Greater Westside Community Plan

The Greater Westside Community Plan consists of nine neighborhoods west of I-25. It was selected in 2021 based on a matrix of priorities.

City Planning staff hired MIG, a consulting firm, to lead the upcoming community planning process for the area. The  Council of Neighborhoods and Organizations (CONO) also is assisting in neighborhood outreach with Neighborhood Networks, an initiative of CONO’s Neighborhood University.  

The Community Plan is anticipated to be an overall guiding plan for physical development in the area.  Transportation planning, public safety, economic development, climate resiliency, and healthy community planning will also be incorporated into the document, consistent with all community plans.

This is the second community planning area under the Neighborhood Planning Program.

Supporting documents

• Map of Community Plan 3A
• Existing Conditions Plan 3A
• First Community meeting presentation

Profile

• “Land:  7,741 acres”
• “Population:  39,836”
• “Housing Units:  20,213
  • “Owned:  9,462”
  • “Rented:  9,916”
  • “Other Housing: 943”

Related Plans

• Ivywild Neighborhood Master Plan 1993
• Mesa Springs Community Master Plan 1986
• Midland Master Plan Amendment to the Westside Master Plan 1986
• Rawles Open Space Master Plan 2015
• The Westside Master Plan 1980

The 3A (greater westside) Planning Area is adjacent to Downtown, Manitou Springs, open space, and natural forest land as its western boundary; these adjacent areas and uses provide important opportunities for improved connections to and through the area.

The area is largely residential, with large areas of single family-housing throughout supporting neighborhood commercial centers with many locally owned businesses.

Key features within the Area include Bear Creek Regional Park, Sondermann Park, Old Colorado City, Cheyenne Creek, Broadmoor Towne Center, and Red Rock Canyon Open Space - major tourist destinations.  

older established neighborhoods have a rich and colorful history; although an attractant, the area is experiencing aging infrastructure, issues related to people experiencing homelessness, vulnerability to natural disasters, and increasing costs of living.  

Although these topics have been discussed in other plans and by City and Community initiatives including, but not limited to, HomeCOS, ConnectCOS, The City’s Homelessness initiative, and recommendations of Colorado Spring Utilities; further assessment is needed for inclusion into an actionable land use master plan. To help measure and inform plan recommendations, a Health Assessment of the plan boundary will be prepared. The Health Assessment will be measured for progress and will look at resident health, healthy food access, and climate resiliency.