El Paso County Commissioners voted 3-to-1 to approve the preliminary plat for Sanctuary of the Pines, a residential development in the Black Forest. Commissioner Douglas Bruce was the lone no vote; Commissioner Sallie Clark left the meeting prior to the vote.Geologist John Himmelreich presented the commissioners with concerns that will affect the Upper Black Squirrel basin. Included in the development are flood plains; and the soils are not suitable for septic systems. Sewage could impact the headwaters of the UBS. He also pointed out to the commissioners that the land use code requires developers to include a geology study in the plan package. There was none available in the Sanctuary of the Pines plan.
