OCN Our Community News N
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Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area ocn.me/social
Our website is OCN.ME. Audio is posted for most of the articles and videos for some events. In the paper, events with videos are marked:
Issue #305 — Volume 26 Number 8 — Saturday, August 1, 2026
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Children lead the Independence Day parade
Local Events Readers should assume that event information published in this issue is subject to change and information should be confirmed a day or two before the event by calling the information number or checking the organization’s website. See page 22 and page 23 or check www.ocn. me/events for event locations and other details of these and many other local events. • Goat Patch Brewing Monument Summer Music Series, Every Sun., 2 pm-5 pm. • Funky Little Theater Co. presents Savannah Sipping Society, Fri.-Sun., Jul. 31-Aug. 9, 7 pm. Matinees at 1 pm, evening performances at 7 pm. See ad on page 10. • Tri-Lakes Smokin Showdown & Palmer Paddle, Sat., Aug. 1, 8:30 am-3 pm. • Monument Fire District Chief Retirement and Welcoming, Mon., Aug. 3, 10 am. • Monumental Impact - Orientation, Mon., Aug. 3, 6 pm; Sat., Aug. 15, 10 am; Wed., Aug. 19, 5 pm; Mon., Aug. 24, 7 pm; Wed., Sep. 9, 5 pm. • Combat Robotics Workshop, Wed., Aug. 5, 1 pm-4 pm • Wildfire Ready: A Free Community Preparedness Event, Wed., Aug. 5, 5 pm-7 pm • Strong Towns Tri-Lakes Meet-Up, Wed., Aug. 5, 6 pm-7 pm • King's Deer Annual Community Garage Sale, Fri., Aug. 7, 8 am-1 pm. See ad on page 4. • Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Super Saturday, Farming and Ranching, Sat., Aug. 8, 10 am-2 pm. See ad on page 10. • Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Sat., Aug. 8, 12 pm-2 pm. Kristin Middleton, Rocky Mountain Charlatan • Soldering Workshop, Wed., Aug. 12, 1 pm-3 pm. • Monumental Med-Spa Botox Event, Thu., Aug. 13, 9:30 am-6 pm. See ad on page 7. • Palmer Lake Library Village Green Concerts, Fri., Aug. 14, 21 & 28, 6 pm-7 pm • Monumental Impact: Combat Robotics Orientation, Fri., Aug. 14, 6 pm • Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Sat., Aug. 15, 12 pm-2 pm. Photographer Todd Caudle, Wildflowers, National Wonders of Colorado and Garden of the Gods • Monumental Impact: First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Orientation, Sat., Aug. 15, 4 pm-5 pm • Palmer Lake Arts Council: Stand Up Comedy Night, Sat., Aug. 15, 7 pm. See ad on page 8. • Estate Planning 201, Mon., Aug. 17 & 24, 8:30 am-9:30 am. • Art Hop, Thu., Aug. 20, 5 pm-8 pm. See ad on page 3. • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Aug. 20, 7 pm-8 pm • Monumental Impact: Open Robotics Competition (ORC) Orientation, Sat., Aug. 22, 4 pm-5 pm • Tri-Lakes Women’s Club Community Blood Drive, Mon., Aug. 24, 10 am-2 pm. See ad on page 4. • OCN Publication, Sat., Sep. 5 • Family of Christ Lutheran Church 9-11 Prayer Vigil, Fri., Sep. 11, 4 pm-6 pm • 5th Annual Gleneagle Spirit 5k Run/Walk, Kid’s Run, and Finish Line Festival, Sat., Sep. 12, 8 am-12 pm. See ad on page 4. • Tri-Lakes Chamber's Monument Pours in the Park (formerly Bines and Brews Festival), Sat., Sep. 19, 12 pm-4 pm.
In this issue County News, 1-4 Monument News 1, 4-6 Palmer Lake News 7-8 Fire District News 8-9 D38 News 9-10 Water & San District News 10-13 HOA News 13-14 Columns 14-17 Snapshots 17-21 Notices and Calendar 21-23 OCN Info 1, 22-24
Above: From left, Clara Polacek, Brooklyn Polacek, Aubrey Polacek, Jackson Uribe, and Elliana Uribe were first in line as they waited for the start of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Children’s Parade on July 4th. The children were from Monument, Colorado Springs, and Tampa, Fla. Photo by David Futey. See numerous additional photos of the July 4th festivities starting on page 17.
El Paso County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners, July 2, 24
MA Subdivisions rezone denied By Marlene Brown On July 2, the El Paso County Planning Commission (EPCPC) recommended for approval by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) the rezoning of 17.61 acres of the Searle Ranch from PUD to RR 2.5 located on Cherry Springs Road about 0.37 miles from Cherry Springs Road and State Highway 105. The Final Plat for the same 17.61 acres to create six single-family lots was also recommended for approval. As reported last month, on June 18, the Planning Commission heard a rezoning request for MA Subdivision Tract A of 7.56 acres located on the southeast corner of Walker Road and Highway 83. The request was to rezone RR-5 (Residential Rural) to RM-12 (Residential Multi-Dwelling). There was another request by MA Infrastructure LLC for rezoning of MA Subdivision Tract A for 7.79 acres, from RR-5 to RM-30 (Residential Multi-Dwelling). The com-
The MTC unanimously approved Ordinance 18-2026, which establishes a six-month moratorium on the acceptance or processing of land
By John Heiser On June 19, Buc-ee’s EPCO LLC, the entity pursuing approval of the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center on the combined parcel of about 53.4 acres on the southeast corner of the intersection of Beacon Lite Road and County Line Road, submitted to the El Paso County Planning and Community Development (PCD) Department a request for an administrative determination on whether the proposed use is classified as a “Convenience Store” or other commercial use allowed by the present obsolete C-1 (commercial) zoning on the parcel. In the county’s Land Development Code (LDC), Convenience Store is defined as “An establishment for the purpose of offering for sale to the neighborhood in which it is located such items as groceries, readyto-eat food, over-the-counter drugs, and sundries. A convenience store may include retail sale of gasoline and other petroleum products.” Gas Station is defined as “A property where the retail sale of gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, or other fuel for vehicles and which may include, as an incidental use, the retail sale and installation of vehicle accessories, the making of minor repairs, and facilities for washing and servicing of not more than three vehicles completely enclosed in a structure.” Convenience stores are an allowed use in C-1 zones. Gas stations are not. Buc-ee’s appeal notes that the definition does not place any limits on the size of convenience stores and claims that the project is not a gas station because it does not offer any of the other vehicle services. The proposed project consists of an approximately 74,000 square foot building, 120 fueling positions, approximately 20 electric vehicle charging stations, approximately 790 parking spaces, and bicycle parking. No on-site seating is proposed. On July 1, PCD Executive Director Meggan Herington responded in
TOWN COUNCIL (cont. on 4)
BUC-EE'S (cont. on 3)
mission recommended to the BOCC for denial 6-1, resulting in a recommendation for denial. Several reasons were cited for the denial: surrounding zoning districts, lack of commercial businesses, lack of compatibility with the existing character of the area, and lack of walkability to commercial and parkland uses. Several speakers expressed concern that approval would set a precedent for additional high-density development along Highway 83. Concerns included increased traffic, roadway capacity, pedestrian safety, emergency response, and proximity of Monument Academy. On the BOCC consent agenda July 23 was the rezoning of the Searle Ranch PUD to RR2.5 and the Final Plat requested by Searle Development Inc. for 17.61 acres, creating six single-family lots. The motion was approved 9-0.
COUNTY (Cont. on 3)
Monument Town Council, July 20
Lake parking permits, data center moratorium approved By Marlene Brown At the July 20 meeting of the Monument Town Council (MTC), it approved requiring parking permits at Monument Lake and adopted a moratorium on consideration of applications for data centers. Dimitri Chernyak of DMC Auditing and Consulting presented a clean, unmodified audit opinion for the 2025 fiscal year. He noted one material weakness finding related to an audit adjustment, which was triggered by the extra scrutiny of a federal “single audit” required because the town spent over $1 million in federal grant funds.
Monument Lake parking permit program
The MTC approved Ordinance 132026 and Resolution 33-2026 to re-
Buc-ee’s appeals “non-approval”
quire parking permits at Monument Lake. The program includes a $50 annual permit option for residents and a $5.25 daily fee for non-residents, with kiosks expected to be installed and operational in early 2027. The local residential permits will be issued at the Water Department at 259 Beacon Lite Rd. There are concerns from the nearby neighborhoods regarding people parking vehicles on their streets and then walking to the lake. Monument Police Department officers will check permits and ensure that people are following the rules.
Data center moratorium