Controversial water tank project on west side of Colorado Springs will move forward
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Despite protests from residents in the area, a water tank project in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood on the city's northwest side will proceed.
RELATED: City orders work to stop on controversial water tank in Colorado Springs neighborhood
After a lengthy presentation from both sides of the issue Tuesday night, the Colorado Springs City Council voted 5-2 to approve the appeal filed by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) for the Wilson water tank.
The debate on the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) project has been ongoing since June of this year when local residents first became aware that the new water tank was being built 15 feet higher than the building permit allowed. Neighbors immediately cried foul and asked why CSU didn't have to play by the same rules as other land developers.
In October, the planning commission denied the height adjustment, but in the end, the City Council granted the appeal to CSU and allowed the height modification. The council did issue a stern warning to the planners at CSU, saying that while it doesn't appear as though there were any intentional efforts to mislead the public, major mistakes were made in the way the entire affair was handled.
Two Council members did not vote on the matter: Dave Donelson, who recused himself, and Mike O'Malley, who had an excused absence.
