Longmont annexation foes win round
Petition to reverse action on church development OK'd
Rocky Mountain News
Published October 11, 2007 at midnight
LONGMONT - Longmont voters will get a chance to reverse the City Council's decision to annex 348 acres that paves the way for construction of a $25 million megachurch complex - unless council members decide to rescind the vote themselves.
City Clerk Valeria Skitt said Wednesday that at least 4,725 petition signatures, the required number, had been validated and a referendum on the council's vote could be scheduled.
The council, which approved the annexation of land owned by LifeBridge Christian Church on a 6-1 vote Aug. 14, has until Nov. 15 to act on the petition. It could rescind its approval or it could schedule a special election on the referendum.
Skitt said it was the first time in her 15 years as city clerk that residents have successfully used the petition process to try to undo a council action.
She will present the petition to the council Tuesday.
"This is a historic first step toward allowing Longmont residents to make important decisions for their own community," said petition organizer Jen Gartner.
"I hope today's announcement will remind our elected officials that their constituents are indeed capable of making reasonable decisions," she said.
LifeBridge plans to spend $25 million to build a sports arena, luxury homes, retail space and a megachurch on property near Union Reservoir on the eastern edge of the city.
LifeBridge sought annexation to Longmont to get the city's help in bringing water lines and other infrastructure to the area.
Council members have said the issue has been discussed for a long time and that there had been ample opportunity for public comment before their vote.
The Union plan
348 acres east of Longmont would become a residential and commercial site called Union. The project would be developed by LifeBridge Christian Church.
The details The plan would include:
200 condominiums, apartments and houses
40 acres of office, commercial and retail space
150,000-square -foot fitness and team sports arena that would double as a worship center
57 acres of religious and civic spaceSource: Rocky Mountain News
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
