Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Acquisition of Approximately 341.5 Acres of Open Space located in the Mountain Shadows Open Space Candidate Area through the Trails, Open Space and Parks Program.
Presenter:
Britt Haley, TOPS Program Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department
Body
Summary:
A proposed open space acquisition for approximately 341.5 acres of property in the Mountain Shadows Open Space Candidate Area.
Background:
On April 1, 1997, an ordinance implementing a sales tax for trails, open space and parks (TOPS) was approved by the citizens of Colorado Springs. This tax went into effect on July 1, 1997. In 2003, this ordinance was amended to extend the TOPS sales tax through 2025. The TOPS Working Committee is responsible for setting priorities and making recommendations for the expenditures of TOPS funds. The acquisition proposal on today's agenda offers the opportunity to acquire over 340 acres of open space previously identified in the 2014 Park System Master Plan as candidate properties for the City of Colorado Springs open space system. In addition, this proposal envisions a potential future donation of 100 acres, which would bring the total acreage to 440 acres.
Two properties are proposed for acquisition by TOPS, and a third is proposed as a donation upon physical site reclamation. All of the properties are owned by Castle Concrete/ Continental Materials Corporation (Castle Concrete). They are:
o An approximately 193 acre property just west of the Cedar Heights neighborhood and adjacent to the Williams Canyon called the Black Canyon Quarry.
o 148 acres of property between Blodgett Open Space and the Flying W Ranch. This property was purchased by Castle Concrete to buffer the Pikeview Quarry from the developing neighborhood (Oak Valley Ranch subdivision). No mining has occurred here and it has rolling hills featuring oak brush and grassland.
o The 100 acre Pikeview Quarry site at a later date after it is phy...
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