Longmont

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Longmont

LIFEBRIDGE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS AT ANNEXATION TO LONGMONT

Lifebrige Church’s 313-acre property along Colo. 119 east of the city has already been approved for development in unincorporated Weld County. Now, church leaders are negotiating for a possible annexation of the property to Longmont. The project proposes to build a 6000 seat chapel, several hundred homes, and 650,000 square feet of retail space. A key to an annexation deal is that the City waive some of its current development regulations and allow Lifebridge to create a special tax district to help pay for development costs. Lifebridge is also seeking to annex its current campus north of Colo. 66 and west of U.S. 287 into the city and redevelop it into a shopping center. The Planning and Zoning commission has already approved a significant portion of the project. A hearing and vote by council has not been scheduled yet but could come in the second half of April.

COUNCIL FINALIZES ‘07 AGENDA THAT INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING

At the City Council’s January retreat, a 2007 work plan has been created which emphasizes economic development; in particular urban renewal, Midtown revitalization, the redevelopment of the flour mill and a downtown parking structure are listed as key projects. In the second quarter the council intends to look at the city’s affordable housing program and consider revisions to make it more flexible and adaptive in changing economic and market conditions as well as a strategy to address substandard housing. An implementation strategy for the substandard housing program will be sketched out in the second half of the year.

78 ACRE ANNEXATION GAINS PRELIMINARY APPROVAL

The Longmont City Council gave initial approval to a plan to annex a 78-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Vermillion Road and 95th Street. The council voted 5-1 to refer the Pasqual property though the city’s annexation review process. It is extremely unlikely, based on history, that the council will reject the annexation application when it is ready for formal review. Councilwoman Karen Benker was the sole vote against the proposal, arguing that more planning is necessary for the area and that existing homes aren’t selling.