Project Review Comments

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File Number
SP262
Project Name
The Markets at Bent Grass - Preliminary Plan
Description
Development of a regional retail center across the 43 developable acres. This center is conceptually comprised of twelve (12) total lots, including two (2) anchor lots.
Parcels
5301000016 5301000016 5301000017 5301000017 5301002007 5301002007
Applicant
Evergreen Dev. Co, Inc.
Sean Murphy ( smurphy@evgre.com )
(720) 471-3152 Sean Murphy ( smurphy@evgre.com )
(720) 471-3152
EA Number
EA2573
File Number
SP262
Project Manager
Lisa Elgin
Status
Active
Created
7/1/2025 4:03:51 PM

View: Project Documents | Submit/View Public Comment


Review Comments (4)
Link Agency Review # Comment
View EPC Environmental Services
3/13/2026 3:09:12 PM 		1 3/13/2026 3:09:12 PM
El Paso County Conservation Dist
3/11/2026 6:05:40 PM 		1 The El Paso County Conservation District has reviewed this plan and has comments regarding the following issues.

1) Floodplain / Watershed Issues

This plan shows a creek on the eastern side of the property that is an active drainage within the Black Squirrel Creek Watershed. This watershed has experienced severe flooding in recent years, causing damage to private property and county roads. Because of this, it is in the best interest of the community and the county that this creek channel not be altered or narrowed.

A) The plan appears to narrow the creek channel and the 100-year floodplain in order to expand the building footprint. EPCCD strongly opposes this and recommends that the floodplain remain in its current, wider configuration.

This is particularly important given the high likelihood of additional upstream development with significant impervious surfaces. Increased hard surfaces will increase stormwater runoff and flow rates during heavy rain events, which Falcon experiences regularly.

Narrowing the channel as proposed would increase stormwater velocity and could negatively impact downstream communities within the watershed. Maintaining the existing floodplain width allows water to spread out and slow during heavy rainfall events, reducing peak flows, erosion damage, and the risk of costly damage to private property and county infrastructure.

Our recommendation is that the development plan be revised so the existing floodplain remains unaltered and is not narrowed in any way.

B) EPCCD also notes the proposed 1.36-acre stormwater runoff pond located on the southern portion of the development adjacent to Woodmen Rd. Given the 40+ acres of planned impervious surfaces—including buildings, parking lots, and roads—and the limited landscaped areas available for infiltration, we are concerned that this pond may be undersized for the stormwater volume it could receive during heavy rain events. Additionally, the pond appears to replace the northern drainage ditch along Woodmen Rd., meaning it will also receive runoff from that source.

Woodmen Rd. is a major east-west arterial in the region, so it is critical that the pond be sized to safely capture and gradually release runoff from at least a 100-year rain event, minimizing any risk to the roadway.

Our recommendation is that the pond be increased in size to address these concerns.

C) We also recommend that these issues be shared with EPC Stormwater for technical review. EPC Roads and Bridge should also be notified due to the pond’s proximity to Woodmen Rd. to ensure no conflicts exist.



2) Walkway / Trail Modification

We note the proposed community trail along the eastern side of the development, running adjacent to the creek. EPCCD supports this feature, as it aligns with the El Paso County Master Plan goals for community accessibility and recreation.

We recommend the following modifications to better align with the Master Plan:

A) Expand the trail easement by an additional 10 feet to allow for the planting of native trees along the trail. This would improve aesthetics, enhance wildlife habitat within the creek and riparian corridor, and help reduce the strong winds commonly experienced in this area.

B) Adjust the trail easement to follow the existing 100-year floodplain rather than the proposed floodplain, consistent with our concern in Section 1A.



3) Erosion Control During Initial Construction

We were unable to determine whether the plan includes specific measures for site preparation and construction. If construction is planned, we recommend the following erosion control measures to protect the watershed on site:

A) Disturbed areas should be mulched and revegetated within 45 days using plant or grass species native or naturalized to El Paso County.

B) Topsoil from disturbed areas should be stripped to a depth of approximately 6 inches and stockpiled separately. Stockpile side slopes should not exceed a 3:1 ratio to prevent erosion. This topsoil should later be redistributed evenly over graded areas prior to seeding to improve germination success.

C) After seeding, disturbed areas should be mulched using weed-free hay or straw at approximately 5,000 pounds per acre.

D) At all stages of dirt work, additional erosion protection for the creek is needed, such as a silt fence, to help prevent dirt from the site entering the waterway

E) Consider using the El Paso County Conservation District’s Native Shotgun Mix (available at EPCCD.org), which is well suited to the soils on this site and consists of 100% native and naturalized grass species.



With these modifications, the El Paso County Conservation District would be supportive of the project and the applicant’s commitment to protecting soil health, watershed function, wildlife habitat, and community safety.

For questions, please contact EPCCD at 719-600-4706 or districtmanager@epccd.org 		3/11/2026 6:05:40 PM
View Mountain View Electric Association, Inc.
3/11/2026 3:25:05 PM 		1 See attached comment letter 3/11/2026 3:25:05 PM
RBD Floodplain
3/10/2026 1:13:38 PM 		1 I do not find a plat of the revised configuration.
FEMA approved base flood elevation data and 100-year floodplain boundaries shall be provided and shown on plats
for subdivision proposals and other proposed developments that contain at least fifty lots or five (5) acres, whichever is less;
All buildable lots less than two and one half (2½) acres in size are required to be located entirely outside of the 100-year floodplain. Lands within the 100-year floodplain shall be established in a tract, and require that the owner maintain the tract. Buildable lots two and one half (2½) acres and larger, are required to have the 100-year floodplain contained in a drainage easement dedicated by plat in the name of the governing body with the restrictions of “No Build” and “No Storage of any Materials” 		3/10/2026 1:13:38 PM