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Monday, April 7, 2025  
1:00 PM  
Council Chambers  
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Estimated agenda item times are provided for planning purposes and do not constitute notice  
of a specific time for any item. Items may take more or less time than estimated. City Council  
may amend the order of items.  
1. Call to Order and Roll Call  
President Helms called the meeting to order at 1:01 PM.  
7 -  
Present:  
Councilmember Yolanda Avila, President Pro Tem Lynette Crow-Iverson,  
Councilmember Dave Donelson, President Randy Helms, Councilmember David  
Leinweber, Councilmember Mike O'Malley, and Councilmember Michelle Talarico  
2 - Councilmember Nancy Henjum, and Councilmember Brian Risley  
Excused:  
2. Public Hearing  
2.A.  
FBZN-24-001 Appeal of the Downtown Review Board’s approval of a Form-Based  
6
Zone Development Plan for the ONE Vela Mixed Use Building on a 1.09  
acre, FBZ-CEN (Form-Based Zone - Central Sector) zoned property  
located on the northeast corner of Sahwatch St. and W. Costilla St.  
(Quasi-Judicial)  
Related Files: NA  
Located in Council District 3  
Presenter:  
Ryan Tefertiller, Planning Manager, Urban Planning Division  
Kevin Walker, Director, Planning Department  
Attachments: DRB Staff Report_ONE Vela_RT  
Attachment 1 - ONE Vela Zoning Exhibit  
Attachment 2 - Stakeholder Comments  
Attachment 3 - ONE Vela Project Statement  
Attachment 4 - ONE Vela Development Plan  
Attachment 5 - Experience Downtown Plan on a Page  
Attachment 6 - PlanCOS Vision Map  
Appeal Statement - One Vela  
Combined Late Stakeholder Input ONE Vela 020325  
Combined Late Stakeholder Input ONE Vela 020425  
DIANNE BRIDGES APPEAL PRESENTATION  
ONE Vela_FBZDP_CityCouncil Appeal Presentation_RBT_040725  
DRB_Minutes_2.4.25 Final  
One Vela City Council Application Presentation 040125  
Ryan Tefertiller, Urban Planning Manager, presented the Form-Based  
Zone (FBZ) Development Plan for the ONE Vela mixed use building on a  
1.09 acre, FBZ-CEN (Form-Based Zone - Central Sector) zoned property  
located on the northeast corner of Sahwatch Street and West Costilla  
Street. He provided an overview of the vicinity map, application, project  
summary, plan boundaries, application referral, site history, original Plan  
documents, stakeholder notice and input. Mr. Tefertiller identified the FBZ  
Development Plan description, details, standards, rendering, elevation,  
guidelines, architectural detail, and compliance with the Experience  
Downtown Plan/PlanCOS. Mr. Tefertiller went over the technical  
modifications, review reports, appeal details, and optional motions.  
Diane Bridges, representative of Historic Neighborhoods Partnership,  
representing the appellant, spoke in opposition to the project and  
introduced Robert Bruce, Esq., RJD Lawyer, LLC, representing the  
appellant, who provided an overview of the building height versus City  
skyline, a ballot question regarding building height limits, view of America’s  
Mountain Pikes Peak, premature development approval, and inadequate  
stakeholder engagement.  
Councilmember Talarico asked which neighborhoods Ms. Bridges is  
representing. Ms. Bridges stated that she is representing herself, but the  
Historic Neighborhood Partnership supports the same aspects of the  
appeal.  
Kevin O’Neil, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), O’Neil Group,  
representing the applicant, introduced Frank André, Lead Architect, Hord  
Coplan Macht, representing the applicant, provided an overview of the  
O’Neil Group, Vela Development Partners, growing aerospace/defense  
industry, 2024 downtown foot traffic, precedent projects, project narrative,  
site location, project details, Plan conformance, Form Based Code  
compliance, elevation, amenity courtyard, and interior amenity.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if the projects in Kansas City and St.  
Louis, MO were the tallest buildings in those cities. Mr. André stated they  
were not. Councilmember Donelson asked if those cities have mountains  
like Colorado Springs. Mr. André stated they do not.  
Nick Benjamin, Principal, Vela Development Partners, representing the  
applicant, stated they take their responsibility to the City incredibly  
seriously and they are committed to ensuring their project exceeds City  
standards.  
Councilmember Donelson asked Mr. O’Neil if he is concerned about  
citizens not having an opportunity to weigh in on building height limits. Mr.  
O’Neil stated they have had citizen involvement for approximately two years  
and based on citizen input, they reduced the building height from thirty-six  
stories to twenty-seven stories.  
Citizens Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President and CEO Colorado Springs  
Chamber & Economic Development Corporation, Jill Gaebler, Executive  
Director, Pikes Peak Housing Network, Chelsea Gondeck, Director of  
Planning and Mobility, Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership, James  
Rigdon, Downtown Partnership Board, Sam Friesema, Urban Renewal  
Authority (URA) Board, Downtown Review Board, and Hillside  
Neighborhood Team, Bob Riefstahl, URA Board, spoke in support of the  
proposed project.  
Councilmember Leinweber requested additional information regarding the  
trends of the newer generation. Ms. Reeder Kleymeyer provided an  
overview of Newmark Global Site Selection Study which identified the need  
for communities to target the population of eighteen- to thirty-four-year-old  
people who are highly mobile and the different values they focus on.  
Councilmember Leinweber asked how restrictions on growth would affect  
large corporations coming into the City. Ms. Reeder Kleymeyer stated it  
would put the City at a disadvantage.  
Councilmember Donelson asked how Colorado Springs ranks as best city  
to live in. Ms. Reeder Kleymeyer stated it has been in the top five best  
cities to live in for the past five years.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if anyone has ever indicated that they  
cannot move to the City because its skyscrapers are not tall enough. Ms.  
Reeder Kleymeyer stated they have heard that businesses cannot move to  
the City because it does not have enough Class A office space or because  
their young professionals want to live around their facility.  
Citizens Elizabeth Marrs, Lisa Bigelow, Renee Anderson, Tim Hoiles,  
Richard Smith, Dutch Schultz, President of the Old North End  
Neighborhood, Kat Gayle, Melody Neal, David Ebbink, Dana Duggan,  
President, Integrity Matters, and Donna Strom spoke in opposition of the  
proposed project.  
Mr. Bruce stated the benefits to the City can be accomplished without  
increasing the skyline, this is the first residential skyrise which will set a  
precedent for future developers and should not be approved without a  
robust stakeholder process.  
Councilmember Donelson asked who approved the increase in building  
height limit in 2009. Mr. Tefertiller stated staff worked with a range of  
stakeholders to draft the Downtown Form Base Code which changed the  
zoning for approximately a square mile, there were many public hearings  
regarding it, and was approved by City Council.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if citizens have ever been able to vote on  
a downtown building height limit. Mr. Tefertiller stated to his knowledge,  
there has never been a ballot initiative concerning height restrictions.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if there was a downtown building height  
limit prior to the FBZ. Mr. Tefertiller explained there was originally a fifty-foot  
height limit until the 1950’s with certain exceptions and then the High-Rise  
Overlay Zone was established which was based on a sloping plane.  
Councilmember Donelson asked if the ONE Vela Development Plan was  
approved Administratively. Mr. Tefertiller stated the ONE Vela  
Development Plan met the City’s quantifiable standards however staff  
chose to refer it to the Downtown Review Board. He also commented that  
prior to the FBZ, tall projects in the High-Rise Overlay could be approved  
Administratively.  
Councilmember Donelson stated because this would set precedence, City  
Council should table this appeal until the new City Council is seated, citizen  
input is taken, and a new policy is developed, or City Council should uphold  
the appeal.  
President Helms stated he does not believe this item should be tabled for a  
new City Council to decide on, he feels it is City Council’s duty and  
obligation to make a decision on this appeal, this is a good project for the  
City, and he has listened to the citizens both against and for this project.  
Motion by Councilmember O'Malley, seconded by Councilmember Talarico, to  
deny the appeal, upholding the Downtown Review Board approval of the One  
Vela Form-Based Zone Development Plan application, based on the findings that  
the appeal does not meet the appeal criteria found in Section 7.5.415.A.2.a. of  
the UDC. The motion passed by a vote of 6-1-2-0  
6 - Avila, Crow-Iverson, Helms, Leinweber, O'Malley, and Talarico  
1 - Donelson  
Aye:  
No:  
2 - Henjum, and Risley  
Excused:  
3. Executive Session  
25-186  
3.A.  
In accord with City Charter art. III, § 3-60(d) and its incorporated  
Colorado Open Meetings Act, C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(b) the City Council,  
in Open Session, is to determine whether it will hold a Closed Executive  
Session. The issue to be discussed involves consultation with the City  
Attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice regarding the  
referendum process and referendum elections.  
The President of Council shall poll the City Councilmembers, and, upon  
consent of two-thirds of the members present, may conduct a Closed  
Executive Session. In the event any City Councilmember is participating  
electronically or telephonically in the Closed Executive Session, each  
City Councilmember participating in the Closed Executive Session shall  
affirmatively state for the record that no other member of the public not  
authorized to participate in the Closed Executive Session is present or  
able to hear the matters discussed as part of the Closed Executive  
Session. If consent to the Closed Executive Session is not given, the  
item may be discussed in Open Session or withdrawn from  
consideration.  
Presenter:  
Wynetta Massey, City Attorney  
Attachments: Closed Session memo - 3-31-25.docx  
Ben Bolinger, Corporate Division Chief, Office of the City Attorney, stated  
that in accord with City Charter art. III, § 3-60(d) and its incorporated  
Colorado Open Meetings Act, C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e), the City  
Council, in Open Session, is to determine whether it will hold a Closed  
Executive Session. The issue to be discussed involves consultation with  
the City Attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice regarding the  
referendum process and referendum.  
President Helms polled City Council regarding the desire to proceed with  
an electronic Closed Executive Session. At least two-thirds of City Council  
agreed to proceed in a Closed Executive Session.  
4. Adjourn  
Upon conclusion of the Closed Executive Session, and there being no  
further business to come before City Council, President Helms adjourned  
the meeting at 4:55 PM.  
Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk