On April 1, the El Paso County Master Plan Advisory Committee held a video conference meeting to discuss progress on the countyís master plan development process. Sean Tapia, associate planner, and John Houseal, principal planner, both with Houseal Lavigne Associates; as well as other various county employees were also present via video.The county hired Houseal Lavigne, a professional consulting firm specializing in community planning, urban design and economic development, to help construct the plan; and the firm presented their most recent changes to the plan, including the revised place-types document and map, the preliminary key areas list and the preliminary key areas map.Tapia said place types define what each land area is and should be, essentially, the character of the space. The place types also describe what types of uses should be permitted in each land area, the infrastructure already in the area and transitions from one area to another, he said. In addition to the definitions, the master plan indicates on a map of the county where that place type is located, Tapia said.The committee discussed the wording of some of the place types and the need to clearly distinguish each one to ensure the character of the land area is preserved, bearing in mind that each place type must be able to accommodate several land uses.Houseal said the preliminary key areas are areas not defined by past planning boundaries but are unique areas in the county, with their own unique defining characteristics. Those characteristics should help guide future development and should be taken into consideration before development begins, he said.ìWe have identified the preliminary key areas and defined generally how each is being used but we have not developed a text to guide future development or redevelopment,î Houseal said.Tapia listed and then described the preliminary key areas, and presented the preliminary key areas map. The committee then discussed the pros and cons of the map and how it could be improved.Craig Dossey, executive director of the EPC planning and development department, said the preliminary key areas can be used not only to determine opportunities for development, but also opportunities for annexation and areas to protect.The committee discussed the idea of defining areas based on characteristics rather than character.At the next meeting, which is still to be determined, Houseal Lavigne committed to bringing back a refined definition of the place types and key areas map. Additionally, the firm will introduce and discuss areas of change within the county; areas where the most change appears to be and areas where little to no change is perceived, he said.
