Peterson outgrowing its 1,200 acres

Peterson Air Force Base would expand from 1,200 acres to more than 2,000 acres under a plan unveiled Tuesday by base commanders.

They’re eyeing property on the eastern edge of the base and envision moving the fence up to a halfmile into the prairie, which would include more than 500 acres that’s part of the planned Banning Lewis Ranch development.

The Air Force has given Peterson officials permission to sniff out land deals, but approval from the Pentagon and Congress would be needed before any property changes hands.

Col. Jay Santee, commander of Peterson’s 21st Space Wing, said the base is having to shunt growth to leased space off base or to other area installations.

“We’ve run out of room for new missions,” he said.

Peterson covers 1,200 acres adjacent to Colorado Springs Airport. Most of the property is leased from the city.

Peterson has 6,000 troops and a similar number of civilian workers crammed onto the base, which is home to Air Force Space Command, U.S. Northern Command and Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Space has gotten so tight that leaders plan to plow under the golf course driving range and an area used for skeet shooting to expand base housing.

Peterson is growing — Santee said U.S. Northern Command has frequently added small groups of troops, and Air Force Space Command plans to add a small space unit this month.

This summer, Peterson will open its new commissary and base exchange. But more growth, Santee said, means more land is needed.

One chunk of the land Santee wants should be easy to obtain — a 268-acre city-owned parcel at the end of one of the runways.

Because it’s so close to the runway, the land can’t be used for building, but Santee says it would work fine as a parking lot.

He said he wants the Air Force to reach a lease agreement with Colorado Springs for the property and plans to funnel thousands of workers into the lot and get them to their offices in shuttle buses. Santee said existing parking areas then could be used for new office buildings.

The parking lot would also allow the base to move its northern gate, moving traffic farther from sensitive headquarters buildings and improving security.

The Banning Lewis land coveted by the Air Force lies east of the base’s boundary.

The open land is zoned for industrial development.

The 24,000-acre Banning Lewis development on the city’s eastern edge is expected to house up to 175,000 people when building is completed in 30 to 50 years.

The Air Force also wants to buy a couple of small, privately owned lots in the area.