Session IV - Planning in El Paso County
Yesterday, Nina Ruiz shared the county's protocols and procedures related to land use and planning in El Paso County. As you reflect on the presentation, what did you learn about planning in the county from Nina that you did not know before?
I learned what annexation meant and how the city/county work together for that process. I found the question about creating an entirely new city very interesting. It must be a huge undertaking to create a fire department and utility company. I am curious about the initial creation of Colorado Springs. How many people lived here before it became a city?
ReplyDeleteI was amused at the idea that there are pockets of unincorporated El Paso County in the middle of the city. I wonder how the residents in these areas feel about their sewer systems and the lack of access to CS utilities.
- Red L.
I did not realize that El Passo County planning rules did not apply within city limits. Before this class, I had always assumed that the county was over the city, much like state laws apply to all counties. But with planning and zoning, the city has the option to be more strict and even less strict than the County. The example of water shows that even though El Passo had been very progressive requiring 300 years, COS has no such requirements. Water is regulated by COS utilities whondoes not need to prove 300 users of feasibility.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Hoskins
Mesa Springs
I was glad to know that the County and the City have a functioning relationship with each other on projects that include zoning, codes, and developments and services. There was enough detail in Nina’s presentation to make me realize the complications and nuances of the planning process and offering transparency at the same time. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteI learnt that the County has a separate development/zoning system to the City, but there are a lot of similarities. Also, that any appeals or challenges to a new development should be organized around the review criteria that the County uses. I'm looking at this in detail for a City development right now.
ReplyDeleteJo Lucey
I've always wondered how the county felt about the city trying to annex more and more property away from it - never thought the answer would be, "take what you want if it makes sense." But, at least it is always good to know that governmental agencies are communicating when choices made by one effect the other. I know Cimarron Hills was brought up a bunch as a place the city should annex but I wonder what the cost benefit analysis is for the city...how much would the city have to pay to upgrade water, police, fire, electric in the area so that it was brought up to city standard. CH is a perfect example of why we need smarter development plans - though in the 60's who would have thought the city would grow to over take Cimarron Hills...it had only started to develop land around memorial park 10 years earlier!
ReplyDeleteLand use and planning are obviously key topics for any City and County. It amazes me that all the entities in C and C, State, private sector can all work together and come up with a plan that makes sense. I guess a lesson is that we all need to learn how to better play in our group sandbox together!
ReplyDeleteI always believed that zoning was set in stone, now I understand that there are exceptions and requests can be made to the city planners. I would like to see more areas allowing horses myself.
ReplyDeleteDianne Bridges
ReplyDeleteKey points:
• Big thanks to Nina from El Paso County. Both in the work she is doing for the county and the overview she provided to us last week.
• Interesting to more fully understand the property relationship between the County and the City. Have a better understanding now of annexation and macro considerations around that including water, utilities.
• Agree her advice to us: be sure to reach out to her office when needed and how it is important to do your research regarding requests (apropos to City and County actions, in my opinion).
Take-aways:
ReplyDelete1. My classmates are smart! Great questions all!
2. The city can "eat" the county 2 miles at a time. I'm curious about whether or not they must prove to the county they can provide all the necessary services to the proposed annexed area before it is approved? Do the annexation questions ever go to a vote, either of the city at large ("do you want this area annexed and provide services to it?") as well as to the area to be annexed ("do you want to be annexed and pay city taxes?")?
There were a vast amount of city and county planning information. It was a lot to take in. Nina did a great job! It was definitely interesting how a plan come together for projects. A lot of work goes into it. I would have to go back and reflect on where and who to contact or connect but the information is there. The HOA resources will be useful to me.
ReplyDeleteLelia
DeleteNina Ruiz's presentation on planning and zoning was especially helpful because that's a subject matter I don't know much about. I found it very interesting that there is no historic preservation efforts in the county. In the Midland neighborhood, on the very far southwest corner of town we not only have very old properties (mine was build in 1890), but we are also up against the very edge of some city/county borders between COS and Manitou. Rezoning is a hot topic around here in this neighborhood so I appreciated all of the information presented, especially terms of the requirements for rezoning.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Benson (Midland/Bott Park)
Excellent presentation! There was a lot of information I was unfamiliar with, so I felt like I was drinking from a firehose, but that's okay. Thank you Nina!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the presentation. My first post did not go through. I recall that the slides were very helpful regarding the subject manner. I hope I have the right meeting. I learned that we do not own our views. Also, one of my classmates talked about amber lights vs. bright lights that are installed in public / private large complexes like car dealers or colleges/universities.
ReplyDeleteEl Paso County land use and development was low on my radar personally. However, it was a very instructive lecture and it did an excellent job of adding to my knowledge of how the County operates, which is seldom in my personal radar.
ReplyDelete