4-Mile Regional Action Plan

Approved by the Teller County Planning Commission

Rev. 1.3 13 June 1995

Contents

Intent
Vision
Functional Planning Areas
Resource Protection Areas
Sites of Historical or Cultural Significance
Residential Subdivisions
Working Ranches
Other agriculturally zoned tracts
Business Locations
Other Land Uses
Strategies
Planning Objectives

Residential Subdivisions
Businesses
Working Ranches
Other agriculturally zoned tracts
Sites of Historical or Cultural Significance
Other
Resource Protection
Rural Lifestyle Protection Area Overall

Policy Statement References

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Intent

The intent of the 4-Mile Regional Action Plan is to preserve the character and environment of this planning region while recognizing that population growth in the area will occur.

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Vision

Our vision consists of a rural lifestyle community characterized by low density residential property interspersed with large existing family ranches. The area is visually unobstructed by housing, lighting and signs to allow appreciation of the magnificent views, abundant wildlife, natural vegetation and spectacular night sky. The rural atmosphere is enhanced by low to moderate speed limits on area roads. Local telephone and electrical service is provided by underground wiring wherever possible.

Businesses with a history of operation at a specific location will continue to operate, however, there will be no further commercial development in the planning region. Many area residents will pursue business opportunities from their homes as "Home Occupations".

As stewards of the land, residents and property owners of the area wish to maintain the land in a natural state. We share a strong feeling of community and a deeply held belief that its specific rural lifestyle is an important value and objective.

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Functional Planning Areas

The entire planning region will be designated as a "Rural Lifestyle Protection Area" in accordance with the Teller County Growth Management Plan.

Resource Protection, Historical and Cultural and other overlays as noted on the area map will show specific and unique features and land uses. Non-overlaid areas consist primarily of tracts of agriculturally zoned land which are not working ranches and platted land contained in residential subdivisions. The areas so marked are listed below.

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Resource Protection Areas

4-Mile, Dry, Hay and Slater Creeks and associated wetlands
BLM land
Colorado State School Section
County-owned park land
Gold Belt Tour route
Wright's Reservoir

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Sites of Historical or Cultural Significance

4-Mile Cemetery
4-Mile Church (old Pinewood and Kittridge School buildings)
4-Mile Community Hall (designated as a Colorado State Historical Site)
Stage Stop at the intersection of Teller 1 and Teller 11

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Residential Subdivisions

Alpine Vale
Bear Trap Ranch
Chateau West
Deer Mountain Ranch
Dome Rock Ranch
Eaglecrest
Hall's Ranchettes
High Chateau Ranches
Highland Meadows
Lakemoor West
Navajo Mountain Mesa
Panoramas Unlimited
Ranch Resorts, Filings 1,2 and 3
Western Hills
Other platted residential property

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Working Ranches

Adam Ranch
B Lazy M Ranch
Gaffney Ranch
Hatton Ranch
Johnson Ranch
Oak Grove Ranch
Pinewood Springs Ranch
Sanborn Ranch
Slater Creek Ranch
Snare Ranches
Stage Stop Llamas
Stone Ranch
White Ranch

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Other agriculturally zoned tracts

(These tracts may be under agricultural production on a part-time basis.)

B Lazy M Ranches
Diamond J Ranch
Eagle Canyon Ranch
Other A-1 zoned property

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Business Locations

Evergreen Station PUD
Stage Stop

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Other Land Uses

4-Mile Cemetery
4-Mile Church
4-Mile Fire Station
4-Mile Community Hall

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Strategies

In order to realize our vision for the 4-Mile Planning Region the following strategies will be implemented:

Develop a Regional Action Plan with input from community meetings and correspondence with property owners and coordinated by the 4-Mile Regional Planning Committee;
Encourage and foster creation of community groups and organizations such as the 4-Mile Farmers Club, Homemakers Extension Club and subdivision Homeowners’ Associations;
Encourage involvement in county government by participation on Teller County advisory boards and commissions;
Maintain communication with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Teller-Park Soil Conservation District and Soil Conservation Service;
Communicate the community philosophy and vision by sharing local views with new residents and those outside the community;
Encourage the enforcement of existing county regulations and subdivision covenants through communication with the appropriate authorities;
Encourage the development of parks and recreational areas within existing subdivisions and on county-owned park land;
Build community identity by supporting local youth activities including Scouts, 4-H and sports and by encouraging participation in volunteer community organizations such as the 4-Mile Emergency Services and the 4-Mile Fire Protection District; and
Identify and recognize unique historical and natural features of the area.

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Planning Objectives

The planning objectives specific to the planning area as a whole and to each of the overlay areas are as follows. In addition, the specific planning objectives from the Teller County Growth Management Plan which apply to this Plan are listed by number at the end of this document.

Residential Subdivisions:

Encourage the vacation of interior lot lines to effectively increase lot sizes in existing subdivisions.
Encourage the infill of existing subdivisions, rather than the development of new subdivisions, to meet housing needs.
Encourage donation and development of park land and trails within both new and existing subdivisions.
Encourage "Home Occupation" businesses in order to reduce commuter traffic.
Encourage the identification of subdivisions with small, on-premise signs in keeping with the character of the area.
Encourage the burial of power lines.
Encourage the use of natural vegetation and terrain to screen homes and buildings.

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Businesses:

Encourage residential and agricultural land uses on properties adjoining existing businesses.
Encourage the use of small, on-premise business identification signs in keeping with the historical character and architectural style of the business.
Encourage any building alterations or additions to be made in an architectural style compatible with the existing structure.
Discourage the use of off-premise signage and phase out those already existing.
Encourage the historic uses of existing businesses only.
Discourage new Airport, Commercial, Planned Business Center, Planned Unit Development, General Industrial, Campground, Commercial Overlay, Planned Industrial and any other Zones whose primary purpose is non-agricultural commercial activity.

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Working Ranches:

Discourage the breaking up of large tracts of agricultural land.
Discourage uses of agriculturally zoned land which require rezoning.
Encourage "Home Occupation" businesses and agriculturally oriented "Conditional Uses" to supplement ranching income potential.
Encourage the posting of cattle crossing signs at appropriate locations.
Encourage the use of natural vegetation and terrain to screen homes and buildings.

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Other agriculturally zoned tracts:

Discourage the break up of large tracts of agriculturally zoned land.
Discourage uses of agriculturally zoned land which require rezoning.
Encourage "Home Occupation" businesses and agriculturally oriented "Conditional Uses" to supplement ranching income potential.
Discourage "spot zoning" - a change in zoning applied to one parcel of land allowing density and land uses inconsistent with the surrounding properties.
Encourage the use of natural vegetation and terrain to screen homes and buildings.

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Sites of Historical or Cultural Significance:

Encourage the preservation and identification of historical sites and structures.
Encourage the identification and protection of archaeologically significant sites in the area.

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Other:

Encourage the use of the 4-Mile Church, 4-Mile Community Hall and 4-Mile Fire Station buildings for other community functions and activities.
Encourage the lowering of speed limits in the areas of the 4-Mile Church, 4-Mile Community Hall and the 4-Mile Fire Station.
Encourage the use of small, on-premise identification signs in keeping with the character of the area.

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Resource Protection:

Encourage the preservation and protection of reservoirs and creeks.
Encourage the protection of migratory bird habitats, including wetland areas.
Encourage the protection of surface water quality.
Encourage the visual enhancement and protection of scenic corridors, including the Gold Belt Tour route, by use of vegetative screening of buildings and shielded outdoor lighting.
Encourage the development of a regional parks plan for the area.
Encourage the preservation as open space of state and federal lands.
Encourage the purchase or donation of environmentally sensitive land for use as park land or green space.

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Rural Lifestyle Protection Area Overall:

Encourage the preservation of wildlife habitat and migratory corridors.
Encourage the posting of lower speed limits where needed for safety reasons and the enforcement of existing speed limits.
Encourage the conservation of water, soil and energy.
Encourage the use of native and drought resistant plants for landscaping and screening.
Encourage the development of water resources for fire protection.
Encourage the use of only shielded, non-automatic outdoor lighting and discourage light pollution.
Discourage "spot zoning" - a change in zoning applied to one parcel of land allowing density and land uses inconsistent with the surrounding properties.
Encourage the development of county visual standards.
Encourage "Home Occupation" businesses to reduce commuter traffic.
Encourage new construction to be built in unobtrusive locations and using materials which blend in with the existing natural features and colors of the area.
Discourage high-density housing.
Recognize that the 4-Mile area is a low growth area intended primarily for low-density residential and ranching uses.

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Policy Statement References

The following Policy Statements/Implementation Strategies from the Teller County Growth Management Plan also apply specifically to the 4-Mile Planning Area.

1A,1A-2,1A-7,1A-8,1A-21,1A-46
1B-8,1B-10,1B-14
2A,2A-16,2A-18
2B,2B-1,2B-6,2B-20
3A,3A-3,3A-10,3A-31,3A-32,3A-33
3B,3B-8,3B-12,3B-25,3B-38,3B-39,3B-42
4A,4A-1,4A-4,4A-11,4A-12
4B,4B-2,4B-4,4B-6
6,6-1 through 6-33
7,7-1 through 7-6
8A,8A-5,8A-6,8A-14
9A,9A-1,9A-2,9A-3,9A-4,9A-6,9A-7,9A-9,9A-11 through 9A-17,9A-19,9A-22,9A-26,9A-27
9B,9B-1,9B-4,9B-12,9B-13,9B-14,9B-20,9B-25,9B-26,9B-29

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