Colorado Springs City Council will delay action on the exchange of city open space to The Broadmoor, a luxury resort in the city, until May 24. Council had planned to act on May 10, one day after an appraisal review is due regarding valuations conducted on the city’s 189-acre Strawberry Fields open space and a half-acre parking lot.
The city hasn’t released those appraisals and has said it won’t until the deal is done. It’s unclear if appraisals done by The Broadmoor of its 400-plus acres of land involved in the trade will ever be released. Comments provided to the city during its public process over the exchange show that nearly 70 percent are against the proposal.
The city's refusal to release the appraisals prompted attorney Bill Louis to tell the council he plans to file a lawsuit on behalf of those opposing the Broadmoor land exchange to seek disclosure of the appraisals.
“The Colorado Open Records Act doesn’t prohibit their release but rather they may be withheld if it’s in the public interest to withhold them,” Louis said.
The Colorado Springs Independent also reported that opponents of the land swap have been granted a show-cause hearing in District Court so the city can explain why it’s withholding appraisals of Strawberry Fields open space and a small parking lot.