Proposed expansion of Banning Lewis Ranch could build up to 1,700 homes in NE Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Not long after a proposed annexation to extend the Banning Lewis Ranch subdivision north was approved, another plan to expand that northeast side subdivision moved forward.

At last week's meeting of the Colorado Springs Planning Commission, members voted 6-1 to approve rezoning a 300-acre parcel -- listed as BLR Village A -- to allow between 800 and 1,700 single-family homes.

The proposed rezoning would change the nature of the property from high-density housing, which would include apartments, to medium-density housing that primarily builds houses.

That lessening of density for the project is why Commissioner James McMurray opposes it. He explained his opposition at the end of Thursday's meeting, after few commissioners discussed the matter and no one spoke for or against it in a public hearing before the vote.

"I feel that it's not in harmony with Plan COS (the city's long-range plan)," he said. "I don't believe that more single-family housing subdivisions promote housing diversity. I believe it promotes the status quo. It doesn't maximize our infrastructure investments or minimize our future maintenance. I know that the short-term fiscal impact shows a net benefit to the city but beyond that time frame, we have ample evidence that it's a net negative."

However, the project's planner and designer said that it is building what the current market demands -- homes in a less-dense community.

Village A would provide two parks and a school, and require extending Dublin and Stetson Hills boulevards to the east. The parcel covers the area east of the current BLR development between those two boulevards.

Of BLR's three existing parcels, two are completely developed and one is around 75% developed. After Village A is finished, four more adjacent villages are being planned.

Oakwood Homes is the primary developer for BLR.

Because the Village A proposal requires a zoning change, it next goes to the City Council for final approval.

The project, if approved, also will open the way to start construction of the long-awaited Banning Lewis Ranch Parkway -- a major route through BLR. Village A will be just east of the parkway route.