[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6515052,"mediaKeyId","5021297-73e73aa541084312026e9b33636916dd","parentId",5021297,"title","Planning commission narrowly recommends approval for ‘The Patch’ entertainment venue with traffic, fencing and event limits","audioSeconds",2181,"startMs",5236000,"endMs",7417000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021297-73e73aa541084312026e9b33636916dd&start=5236&end=7417","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021297-73e73aa541084312026e9b33636916dd/thumbnail_5236000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6515052/Elbert-County/Colorado/Planning-commission-narrowly-recommends-approval-for-The-Patch-entertainment-venue-with-traffic-fencing-and-event-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515052-5ed3931569dd4ba8eeef6ef69afebc74/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074353&Signature=Unf3FLe7wQwFeUL6DgU0Zzwt1ABSwsd5JGBnFDwfZCrOPgJuhb9m51QYkHqM31kPViTO9cxOYjIXFi9r8l0ASUkyTFIrIRr-ZQsG7UXM33kzQM4QF~B77dHJxH2uSUMaKCbpWU40Zzp7lPQfmoe1RKUfOUrpEEM3OaNznVrvuLekXZQCGJ77AiRUuG1trIHZhCtwIlMOjuNfbPHxvgLLSFpGAoLwFkqYqVZ11N--ZF48bNmEQZoJ15JcczauhdgCrR6T2LRHbP5~LUAqVGNU3K6OUliB98DolmIkfdO2XM8g5GrW25Fjs78cvPzJa69wxmiAIwZh5JXWY-xrR46Mmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elbert County","date","2025-06-17T19:03:00Z","article","The Elbert County Planning Commission voted 5–3 on June 17 to recommend approval of a Special Use Review for “The Patch,” an agritourism and events operation at 7360/7400 State Highway 86, subject to conditions that include a traffic study and limits on approved activities.

Planning staff described the application (SUR‑2024‑7360) as an SUR for an approximately 110‑acre agricultural parcel where the owners—Dusty and Kathy Smith—operate a seasonal agritourism business that has offered pumpkin‑patch activities since 2017. The applicants requested approval for a broader set of events moving forward, including Easter activities, summer‑night movie and music events, weddings, farmers markets, a fall festival/pumpkin patch, and a Christmas drive‑through light display. Staff noted the site already contains several permitted structures and that additional structures shown on the SUR exhibit may require building permits.

The applicants told the commission The Patch has operated under temporary use permits in prior years and said they have worked with county agencies on safety, access and sanitation measures. Owner Dusty Smith said the operation hires part‑time workers, uses porta‑potties and contracted water for handwashing, and that they have measured on‑site sound levels and adopted steps to reduce noise and mitigate guest movement.

Multiple neighbors spoke in opposition during public comment. Sandra Clayton, who lives adjacent to the site, said event traffic has caused vehicles to enter her driveway, that guests attempt to pet livestock and that lights and late‑night events disturb the rural character. Other commissioners also raised concerns about the range of activities listed on the exhibit, the level of detail in drainage and erosion mitigation, the adequacy of on‑site sanitation and water supply for larger events, and the safety of turning movements onto Highway 86.

Staff said Colorado Department of Transportation did not require a traffic impact study at present because the applicants hold an existing access permit, but that CDOT and the county asked for a traffic impact study to be submitted within three years of approval to determine whether road improvements would be necessary. Planning staff recommended conditions including: obtaining all applicable building permits; re‑permitting existing structures as necessary; submitting a traffic impact study to Elbert County Public Works/CDOT within three years; revising the SUR exhibit to meet county standards; removing public notice signs within two weeks of decisions; and recording required documents within 180 days of BOCC approval.

Commissioners debated whether the SUR application should be narrowed to a short list of concrete activities and whether a traffic study should be provided before a recommendation. Several commissioners noted CDOT and the Office of Emergency Management had updated referral comments during the review process and that staff had worked with the applicants over multiple review cycles.

Commissioner Kyle DiNardo moved that the commission recommend approval to the Board of County Commissioners subject to staff conditions and additional items: limit the SUR to four specific events (Easter, summer nights, the pumpkin patch/fall festival and a Christmas lights drive‑through); require a full traffic study to be submitted to the county; and require a field fence to protect neighboring livestock and mitigate trespass. The motion passed 5–3 on a roll‑call vote.

Staff noted the SUR exhibit and other application materials will need a few revisions before the BOCC packet is finalized. The commission’s conditional recommendation goes to the Board of County Commissioners for final action; commissioners and staff flagged the traffic study requirement and exhibit corrections as materials to watch as the case proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elbert County - Planning Commission - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission voted 5–3 to recommend approval of a Special Use Review for The Patch event site on Highway 86, conditioning approval on a traffic study, a field fence to protect neighboring livestock, and limiting permitted activities to a short list of events.","taxTitle","Elbert County, Colorado","taxId",27336,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515057,"Elbert County planning panel recommends rezone of 35-acre Cheyenne Trail parcel amid neighbor concerns",4611,520000,5131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021297-73e73aa541084312026e9b33636916dd&start=520&end=5131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021297-73e73aa541084312026e9b33636916dd/thumbnail_520000.jpg","/articles/6515057/Elbert-County/Colorado/Elbert-County-planning-panel-recommends-rezone-of-35-acre-Cheyenne-Trail-parcel-amid-neighbor-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515057-a272fa266e5eec2f864de18d30bd82e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074353&Signature=hHc7wXD6tCQ2sLm3GTv3FwmzSyx98w1uGBkhapOIZI1gdrMqtIS0JIUX6VNGRXuTCyXnSG9APYLo52SSSQm0Hqt~lqu7KZnx0XSsFZbV~3aGJN7R2b4gK8T8ImsStDZYmNYdUWaTZFS-m06mn1uK6QH6xIBp2p3eT~5CNIqJPIhJEIgUHHGzTyNbo70ICaWz2q~Xkyxkk0bmRtegMr79W~mdKyGh8fx34o8fx56TVbnjYGSp7WlUPzh7UD0h7RXCEXdqNchwFrIbAl6LAqVyyBcWi5aUHWOY6LsKCKZUZBf9AzSkwYcfQfzWD8I~J0rQRQbffjSB4aHkZ~6LCEHx6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elbert County Planning Commission on June 17 recommended approval of a rezone request for a 35-acre parcel at 35501 Cheyenne Trail, voting 7–1 to send the case to the Board of County Commissioners with conditions.

The county’s staff presentation identified RZ2024-3550 as a request to change zoning from Agriculture to Residential Agriculture (RA) for a property approximately two miles northwest of Elizabeth. Staff said the parcel has been historically used as ranch land, has no structures, contains no wetlands or mapped floodplain and will be accessed from Cheyenne Trail, an unpaved local county road.

The applicant’s representative, Matt Prowett, told commissioners the proposal follows an augmentation plan approved by the Colorado Division of Water Resources and that the rezone exhibit mirrors lot lines shown on a minor plat the applicants will pursue later. Prowett said the applicants plan three residential lots, with by-right entitlement for one home already available on the existing 35-acre parcel. “Danny pretty much covered all the bases,” Prowett said during the hearing.

Neighbors raised objections during public comment. Kyle Schultz of Pawnee Hills said most traffic accessing the subject property would pass through the Pawnee Hills subdivision and that the unpaved road there is in poor condition. Schultz also said the property’s proposed access would cross a bridle easement commonly used by the equestrian community and asked the commission to deny the rezone. Sarah Bergey, who said she recently purchased a nearby 35‑acre parcel, said dividing adjacent large parcels into smaller lots would reduce the rural character and could harm property values.

Staff told the commission the application met the six criteria set out in the county zoning regulations, noting referrals from the Division of Water Resources, Elizabeth Fire Protection District and Emergency Management raised no objections once the applicants submitted an augmentation plan and other required materials. Staff recommended standard conditions including removal of signs within two weeks of final decisions, completion of fees and recordation of required documents within 180 days of BOCC approval.

Commissioners focused questions and conditions on three issues: legal access and whether the bridle easement would be affected, the status and completeness of application exhibits and supporting documents (including notarizations), and road construction/inspection standards. Staff and applicants said the bridle path runs along the sides of the county road and does not cross private property; staff and applicants recommended adding horse/pedestrian crossing signage and noted Road & Bridge would inspect any new private road built to county standards before driveway permits or building permits would be issued.

Commissioner Kyle DiNardo moved the recommendation for approval to the BOCC with conditions in the staff report plus: requiring horse/pedestrian crossing signage where the bridle path meets the road, a Road & Bridge inspection prior to driveway permits, a condition that the applicants move well permitting from the Lower Dawson designation to the Arapahoe designation as needed, and confirmation of a notarized authorization letter for the applicant’s representative. The motion passed on roll call 7–1 (ayes 7, nay 1).

The commission recorded a number of administrative requests that staff said must be corrected or completed before the BOCC packet is finalized: corrected owner and representative names on the rezone exhibit, a dated and signed proof-of-posting affidavit, complete proof of access documentation, and properly completed notarizations for the authorization letter.

The planning commission’s recommendation now goes to the Board of County Commissioners, which is scheduled to consider the case in late July. The commission left several items as conditions to be completed before the BOCC hearing; staff said those materials would be appended to the BOCC packet and that public notices met the county’s mailed- and posted-notice rules.

The commission recessed after the vote and continued other business on the agenda.","The Elbert County Planning Commission voted 7–1 to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve a rezone of a 35-acre property at 35501 Cheyenne Trail from Agriculture to Residential Agriculture, with conditions addressing signs, fees, plats and road/bridle-path issues.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission narrowly recommends approval for ‘The Patch’ entertainment venue with traffic, fencing and event limits

Elbert County planning panel recommends rezone of 35-acre Cheyenne Trail parcel amid neighbor concerns