Adoption Date:  1988

General Description of Area:  Approximately 130 square mile area located in South Central El Paso County including the South Interstate 25 corridor, Fountain Creek and the rural community of Hanover.  Dominated by semi-arid and grazing lands and riparian corridors.  Limited ground water. Very low population (approximately 400 currently).

Committee Structure/Process:  Board-appointed committee comprised of area land owners. County hired an outside consultant to facilitate the process and prepare a draft plan. Plan completed by Planning Division staff.

Key Planning Issues:  Concern that the area would be a magnet for locally unwanted land uses due to its low population density and favorable geology. Concern with potential impacts from Interstate 25 and a potential future Front Range Toll Road. Concern with externalities from Fountain, State lands development, etc.

Basic Plan Format:  Area profile with topical policies and a series of phased growth scenarios developed for the entire area as well as ten different planning districts.

Key Policy Elements:  Accommodation of managed growth other than locally unwanted land uses. Short, medium and long-term growth scenarios which are not tied to specific time frames. Emphasis on land stewardship.

Other:  Over the past eight years growth has been limited in terms of actual numbers, but not very substantial on the basis of relative numbers. There has been recent land use activity west of Interstate 25.