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Week of February 2, 2023
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 127 | ISSUE 51
Mayor touts School Choice Week Snively praises local district for offering wide range of programming BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Map of current and future homesites in the Independence subdivision.
the north as well as add the existing east-west right-of-way on the northern property line. 5. The applicant will be required to repave County Road 158 between County Road 1 (Delbert Road) and County Road 13. 6. In addition to existing obligations regarding County Road 1 (Delbert Road), the applicant will be required to construct County Road 1 (Delbert Road) between County Road 5 (Hancock Parkway) and County Road 158. At both the Dec. 6 and Jan. 24 Planning Commission meetings, several Elbert County and eastern Douglas County residents were in attendance to voice their concerns. The most frequently discussed issues at the Jan. 24 meeting were
Last week was the official Town of Elizabeth School Choice Week, a time when town officials, the Elizabeth School District and residents of Elizabeth recognize the accomplishments of the school district and the benefits of Colorado school choice. This coincides with the nationwide and statewide School Choice Week. According to the National School Choice Week website, school choice is the process of allowing every family to choose the K-12 educational options that best fit their children. Though school choice is controversial, with some arguing that emphasis should be placed on improving all public schools, the State of Colorado has embraced school choice for two decades. Recently Elizabeth Mayor Nick Snively signed a proclamation commemorating the Town of Elizabeth School Choice Week, arguing for the benefits of choosing the Elizabeth School District for children and families. Snively spoke with the Elbert County News on Jan. 24 and expressed the importance of having options for students, especially after the height of COVID-19. “Over the last several years throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and especially during lockdown, we’ve seen how all children learn
SEE GROWTH, P4
SEE SCHOOLS, P6
IMAGE COURTESY OF THE ELBERT COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Growth gets go-ahead from panel Independence plan will be weighed in March by commissioners BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Elbert County Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Jan. 24 to recommend approval of an amendment to the Independence subdivision planned unit development. The amendment would increase the total number of lots in the development as a whole from 920 to 1,400, and a 16 acre area of commercial uses would be permitted. The vote means the panel is recommending approval of the amendment by the Board of County
Commissioners at the commissioners’ March 8 meeting. At the Planning Commission meeting from Dec. 6, six conditions were laid out for the Independence developers — Craft Companies LLC — to receive commission recommendation for approval: 1. The public hearing sign shall be removed within seven days of a decision by the Board of County Commissioners. 2. The PUD shall not become effective until all fees are paid, conditions of approval are met, and the PUD zoning exhibit is recorded. 3. Recordation of all appropriate documentation to occur within 180 days of the Board of County Commissioners’ approval. 4. The applicant shall amend the PUD exhibit to include the planned access to the adjacent property to
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HISTORIC TREATY
Momentous document coming to Denver P10