[{"_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",6584837,"mediaKeyId","5459600-c39eece85e3a163ddfa675ef890da0a2","parentId",5459600,"title","BOCC approves rezoning of 35‑acre Cheyenne Trail parcel to residential‑agriculture with road and signage conditions","audioSeconds",3723,"startMs",3723000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459600-c39eece85e3a163ddfa675ef890da0a2&start=3723&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459600-c39eece85e3a163ddfa675ef890da0a2/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6584837/Elbert-County/Colorado/BOCC-approves-rezoning-of-35acre-Cheyenne-Trail-parcel-to-residentialagriculture-with-road-and-signage-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584837-beae75a093dfa1ce1fbf5231617c5751/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148540&Signature=XzMl0YH9xfxlYy2qZzI~zTyb9lACaaSWNETuSXcF64NlGkFgKMz2Q1680fIKqX5TgRoFxAgj--TEUfF9P33O5zmBl7541yI1wdB9A2XncAwkH-bo-agsJy6W4IbQc3kKUcumxeH99V-LVaIcFqIW6r1dcLXSfoQW-tSFPalJpYDf3ryH~9PUWY5ziQm5rt1e6yTInTIqHgbW50AdI1o2lJaEEBu86MDP1n5gI0PsXtyKlRt~TPnlk3U~rRpkmi3VZbHyxf8Br5tvaQ8bayNt24shIEi6VF0eVBCP1uKTP-22WUyonzszWq7oIcD02fwvxZXS22SpnNXcWrQCd5gPZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elbert County","date","2025-07-23T13:00:00Z","article","The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners approved a rezoning request (RZ20243550) to change a 35‑acre parcel at 35501 Cheyenne Trail from agricultural zoning to residential‑agriculture (RA). The board adopted planning‑commission recommended conditions that require pedestrian and horse crossing signage where the Bridle Path meets the extended Cheyenne Trail and that the county road and bridge department inspect and improve the road extension before individual driveway permits are issued.

County land‑use planner Danny Cabanar told commissioners the parcel is roughly 35 acres, has no existing structures and will be accessed by an extension of Cheyenne Trail; the property lies northwest of Elizabeth and adjacent to the Pawnee Hills subdivision. The proposal went through earlier referrals, a pre‑application and a community meeting; notices met county requirements. The Planning Commission recommended approval with additional conditions; commissioners voted to adopt the rezoning and included two of the planning commission’s conditions in the motion.

The Division of Water Resources reviewed the applicant’s water supply plan and deemed the proposed water supply adequate for the proposed lot configuration, the staff report said. The applicant, real‑estate broker Matt Prowett speaking for the property owners, told the board the adjudication process produced an allocation of about 2.55 acre‑feet of water per year “for the 3 sites,” a figure he said would support household use, irrigation of up to 4,000 square feet and a small number of large animals per lot. Prowett said the applicants originally explored a higher‑density plan requiring a central well but revised the proposal to three separate wells/three sites during the pre‑application process.

Water and aquifer issues drew sustained attention at the hearing. Planning commission members had recommended a condition that wells bypass the Upper and Lower Dawson aquifers and tap the deeper Arapahoe aquifer; the county planner said that recommendation was made by the planning commission but was not included in the draft resolution before the board. Several commissioners said they were reluctant to impose that specific aquifer requirement because the Division of Water Resources and groundwater management districts have permitting authority and technical jurisdiction over well approvals. John Hill of Ranchland News spoke during public comment and reminded the board that any well drilled in the county must comply with the rules of the relevant groundwater management district.

Other review findings included no floodplain or wetlands on the parcel; public works had no objection to the proposed private road provided it meets county standards and is inspected by county road and bridge. The planning commission discussed concerns from nearby residents, who had cited traffic, effects on a bridle easement, water use and potential impacts to property values; planning staff said referral comments had been addressed and the Division of Water Resources required water adjudication that took additional time and review.

Commission discussion touched on the road extension, whether the road would become publicly maintained if upgraded to county standards, and the applicant’s willingness to install the requested signage. The motion to approve the rezoning specifically referenced planning commission recommended conditions 4 and 5 (pedestrian/horse crossing signage and road inspection/improvement); the motion carried with all votes recorded as “aye.”

The board’s approval requires the applicant to meet the stated conditions, pay fees and record required exhibits within the county’s specified timeframe. Road and bridge will inspect the road extension and must confirm standards are met before driveway permits will be issued; well permits and final well location will be subject to state and groundwater‑district permitting and any applicable adjudication requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elbert County - Land Use - Jul 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners approved rezoning RZ20243550 to change a 35‑acre parcel at 35501 Cheyenne Trail from agricultural zoning to residential‑agriculture and adopted conditions requiring pedestrian/horse crossing signage and county inspection of the extended Cheyenne Trail before driveway permits.","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},6584842,"Elbert County OKs year‑round special‑use permit for The Patch events on Highway 86",3692,0,3692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459600-c39eece85e3a163ddfa675ef890da0a2&start=0&end=3692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459600-c39eece85e3a163ddfa675ef890da0a2/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6584842/Elbert-County/Colorado/Elbert-County-OKs-yearround-specialuse-permit-for-The-Patch-events-on-Highway-86","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584842-390354a201ae9ca2366fc36846b9d761/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148540&Signature=mgf-ahiClRPNrWm3o8T7KEYqho5TpUDTq4~aTcrRVigqGQVXDb9vFeUxXOUNJED3WUvDyVAWk2n6sRYub0fthhknDdgz9XVnWl816vh~PARvy3-9L5U83w-LYbNkbUYTAl2pJhI2f6I~fGmVCuG4DJj~vfuuP3LzX2VC2KwH2tiUgOEa6ImJimaW3nKnGgggAXOAPLYnKo4KrTG9tbYnTY1LzhqjqDbTekv5KGSQ8tFwzYHepBqhxYVB0nyvwA~9v6h7SpTRpis3tJWgCyGb3MH~Vyld--2~6T0AecQWX~x0opGMKpJBmM3KhxdYTiS1cjEoPR4X2McMN~H56AVPPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elbert County commissioners voted to approve a special use by review (SUR20247360) permitting an amusement/entertainment venue known as The Patch to operate year‑round at a roughly 110‑acre site on the south side of Highway 86.

The vote to approve the request, as drafted in the staff resolution, carried unanimously. The resolution includes standard permitting conditions, a requirement that a traffic study be submitted to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) within three years for review, and deadlines for recording the approved SUR exhibit.

County planning staff told commissioners the Patch’s seasonal pumpkin operation has run in Elbert County since 2017 and moved to the Highway 86 site within the past year. The applicants seek an SUR because prior use relied on temporary use permits that are limited to 60 days per calendar year; the SUR would allow a wider range of events across seasons including the fall pumpkin patch, Easter events, summer nights, movie nights, a Christmas light drive‑through, weddings and other outdoor gatherings. Staff said most activities would be concentrated in the northern third of the parcel closest to Highway 86 and that existing and proposed structures are shown in the SUR exhibit.

Staff noted the proposal went through two review cycles, met notice requirements and was reviewed by multiple agencies, including Elbert County Public Health, the Office of Emergency Management and CDOT. Planning staff summarized the draft conditions of approval the board considered: applicants must obtain all required building permits; re‑permit any existing residential structures that will be used commercially; submit a traffic study to CDOT and the county within three years; revise the SUR exhibit to ensure compliance with county standards; remove public notice signs; record the exhibit within 180 days; and pay applicable fees.

At the Planning Commission hearing the commission recommended three additional conditions, including limiting the approved calendar of events to four named seasonal events (Easter, summer nights, the fall pumpkin patch and a Christmas light event), requiring a traffic study within 60 days, and installing field fencing to separate the event area from adjacent livestock. County staff explained those planning commission recommendations differed from CDOT’s request. CDOT told staff it preferred a multi‑year data set and therefore asked for a traffic study after operations are established; staff said CDOT asked for a traffic study within three years so the agency would have actual operational numbers to evaluate future improvements.

Dustin Smith, who with his wife Kathy identifies as an owner of The Patch, described the operation’s history and community role. “We felt that we had the opportunity to provide an activity that gave families a chance to connect,” Smith said, describing the site as family‑oriented and noting prior incidents—such as a medical emergency at a corn crib—that underlined the need for coordination with emergency responders. Smith said electrical inspections were completed and that the applicants provided an initial traffic memo and later updated projections to CDOT; he said on‑site traffic mitigation currently includes employee traffic control and towable message signs recommended by Colorado Highway Patrol.

Public comment at the hearing was overwhelmingly supportive. Multiple employees and volunteers described work opportunities and community benefits: “Working at The Patch has just brought me so much,” said Sienna Snively, who identified herself as a returning seasonal employee. Aaron DeBellis, a volunteer, told commissioners the site offers young people work‑skill training he said they would not otherwise receive locally.

Commission discussion focused on permitting details, fencing, lighting and traffic. Commissioner Schroeder asked whether building‑department permits and re‑permitting of structures had been completed; staff said records were unclear and the condition requiring required permits is intended to ensure any outstanding permits are obtained. Commissioners noted the County can revisit SUR approvals as needed; staff said an SUR can be reviewed annually if concerns arise.

The Board approved the SUR as presented in the staff resolution with the listed conditions. The motion as recorded approved SUR20247360 with the staff conditions; the roll call was recorded as unanimous “aye.”

The Patch operation currently reports roughly 75 part‑time and three to four full‑time employees on site during events. Staff emphasized that sanitation and portable restroom permitting will be handled through Elbert County Public Health and that final exhibit revisions and signatures must be completed before recording.

With approval granted, the applicants must complete the stated conditions, pay fees and record the exhibit within 180 days. CDOT will evaluate the traffic study submitted in up to three years to determine if additional road improvements or mitigation are required.","The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners approved a special use by review (SUR20247360) allowing The Patch amusement events to operate year‑round at a 110‑acre site on the south side of Highway 86, with conditions including required permits, a traffic study to CDOT within three years and recording of the SUR exhibit.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

BOCC approves rezoning of 35‑acre Cheyenne Trail parcel to residential‑agriculture with road and signage conditions

Elbert County OKs year‑round special‑use permit for The Patch events on Highway 86