The Black Forest Preservation Plan is history, but there is a new vision statement that attempts to keep the developers in check.The BFPP, which had been in effect since the 1970s, helped keep Black Forest less populated and the properties spaced out.However, that could change with the new El Paso County Master Plan, which has already been approved and implemented.The master plan could allow the previous 5-acre lots to be cut in half so developers can build more houses and increase the population of Black Forest, said Terry Stokka, treasurer of Friends of the Black Forest. Stokka said he is worried about what this will mean for Black Forest and the community.Stokka said the former Black Forest preservation plan was always advisory. But, he said, ìWe clung to that and the county commissioner followed it for a lot of years.îToday itís different, Stokka said.ìTheyíve gotten careless in the last few years and theyíve made several violations of that,î Stokka said. ìWe feel the developers are way too strong and have too much power, and we lose most of our battles to be very honest with you.îThe new county master plan encompasses all of El Paso County, but it does not include a specific part of the Black Forest. So Stokka and the Friends of the Black Forest have drafted the Black Forest Vision Statement, which is a guide of what they would like to see land developers abide by as they continue to build in the area.ìWe developed what we felt it would be if we were going to update this (master plan), and that is (the Vision Statement) what we would update it with,î he said.Stokka said they realize the Vision Statement is more of a dream than a potential reality, but they hope that developers will take the communityís view under consideration. The Vision Statement, if followed, would keep properties appropriately spaced and preserve Black Forest as much as possible.Under the countyís current master plan, the lots will be smaller and the buildings closer together, Stokka said.Friends of the Black Forest worry about wildfires and wildlife, he said, adding that the idea of the Vision Statement will be tested when a developer wants to build in the Forest under the countyís new master plan.
