Wednesday, June 1, 2016
It pays to go to court, apparently
Posted By Pam Zubeck on Wed, Jun 1, 2016 at 7:50 PM
Colorado Springs Utilities ratepayers will pick up the tab of a court award handed down recently that ordered the city-owned utility to pay the biggest developer in the region nearly $2 million for land used for its Southern Delivery System pipeline.
The project was largely conceived for the purpose of delivering water to the 18,500-acre Banning Lewis Ranch.
Utilities had maintained the 121 acres needed for SDS on the city's eastern flank were worth $117,500.
But Banning Lewis Holdings LLC, an entity controlled by David Jenkins, chair of Nor'wood Development Group, claimed the land was worth up to $6.4 million.
The matter went to court on May 23.
Three commissioners appointed to hear the case have ruled the land is worth $1.95 million. In addition, the city, i.e., Utilities ratepayers, will pay for Jenkins' attorney fees and court expenses, as required by law. That amount isn't yet available.
The $825 million SDS project went online in late April after more than a decade of planning.
The Banning Lewis Ranch was annexed in 1988 and passed through several ownerships before Jenkins bought it in November 2014.
The project was largely conceived for the purpose of delivering water to the 18,500-acre Banning Lewis Ranch.
Utilities had maintained the 121 acres needed for SDS on the city's eastern flank were worth $117,500.
But Banning Lewis Holdings LLC, an entity controlled by David Jenkins, chair of Nor'wood Development Group, claimed the land was worth up to $6.4 million.
The matter went to court on May 23.
Three commissioners appointed to hear the case have ruled the land is worth $1.95 million. In addition, the city, i.e., Utilities ratepayers, will pay for Jenkins' attorney fees and court expenses, as required by law. That amount isn't yet available.
The $825 million SDS project went online in late April after more than a decade of planning.
The Banning Lewis Ranch was annexed in 1988 and passed through several ownerships before Jenkins bought it in November 2014.
Speaking of...
-
El Paso County eyes sales of property, including downtown tract
Jun 30, 2020 -
Utilities Board votes to retire coal at Drake by 2023
Jun 26, 2020 -
Drought task force activates, Colorado Springs Utilities looks to reservoirs
Jun 24, 2020 -
City strikes deal on southwest downtown property
Jun 10, 2020 -
UPAC recommends retiring Drake early
Jun 10, 2020 -
Colorado utilities to exchange power with California under new agreement
Jun 2, 2020 - More »
Comments (2)
Showing 1-2 of 2
More by Pam Zubeck
Pineries Open Space
Pony Gulch
Trail 755
Longwater Trail
Colorado Springs joins national protests
North Catamount
Latest in IndyBlog
Contact
Colorado Springs Independent
- 235 S. Nevada Ave.
- Colorado Springs, CO 80903
- (719) 577-4545
The Paper
