El Paso County asks media partners to contact El Paso County Communications at 719-992-0090 or email EPCPIO@ElPasoCo.com in advance to assist with logistical coordination.
Public Hearing Information
El Paso County is committed to providing a public hearing process that is transparent, respectful, and fair. Public input is part of the Board of County Commissioners’ hearing process, and residents may participate by submitting written comments, attending the hearing, or speaking during the public comment portion of the hearing.
Please note that the August 27 hearing is a quasi-judicial hearing. Because decisions must strictly rely on evidence (written or oral) addressing the criteria, the Board of County Commissioners must base its findings on specific, factual evidence instead of public popularity. The number of people testifying for or against a project will not outweigh evidence that the project meets the legal criteria for approval.
How to Participate
Residents may participate in the public hearing in one of the following ways:
- Attend and Provide Evidence in Person
If you wish to speak during the public hearing, you must sign up by 9:00 a.m. on the date of the hearing. Registered speakers must attend the meeting in person to provide their evidence when called by the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. If you are registered to speak, please monitor the website and display screens so you know when your turn is approaching.
Location: Centennial Hall, 200 S Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 9:00 a.m.
- Submit Written Evidence
Written evidence submitted before the deadline becomes part of the public record and is provided to the Board before or during the hearing. Written evidence is reviewed alongside testimony provided during the meeting.
Submit written evidence to: PLNweb@ElPasoCo.com
Deadline: 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26
Please note: We noticed there was initially an error with the PLNweb@elpasoco.com email address. The issue has been corrected. If you submitted written evidence and received a bounce-back message or error message, please resubmit your written evidence.
Watch the Meeting Live
If you cannot attend in person, you can watch the meeting live on the County’s website or official streaming channel.
The meeting may be viewed remotely on the County’s website at: https://www.elpasoco.com/public-meetings/
The meeting may also be viewed on the County’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoCountyCO
Before You Arrive
Before you arrive, please keep the following in mind:
- Allow extra time for parking and entering the building.
- Review the meeting agenda before arriving.
- If you wish to speak, sign up before the hearing begins.
- Speakers will be called in the order they register, starting with those registered to testify in favor. Sign up to provide evidence.
- If you are eligible for Americans with Disability Accommodation and need assistance to participate in the hearing, please contact us by email or phone at least 48 hours before the meeting at (719) 520-6866 or ADACompliance@elpasoco.com
Exhibits and Agenda Materials
- All agenda materials, including written evidence submitted before the deadline, automatically become part of the record.
- All documents provided at the hearing are automatically accepted as exhibits unless objected to or directed otherwise by the Board.
- The County Clerk labels and keeps all exhibits as part of the public record.
- Anyone providing exhibits may request their return from the County Clerk after 30 days. Exhibits will be scanned for the record before being released.
Hearing Procedure
- Call to Order: The Chair opens the public hearing and outlines the procedures for the meeting.
- Staff Presentation: County staff presents the item. After the presentation, Commissioners may ask staff questions.
- Applicant Presentation: Because the applicant has the burden of proof, the applicant presents their information on how their proposal meets the specific criteria.
- Public Input: Members of the public who signed up prior to the beginning of the meeting can present their evidence (starting with support) to the Board. The Chair will recognize members of the public who have signed up prior to the start of the hearing to speak either in support of or opposition to the item. Citizens in support will speak first, followed by citizens in opposition.
- Applicant Rebuttal: After public input, the applicant has opportunity to rebut any information shared by the public.
- Board Discussion and Decision: After all presentations and testimony have been heard, the Board may discuss the item before making its decision.
What to Know Before You Speak
If you are signed up to speak, please keep the following in mind:
The Chair has discretion to limit speaker time to facilitate an orderly meeting. You may be limited to one minute to speak.
The list of speakers will be posted to this webpage the day of the public hearing.
Each speaker will only speak once.
Speaking time cannot be given to another person.
Please state your name before you begin. Your comments will become part of the public record.
Keep comments focused on the item being considered. The Chair asks speakers to avoid repeating points that have already been made and instead share any new or different information they would like the Board to consider.
The Board must base its decision on the County Land Development Code, the approval criteria for the application, and the evidence presented during the hearing—not on how many people support or oppose a proposal.
Comments should be directed to the Board.
Speaking order will be displayed online as soon as practical after registration closes and after the start of the meeting. A link to the list of speakers will be available at the top of this page.
Hearing Room Expectations
To help the hearing run smoothly and respectfully:
- Silence your cell phone before the hearing begins.
- Do not interrupt anyone who is speaking.
- Applause, shouting, chanting, or other disruptions are not permitted.
- Treat all speakers, staff, attendees, and Commissioners with respect.
The Chair will enforce these rules to maintain an orderly hearing.
Hearing Room Access & Safety
To comply with fire code requirements and help maintain a safe environment:
- Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the meeting is also livestreamed.
- If the hearing room reaches capacity, staff may escort speakers into and out of the hearing room so everyone has an opportunity to participate safely and efficiently.
- If you are registered to speak, please monitor the website and display screens so you know when your turn is approaching.
- If you are called and you are not present, you may lose your opportunity to speak.
- Follow directions from County staff and County Security throughout the hearing.
- If you observe safety concerns or need assistance, please notify County Security or County staff members immediately.
- Food and beverages are not permitted in the hearing room.
- You must maintain a seat. No congregating in the back of the hearing room or the lobby. No loitering.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Board listens to and reviews all public evidence. Commissioners must base their decision, however, on the County Land Development Code, the approval criteria, and the evidence presented during the hearing. Thus, they may only consider evidence relevant to the applicable criteria and have discretion as to the weight to give such evidence. Decisions cannot be based only on how many people support or oppose a proposal.
The Board reviews all public comments. However, because its decision must be based on the evidence in the record and the applicable approval criteria established by the County Land Development Code—not on the number of people who support or oppose a proposal—comments are most helpful when they provide relevant facts, additional information, or perspectives that have not already been presented.
Yes. Everyone who signs up before the hearing begins will have an opportunity to speak.
No. Due to the number of speakers anticipated, time cannot be transferred to another person.
No. Public input is an opportunity to provide information for the Board’s consideration. Commissioners will not respond to questions or engage in dialogue with speakers during the hearing.
Seating is available on a first‑come, first‑served basis. The hearing will also be livestreamed on the County’s website.
No. However, please continue monitoring the livestream, display screens, or text notifications so you know when your turn is approaching. You may forfeit your opportunity to speak if you are not present when called. There will be a website displaying the list of speakers so you can see where you are in the order, including any changes due to speakers withdrawing.
To ensure everyone can see and participate safely, signs, banners, or other items that obstruct views or disrupt the proceedings are not permitted inside the hearing room.
