Editor’s note: Craig Dossey, who presented Karman Line on behalf of developers, is the president of Vertex Consulting Services and former El Paso County planning director.

The Colorado Springs City Council voted late Tuesday night to accept the annexation request for a large housing development southeast of Colorado Springs city limits. The series of requests for the project passed 7 to 2, with council members Dave Donelson and Nancy Henjum opposing.

The meeting was the latest in hearings on the Karman Line project, which would connect roughly 1,900 acres via a thin line of land to the rest of the city. Developers have said they plan to build a variety of housing and mixed-use development on the land between the Banning Lewis Ranch subdivision and Schriever Space Force Base, amounting to more than 6,500 homes.

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The meeting on Tuesday had a series of items for council members to approve or reject for the annexation. Members of the public spoke for more than three hours, with the majority coming out against the project.

Councilman Mike O’Malley wanted to predicate his vote on the condition that fire and police services be secured as homes are built. The developers agreed to set aside land for the future built out of permanent fire and police stations, though plans for each are still under discussion by the Colorado Springs Police Department and Fire Department. 

He said he was concerned about not having a commitment on services at the being of the project’s built out, which is likely to be five years from now. O’Malley voted against one portion of the annexation items. 

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“These people deserve to have public safety,” he said.

Henjum and Donelson said they felt the development was coming in at the wrong time.

“To plan to build this kind of density farther out at this point — we’re not ready,” Henjum said.

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Many of the public speakers said they felt the development would put strain on city resources, including water and emergency services. Some also felt the project in current unincorporated El Paso County would not fit the character of the surrounding land and may disrupt its wildlife.

“There’s coyotes, not cul-de-sacs, that live out by Karman Line,” said speaker E.P. Henderson.

The annexation approval comes months after the City Council narrowly shot down a large development east of Fountain called Amara that would have annexed 3,200 acres into the city and planned for thousands of homes. La Plata Communities, Colorado Springs-based developer for Amara, is also a partner in the Karman Line project with Norris Ranch Joint Venture.

Access to water and emergency services also were among concerns raised about Amara before the project was rejected in August of last year.

Craig Dossey, president of Vertex Consulting Services and former El Paso County planning director, presented Karman Line on behalf of developers. He highlighted a need for affordable housing and off-base housing for Schriever.

According to Colorado Springs Utilities, the city has the water needed for the development, and the project called for developer-paid upgrades to roads and infrastructure.