First Permit to Rebuild has been Issued
It has been one month since the Waldo Canyon Fire consumed hundreds of homes in Mountain Shadows. The restoration progress that has been made during this time is extraordinary. In light of this one month mark, we are very pleased to let your community know that the first permit to rebuild a home taken by the Waldo Canyon Fire in Mountain Shadows has been issued! The home, 2770 Yankton Place, is owned by Joseph F. Boyd and Trish Nelson-Boyd.
Mr. Boyd credited his insurer, State Farm, in quickly reaching a fair settlement, as well as the City of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) for what he termed "very positive forward movement" in approving the permit to rebuild. He also expressed appreciation to Classic Homes of Colorado Springs for assisting with the rebuilding process.
The announcement of the first building permit for the Boyd's home is a strong endorsement of the way in which public agencies including the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, various departments within the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities are working to speed property owners through the requisite processes to rebuild.
"For the first permit to rebuild to be issued just 14 days after the fire was declared contained, that's outstanding news for all of us who lost our homes in the fire," said Francine Hansen, president of the Mountain Shadows Community Association and a member of the Colorado Springs Together leadership team. The home owned by Francine and her husband Dick was also lost.
Bob Croft, special projects coordinator for the PPRBD, said that in "expediting the plan review, permit and inspection processes, the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department is fully committed to the successful and timely restoration of the Mountain Shadows Community to ensure that our neighbors may return to some degree of normality in their everyday lives."
After such a traumatic event, a speedy process is the strongest tool we have at our disposal to help people and give them confidence and hope for the future of the neighborhood. Everybody wins if, as a city, we move quickly to help restore the neighborhood and help maintain the great community spirit present in Mountain Shadows.
In addition to streamlining the process of issuing permits, our "bulk" debris removal option and the easing of rules by FEMA (enabling property owners adjacent to the Waldo Canyon Fire to have virtually instant federal flood insurance protection from potential damage caused by a flash flood in the burn area) are also designed to expedite the restoration process in Mountain Shadows.
We are also investigating a similar "bulk" option for the removal of landscaping and trees destroyed by the fire. Proper care must be exercised because it's more than simply pulling out the damaged plants and trees. The remaining root system can be a defense against soil erosion. The damaged vegetation covers private and public land including parks, trails and open space.
These milestones in the recovery process are important and exciting, and we will continue to update you with restoration updates.
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Colorado Springs Together is an independent 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Colorado Springs Together is a community-driven volunteer effort, and is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The team members are distinguished citizens and business professionals in the community facilitating and coordinating a quick and effective rebuilding process for the neighborhoods devastated on June 26th by the fire. The donations received will go towards the activities required to help restore the lives and the neighborhoods affected by the fire at the same time maintaining a strong sense of community during the rebuilding process.
Please visit:
www.ColoradoSpringsTogether.org
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