Imagine 5,000 new homes popping up right next to a Space Force Base! El Paso County just gave the green light to a massive development, sparking a debate between growth and national security. What could this mean for the future of the region?
El Paso County has granted initial approval for a monumental residential and commercial project, poised to introduce up to 5,000 new homes adjacent to the sensitive perimeter of Schriever Space Force Base. This significant decision marks a crucial step in a large-scale **housing development** that is expected to reshape the landscape east of Colorado Springs, bringing both economic expansion and complex challenges to the region.
The proposed **El Paso County** development, spearheaded by Flying Horse Land Company, an entity linked to Classic Homes, encompasses approximately 1,800 acres of unincorporated land located about ten miles east of the bustling city of **Colorado Springs Real Estate** market. This ambitious undertaking envisions a comprehensive mixed-use community designed to cater to a growing population while attempting to mitigate specific concerns raised by military authorities regarding proximity to the base.
Despite clearing this recent regulatory hurdle, the path to approval was not without contention. The county’s Planning Commission initially voted against recommending the plan to the Board of County Commissioners in June, citing various concerns. However, the Board, which holds the final authority, ultimately moved to endorse the project, highlighting the intricate balance between development aspirations and community impact.
Commissioner Holly Williams emerged as a vocal supporter of the development during the decision-making process, emphasizing constitutional property rights as a cornerstone of her vote. She articulated the county’s limitations in acquiring private land for open space at fair market value, suggesting that the development met all other pertinent approval criteria set forth by **Land Use Planning** regulations within the county.
Leaders from **Schriever Space Force Base** have consistently voiced apprehensions regarding potential **military encroachment** posed by such extensive construction along their boundaries. While remaining officially neutral on the Flying Horse East proposal, Colonel Eric Bogue, commander of Space Base Delta 41, acknowledged the legitimate desire for affordable housing and amenities near the base but cautioned against “potential threat vectors” inherent in bordering developments.
In response to these critical security concerns, a comprehensive study is currently underway to establish definitive guidelines for safe and appropriate development in proximity to military installations. However, these crucial recommendations are still months from completion, leaving **Schriever Space Force Base** currently without applicable, detailed guidelines for managing adjacent growth in the interim.
The recently approved Flying Horse East sketch plan incorporates specific restrictions for the border zone to address some of the base’s concerns. These include a maximum building height of 45 feet, limitations on electronic devices, and overall square footage restrictions within the sensitive area. This project represents the largest new housing development to gain approval in the area since Colorado Springs voters rejected the 6,500-home Karman Line development earlier in the year.
Mirroring aspects of the Karman Line proposal, Flying Horse East initially sought annexation into the city of Colorado Springs, though those negotiations ultimately did not materialize. According to official county documents, the developers now plan to secure vital water access through the Cherokee Metropolitan District, underscoring the complex infrastructure planning required for projects of this magnitude.
