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Colorado Springs Greater Westside Community Plan Input

Help identify opportunities for improvement in The Greater Westside!

Through the City of Colorado Springs’ Comprehensive Plan (PlanCOS), the guide for future growth, policy, and investment, a Neighborhood Planning Program was recommended to provide more specialized guidance for each of our unique neighborhoods. The Greater Westside project team has considered and analyzed research, data, and community feedback thus far, and we hope you can help us move forward towards establishing specific recommendations.

Do you have an idea for a vacant lot or rundown shopping center? Do you hate crossing at a certain intersection because it feels unsafe? Do you wish you had better access to a park? The Greater Westside Community Plan needs your input! Use the four pages below to leave your comments on areas of opportunity surrounding the four recommendation topics:

Land Use and the Built Form
Mobility and Connectivity
Amenities and Public Space
Support Services and Programming

Click on the map on each page to identify specific areas of opportunity based on the page's topic. Please include a descriptive comment to explain your choice. For example, on the yellow "Mobility and Connectivity" page, one might identify on the map that they do not feel safe crossing Highway 24 and 8th Ave, and place a comment on that intersection.

Comments

Commenting is closed for this document.

Barbara Novey May 24 2023 at 1:07PM on page 5

Concern

There is no attention to commerce. The area net to the VA is proposing a Church and mixed Residential / Medical. The areas of Fillmore from Mesa Rd to I25 has 2 small restaurants. All these dense apartments and no coffee, day care, or restaurants (only commerce is gad stations and the king soopers IN Walking Distance . That is because the City has a department called community planning and building but they don't plan anything.

Barbara Novey May 24 2023 at 1:02PM on page 5

Concern

Road engineering needs to seriously look at drainage. The new Centennial extension is covered with debris after a rain.

Barbara Novey May 24 2023 at 12:57PM on page 2

Suggestion

With dense building of apartments comes less parking. To help residents do their errands on weekends (and maybe evenings) a shuttle that runs up Centennial to the Supermarkets and up to GoG Rd would help mobility in a city aiming at reducing traffic and vehicle use.

Angela Gilpin May 23 2023 at 5:51PM on page 1

Concern

Wildfire Evacuations are going to be a nightmare with the traffic circles on Lake Ave, Cheyenne Blvd, Cascade/Tejon for the Ivywild neighborhoods. Traffic is already backed up from the Creekwalk light on Cheyenne Road and it affects the 5-way traffic circle on Cascade/Tejon.

L Ducett May 23 2023 at 5:47PM on page 1

Suggestion

Flexibility in codes and zoning on whole west side allow for trades people to keep their small businesses going.

L Ducett May 23 2023 at 5:46PM on page 1

Concern

Redevelopment of the area near the east parking lot for red rocks would be great, right now people part campers here and it feels unsafe.

Dianne Bridges May 23 2023 at 5:46PM on page 3

Concern

In separate email, the HNP has provided recommendations on what to include in the CAPs and was waiting for meetings to discuss/align. In addition, there are previously provided questions which multiple neighborhoods and key stakeholders have which remain unanswered. The Comment type is multiple: concern and questions

Dianne Bridges May 23 2023 at 5:43PM on page 1

Concern

In separate email, the HNP has provided recommendations on what to include in the CAPs (vs. other plans) and was waiting for meetings to discuss/align. In addition, there are questions which multiple neighborhoods and key stakeholders have which remain unanswered. The Comment type addressed here is multiple: concern and questions.

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 5:07PM on page 4

Suggestion

We need low income, rent controlled apartments/flats on the west side. People working on the west side need to be able to live there. This increase in density will require an investment in local grocery and other services. We must build the community.

in reply to Jewels Burdick's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 5:02PM on page 2

Agreement

This with increased public transit could be a good solution

in reply to Jewels Burdick's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 5:01PM on page 2

Suggestion

Police are very expensive (about half of our city budget) and are not historically effective at reducing crime. I would suggest the book "Walkable City" by Jeff Speck as a resource. He explains how some cheap solutions like changing lane width, reducing lanes, etc. can make roads much safer.

in reply to John Olson's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 4:58PM on page 2

Agreement

AMAZING suggestion! This specialized bus/trolley line should go all the way to Manitou. Connecting the commercial districts of Downtown COS, OCC and Manitou will allow for incredible economic development. Additionally, we should invest in more high density housing to keep housing costs down and ensure we keep economic vitality in those areas.

in reply to Matt Reeves 's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 4:56PM on page 1

Suggestion

The increased population is good for businesses and increasing walkability, but we need to expand our public transit and fix intersections to alleviate congestion.

in reply to Mary Breyer's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 4:54PM on page 1

Suggestion

In order to keep housing costs reasonable, we need to invest more in Multi-family units. However, this must be done while also expanding our public transit in order to avoid congestion.

in reply to Joanie Shields's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 4:47PM on page 1

Agreement

Additionally, we could use some 5 over 1 housing in this area and on this side of Manitou to increase density and promote more walkable areas.

in reply to Jewels Burdick's comment

Michael Quintana May 23 2023 at 4:45PM on page 1

Suggestion

Colorado Springs is just continuing to grow and we can't just add parking forever. We must adopt a better public transportation system.

Sarah May 23 2023 at 4:01PM on page 1

Suggestion

For local families, there is very little updated commercial areas on the westside. We are always traveling either to Southgate or Nevada for clothing, hardware and warehouse groceries. Local boutique businesses are great and provide for tourist but aren’t realistic for everyday needs of locals.

Christy Nather May 22 2023 at 6:49PM on page 1

Suggestion

The business strip at Bott and 21st (with the liquor store etc) does not feel like a safe place and it is an EYE SORE. This building could use some renovations, inside and out.

Christy Nather May 22 2023 at 6:42PM on page 2

Suggestion

I would like to see a bike lane going down lower gold camp road between 21st and 8th street. We live in Gold Hill Mesa and would love to ride or take a scooter over to walmart etc but definitely don't feel safe doing so because of the narrow road and curves throught there.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 5:09PM on page 4

Suggestion

The west side of 21st Street has a lot of opportunity with the existing arts oriented businesses in this area. More is needed, and there are plenty of empty parking lots that could accomodate more development.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 5:06PM on page 3

Suggestion

The west side connection to Monument Valley Park and bridge should be celebrated more and include more at the west side to encourage greater use and less dependency on the automobile.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 5:05PM on page 2

Suggestion

The Colorado/Manitou Avenue corridor is ideal for better transit connection. Consider a long-term streetcar solution, near term open air trolley. This needs to be more than simply a bus that looks like all of the others in the City. It needs to be celebrated and highly visible to get greater use. The current busses are not good. In my opinion, Downtown did a disservice to the busses by using the same bus as everywhere else in the City. It deserved to be so much more. See Alexandria's King Street Trolley for an example of high frequency, high use trolley.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 4:57PM on page 2

Suggestion

Similar to the 8th Street tunnel, this tunnel is also dangerous. Suggest policing more and adding more light and ideally detering homelessness around and within.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 4:57PM on page 2

Suggestion

This tunnel is very dangerous. Suggest policing more and adding more light and ideally detering homelessness around and within.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 4:54PM on page 2

Suggestion

A better connection is needed here along 8th Street, as well as a connection to a new creek path through Gold Hill, and as a connection point to the new commercial/residential uses and future music park.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 4:53PM on page 2

Suggestion

Plans at Gold Hill will provide pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to 21st Street, including a physically separated cycle track on the Gold Hill property. Would be great to continue this connection across 21st Street on Broadway for the benefit of kids coming/going to Midland Elementary.

John Olson May 22 2023 at 4:51PM on page 2

Suggestion

A non-motorized connection is needed here. Gold Hill will provide infrastructure connections through the site to 21st Street, but the connection to the trail at 8th Street is needed.

Ryan Walsh May 20 2023 at 11:58AM on page 4

Suggestion

More mental health services should be concentrated in this area. The homeless population that I see every day while driving home from work are really struggling here.

Ryan Walsh May 20 2023 at 11:54AM on page 1

Concern

When are we going to do something about the sprawling homeless population in this area. The city wants to grow and expand south.

New restaurants are popping up and I can see the newest apartment building construction in progress. The only thing stopping Colorado Springs from having a reasonably walkable downtown is the generally unsafe nature of this area.

Ryan Walsh May 20 2023 at 11:52AM on page 1

Suggestion

I love the design of this new plaza. More of this please! More development in this area could connect the restaurants on lower cheyenne blvd, ivy wild school, and the new creek walk.

I just wish we could keep the fast food restaurants out. They have plenty of space for drive thru style businesses elsewhere.

Ryan Walsh May 20 2023 at 11:50AM on page 1

Suggestion

There is an existing wine bar but a few more cafes/bars/restaurants at the entrance to cheyenne canyon would be really nice.

Ryan Walsh May 20 2023 at 11:49AM on page 1

Suggestion

This hilltop is situated directly across the street from the dog park, a large suburban population, and great views of the mountains. It offers a fair amount of undeveloped space that could be turned into a small walkable space for restaurants/bars apart from the existing dive that sits there.

mmarilyn mondragon wrenen May 20 2023 at 1:21AM on page 5

Please do something about the Cheyenne blvd and Lorraine St intersections. Heavytrafficmakes it dangerous and difficult to cross. Worse is the fact that vehicles turning from the Blvd onto Lorraine exceed 60 to 75 mph. Someone is going to be hurt or killed if there aren't speed bumps or something to control speeding

Julie Johnson May 18 2023 at 4:43PM on page 2

Concern

Pedestrians struggle to walk on south side of Cheyenne Rd. dodging trash cans, fallen branches, debris. Sidewalk is non-existent on both sides for a block closer to 8th street.

Matt Reeves May 16 2023 at 5:54PM on page 1

Suggestion

As Ivywild continues to grow, both in commercial development and higher density housing projects, our roads need to be addressed. The roundabout on Cascade/Tejon/Cheyenne was a big improvement to the 5 way light, but the roads around Ivywild School (Dorchester, Woodburn, Navajo, etc.) are expected to handle more and more traffic, but they are garbage. Brookside was repaved a few years ago, but already needs it again, the others all need to be torn out and re-leveled.
Also, a well lit crosswalk or 2 needs to be added to Nevada to support foot traffic business for both the east and west side of the corridor (or make the one in front of Natural Grocers better). Drivers are not slowing down enough when coming into the higher congestion area vs south of Lake.

Richard Serby May 15 2023 at 8:20PM on page 1

Suggestion

Mesa Road with 2,000 students between Coronado HS and Holmes MS. Many are pedestrians. We experience high speed traffic. The road should be redesigned to have 'built-in' speed controls such as bends, curves, or a circle to allow vehicles to enter and exit schools and the Friendship Lane neighborhood at a slow speed,

Patricia Seaton May 15 2023 at 1:36PM on page 5

Concern

As someone who had to evacuate in June of 2012, I am concerned that COS keeps adding people on the Westside but never improves how we can get to safety if there were another fire. It took over 4 hours for us to even get to I25 to travel north out of our neighborhood. That was a distance of less than 4 miles. Woodmen Road is still basically two lanes all the way to I25!

Teresa May 13 2023 at 10:54AM on page 3

Suggestion

Add back crossing guards for Cheyenne Mtn High School and the Junior high. Traffic on Cresta is terrible with people commuting through to the Zoo, Broadmoor, etc., commercial vehicles flying through the intersections. After the poor student at Doherty who was recently killed by a vehicle, we need to have the safety of our children as a high priority in these high traffic spots. I was informed the city removed the previous crossing guards?

Teresa May 13 2023 at 10:45AM on page 1

Suggestion

Acacia Park needs to be cleaned up and used for all community members, not just homeless. This could be a beautiful space used by all, I don’t know many young people or families wanting to go hang out there on a weekend or grab lunch from a nearby restaurant and eat there without concern for their safety.

Teresa May 13 2023 at 10:39AM on page 1

Concern

Downtown homeless pops are growing, not safe for anyone, but especially are teens that are desperate to have some where to go and hang out and be safe anywhere in Colorado Springs for that matter. And don’t forget the valued tourism which helps support the downtown restaurant and retail businesses. Homeless hanging outside of businesses with dogs off leash isn’t safe for anyone.

Teresa May 13 2023 at 10:34AM on page 1

Suggestion

Downtown create more developments with retail on the bottom floor (restaurants and such) to sustain the growing population. Incorporate trees and greenery do it doesn’t continue on to be a concrete city. The brick developments across from Dos Santos are beautiful. Also more developments like the Dos Santos block downtown.

Teresa May 13 2023 at 10:27AM on page 1

Suggestion

Cheyenne Plaza has some great businesses, with ACE hardware also coming in, but the structures itself are a disaster and major eyesore (white/green). Needs a major overhaul to attract new and keep businesses that the community desperately needs. You can’t even tell it’s a library. Keep going north on 8th you can select almost all the shopping centers that need the same facelift.

Teresa May 13 2023 at 10:13AM on page 1

Suggestion

Remove homeless encampments West of 21st and Cimarron along right side up towards 31st. This is not safe for anyone (including them) and the trash left about is not good for the environment.

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:30PM on page 4

Concern

Get the homeless population out of the westside and into addition and/or mental health facilities.

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:28PM on page 3

Concern

Cut down trees that are leaning over hwy 24

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:28PM on page 3

Concern

Evict homeless population that is blocking access to restrooms in the park at hwy 24 + 26th street

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:27PM on page 2

Concern

Have more police presence along Colorado Ave to reduce speeders.

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:27PM on page 2

Reduce Colorado ave to 2 lanes plus bike lanes to slow traffic.

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:26PM on page 2

Concern

Add bike lanes to Colorado Avenue so they don't ride on sidewalks and help avoid accidents with pedestrians. Encourage scooters/skateboarders to use bike lane. There were two accidents in front of my store last week.

Jewels Burdick May 12 2023 at 4:24PM on page 1

Concern

Reduce homeless foot traffic to help maintain employees that are fearful of having to deal with homeless

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