By Lindsey Harrison
Highway 24 and Stapleton Drive
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to permanently convey property from the county to the Colorado Department of Transportation related to construction and maintenance for roadway improvements at Highway 24 and Stapleton Drive.
Retreat at Timberridge Filing No. 4
The commissioners unanimously approved the preliminary acceptance of certain roads with the Retreat at Timberridge Filing No. 4. All improvements have been completed and inspected.
Fox Run Regional Park Pond and Gazebo Renovation project
The BOCC unanimously approved an amendment and change order to Matrix Design Group Inc. for construction management services for the Fox Run Regional Park Pond and Gazebo Renovation project for $22,500. Those services include construction administration, field coordination, field inspection, civil/landscape and architecture construction management.
Welsch property
The commissioners unanimously approved a request by Randall and Louellen Welsch to rezone property from residential rural-5 to residential rural-2.5. The property is located at 11525 Howells Road, about 0.2 miles northeast of the Howells Road and Mountain View Drive intersection.
Black Forest Trail and parking lot renovations project
The BOCC unanimously approved awarding a contract and purchase order to Facilities Contracting LLC for $161,768.72 to renovate and improve parking and trail conditions at the Black Forest Section 16 trailhead. The project includes improvements to the existing trailhead parking area and construction of a new equestrian park at 8510 Burgess Road. The work also includes site preparation, grading, drainage improvements, parking reconfiguration and trail connections.
Homestead Ranch Regional Park Trail restoration project
The commissioners unanimously approved awarding a contract and purchase order to Timberline Building Systems LLC for $193,187.59 to complete phase three of the trail and drainage restoration work within the Homestead Ranch Regional Park. Phase three consists of restoring about 6,500 linear feet of trail in sections 1 and 2 to EPC park standards for tier I and tier III trail construction.
More about ongoing development
By Pete Gawda
Saddleback Ranch
Saddleback Ranch is east of Meadowlake Airport. Filing 1 includes 40 lots; and, as of June 8, 11 lots had been sold. One house remained for sale. Filing 2 encompasses 44 lots; and, as of June 8, two were under contract and two were reserved for a church.
North Tree Annexation
This proposed development would have a tremendous impact on the population and infrastructure of Calhan, the highest non-mountain incorporated town in the U.S. On Aug. 25, 2025, Smith Land and Development Co. presented an application to the town of Calhan for the annexation of about 96 acres on the northwestern edge of Calhan. The property is bordered on the west by Eurich Road and on the north by McClasky Road. The developer has plans to build 475 single-family homes, which could potentially double the population of the town.
The 2000 census showed that Calhan had a population of 896, with 347 households. The impact on the infrastructure of Calhan would be significant.
The development is still in the planning stages and is going through the approval process with the town and El Paso County. When contacted in June, Cindy Tompkins, the town clerk, stated that town officials had received the annexation application but no action has been taken. She said town officials were studying the impact of the proposed annexation on the town’s sewer and water systems — town hall meetings on the subject were in the planning stages.
Antlers Range
Antlers Range is a 244-acre development also in the planning stages. According to documents filed with El Paso County Planning and Community Development, the property is located east of Meridian Road and north of Ayer Road and will consist of lots that are a minimum of 2.5 acres. The property is zoned RR-2.5
