On June 17, 2025, the City of Colorado Springs will hold a Special Municipal Election for eligible voters to consider a ballot question on Ordinance No. 25-16, annexing into the City of Colorado Springs the area known as Karman Line Addition No. 6.
This webpage serves as an informational resource about the history of the Karman Line Annexation.
For information about voting in the special election, please visit ColoradoSprings.gov/VoterInfo.
Application and approval
April 2023 - The City of Colorado Springs received an application to annex and develop 1,912.62-acres of land located east of Colorado Springs, northwest of the Bradley Road and Curtis Road intersection. Made up of six separate formal annexations, combined they are referred to as the Karman Line Annexation.
Per its standard review process, the City of Colorado Springs (City) and Colorado Springs Utilities (Utilities) reviewed the application and provided comments from relevant departments, such as Traffic Engineering, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, and the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Dec. 11, 2024 - The City Planning Commission reviewed and recommended approval of the Karman Line Addition Nos. 1-6 by a vote of 4-3.
Jan. 14 and Jan. 28, 2025 - Following public presentations on the proposal from the applicant and City and Utilities staff, and hearing public comment, City Council voted 7-2 to approve the annexation of Karman Line Addition Nos. 1-6 into the City of Colorado Springs. The new annexation would be located within City Council District 4.
- Jan. 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Materials
Petition for referendum to reconsider
Under City Charter and City Code, residents can file a petition for a referendum to require City Council to reconsider an adopted ordinance. If Council fails to repeal the ordinance, the City is required to hold an election to allow eligible residents to vote to approve or reject the ordinance at a municipal election.
Jan. 31, 2025 - The City Clerk received two affidavits from a petition committee to start a referendum process for two of the ordinances on the Karman Line Annexation, Ordinance No. 25-11 and Ordinance No. 25-16. The petition committee later rescinded the petition for Ord No. 25-11.
Feb. 26, 2025 - Petitioners turned in the signatures to have a referendum on Ordinance No. 25-16 for the area known as Karman Line Addition No. 6, with the number of submitted signatures exceeding the required minimum of 18,646 signatures from registered voters within City limits.
City Council refers ballot question to voters
April 8, 2025 - City Council voted to refer the following ballot language to a vote of eligible voters:
“Shall the voters approve Ordinance 25-16, concerning annexing that area known as Karman Line Addition No. 6 consisting of 1,876.24 acres located northwest of the Bradley Road and Curtis Road intersection into the City of Colorado Springs?”
- April 8, 2025 City Council Meeting Materials
June 17, 2025 - The City of Colorado Springs will hold a Special Municipal Election for eligible voters to consider a ballot question on Ordinance No. 25-16, annexing into the City of Colorado Springs the area known as Karman Line Addition No. 6.