I’m concerned about Falcon/Peyton growth. At recent planning meetings Carl Schueler, El Paso County Long Range Planning Division manager, said two things that conflict with the interests of residents: “El Paso County is pro-growth” and “the Falcon/Peyton master plan isn’t binding.” To me this means the county can do what it wants at the expense of local residents.An example is the rezoning of the 40-acre property at the corner of Woodmen and Meridian Roads. When I moved here it was zoned residential. I was surprised to read articles (Gazette and The New Falcon Herald) about commercial development of that property. The Gazette said a Toronto-based company was planning a “big box” shopping center and NFH said an Arizona developer was going to develop a shopping center.This seems repetitive and excessive given existing shopping centers and vacant store space. Do we need more? If the market is saturated with vacant stores, the area will look depressed, as a result become depressed and push property values down. It’s also unimaginative unless we want to look like Colorado Springs sprawl. I chose Falcon to avoid this.There are negative collateral impacts. Residents adjacent to and nearby will deal with increased traffic, noise, light, the view and the resulting effect on their home’s value.Can we do something that is multi-use with pedestrian shopping around a town square or commons for concerts, art shows, gatherings, etc., with residential, commercial and office space intermixed (new urbanism) and master planned? Can we be a unique place to live, desirable by design and a destination?The county shouldn’t choose growth over community identity, quality of life and property value. What do you think? Talk to those who can make a difference, attend upcoming planning meetings or contact our District 2 county commissioner, Amy Lathen (amylathen@elpasoco.com); Carl Schueler (carlschueler@elpasoco.com); Master Plan project manager, Aaron Briggs (abriggs@hbaa.com); or Master Plan committee chair Lynne Bliss blisscomm@comcast.net).Bill Hogan
