Recent Posts
Parks advocates gain clout on special panel to form ballot measure
- Jan 22, 2019
Parks protection ballot measure has lots of problems says city attorney
- Jan 17, 2019
41 percent of Suthers campaign fundraising comes from Broadmoor zip code
- Jan 14, 2019
Recent Articles
Will voters give firefighters collective bargaining power?
- Jan 23, 2019
Olympic Museum launches community donation program
- Jan 23, 2019
County parks seeking feedback on proposed rule changes
- Jan 23, 2019
Recent Comments
Re: “Major party caucuses to be held March 6”
Ms. Furstenburg has not yet filed as a candidate with the Federal Election Commission; at least, she's not listed as a candidate.
Re: “UPDATE: Cleanup costs for Colorado Springs downtown land: $4.4 million”
To be clear, Richard Skorman wasn't rude and didn't "shout down" this person or anyone. He allowed her the full amount of time allowed anyone else and then told her she was mistaken in some of the comments she made. The video is available on the city's website if you'd like to view it and make your own judgment.
Re: “Local developers make two picks for Colorado Springs City Council”
All candidates are welcome to let us know about campaign events that we can then tell our readers are happening. The Independent plans to endorse candidates as the election draws nearer. The filing deadline is Monday, Jan. 23.
Re: “Leadership title changes for board of county commissioners”
There's already a pay increase that applies to the three incoming commissioners, who take office on Jan. 10. As we previously reported: the three newly elected commissioners will see a hefty pay increase from $87,300 a year to $113,490. The raise was put in place by the Colorado General Assembly in 2015. The other two commissioners who weren't newly elected this year will remain at $87,300, but their successors will get the higher pay when they take office in January 2019.
Re: “Darryl Glenn regains memory of assault charge, sort of”
Curious, Sen. Michael Bennet has had nothing to do with our reporting on this incident. We simply looked up Glenn's record and then dug deeper.
Re: “Police, court documents differ from Glenn on 1983 incident”
To be clear, Ernest Glenn didn't take over running the Alumni Lounge until 2002, according to the city's Liquor and Beer Licensing Board minutes.
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Re: “City to annex 183 AFA acres”
This might answer boomer47's question about ownership. The city says the Academy owns the property and will lease it to the developer. Here's the entire explanation from the city about "True North Commons," the development's label, apparently:
"This project includes applications for annexation of approximately 183 acres with associated zone change, master plan and concept plan establishment. Although the proposed annexation does consist of 183 acres, over 125 of those acres are dedicated per the master plan for open space. The overall developable acres will be just over 57 acres. The United States Air Force is the applicant and property owner for these applications and will ultimately remain the underling property owner. USAFA will enter into a contract with the developer (Blue & Silver) in an Enhanced Use Lease which is separate and independent of any city processes. Under the Enhanced Use Lease, the property will be subject to typical property and sales taxes as if the land was privately owned.
"The United States Air Force Academy petitioned the City for annexation on October 23, 2018. This annexation meets the Colorado State Statute requirements for an annexation being heard before a municipality. Since that time the developer has prepared the land use applications required by the City and these have been reviewed by all applicable City agencies. In addition outside agencies including the United States Fish and Wildlife, the Army Corps of Engineers and Colorado Geologic Survey have reviewed the proposed items. All agency comments have been addressed and the proposed applications are moving forward to public hearing.
"All development that will be proposed in the future once annexed will be required to follow the City standard process for development which will include meeting all standard criteria for Stormwater."
But merely annexing the property doesn't add it to the tax rolls if it's owned by a tax-exempt entity, such as the Academy. I would guess that the 57 developed acres will be subject to taxes, whereas the balance of land designated as open space would not be taxed. Hope this helps.