Karman Line Development Annexation Opposition Petition

This petition is to change the decision made on January 28, 2025 by the Colorado Springs City Council for the Karman Line Annexation.  The city council voted 7- 2 in favor of the annexation. However, we feel their vote did not accurately reflect the will of the Colorado Springs Citizens.  For this reason and the key concerns below we have established a legal petition to garner 18,696 signatures to take this to a ballot for Colorado Springs citizens to decide. 

Strategic growth requires a master plan that addresses roads, utilities, and public safety services. Flagpole annexations like Karman Line create the worst kind of urban sprawl, stretch municipal services, and prioritize short-term developer profits over long-term city planning.

Key Concerns:

·         Not SMART Growth: Per Smart Growth America, "Developing within existing communities—rather than building on previously undeveloped land—makes the most of the investments the Springs has already made in roads, bridges, water pipes, and other infrastructure, while strengthening local tax bases and protecting open space.” The Karman Line annexation will create an urban enclave on ranchland 3.6 miles away from the city.

·         Flagpole Annexation and Disconnected Development: The Karman Line subdivision, 3.6 miles outside current city limits and far from established housing areas, would require a flagpole annexation method similar to the Amara development proposal rejected in August 2024. Like Amara, this disconnected development undermines orderly growth, increases the risk of urban sprawl, and benefits developers at the expense of the city’s infrastructure and resources.

·         Where will Colorado Springs get the WATER?:  Colorado Springs Utilities already faces a 34,000 acre-feet water deficit to meet future city committed projects, and Karman Line would add another 1,672 acre-feet, further straining limited resources.  It is getting more difficult to gain access to water. This development further exacerbates this issue.

·         Unknown Increase in Utility Costs: Extending water, sewer, electricity, and gas services to Karman Line could cost Colorado Springs Utilities $89.9 - $134.9 million, with no clear plan for mitigation of these costs, or how this will impact existing customers.  However, CSU has not completed the projected utility payments for this effort because it is not planned to start for 5 years.  How can a council know the impacts if they haven’t determined what the end user’s costs will be?

·         We don’t need more housing:  There are already 33 planned developments inside city boundaries that will give this city an additional 25,671 housing units.  Additionally, there are 45 planned developments throughout El Paso County that will provide 44,492 housing units surrounding the various municipalities of El Paso County. Therefore, let’s focus on meeting the infrastructure and water needs of these developments before we start looking into placing an urban enclave 3.6 miles from the city.

·         Questionable Shriever SFB Housing Need: The developer claims the project addresses housing needs for Schriever Space Force Base personnel. However, Schriever reportedly has vacant on-base housing, and can build additional housing as their missions grow.  There is no evidence of unmet housing demand today or in the foreseeable future.

·         Underutilized Existing Resources: Colorado Springs already has numerous vacant homes and undeveloped homesites within city limits. Prioritizing these resources, which are already integrated into existing infrastructure, is a more sustainable approach than approving disconnected developments like Karman Line.

·         Emergency Response Concerns: The subdivision’s distance from police, fire, and medical services raises serious concerns about delayed emergency response times. Colorado Springs Police Department, in January 2025, said its current average response time for a priority one call is around 17 minutes. The average response time for a priority two call is 42 minutes.  This annexation would exacerbate these challenges to citizens of Colorado Springs.

·         Misalignment with City Vision: Approving developments that exacerbate resource shortages, including water and infrastructure, contradicts the City Council’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and prioritizing quality of life for residents. The annexation prioritizes developer interests over responsible planning and sustainable growth strategies.

·         Wildlife Concerns:  The Karman Line property is currently the nesting grounds for the state threatened Burrowing Owl.  Developments across the region are already wiping out thousands of acres of natural habitat for our wildlife.  Is this worth destroying more?

·         Urban Enclave Costs: The proposed 3.6-mile flagpole annexation creates an urban enclave in a rural area, adding operational costs from increased staff travel time, vehicle wear and tear, and extended service routes. This inefficient growth strategy burdens city resources unnecessarily.

·         Failure to Meet Annexation Standards: Colorado law requires annexations to demonstrate a "community of interest" and meet the standard that at least 25% of the property perimeter is contiguous with the city. Diagrams submitted for Karman Line suggest this threshold is not met, with only an estimated 15-20% contiguity. The Municipal Annexation Act of 1965 aims to ensure centralized and efficient services, which this proposal fails to achieve.