City of Longmont

City of Longmont

COUNCIL VOTES TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC POLICY
The Longmont City Council voted against funding a financial impact study regarding a proposed Wal-Mart store at Colo. Highway 119 and County Line Road. The January 10 vote means the city will continue its philosophy of letting the market dictate which types of stores should locate in Longmont. Both the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce and the Longmont Area Economic Council officially objected to the study. Council members Marty Block and Karen Benker supported the study, saying it would have given them valuable information about the city’s retail sector. City planners will continue to review the application that will then be considered by the Planning & Zoning Commission and the City Council before it is approved.

COUNCIL DESIGNATES ITSELF AS THE URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY
The City Council voted unanimously to designate itself as the new Longmont Urban Renewal Authority despite the objections of a few observers who felt this gave the council too much power. The Longmont Association of REALTORS® voiced its support for the decision, saying the council is “the most appropriate body to serve as the Urban Renewal Authority because its members have been elected by the citizens of Longmont and entrusted with the responsibility that comes with that office.” In addition LAR also supports the concept of an urban renewal district for the area between and including the sugar and flour mills, with the caveat that “Property owners … must be given every consideration and should obtain full market value for properties acquired by eminent domain as part of any urban renewal project.”