Despite David and Chris Jenkins canceling their scheduled July 16 presentation for Manitou Springs City Council, over a dozen residents voiced their disapproval of the Norwood developers potential project during public comment at this week’s meeting. [See “Undated letter from Jenkins to mayor and city council” in our July 12 edition—Ed.]
Residents raised concerns over increased traffic, pollution, and fire evacuation times.
“These are my issues,” said Ila Quinn. “We have intense traffic congestion, inadequate parking sites, and transportation option, lack of focus on the needs and safety of the community residents, failing infrastructure, the sewer, water, roads, dead wood and debris on public and private lands, and EPA air quality standard failures throughout the city.”
Resident Megan Day raised concerns about fire evacuation. “Manitou Springs has something in common — a very key characteristic in common — with Paradise, California,” she said. “Paradise was where a devastating fire occurred not too long ago, and 85 people were killed, many of whom were in their vehicles trying to evacuate. But there are — and this is our key characteristic we have in common — four exit points out of Paradise, California. Same with Manitou. We have four roads that we can exit as downtown residents, workers, and visitors. If there is a devastating fire, much like there was in Paradise, California, and building a road and 160 parking spaces is going to bring 160 more vehicles, the need to evacuate and put our lives in danger if we are forced to evacuate in short order”
Jeff Bieri, a Manitou Springs homeowner who is the station manager for KRCC but who spoke only on his own behalf and who reports he has recused himself from KRCC’s news coverage of the Jenkins proposal, highlighted the Jenkins philanthropic activity but opposed further development. “I’d like to take just a minute to acknowledge the generosity of the Jenkins family in offering to donate their property in Ruxton Canyon,” he said. “This parcel of land in question is truly a beautiful and historic part of our local landscape. And the philanthropy of the Jenkins family, past and present in Colorado Springs and Manitou really needs to be recognized and appreciated. With that said, I think it’s really important to emphasize that the true essence of a gift is that the recipients are empowered to use that gift as best benefits the group, organization, or community that it is made to. Those receiving a donation become the stewards of that contribution, be it money, resources, real estate, legacy gifts. It’s up to the recipients to leverage that gift to best serve the larger community, in perpetuity and for generations to come. So I’d like to go on the record and ask the Jenkins family to make this donation and then allow the community here in Manitou Springs to provide the stewardship and the foresight in deciding how best to use it. I believe it’s Manitou residents, the people who live and work here, that are best suited to make that decision. Decisions made by residents of Manitou will benefit our local businesses, our neighboring city of Colorado Springs, and all of the tourists who visit our region to experience the history and the beauty of this beautiful Pikes Peak region. I’d like to go on record also, and request that all of the discussions and meetings about this incredible offer by the Jenkins family be transparent that all the stakeholders in this proposal are identified and are clear in their interests and objectives. Executive meetings and closed-door discussions about this proposal are going to create an atmosphere of distrust and animosity, and that’s going to be counterproductive. It’s not going to benefit any of us.”
Merry Peniston, a former Manitou business owner, suggested the city acquire the land and turn it into an open space. “I support satellite parking outside of town, busing people to the area, making the area more of a walkable town,” she said. “I think people would really appreciate that. It would upgrade everything in the town, and I would like city council to pursue, for the city of Manitou, for trails and open space, this property that Jenkins has offered in trade.”
Former Manitou Springs Mayor Bill Koerner was even more succinct. “No road, no parking lot,” he said. “Open space and trails.”
Ken Jaray of the Manitou Springs Community Foundation announced plans to present a resolution to acquire the Jenkins property for open space to the Manitou Springs Open Space Advisory Committee meeting on July 22.
“I do agree with the Mayor [John Graham] that it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, potentially both positive and negative,” said Jaray. “We could either preserve this property for our children and grandchildren in perpetuity, or we could put a road and parking lot in there and significantly negatively impact the neighborhood and community. I know that all of my neighbors, and I believe most of the community, would certainly prefer the open space option.”