Momentous Banning Lewis Ranch Vote Scheduled; Concerns Voiced About Fire, Police

Just how long future residents of the 24,000-acre Banning Lewis Ranch might have to wait before police and fire stations are built in their neighborhoods remains unclear, as the Colorado Springs City Council approaches a vote Tuesday on an updated annexation agreement for the sprawling countryside east of the city. Until those stations are built, police officers and firefighters will have to cover the ranch from existing stations, potentially diminishing their already-substandard response times. The council is somewhat split on the proposed agreement, though its approval is considered likely. The new agreement would eliminate several fees and ease other financial requirements on developers. Read more on Colorado Springs Gazette