Colorado Plains Ranch
Colorado Plains Ranch is a scalable, thoughtfully planned project designed to create jobs and support long term economic opportunity in Elbert County.
A group of Colorado based landowners with deep roots and a strong local presence in Elbert County are working together toward a shared long-term vision. The effort brings together agriculture, energy, and modern industry within one coordinated development. The site is carefully organized to respect the surrounding landscape while supporting future growth. At its core, it is about creating a balanced and practical path for economic development that serves both the community and the broader region.
Located on the eastern edge of Elbert County, just off the Highway 86 and I-70 interchange, the project is intended to support long term commercial activity within a single, well located area with strong regional access. By concentrating industrial uses in one location, it reduces the need for similar uses to be dispersed across the county. This approach aligns with the County’s direction to guide industrial development to appropriate areas while supporting job and tax revenue growth.
5,700 acres
Of next-generation, mixed-use development in Colorado’s plains.
4 primary sectors
• Industrial Agriculture
• Industrial and Technology Infrastructure
• Energy
• Transportation
1 approach
Integrating a master planned approach to coordinate services and infrastructure, support responsible use of resources, and balance compatibility with surrounding land uses.
Economic Opportunity Landscape
Colorado Plains Ranch is designed to support a mix of agriculture, logistics, and industrial uses while balancing compatibility with surrounding land uses. The project is intended to support long-term economic activity and create employment opportunities for residents of Elbert County. The size of the property allows development to be carefully organized, maintaining meaningful separation, natural features, and buffering for neighboring properties.
Planned uses include expanding grazing and farming operations, along with the integration of a biochar facility to enhance soil productivity, operated by a local Elbert County resident. This allows a long-term planning horizon and the thoughtful integration of new business opportunities as the land is developed.
Colorado Enterprise Zone Program
The Colorado legislature established the Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program to promote investment and support development in designated areas across the state. The 16 designated zones are defined by factors such as higher unemployment, lower per capita income, or limited population growth.
Each zone is managed locally by its respective enterprise zone administrator. The project is located within one of these designated areas, aligning with the program’s intent to support thoughtful investment and long-term economic activity.
Layered Land Use Strategy
Higher intensity activities such as energy production and transportation oriented industrial uses will be planned toward the center of the property. Medium intensity technology and industrial uses will be located around this center. Lower intensity uses, such as agricultural grazing and farming, will be planned along the outer portions of the property, providing natural buffering for neighboring landowners.
The contiguous parcel includes floodplain areas and other land not suitable for development. These areas will continue to support agriculture or open space while providing additional separation between industrial activity and adjacent properties. This approach also allows future uses to be carefully located across the property to maximize natural buffering, protect neighboring properties, and maintain compatibility with surrounding land uses.