Amara annexation: Who on City Council voted yes, who voted no?
Colorado Springs City Council on Tuesday night approved the proposed Amara development, granting local developer La Plata Communities’ request by a narrow vote to annex about 5 additional square miles south and east of the city’s current borders.
The annexation paves the way for developers to create a new master-planned community of up to 9,500 homes plus millions of square feet of retail space, schools, parks and public facilities over the next 25 years.
City Council heard more than seven hours of presentation and public discussion.
The proposal first split the council, which cast 48 separate votes in favor of the annexation and to approve a master plan and rezone about 3,172 acres of the land. Councilmembers Yolanda Avila, Dave Donelson, David Leinweber, Brian Risley and Michelle Talarico voted yes on the project; Lynette Crow-Iverson, Randy Helms, Nancy Henjum and Mike O’Malley cast no votes for the first item but Helms then voted yes for the remaining 47 items.
The Amara property is bordered by the city of Fountain on three sides.
Project proponents, developers and councilmembers who supported the project said Amara will provide several benefits to Colorado Springs. Among them is high-quality, needed housing in upscale communities to support the region’s continued growth, as well as the military servicemembers and their families at the five military installations that call El Paso County home.
Opponents and councilmembers who did not support the project worried Amara could strain Colorado Springs’ resources, like emergency services, water and other utilities.
