El Paso County panel denies variance to let auto-repair operate from Meadowlake hangar; forwards case to commissioners

The El Paso County Planning Commission voted 5–2 on Nov. 20 to deny a variance of use (file VA253) that would have allowed ProTrans to operate a commercial vehicle repair garage from two hangar units at Meadowlake Airport. Commissioners said questions about who properly authorized the application, whether proposed parking would be adequate and whether the use would conflict with the Meadowlake general aviation overlay (GAO) influenced their decision. The denial will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for its Dec. 11 hearing.

Planner Joseph Lettke told the commission the application requests a variance to permit a commercial vehicle repair garage inside existing hangars at Meadowlake Airport and that the GAO generally prohibits non-aviation uses. "This request is for a variance of use approval for a commercial vehicle repair garage within an existing hangar in the Meadowlake Airport," Lettke said,…