SAVE SPRINGS RANCH'S OPEN SPACE

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

UNKEPT CITY OBLIGATIONS
• IN 1994, PER CITY CODE, THE “THEN-NEW” SPRINGS RANCH NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT WAS ENTITLED TO ~80 TO 111 ACRES OF PARKS OR OPEN SPACE. HOWEVER, SPRINGS RANCH NEVER RECEIVED THE FULL AMOUNT OF REQUIRED PARK LAND.
• THESE PARKS WERE NOT PROVIDED BECAUSE THE SPRINGS RANCH GOLF COURSE WAS NEGOTIATED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR 66.5 ACRES OF THE PARK LAND, AS LONG AS IT REMAINED OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (City Resolution 160-99, October 12, 1999).
• THE GOLF COURSE NOW CLAIMS TO BE IN FINANCIAL JEOPARDY DESPITE THE CITY’S PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT IT.
• DUE TO A 2015 PARTIAL REZONING NEGOTIATED TO SAVE THE GOLF COURSE, ~840 UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT ALONG TUTT BLVD.
• OVER 200 MORE UNITS IN SEVERAL THREE-STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ALONG TUTT.
• ON NOVEMBER 28, 2018, THE CITY APPROVED THE GOLF COURSE OWNER’S REQUEST TO SELL THE GOLF COURSE (ELIMINATING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OPEN SPACE, AS ORIGINALLY AGREED) AND SELL IT TO AN UNNAMED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPER.
THIS PAVES THE WAY FOR A FULL REZONING OF THE ENTIRE GOLF COURSE!
• BUILDING ANOTHER 500-600 HOMES, CONDOS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES, AS PROPOSED BY THE DEVELOPER, WILL WIPEOUT OUR CITY-REQUIRED OPEN SPACE, ELIMINATE THE BUFFER BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE AND AESTHETICS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WILDLIFE AND MARSHLAND IMPACT
“A central feature of what attracts residents and visitors to Colorado Springs is the conservation of open lands and natural areas within and surrounding the city. Open Space lands contribute to Colorado Springs’ economic vitality, water management, recreation, habitat preservation, locally grown food sources, and sense of place.”
—Colorado Springs Park System Master Plan, 2014, p. 149.

• REZONING THE PROPERTY TO “RESIDENTIAL” WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE LOCAL WILDLIFE, GREENWAY AND MARSHLAND.
• THE SAND CREEK GREENWAY/TRAIL OPEN SPACE AND MARSHLAND WITHIN THE GOLF COURSE—WHICH ARE PART OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT’S “RING THE SPRINGS” TRAILS INITIATIVE—WILL BE SUBJECTED TO THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
• POTENTIALLY AFFECTED WILDLIFE: A STATE SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN, THE FERRUGINOUS HAWK, AS WELL AS OWLS, MEADOWLARKS, CANADIAN GEESE, OTHER HAWK SPECIES, PRAIRIE FALCONS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, FOX AND DEER ALL OF WHICH KEEP NATURAL BEAUTY AND HEALTH IN OUR SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT.

IF WE STOP THE REZONING, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY HOW THE LAND IS USED TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY!

THE FOLLOWING SPRINGS RANCH RESIDENTIAL AREAS ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED:
• Springs Ranch Community Association
• The Cascades
• Fairways
• Falcon Ridge
• Falcon Terrace
• Golf Course Heights
• Golf Course North
• High Meadows
• North Range
• The Highlands
• The Village
• Hillsboro Condominium Owners
• Island
• The Knolls
• Stonesthrow
• The Heights
• The Range

Below is a link with additional information about the petition.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1z_jBG35zmSrho_dLVq46BJVYNejRBDyO