During August, the El Paso County Board of Commissioners will meet on Thursdays only. The regular Monday and Thursday meeting schedule will resume Sept. 12.Building grace period endsAfter July 1, a building permit will be needed in eastern El Paso County. The permit requirement ends a five-year grace period that started in 2000, when the board of county commissioners decided to implement a permit requirement in areas that were unzoned prior to 1999. Before the 1999 comprehensive zoning action, some 800 square miles of the eastern part of the county were not zoned and building permits were not required. The grace period allowed property owners a continued exemption from the normal requirement for permits based on certain categories of ownership and building types.Those exemptions have now expired and permits are required unless there is documentation that they the building was “substantially under construction” as of the July 1 date. Certain accessory uses, like detached garages, will continue to be exempt from the permitting rule, in some cases.A fact sheet and list of frequently asked questions can be found on the county Web site www.elpasoco.com or (719) 520-6300.Storm water drainageEl Paso County wants to hear how its citizens believe it should address storm water drainage issues.The county has compiled a list of projects currently totaling $64 million, but that list is expected to grow. It was created by the Department of Transportation and presented at a recent meeting to the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners. The list will next be reviewed by the county’s Highway Advisory Committee, which will take citizen input and give its findings to the commissioners.There are 150 drainage basins in the county, and only 32 have been studied. El Paso County and Colorado Springs are looking into the possibility of creating a storm water enterprise to address the ongoing needs of drainage in both the city and county.Citizens wishing to provide input regarding the county’s drainage needs or learn more about the subject can contact Pamela Podhirny at 520-6812.Marksheffel Road closuresEastern El Paso County drivers take note: For approximately 10 months to one year, Marksheffel Road will be closed between Constitution Avenue and U.S. Highway 24 for bridge repair, asphalt overlay and concrete repair.Traffic will be detoured to Constitution Avenue east to Hwy 24 or west to Constitution Avenue.
