Growth drives plans for more apartments

Public hearings set as Pine Ridge complex seeks to add 16 units

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Elbert County is growing, and with growth comes an increased demand for adequate housing.

A June 2022 article in e Colorado Sun described Elbert County as Colorado’s only Eastern Plains county to see increased growth. is is likely due to its proximity to the Denver metroplex.

According to the article, “population along Colorado’s Front Range, including Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, grew by about 17% in the last decade. e number of residents on the Eastern Plains, meanwhile, remained basically unchanged. In many plains counties, the population dropped. Elbert County, the westernmost of the plains counties that includes the town of Elizabeth and borders the south Denver suburbs, was the outlier with a 13% increase in residents.” state’s growing population and development in and around the Denver metro area, the threat of running out of water has residents concerned.

“I’m concerned about the water that we have,” said former Elbert County Commissioner Robert Rowland at a local anti-development meeting in November of last year.

“If the water is there, bring on the development. Growth will come.

It’s inevitable, but I want to see science, real concrete data that we have enough water to sustain a development like this. We need a groundwater study. Water should be the number one consideration when it comes to development.”

To help educate residents on the current state of water in Elizabeth and surrounding areas, the Town of Elizabeth will be holding a free seminar called “Water 101.” e Elbert County Department of Economic Development released a Housing Needs Assessment in November 2022, aimed at determining the future need for housing in the area.

“We knew Elbert County had limited housing variety and the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) that we completed last year con rmed it. 94% of Elbert County’s housing inventory is detached single family

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