El Paso County approves Falcon-area rezoning for multifamily housing

The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners approved rezoning 13.28 acres near Falcon for multifamily housing, leaving any specific development for later review.

The board’s 5-0 vote Sept. 10 changed the property at 12057 E. Highway 24 from RR-5, or Residential Rural, to RM-30, or Residential Multi-Dwelling. The county’s meeting record identifies the action as Resolution 26-289 on the land-use consent calendar.

RM-30 zoning permits up to 30 dwelling units per acre under county land-development rules. County materials discussed roughly 300 homes as a possible development scenario, but the rezoning does not approve that number or establish a final unit count. At the zoning standard’s theoretical maximum, the property could accommodate about 398 units before site design, access, infrastructure and other requirements are considered, according to the county packet.

James Kyle requested the rezoning for parcel 4307200007. The Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0 in July after discussing access and traffic concerns.

Highway 24 access remains limited

Initial access to the property from Highway 24 will be limited to a single right-in/right-out connection required by the Colorado Department of Transportation. The traffic analysis submitted with the application estimated 2,167 daily vehicle trips and included auxiliary-lane improvements.

County staff said the traffic study found acceptable intersection operations under interim conditions. Commissioners questioned whether one restricted access point could safely serve a potential development of roughly 300 homes, particularly on a highway with a 55-mph speed limit. They also raised questions about left-turn demand, emergency response and evacuation.

The right-in/right-out design would prevent some direct movements, including travel south from the property. The county planning and rezoning packet says those trips could require a U-turn or circulation through the Woodmen Road and Highway 24 intersection and Meridian Road.

A second connection through The Commons at Falcon Field could eventually provide another route, county staff said. That connection depends on development of intervening properties and is not controlled by Kyle, so it is not part of the current access network.

The approval requires future development to comply with applicable federal, state and agency requirements, including Colorado Department of Transportation permitting, as well as county RM-30 standards and engineering rules. Future plans will require additional traffic analysis and review.

Future reviews will determine development

The rezoning is not approval of a subdivision or construction project. Future reviews will determine whether and how the property can be built out under the new zoning.

The county packet says a water-sufficiency finding is not required for the map amendment. Water sufficiency will be reviewed when the property is submitted for platting and construction, along with more detailed utility, roadway and engineering plans.

The board’s action followed the Planning Commission’s recommendation, but later development reviews will determine the project’s final design and scope.