In September, the El Paso County Planning Commission agreed to allow Courtyards at Woodmen Hills, a development with just three houses and 227 empty lots, to convert from a single-family development consisting of single and two-story homes to a 197-lot development of single-story homes.At the same time, the developer is converting Courtyards from a single-family to an age-restricted community – a Falcon first.The change is an unwelcome one for the Caswell family.The Caswells own and live in one of the three houses that have been built in the Courtyards development.Of the two other houses, one is empty and one is a rental, Darlene Caswell said.”When we bought this home about a year and a half ago, we were under the impression we were buying a home that would be for families with children,” she said.The new plans add a swimming pool to the Courtyards’ recreational center, and the Caswells will be able to use it, but Caswell said her biggest concern is how they will be accepted.”There’s a lot more here than just permitting someone – tolerating someone – and then being the subject of problems that arise when you’re the only family that has children,” she said.In addition to restricting the age of residents to 55 and older, the covenants for the new phase of the development require ranch-style houses (instead of allowing two-story houses).As a result, the new phase will have 197 lots that are slightly larger than originally planned. The increase in lot size will accommodate the bigger footprint of the ranch-style houses.Caswell said she is worried her house will go down in value because of the changes.”No one with a family will touch our home because they fear what we fear – being separated out,” she said.John Maynard of N.E.S. Inc., the company representing the developer, said the three existing houses will retain their original covenants, and the age-restricted part of the development will have its own covenants. The owners of the three existing houses can sell their houses to anyone, regardless of age.Gary Miller, whose property is on Owl Place, asked that the Courtyards developer put up a fence between his property and the development.”With all the dirt that’s going to be kicked up and lack of privacy, we really want this [fence],” Miller said.Maynard said the new plans include a fence, but the land will be developed from Woodmen Road toward the north, which means the fence would be constructed in the third and last phase of development.The developer plans to landscape after the fence is built, and install an irrigation system, which will be dependent on water lines that will be extended as the development moves toward its northern boundary, he said.The pace of development is unknown.”This is a retirement, age-restricted project, so it’s not as sensitive to the current market situation as other [developments],” Maynard said. “My client believes this is going to be a very successful development.”The planning commission voted unanimously to reduce the number of lots and increase the percentage of each lot from 50 to 60 percent.The changes must be approved by the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners.
