(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Unofficial results from the June 17 Special Election will begin dropping at 7 p.m., and FOX21 News is your election headquarters.
The single question on the ballot is asking voters whether to approve or reject an ordinance annexing 1,876.24 acres west of Schriever Space Force Base, known as the Karman Line.
The annexation vote has caused pushback from various community members, with a petition even being submitted for the annexation to be reconsidered after it was initially approved by the City Council in December. Locals have previously expressed concerns about water, emergency services, and uncontrolled growth, among others.
Supporters of the ordinance, including some current and former City Council members, say the approval of the annexation would mean more housing availability near Schriever SFB, and with it, the alleviation of housing shortages.
The land is currently vacant and agricultural. If approved, developers hope to build 6,500 homes, and the project would take around 20 years to complete.
Special Election results:
| Ordinance 25-16 “Karman Line Annexation” | Votes |
|---|---|
| For | 14,239 |
| Against | 63,813 |
| Total | 78,052 |
El Paso County has more than 335,000 registered voters, and the city received nearly 76,000 votes during the initial turnout. Voter turnout was highest in District One, which is the northwest side of the city at 26%. The lowest was District Four on the southeast side near the airport, with 10%.
People who helped get the issue on the ballot watched numbers come in at a watch party on Tuesday night, and they say they are relieved the project will not go forward. They argued the annexation would be disastrous for the city’s water supply and take away resources from farmers and ranchers in the lower Arkansas River Valley.
“We are celebrating the Karman Line annexation special election vote results… we’ve got to be more informed of how the city works. You know, water issues, utilities, infrastructure, there are so many things that have come out of our efforts that now citizens are informed about. So, we’re happy about that,” said Dawn Shelstad, and Ann Rush.
Meanwhile, One La Plata Communities, the group behind the project, said they are disappointed after putting so much money and time into getting the development approved.
“We don’t have a next step, this is where we’ve put all of our effort, and so we’ll regroup and think about what the community has to say and how we can help as businesspeople to address our community’s concerns,” said Kevin O’Neil, Managing Partner for the Karman Line Annexation Project.
This article will be updated as results come in, and you can tune in to FOX21 News at 9 and 10 p.m. for the latest.
