Commission backs Banning Lewis Ranch Village B2 master-plan and associated rezones, unanimously

The Colorado Springs City Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council approval on a multi-application package for Banning Lewis Ranch Village B2 on July 8. The package included a major master-plan amendment, multiple zone changes and concept plans, right-of-way vacations, and a PDZ concept plan covering roughly 511 acres.

Planning supervisor Tamara Baxter summarized the submissions and agency review, noting the project provides a mix of residential, commercial, park and school uses and meets the review criteria under the former Chapter 7 code. Don Ryan (LAI Design Group), the applicant's presenter, said Village B2 is primarily residential with a southwest commercial parcel, two neighborhood parks (total ~15 acres) and a 25-acre K–8 school site. "We have a total of 511 acres. Of that it is primarily residential with over 500 acres for residential," Ryan said in his presentation.

Commissioners focused questions on density comparisons with the 1988 master plan, drainage, school-timing and transportation. Oakwood and traffic staff said updated traffic studies and planned arterial sections (four-lane principal arterials such as Dublin and Stetson) are intended to accommodate buildout. Staff noted Parks Advisory Board concurrence on public-park ownership by the metro district. Several motions covering the master-plan amendment, two rezonings, concept plans and right-of-way vacations were moved and seconded; each motion passed unanimously.

The commission recorded multiple motions that will be forwarded to City Council. Staff and applicant said more detailed engineering (drainage, development plans and platting) will be addressed during subsequent development-plan reviews and that some unit-count detail will be provided to commissioners and staff before the Council hearing.