Resource Areas

The Fort Carson Regional Growth Plan is looking at how specific sectors will be affected by growth on the post. As the number of troops expands, it creates opportunities and challenges unique to each sector being analyzed.

The following sectors are being analyzed in the Growth Plan:

• Childcare and Development  – Assesses Fort Carson-related childcare demand and service requirements to meet child development needs, as well as the economic impacts of childcare on the region.
• Compatibility, Planning and Zoning – Analyzes existing policy documents and land use plans to assist Fort Carson in identifying compatible uses of land, air, water and other resources to fulfill the installation’s training mission.
• Economic Impact and Development – Evaluates impacts of troop growth to the regional economy and opportunities for coordinated economic development and workforce planning.
• Education – Uses growth data to forecast the demand for education services among three groups: general pre-K through12 school-age children, special-needs children and adults seeking further education or job skills training.
• Health Care, Behavioral Health and Social Services –– Analyzes the preparedness of the region’s health care and behavioral health industry and makes recommendations for improvements to address the unique needs of Fort Carson soldiers and their families. In conjunction, the plan assesses the social services used by soldiers and family members and the capacity to meet increased demands.
• Housing – Examines on- and off-post housing inventory to project future housing demand associated with troop expansion. Phase Two will also develop a housing affordability calculator and will evaluate opportunities for multi- and single-family redevelopment and mixed-use development.
• Public Safety and Emergency Services – Evaluates the capacity and preparedness of law enforcement, fire departments and emergency services, particularly in Colorado Springs, El Paso County and Fountain, to meet existing and future needs.
• Public Utilities and Infrastructure – Analyzes how the projected increase in utility demand and consumption is being planned for and met both on-post and off-post.
• Sustainability/Quality of Life – Develops a Sustainability Action Plan for Economic Development that establishes a vision and road map for how governments and the private and non-profit sectors can benefit from growth in Fort Carson’s sustainability efforts. Phase One also evaluated how troop growth would affect the quality of life for incoming soldiers, their families and the surrounding communities.
• Transportation – Builds upon previously completed land use and transportation planning efforts to assess roadway and transit needs associated with projected increases in travel demand.