(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A housing developer in northeastern Colorado Springs is requesting the use of eminent domain to acquire two parcels of land for road access to a proposed neighborhood.
“This is a time bomb, I’m not looking forward to this one,” said Councilmember David Leinweber.
The developer claims the land is necessary to connect the new neighborhood with surrounding streets, with the only current access point being on Wyoming Lane, located on the eastern side of the property.
City council member Dave Donelson expressed skepticism about the need for eminent domain, stating, “We don’t know who’s being reasonable in those negotiations, so without knowing that… I think it would be unwise for us to give them eminent domain and give them more authority.”
The Woodmen Heights Metro District owns one of the parcels, while the other is owned by an unnamed company. Negotiations between the developer and the landowners have been challenging, according to an attorney who spoke to the council on Monday.
Councilmember Leinweber voiced concerns about community reactions, stating, “I’m already seeing the line of people coming [to the meeting] on that day. This is another ovation; this is a problem.”
The city council did not make a final decision on the matter during Monday’s meeting, but the topic is expected to be revisited in October.
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