diff --git a/docs/content/en/docs/crd-ref/options/v1alpha1/_index.md b/docs/content/en/docs/crd-ref/options/v1alpha1/_index.md
index aac8099d8e..611118d5c3 100644
--- a/docs/content/en/docs/crd-ref/options/v1alpha1/_index.md
+++ b/docs/content/en/docs/crd-ref/options/v1alpha1/_index.md
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ _Appears in:_
 | Field | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `OTelCollectorUrl` _string_ | OTelCollectorUrl can be used to set the Open Telemetry collector that the operator should use |
-| `keptnAppCreationRequestTimeout` _integer_ | KeptnAppCreationRequestTimeout is used to set the interval in which automatic app discovery searches for workload to put into the same auto-generated KeptnApp |
+| `keptnAppCreationRequestTimeoutSeconds` _integer_ | KeptnAppCreationRequestTimeout is used to set the interval in which automatic app discovery searches for workload to put into the same auto-generated KeptnApp |
 
 
 
diff --git a/operator/apis/options/v1alpha1/keptnconfig_types.go b/operator/apis/options/v1alpha1/keptnconfig_types.go
index 622b68d7a7..9b6028624d 100644
--- a/operator/apis/options/v1alpha1/keptnconfig_types.go
+++ b/operator/apis/options/v1alpha1/keptnconfig_types.go
@@ -29,11 +29,13 @@ type KeptnConfigSpec struct {
 	// Important: Run "make" to regenerate code after modifying this file
 
 	// OTelCollectorUrl can be used to set the Open Telemetry collector that the operator should use
+	// +optional
 	OTelCollectorUrl string `json:"OTelCollectorUrl,omitempty"`
 	// KeptnAppCreationRequestTimeout is used to set the interval in which automatic app discovery
 	// searches for workload to put into the same auto-generated KeptnApp
 	// +kubebuilder:default:=30
-	KeptnAppCreationRequestTimeout uint `json:"keptnAppCreationRequestTimeout,omitempty"`
+	// +optional
+	KeptnAppCreationRequestTimeoutSeconds uint `json:"keptnAppCreationRequestTimeoutSeconds,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // KeptnConfigStatus defines the observed state of KeptnConfig
diff --git a/operator/config/crd/bases/options.keptn.sh_keptnconfigs.yaml b/operator/config/crd/bases/options.keptn.sh_keptnconfigs.yaml
index 63ca3d07ca..5dfca17038 100644
--- a/operator/config/crd/bases/options.keptn.sh_keptnconfigs.yaml
+++ b/operator/config/crd/bases/options.keptn.sh_keptnconfigs.yaml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ spec:
                 description: OTelCollectorUrl can be used to set the Open Telemetry
                   collector that the operator should use
                 type: string
-              keptnAppCreationRequestTimeout:
+              keptnAppCreationRequestTimeoutSeconds:
                 default: 30
                 description: KeptnAppCreationRequestTimeout is used to set the interval
                   in which automatic app discovery searches for workload to put into
diff --git a/operator/config/manager/manager.yaml b/operator/config/manager/manager.yaml
index d6bf1b9203..24b5b52f79 100644
--- a/operator/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/operator/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ spec:
             valueFrom:
               fieldRef:
                 fieldPath: metadata.name
-          - name: OTEL_COLLECTOR_URL
-            value: otel-collector:4317
           - name: FUNCTION_RUNNER_IMAGE
             value: ghcr.keptn.sh/keptn/functions-runtime:v0.7.0 #x-release-please-version
+          - name: OTEL_COLLECTOR_URL
+            value: otel-collector:4317
           - name: KEPTN_APP_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL
             value: "0"
           - name: KEPTN_APP_VERSION_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL
diff --git a/operator/config/samples/options_v1alpha1_keptnconfig.yaml b/operator/config/samples/options_v1alpha1_keptnconfig.yaml
index 0c5861646c..b5510d3cf3 100644
--- a/operator/config/samples/options_v1alpha1_keptnconfig.yaml
+++ b/operator/config/samples/options_v1alpha1_keptnconfig.yaml
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ metadata:
     app.kubernetes.io/part-of: keptn-lifecycle-toolkit
     app.kuberentes.io/managed-by: kustomize
     app.kubernetes.io/created-by: keptn-lifecycle-toolkit
+    control-plane: lifecycle-operator
   name: keptnconfig-sample
 spec:
   OTelCollectorUrl: 'otel-collector:4317'
+  keptnAppCreationRequestTimeoutSeconds: 30
diff --git a/operator/controllers/options/keptnconfig_controller.go b/operator/controllers/options/keptnconfig_controller.go
index 404eda5c2c..6dc5c238c1 100644
--- a/operator/controllers/options/keptnconfig_controller.go
+++ b/operator/controllers/options/keptnconfig_controller.go
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ import (
 // KeptnConfigReconciler reconciles a KeptnConfig object
 type KeptnConfigReconciler struct {
 	client.Client
-	Scheme          *runtime.Scheme
-	Log             logr.Logger
-	LastAppliedSpec *optionsv1alpha1.KeptnConfigSpec
+	Scheme              *runtime.Scheme
+	Log                 logr.Logger
+	LastAppliedSpec     *optionsv1alpha1.KeptnConfigSpec
+	DefaultCollectorURL string
 }
 
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=options.keptn.sh,resources=keptnconfigs,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch;delete
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ func (r *KeptnConfigReconciler) reconcileOtelCollectorUrl(config *optionsv1alpha
 
 func (r *KeptnConfigReconciler) initConfig() {
 	r.LastAppliedSpec = &optionsv1alpha1.KeptnConfigSpec{
-		OTelCollectorUrl: "",
+		OTelCollectorUrl: r.DefaultCollectorURL,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/operator/main.go b/operator/main.go
index d87f6d33e8..cdd6d104b2 100644
--- a/operator/main.go
+++ b/operator/main.go
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ type envConfig struct {
 	KeptnTaskDefinitionControllerLogLevel   int `envconfig:"KEPTN_TASK_DEFINITION_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL" default:"0"`
 	KeptnWorkloadControllerLogLevel         int `envconfig:"KEPTN_WORKLOAD_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL" default:"0"`
 	KeptnWorkloadInstanceControllerLogLevel int `envconfig:"KEPTN_WORKLOAD_INSTANCE_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL" default:"0"`
-	KptnOptionsControllerLogLevel           int `envconfig:"OPTIONS_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL" default:"0"`
+	KeptnOptionsControllerLogLevel          int `envconfig:"OPTIONS_CONTROLLER_LOG_LEVEL" default:"0"`
+
+	KeptnOptionsCollectorURL string `envconfig:"OTEL_COLLECTOR_URL" default:""`
 }
 
 //nolint:funlen,gocognit,gocyclo
@@ -259,9 +261,10 @@ func main() {
 
 	configLogger := ctrl.Log.WithName("KeptnConfig Controller")
 	configReconciler := &controlleroptions.KeptnConfigReconciler{
-		Client: mgr.GetClient(),
-		Scheme: mgr.GetScheme(),
-		Log:    configLogger.V(env.KptnOptionsControllerLogLevel),
+		Client:              mgr.GetClient(),
+		Scheme:              mgr.GetScheme(),
+		Log:                 configLogger.V(env.KeptnOptionsControllerLogLevel),
+		DefaultCollectorURL: env.KeptnOptionsCollectorURL,
 	}
 	if err = (configReconciler).SetupWithManager(mgr); err != nil {
 		setupLog.Error(err, "unable to create controller", "controller", "KeptnConfig")