Karman Line Flagpole Annexation: Growth or Burden for Colorado Springs?

Another Colorado Springs annexation is underway. Colorado Springs City Council considered the Karman Line Annexation during their January 14^th meeting. The matter passed by a vote of 7-2, and will be considered again on January 28^th  for a final vote by the City Council.

The Karman Line Annexation is a flagpole annexation of 1,912 acres southwest of Schriever Air Force Base at Bradley and Curtis Roads. A flagpole annexation allows land that is not contiguous to the city to be added and to also receive all city services- fire and police protection, utilities, road maintenance, and more. It would be 2030 before the development would begin, and the cost for the single-family houses would start at the $530,000 price point.

The Karman Line Annexation plans to add commercial buildings, single-family housing, multi-family residential housing, and civic institutions. The developer is Norris Ranch Joint Venture which also includes the developer La Plata. That developer failed at an attempt to procure a different flagpole annexation with the Amara development in August 2024 when the city council voted against it. 

Impacts to Colorado Springs Ratepayers and Taxpayers

Of course, we’re concerned about strained city resources and the overdevelopment of Colorado Springs. Those things should concern all of us if we’re being honest with ourselves. Three things stood out most to us with this particular annexation, though.

1) Utility Infrastructure

Utility rates have dramatically increased and will continue to climb until 2029. Your rates will be $80 more a month by then. The math says an $80 per month increase is going to have many families financially underwater.  

A record number of residents have applied for LEAP assistance and Project COPE to help pay to heat their homes. CSU said that the rates needed to increase for infrastructure projects. Here are the projects that will take at least an additional $80 a month from you. The Karman Line utility service center isn’t listed as an infrastructure project, so should we expect to see another rate increase in the future? We expect so.

Colorado Springs Utilities will need to build the infrastructure to supply the Karman Line Annexation with utility services. The cost for a new CSU utility service center will be $99 million. The developer has “generously” agreed to pay $6 million toward the new utility service center.   

Additionally, CSU is still pursuing its broadband boondoggle. The responsibility for installing telecommunications fiber infrastructure for a new Karman Line Annexation will also fall on ratepayers and taxpayers. CSU pursues taxpayer-funded federal grants to install fiber throughout the city. No word yet on whether that has been profitable for CSU. We’re betting it hasn’t been, as residents have many choices for internet service, including Starlink.  

2) Water

Water supply is an ongoing issue in Colorado Springs. We are required to conserve water, even when we aren’t in a drought. In the years ahead, obtaining water rights in Colorado is only going to be more difficult. Recent fights over water rights prove there is uncertainty ahead to supply our city with water resources.

During the January 14^th meeting, Councilman Dave Donelson brought up concerns about risking an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with Bent County, CO. Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) purchases water from Bent County, but Bent County isn’t fond of flagpole annexations. They want Colorado Springs to set their boundaries and be a good partner in the deal. Here’s a video of an exchange between Councilman Donelson and a CSU representative regarding the proposed flagpole annexation during the January 14^th meeting.

3) Police Training Academy

The Norris Ranch Joint Ventures group has offered to provide land for a Colorado Springs Police Training Academy. This has to be enticing to Mayor Mobolade and no doubt his administration is throwing its support behind the Karman Line Annexation. He has expressed his determination to deliver on a Police Training Academy. Only 14 months ago, voters refused to support a Police Training Academy ballot initiative.

There was no building plan and no definite cost in the ballot language. Voters shied away from writing a blank check for a building with too many unknowns. We can expect to see another Police Training Academy ballot measure if this annexation passes. Can Colorado Springs really afford a sparkly, new building at this point in time? We don’t think so. The City of Colorado Springs had to dip into reserve funds to fund the 2025 budget. The good times are no longer rolling in Colorado Springs and residents are tapped out.  

Our Take

Public officials and government bureaucrats smell the opportunity to fill their coffers. We expect this will mean a lower quality of life for the rest of us and some of the coffer money will come directly out of your pockets. We’re already stressed as a city and resources are strained, so it’s reasonable to expect this will tax resources further.

Councilwoman Nancy Henjum and Councilman Dave Donelson voted against the annexation. In order to stop the annexation, 3 more council members need to change their votes.

Reach out to city council members and Mayor Mobolade. Share your thoughts about this potential flagpole annexation.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade  yemi.mobolade@coloradosprings.gov

Yolanda Avila  Yolanda.Avila@coloradosprings.gov

Lynette Crow-Iverson   lynette.crow-iverson@coloradosprings.gov

Dave Donelson   Dave.Donelson@coloradosprings.gov

Randy Helms   Randy.Helms@coloradosprings.gov

Nancy Henjum   Nancy.Henjum@coloradosprings.gov

David Leinweber   david.leinweber@coloradosprings.gov

Mike O’Malley   Mike.OMalley@coloradosprings.gov

Brian Risley    brian.risley@coloradosprings.gov

Michelle Talarico   michelle.talarico@coloradosprings.gov