Longmont

COUNCIL APPROVES LIFEBRIDGE ANNEXATION

The City Council voted 6-1 in mid-August to annex the 348-acre LifeBridge parcel into Longmont, despite the presentation of a petition with 850 + signatures requesting the issue be put to a public vote. Council member Karen Benker pushed her fellow council members to put the issue on the ballot but her colleagues did not share her opinion that "the people" should decide. A citizen group has formed to try and gather more than 4000 signatures needed to petition the project onto the ballot. Some opponents criticized the size and density of the development's residential component which is smaller and less dense than other residential developments that have been approved without public outcry. Although many opponents have put the issue in a constitutional context, it is a stretch to argue the annexation amounts to a violation of the separation between church and state. It is, however, reasonable to ensure that the church does not use its tax exempt status to avoid paying taxes on portions of the project that are not church related. The project is expected to have as many as 700 homes, a 150,00SF sports arena, 60 acres of religious facilities and 40 acres of commercial space.