Pueblo West Land Use
Pueblo West is a planned community and is governed by covenants known as "Declaration of Reservations." Pueblo West Committee of Architecture has the task of enforcing the covenants. The committee is made up of residents who have expressed a desire to serve and have been appointed to assure that the covenants are observed. A copy of the covenants can be obtained from the Committee of Architecture when planning to build in Pueblo West. Covenants for individual tracts are also available. The Declaration of Reservations will give a general idea of land use and restrictions throughout Pueblo West.
The following rules and regulations generally govern Land uses in Pueblo County:
All land areas within the unincorporated area of Pueblo County, which includes Pueblo West, are zoned and subject to the land use regulations and development standards of the Pueblo County Zoning Resolution. The following zones exist in Pueblo West: A-3, min 1 acre lot area, A-1, R-1, single family lots, R-3, Duplex, R-4, Multi family i.e.: four-plex, R-5 and R-6, multi family with some commercial applications. There are also commercial zoning such as B-1, B-4 and I-2 (Industrial).
Each zone district also contains standards to which development on the property must adhere. The standards generally address such issues as required setbacks for building from property lines, restrictions on the height of buildings, separation and location of accessory buildings such as storage buildings, garages and barns, and the location, height and type of fencing. For instance, barbed wire is never approved in Pueblo West. To determine how a specific parcel of land is zoned, what land uses are permitted, and the development standards of that zone district, you should contact the Committee of Architecture and the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development. If there seems to be a conflict between the two standards on any given issue, the more restrictive will apply. A legal description of the property (Tract, Block, and Lot) will be necessary for Staff to assist you.
Pueblo County has also adopted rules governing some specific “areas and activities of state and local interest”. These rules are commonly referred to as House Bill 1041 regulations in reference to the legislation passed in 1974, which authorized counties in Colorado to regulate activities such as:
- Major new highways and interchanges
- Site selection and construction of major new water and sewage systems, and
- Site selection and construction of major facilities of a public utility.
The Zoning Resolution establishes two categories of land use in each zone district; "uses-by-right" and "uses-by-review" (also referred to as "special uses"). A "Use-by Right" is a use, which can be established on the property simply by obtaining a building permit when required. A "Use-by-Review" is a use which must obtain approval by the Architectural Committee and the Pueblo County Planning Commission. There will be a public notice and hearing, before development or use is established on the property.
Zoning in Pueblo West is usually, but not always, designated by tract. It is important to know what the zoning restrictions are for your property as well as properties near you. Remember that if nearby properties are not currently developed, they will probably not remain undeveloped indefinitely. You should find out how they are zoned to see what potential developments occur. For instance, if you do not wish to live near a commercial area, then it is wise not to build or move into an area adjacent to a B-4 or I-2 zone. It is also wise to recognize that the view from your property may change as further development occurs. The vistas now seen from your property may be reduced or eliminated with the development of surrounding properties.
You may be provided with a plat of your property, but unless the land has been recently surveyed and pins placed by a licensed surveyor, you cannot assume that the plat or existing property pins are accurate. Many of the original property pins are still in existence on properties. They are made of rebar and can often be located with the use of a metal detector. If your pins cannot be located, then a survey may be necessary. Fences that separate properties are often misaligned with the property lines, so it is important to know where your property pins are located in order to avoid problems later.
