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Southern Delivery System on Planning Commission Agenda

Southern Delivery System on Planning Commission Agenda

Colorado Springs Utilities' (CSU) application for a Special Review Use permit in Fremont County for the proposed Southern Delivery System (SDS) comes up for review Tuesday evening by the Fremont County Planning Commission. While CSU officials have said they prefer a pipeline route from Pueblo Reservoir for the SDS project, they decided earlier this year to proceed with an application for the necessary permits in Fremont County as an alternate route.

This Special Review Use permit application in Fremont County specifically deals with the construction of a water intake and pump station along the Arkansas River east of Florence, two additional pump stations, seventeen (17) miles of a sixty-six (66) inch diameter pipeline and an electric substation and transmission facilities. The electric substation and transmission facilities will require a separate permit application by Black Hills Energy.

The proposed river intake and Pump Station #1 would be located on the north side of the Arkansas River, west of Highway 115 near the Fremont Sanitation District treatment plant. Pump Station #2 is proposed to be located in the Beaver Park area of Penrose, north of 3rd Street approximately one-third mile east of the extension of 'A' Street to the north. Pump Station #3 is proposed to be located approximately one-quarter mile west of Highway 115 and approximately two miles north on Highway 115 from the intersection with County Road #F45.

The proposed stand-alone electric substation will be located about a half mile south of the intersection of Highways 115 and 120 east of Florence. The properties to be purchased or leased for the project will consist of approximately four-hundred and thirty-one (431) acres.

Colorado Springs Utilities SDS Project Manager John Fredell will make the presentation to the Planning Commission. Earlier this year CSU and the Fremont County Commissioners entered into an intergovernmental agreement in which CSU agreed to pay $50,000 as a deposit to cover the costs of the technical review of the SDS Special Review Permit applications.

A recommendation from the Planning Commission will go to the Fremont County Board of Commissioners which is expected to set a public hearing date for the proposed SDS project on January 13th. The Planning Commission will not conduct a formal public hearing as part of Tuesday night's presentation but the chairman may allow limited public comment and questions.

The Fremont County Planning Commission meets at 7 o'clock Tuesday evening in the Commissioners Board room in LL-3 on the lower level of the County Administration Building at 615 Macon Avenue in Canon City.