Update July 5: On Monday July 1, the City of Manitou Springs indicated in an email to the Bulletin that there was not a formal proposal for a land donation and parking lot from the Chris and David Jenkins of Norwood Development Group, and that the Jenkins had not taken responsibility for the survey that was texted to many Manitou residents. Two days later, KRDO published a story that includes a copy of an undated letter from the Jenkins to the City of Manitou Springs that speaks to both the proposal and the survey. We have contacted the City of Manitou Springs to find out why this occurred. We have also reached out to the Jenkins. We have not received a response at this time.
Dear Manitou Neighbors, Citizens:
It recently came to the attention of a couple of us citizens, quite by chance while attending a city council meeting, that a developer has proposed that the Midland Railway corridor be used as a public road to feed a parking lot of about 160 cars in the upper Ruxton area. We know that more roads, more parking lots and the prospect of campgrounds and other tourist driven businesses will bring more traffic, pollution, noise and the possibility of more fire hazards in an area that is already overwhelmed with a huge amount of dead wood on both city and private property that needs to be cleaned up just for safety alone. We are asking for your support to help stop this road that would run from Manitou Avenue to Ruxton Avenue and include a large parking lot from being constructed.
We support the use of more satellite parking and more public multi-modal transit options as they reduce traffic and congestion! Especially on Manitou Avenue and Ruxton Avenue. Recently, the City of Manitou Springs has purchased the old Dillon Motel property near the U.S. Highway 24 overpass that will be used as another satellite parking area. It would encourage our visitors to use parking near the highway and use environmentally friendly electric trollies to transit downtown and to attractions in the upper Ruxton area. The Midland Railway Corridor needs to be saved for trails and open space, not developed as a road and another parking lot.
How can you help?
• Please sign our online petition by scanning the QR code or going to https://bit.ly/NoRoadNoParkingLotPetition
• Support the preservation of our wonderful community by attending Manitou City Council meeting on July 16, at 6 p.m.
Best,
Linda Morlan
Resident of 46 Years
Dear Editor,
I have lived in Manitou my whole life (so far) and 50 years on Pilot Knob. My neighborhood is a blessing to me. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
The proposed street on the railroad bed above me is a very obnoxious vision of possibility in the future. The added traffic to the already crowded Ruxton corridor sounds like a nightmare for us residents. Another parking lot for the Cog is outrageous!
I hope the city council will take the dollar signs out of their eyes and exercise their common sense. Please vote against this proposal! Citizens of our special city who agree with me may vote with the online petition bit.ly/No Road-NoParkingLotPetition.
Thank you very much.
Nancy Osburn Lindle