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<br />housing and, for the first time in thirty <br />years, the City changed substantially. <br />Development of the City expanded around <br />Patty Jewett Golf Course and into the <br />Cragmor and Pleasant Valley areas. <br />Skyway and the Broadmoor were <br />developing along with lower cost housing <br />in the areas of Stratton Meadows and <br />Security.6 <br /> <br />In 1944, the Planning Commission was <br />reactivated, partially in response to <br />problems related to growth. In the early <br />19S0s, City planners revised the City's <br />ordinances and also developed a <br />comprehensive plan. Because the City <br />was considered to be far behind in <br />planning, the result was a catch-up plan; <br />it focused on neighborhoods, <br />recommending that parks, schools and <br />shopping areas be within walking distance <br />of residential areas. The plan also <br />recommended that the Downtown should <br />remain the economic focal point of the <br />region. Furthermore, the plan <br />recommended an arterial transportation <br />system to protect neighborhoods from <br />heavy traffic. The Midland Expressway <br />and 1-25 were first recommended in this <br />plan. Since Colorado Springs had so much <br />open space there was little emphasis upon <br />the acquisition of more parkland. Despite <br />its adoption by the Planning Commission, <br />the plan was considered merely a guide <br />because it included so little citizen <br />input .7 <br /> <br />Another important occurrence during the <br />19505 was the City's response to a severe <br />drought that caused lawn watering <br />restrictions. The municipal Utilities <br />Department helped to alleviate the <br />problem by pumping underground water <br />from nearby ranches into the City. <br />Eventually, in response to the possibility <br />of inadequate water supplies, the City <br />spent nearly $71 million for <br />transmountain diversion water projects. <br />Strong citizen concern over this <br />expenditure eventually led to a local <br />sentiment that called for conservatism <br />toward growth of the community.S <br /> <br />An explosion in the City's population and <br /> <br />land area occurred in the 1960s. Between <br />1960 and 1970, the population went from <br />70,194 to 135,060 and the area increased <br />from 16 square miles to 63.2 square miles. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The growth occurred in all directions but <br />was generally toword the north and <br />southeast. Close-in areas east of <br />Memorial Park and on the Mesa west of <br />Monument Creek filled in with new <br />housing; the area north of Templeton Gap <br />also developed rapidly. Due to the auto <br />orientation of the growth, new areas were <br />typically served by strips of commercial <br />uses along arterial streets. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />While the community was rapidly growing <br />in the 1960s and early I 970s, the City was <br />responding to this growth by fine-tuning <br />its planning tools. The City Planning <br />Department was expanded and became <br />involved in urban renewal planning as well <br />as neighborhood planning through the <br />Community Renewal Program. However, <br />little of this planning effort was <br />comprehensive in nature or coordinated in <br />implementation. Planning for the <br />revitalization of the declining downtown <br />was also undertaken and implementation <br />of several recommendations, such as one- <br />way streets, began. <br /> <br />In the early 1970s, several factors <br />influenced development in the City. The <br />energy crisis, a growing environmental <br />awareness and a natural gas shortage <br />fostered strong anti-growth sentiments.9 <br />The question of the type and amount of <br />growth the City should experience was <br />debated. During this time, a <br />comprehensive planning process was set <br />into motion to discuss these issues. <br />Extensive citizen involvement was the <br />basis for the process, but it proved <br />difficult to determine common values. <br />After much deliberation, the plan <br />recommendations went to a City Council <br />polarized over the growth issue. After <br />lengthy debate, the plan was finally <br />approved "in concept" in 1977. It has had <br />no real impact on the development of <br />Colorado Springs. <br /> <br />Efforts by the Chamber of Commerce <br /> <br />8 <br />