Sample Email — EPCO BoCC
EPCO BoCC:
SAMPLE LETTER (designed for HOA boards to send out, but can be tweaked for individuals):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qkWHT9hBOb-82gzR9E7g7diznYOwd9-igrYvrphmbuM/edit?usp=drivesdk
[Date]
El Paso Board of County Commissioners
Chair Carrie Geitner
Vice Chair Holly Williams
Commissioners Bill Wysong, Cory Applegate, Lauren Nelson
200 South Cascade Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Holly Williams <HollyWilliams@elpasoco.com>,
Bill Wysong <BillWysong@elpasoco.com>,
Carrie Geitner <CarrieGeitner@elpasoco.com>,
Lauren Nelson <LaurenNelson@elpasoco.com>,
Cory Applegate <CoryApplegate@elpasoco.com>
Meggan Herington megganherington@elpasoco.com (Executive Director of Planning & Community Development)
Cc: trilakespreservation@gmail.com, integritymatterscos@gmail.com, jim.carlton@wsj.com, oliviaprentzel@coloradosun.com, breeanna.jent@gazette.com, savanahh.eller@gazette.com, tony.keith@koaa.com, mary.shinn@gazette.com, asack@kxrm.com, achalfin@krcc.org, maggie.bryan@koaa.com, emily.coffey@krdo.com, jalvarado@denverpost.com, jesse@coloradosun.com, RossKaminsky@iheartradio.com, news@krdo.com, news@kktv.com, news@koaa.com, news@fox21news.com, newsroom@denverpost.com, newsroom@coloradosun.com, news@krcc.org, news@7news.com, news@koaa.com, kktv-news@graymedia.com, talkshow@aol.com, news@cpr.org, tips@ap.org, tips@cnn.com, tips@kdvr.com, tips@thefp.com, peter.scamarado@mysa.com, spencer.soicher@9news.com, rick.rojas@nytimes.com, editorial@nytimes.com
To the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners,
The [HOA name] is comprised of [#] homes in the area directly across from the proposed Buc-ee’s development which is currently being considered for annexation by the Town of Palmer Lake (ToPL), but could be reconsidered through El Paso County (EPCO) when rejected by the ToPL. Earlier this month, [HOA name] Board unanimously agreed to officially oppose this proposed development based on the urging of its residents. In its opposition, [HOA name] will be joining the objecting voices of Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, as well as thousands of others across the immediate area.
[HOA name] is aware that the residents of ToPL have voiced substantial concerns, and that the Board of Trustees and Palmer Lake residents will not vote on the annexation until potentially early next year. [HOA name] is also aware that the developer initially submitted, then withdrew, an application with EPCO, was refused consideration through the Town of Monument, and had its request rejected for an extension of service through Woodmoor Water Sanitation District (WWSD) all in 2024.
[HOA name] has been monitoring the proposal of this mega gas station which would include 120 gas pumps, an expected 11,000 – 20,000 cars a day, and require at least 1.1 million gallons of water a month. Of note, based on the data points of multiple other Buc-ee’s around the country, the water and traffic numbers estimated by the company during the project planning phase are often far less than the real-world numbers and, as a result, the local municipality, the tax payer, and area residents ultimately suffer the costly repercussions of these impacts.
Given the scale of this development and the significant, long-term impacts it would have on area residents, [HOA name] strongly urges the EPCO BoCC to deny this proposal if presented with a second application next year due to the following concerns:
Traffic and Water Impacts
Enter talking points here (copy and paste from top)
Environmental Impacts
Enter talking points here (copy and paste from top)
on the adjacent 36,000-acre conservation corridor, and on the world’s largest, $15M wildlife overpass located just 1 mile away
Overestimated Revenue Numbers, History of Data/Number Manipulation
Public Safety Risk, Strain on County Services
Enter talking points here (copy and paste from top)
Property Rights/Values
Enter talking points here (copy and paste from top)
Conflict with Community Input and Local Governance
Enter talking points here (copy and paste from top)
Respectfully, on behalf of all of [HOA name] Board Members,
[signature block]