Amara’s geographical error
My family and I came to the Colorado Springs area in the summer of 1990, shortly after I left the Air Force. We first rented an apartment near Quail Lake on the southwest side of the city and eventually bought a house not far from the apartment.
As our children grew up in the years that followed, so did Colorado Springs. We watched as the commercial and residential growth shifted north and east, with developments like Flying Horse, the extension of Powers Boulevard, Interquest Parkway, and the subsequent growth in retail, entertainment, dining, and medical in that area. We stayed in the southwest part of town and saw little change, aside from the addition of the Broadmoor World Arena and commercial development near I-25 and Lake Avenue.
Fountain subsequently annexed land across from (then) Pikes Peak Community College, and Walmart and Sam’s Club built large new stores, subsequently encouraging the development of some retail stores in the area.
The bottom line is that over the last 30+ years, most of the growth of Colorado Springs and El Paso County has occurred to the north and west of Colorado Springs.
As our children finished school and moved on with their lives (in the military and out of state), we downsized and eventually moved to a new development in Fountain, finding that we were now about 10 miles from our previous home in southwest Colorado Springs, and that home was about 4 miles from “downtown” Colorado Springs.
This brings me to the point. Have the developers and Colorado Springs City Council really considered how far the proposed Amara annexation is from the heart of Colorado Springs and the North Powers, North Academy, Interquest Parkway and even Falcon shopping centers? Granted, the developer will create an access to the new development, but where will that access lead? Marksheffel Road is two lanes in both directions. Ohio Street in Fountain is essentially a residential street, not designed for significant automobile traffic.
Access to I-25 would be very limited, as there would be no four-lane access until you were about 100 yards from exit 128. There are no hospitals within about 15 miles, with the exception of Evans on Fort Carson, which of course is not open to the public.
All of this raises a question for me: Why is the city so eager to annex this piece of land that is geographically separated by several miles from the rest of Colorado Springs? A piece of land that will require millions of dollars to build water, power and access infrastructure to create housing that is miles from existing retail, dining and entertainment options.
It just doesn’t make much sense to me.
Jerry Zoebisch
Spring
Important role of top predators
I was appalled by the inaccuracies in the editorial: “Hunting ban would deceive Colorado voters”
I was born and raised in Colorado and helped gather signatures from 800 other Coloradans on Initiative 91 to reform the prioritization of unsportsmanlike and unethical hunting of apex predators in our state.
I live in the country, raise goats and chickens, and farm for a living. I am also fortunate to live in an area where mountain lions live. I take appropriate measures to protect my animals from predators.
On numerous occasions, dogs with GPS collars have entered my property in search of cougars and bobcats. Two years ago, on Christmas Day, a pack of eight dogs herded a bobcat up a tree on my property and I had to stand there with the dogs and watch as they barked and growled at this beautiful cat until their owners strolled onto my property. I told them they were trespassing and when I reported this incident to CPW, they told me that these trophy hunters and their dogs were legally authorized to conduct this nuisance.
My family relies on elk meat, and we recognize that as conservationists we must protect the important role that apex predators play in the health of deer and elk herds. We are committed to protecting apex predators on our property from the senseless killing of these animals for their heads and beautiful fur. I will continue to do my part to help pass this measure in November.
Deanna Meyer
Sedalia
Grateful for considerate citizens
I am an Army Vietnam Veteran suffering from severe neuropathy (Agent Orange), hence a cane. Often a citizen steps forward to hold a door open, an arm on the stormy peak, a neighbor clearing snow, a thank you for your service, a technician from Monument Lab Corp, neighbors hauling away oak cuttings, a passerby hauling the garbage can into the garage, the Friday breakfast group, many other acts of consideration,
Vera, my dear wife of 61 years, and I am sure that other citizens have received the same attention.
Thank you, thoughtful citizens of El Paso County.
John Schumacher
monument
What does affordable mean?
The term “affordable” is used a lot. I would like to know what developers and planners consider “affordable.” In my opinion, “affordable” should also include families with children who work and are in the $50,000 or less income bracket.
Rent should not be more than 50% of monthly income. Remember to include families in the “or less” category. They have a very small 50% left for rent. So what do you consider “affordable”? And more importantly, for whom?
Billie Nigro
Colorado Springs
