Colorado Springs, developer discussing possible annexation plan along Woodmen Road
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A plan to annex nearly 900 acres along the east end of Woodmen Road into the city has been recommended by the city's planning commission and now awaits consideration by the City Council.
The plan, known as Banning Lewis Ranch North, would be a development that includes nearly 3,000 homes, businesses, parks and open spaces, a high school and an elementary school.
The planning commission voted to recommend the plan during its meeting last month. NES Planning & Architects, a local planning group, has submitted the plan to city officials and the actual project would be built by Nor'wood Development.
"It's on the eastern edge of the city where much of the growth is occurring," said NES owner Andrea Barlow. "We have been working on this with Nor'wood for probably about two years now, developing the master plan and working on the annexation through the city."
The affected acres are along a two-mile stretch of Woodmen between Mohawk Road and Golden Sage Road, on vacant land just west of Falcon and south of Black Forest.
On Wednesday, Councilman Andy Pico told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that he couldn't discuss the specific plan because it is a quasi-judicial matter that has yet to be considered by the council.
"When it comes to this kind of development, it's going to happen whether we like it or not, whether we annex or not," he said. "This kind of development happens because it's where people want to live. The only question is will it be in the city limits or outside the city limits? The best we can do is annex a property into the city and make sure we provide water and other city services."
Pico said he's aware of the concern that the proposed plan worsens urban sprawl and that the city should do more "infill" -- developing numerous vacant areas within the city.
"We are trying to to that," he said. "But it's harder to do the type of developments (that are) on annexed land, within the city and make it fit into an existing area."
The proposed annexation and project would also require major infrastructure improvements, particularly along Marksheffel Road -- a key north-south corridor along the Colorado Springs-El Paso County line.
According to some estimates, widening Marksheffel for the project would cost between $40 million and $65 million and the city currently has no funding for that.
However, Barlow says the build-out time for the project -- expected to be 15 years -- should allow the city enough time to make necessary road improvements.
"When the developer for Banning Lewis Ranch builds Banning Lewis Parkway, it'll cut through Banning Lewis Ranch North and help improve traffic flow," she said.
No date has been set for the council to consider the proposed annexation and development plan.
