 26.3 acres of dedicated public right-of-way. The property is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Black Forest Road and Hodgen Road. The request was approved, 5-0.

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The BOCC usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 200 S. Cascade Ave. Suite 100, Colorado Springs. The BOCC Land Use Committee meets on the second and fourth Thursdays as needed. Call 719-520-7276 for more information. Go to bocc.elpasoco.com or https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso for meeting schedules and agendas.

Marlene Brown may be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

• Buc-ee’s applies to El Paso County to expand parcel (3/4/2026)
• El Paso Board of County Commissioners/Land Use Committee, Jan.8, 13, and 20 – Board, committee act on variety of projects (2/4/2026)
• El Paso County Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners – Planning Commission recommends JJ Ranch, Gleneagle View, Hidden Creek for approval (12/31/2025)
• Nov. 4 Election (12/4/2025)
• El Paso Board of County Commissioners – Board approves agreement on Highway 105 widening (12/4/2025)
• El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 7 – Board approves contract for Fox Run Gazebo (10/30/2025)
• El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Sept. 2, 9, and 23 – County approves park services (10/2/2025)
• El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Aug. 5 – Liquor license approved (9/4/2025)
• El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, April 10 – Two local projects approved by the county (5/3/2025)
• El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, March 13 and 18 – Misfits Crew Estates Final Plat approved (4/5/2025)