On July 17, the El Paso County Planning Commission heard two requests involving Meridian Ranch filing 7: one for a preliminary plan and one for a final plat. Filing 7 consists of 35.39 acres that will be divided into 131 single-family residential lots, ranging from 7,200 to 15,000 square feet.The applicant, Meridian Ranch Investments Inc., requested a waiver of the county’s requirement for a fire protection commitment because its developer, GTL Inc., declined to enter into a Developer Gift Agreement with the Falcon Fire Protection District.Included in the documentation provided with both applications was a letter from the applicant’s representative, Timothy Siebert of N.E.S. Inc, to county planner Raimere Fitzpatrick.In the letter, Siebert wrote that the Developer Gift Agreement would require the GTL to pay the district $350 per lot.ìWe believe this Developer Gift Agreement is not allowed under the Colorado Revised Statutes and is ultimately illegal,î Siebert wrote.Also included was a letter on FFPD letterhead recommending disapproval of the final plat.The FFPD letter states that the district ìremains very concerned with the Districts (sic) ability to protect the accelerated residential growth within our protection boundaries. Ö The FFPD Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Property, the residential development that will occur on the Property, and the citizens that will live, work or conduct other activities within the Property, for the Falcon Fire District to acquire capital facilities and make the capital purchases necessary to provide fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency response to the Property and its future citizens. As such the Board of Directors will not provide a letter of commitment with the acceptance of this Developer Gift Agreement and will recommend denial of the Final Plat.îThe planning commission recommended approval of the preliminary plan and denial of the final plat, based on the fire protection issue. However, their vote is advisory only, and the matter can proceed to the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners without the planning commissionís recommendation for approval.ìCurrently, the property is within the district and is protected by the district,î Fitzpatrick said, in a separate interview.The requirement for a letter of commitment in the county’s land use code is intended for areas outside a fire district entering into a district, he said.ìThe issue can’t get resolved without a final decision on the subdivision either for it or against it,î he said. ìThe applicant is looking to get to that decision point so they can address it in the appropriate arena.îA date for a hearing before the county commissioners had not been set by the time The New Falcon Herald went to press.
