Commerce City OKs annexation
Rocky Mountain News
Published December 18, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.
The City Council on Monday night approved a controversial annexation that will add 1,260 acres at the center of the city.
The 8-1 vote approving the measure came after residents and the businesses from the area, currently part of Adams County, protested not being able to vote on whether they want to join the city.
They contend the annexation is an illegal land grab aimed at securing $3.1 million in tax revenues that Commerce City needs to make up for a budget shortfall.
Ryan Call, a lawyer for the opponents, predicted the annexation would not withstand a legal challenge and said the city "is pushing the outer boundaries of annexation law."
But council members say the annexation would allow the city to fund much-needed road improvements and geographically link the northern and southern halves of the city.
"It's now time to make our city whole and make it look not like Swiss cheese," said Mayor Paul Natale.
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