Elbert County approves rezoning of 35-acre Cheyenne Trail parcel with conditions for road work and signage

The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners approved a rezoning request for a 35‑acre property at 35501 Cheyenne Trail, changing the zoning from agricultural to residential‑agriculture (RZ2024‑3550). The board’s approval included Planning Commission‑recommended conditions requiring a road inspection and improvements and pedestrian/horse‑crossing signage at the Cheyenne Trail/bridle‑path junction.

Land‑use planner Danny Cabanar presented the application: the parcel, northwest of the town of Elizabeth, has historically been ranch land with no structures and will be accessed by an extension of Cheyenne Trail. The rezoning would allow lot standards consistent with the county’s residential‑agriculture context and the applicant proposed dividing the property into three lots served by individual wells and on‑site wastewater systems. The applicant, real estate broker Matt Prowett (applicant representing property owners), said the parties intend to create homesites for two family groups and had pursued state water adjudication as part of due diligence.

Staff said referral agencies reviewed the project and that all referral comments had been addressed; the Division of Water Resources determined the proposed water supply was physically available and sufficient under county rules. The Planning Commission recommended approval 7–1; the dissenting commissioner said the application packet had been incomplete at that hearing.

Planning Commission had proposed several additional conditions. Two of the commission’s recommendations — installation of pedestrian and horse‑crossing signage where the existing bridle path would meet the extended Cheyenne Trail, and inspection/improvement of the road extension by Road & Bridge prior to issuing driveway permits — were included by the Board when it approved the rezoning. A third Planning Commission suggestion — a requirement that any well bypass the Upper and Lower Dawson aquifers and use the Arapahoe (and deeper) aquifer — was discussed but not added to the board’s adopted resolution; the board noted that well permits and water‑use approvals remain subject to state Division of Water Resources and applicable groundwater management district rules.

Public comment included a statement from John Hill of Ranchland News noting that wells in Elbert County also must comply with groundwater‑management‑district rules and urging compliance with those district rules and procedures.

The board moved and seconded a motion to approve RZ2024‑3550 with the Planning Commission recommended conditions concerning signage and road inspection/improvements; the motion passed on the recorded voice vote and the rezoning will become effective after conditions are satisfied and the exhibit is recorded within the county’s required timeframe.