Planning commission recommends approval of Kyle rezone to RM‑30, with conditions

The El Paso County Planning Commission on July 16 unanimously recommended approval of P264, a map amendment to rezone roughly 13.25 acres from RR‑5 (rural residential) to RM‑30 (multifamily), and forwarded the item to the Board of County Commissioners with two conditions and two notations.

Planner Ryan Hauser told commissioners the request would allow up to 30 dwelling units per acre under the RM‑30 district and that the property sits within the regional‑center place type of the county master plan. "The request is for a rezone from R R 5 rural residential to R M 30 for multifamily residential on approximately 13 and a quarter acres," Hauser said.

County engineering staff (Jalal Saleh) said the submitted traffic impact study estimated the development could generate about 2,167 average daily vehicle trips and noted that because the parcel fronts State Highway 24, Colorado Department of Transportation controls access and had restricted the site to a right‑in/right‑out permit. "The development is expected to generate 2,167 average daily vehicle trips," Saleh said.

Engineering manager Daniel Torres said the traffic study found acceptable levels of service at projected build‑out with proposed mitigation such as auxiliary turn lanes, but commissioners raised concerns about reliance on a single access and whether adjacent property ownership could prevent future cross‑access. Torres said CDOT and the traffic analysis allowed the current configuration for now and that final development plans must resolve any additional access needs.

The applicant’s representative, Craig Dossey of Vertex Consulting Services, said the team had requested broader movement at the intersection but CDOT limited access to right‑in/right‑out; he also said CDOT indicated a temporary emergency access could be allowed to address early‑phase constraints if the stub‑out to adjacent parcels does not materialize.

Commissioners discussed the traffic configuration and several emphasized that staff had told the applicant a final plat would not be approved with more than 25 units on a single access, effectively requiring a second access or lower density at final development. Commissioner comments ranged from process reminders about rezoning as a step that enables—but does not guarantee—future development patterns, to requests that staff and applicants ensure future development plans reflect feasible access and emergency response requirements.

Commissioner Bailey moved approval "in accordance with the attached resolution with 2 conditions and 2 notations"; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote with all voting members recorded as "aye." The commission’s recommendation now goes to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.

The commission did not receive public comment on the item during this hearing.

Next steps: the item will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners; any final plat or site development plan must demonstrate compliance with access, traffic mitigation and emergency‑access requirements before building permits are issued.

Vote: Motion to recommend approval moved by Commissioner Bailey, seconded by Commissioner Byers; roll call recorded unanimous approval.