Title
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Colorado Springs approving the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy, together known as the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan.
(Legislative)
Council District 4
Presenter:
Page Saulsbury, Comprehensive Planner II, City Planning Department
Kevin Walker, Planning Director, City Planning Department
Body
Summary:
The Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy (Plan) is the first neighborhood and community planning project proposed under PlanCOS’ Vibrant Neighborhoods key initiative for a Neighborhood Planning Program. It outlines priorities, goals, and strategies related to economic development, mobility, and housing, along with other determinants identified through a locally informed public input process. The Plan is tactical and advisory and will help guide efforts and efficient use of public and community-based resources. The Plan reflects a City-community partnership and reinforces public and private investment initiatives where new development is trending in the area ensuring strategic coordination.
The planning area is geographically located between Interstate 25 and Powers Boulevard with a northern boundary of Fountain Boulevard and a southern boundary along Milton E Proby Parkway. It includes six PlanCOS neighborhoods: Spring Creek, Pikes Peak Park North, Pikes Peak Park South, Southborough, Deerfield Hills, and Soaring Eagle. Map of Neighborhood Plan area: <https://coloradosprings.gov/document/plan4aadjusted6202107132022.pdf>
The Plan’s goals and strategies enhance neighborhood livability and safety while also encouraging neighborhood pride and reinvestment in alignment with PlanCOS, the Unified Development Code, and the City’s Strategic Plan. To achieve these goals, the Plan is broken into two volumes: the Neighborhood Plan and a Community Strategy. The Neighborhood Plan focuses on specific City-led efforts, actions, and programming goals, while the Community Strategy reflects the community’s vision for the area - together known as the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan.
The implementation section of the Plan explains how and by whom the Plan will be used, calls for action and implementation planning, sets up progress and measures reporting, and provides for a five-year review and update. Robust implementation planning in coordination with an economic revitalization strategy is key to the success of this Plan and will be ongoing to include strategic City agency collaboration, alignment with existing public and community initiatives, and operational and inventory analyses.
Background:
In March of 2022, the Planning Department introduced the City’s Neighborhood Planning Program, an initiative of PlanCOS, to City Council. The program emphasizes that Neighborhood Plans enable planning and implementation at a scale that addresses the unique characteristics and needs of different areas of the city. These plans focus attention on the ideas and goals of each neighborhood. PlanCOS identifies the southeast area as an activity center for reinvestment and a community hub for future planning.
The Southeast Strong Plan was informally presented to City Council in January of 2025 from which comments were received and analyzed, and adjustments were made to refine the focus on City-led actions and shared community partnership goals. Staff finds that the Plan is in alignment with the City’s Strategic Plan and promotes safe, economically prosperous, culturally rich, and welcoming neighborhoods. This alignment includes implementing land use policies that support infill, redevelopment, and adaptive reuse of properties within the City’s existing developed areas.
Please see the attached City Planning Commission Staff Report for additional supporting information.
Review Criteria:
The Southeast Strong neighborhood plan is a subsidiary plan of PlanCOS, the City’s Comprehensive Plan. As such, the Plan was reviewed for conformance to Section 7.5.706 (Comprehensive Planning) of the Unified Development Code (UDC). In addition, the Plan was evaluated for conformance with the general “Purpose” of the Unified Development Code found in Section 7.1.103, which is to:
A. Promote health, safety, and general welfare of the public;
B. Protect private property from adjacent nuisances such as incompatible uses and noise;
C. Implement the Colorado Springs Comprehensive Plan;
D. Establish the orderly subdivision of land;
E. Ensure the logical growth of the City's physical elements;
F. Encourage adequate multi-modal transportation facilities;
G. Promote opportunities for affordable and attainable housing throughout the City; and
H. Facilitate adequate provision of utilities, schools, parks, and other public infrastructure services.
I. Enhance the quality, diversity, and safety of neighborhoods by encouraging pride and investment.
The Plan was also evaluated using the UDC’s Legislative Declaration found in Section 7.5.706.A which reads: “The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares that it is in the public interest that there be a Comprehensive Plan to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, to improve the physical environment of the City as a setting for human activities; to evaluate the social and economic effects of land development; to formulate, determine, and implement community values, policies, standards and objectives; to consider the effect on community financial capabilities, public, and private investments; and to consider the effect on the environment when making land development decisions.”
Link to the draft Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan on the City website: <https://coloradosprings.gov/SEcommunityplan>
Previous Council Action:
City Council has previously approved or reviewed a number of planning documents generally related to the Plan area in Colorado Springs.
• PlanCOS, the City’s Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2019,
• Hancock Expressway / Academy Boulevard Planning and Environmental Linkages Study presented in 2015,
• The South Academy Economic Opportunity Zone Action Plan approved in 2014, and
• Academy Boulevard Corridor Great Streets Plan a Multi-Modal Transportation Plan - Transit Readiness and Land Use Vision Plan was approved in 2011
Stakeholder Process:
The Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan was informed by numerous official City Plans, all of which included significant stakeholder involvement. Additional stakeholder involvement was conducted with this project. Please see the attached City Planning Commission Staff Report for additional supporting information.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
The Plan was endorsed by the Southeast Strong Steering Committee January 14, 2024.
The Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan was presented to the City Planning Commission on January 14, 2026. The City Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the Plan by a 9-0 unanimous vote.
Recommended Action
Optional Motions:
The Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan prepared by the City and at the direction of PlanCOS.
Motion to Approve
Approve the resolution to adopt the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy.
Motion to Approve with Changes
Approve the resolution to adopt the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy with changes.
Motion to Deny
Deny the resolution to adopt the Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy.
Summary of Resolution Language
Summary of the Resolution Language:
The Southeast Strong Neighborhood Plan and Community Strategy were developed through an inclusive, collaborative process involving residents, stakeholders, and City staff. The Plan aligns with PlanCOS goals, meets the UDC Purpose, and reflects extensive public engagement and research to strengthen neighborhoods, foster economic revitalization, and promote affordable housing. It is consistent with existing City plans and has been endorsed by the City Planning Commission and recommended for adoption by City Council.