Project Info:
Clear Spring Ranch is a 4,700 acre property located in El Paso County, approximately 17 miles south of Colorado Springs. This land was acquired by Colorado Springs Utilities in 1972 as a development site for electrical power generation, water treatment, and wastewater treatment facilities. Unique attributes of this property include a well field, agricultural land, and natural areas on the eastern portion, with the. western side housing major industrial uses. The two portions are bisected by Interstate 25.
A Master Plan was developed for this area in 1998. Since that time stakeholders, missions, and regulations have changed. A new Master Plan was called for to describe current uses, development constraints, vicinity uses, future planning factors and further development for the site. The property continues to provide valuable services to Colorado Springs Utilities customers, increasing efficiencies in power generation and transmission, wastewater treatment, and other utilities services.
HB&A was tasked with creating this updated Master Plan through an intensive process which involved interviews with more than 20 different internal and external stakeholders, GIS analysis, and facilitation of an internal advisory committee review process. Project objectives identified included:
- The publishing of an updated plan
- Development of dialogue and relationships
- Internal corporate awareness
- Preservation of CSU land use, facilities and service assets
- Demonstration of environmental stewardship
- Compilation of relevant permits and agreements
This project was completed under budget, succeeded in its stated goals of educating internal and external stakeholders about the site, opening up lines of communication, and producing a solid and defendable long-term land use plan.