In the Region

In the Region

FIRESTONE AND LONGMONT TIED UP IN ANNEXATION BATTLE

Firestone official took an emergency action on March 28 to annex Firelight Park in a flagpole annexation that requires using right of way along Colo. 119. That would effectively eliminate the existing buffer between the town and the City of Longmont. Longmont has initiated strategic annexations of its own and filed a motion with Weld County District Court to block the Firelight Park annexation by Firestone. Firestone officials have also approved a resolution setting a public hearing to consider annexation and development approval for the Union Development proposed by LifeBridge Christian Church that includes up to 700 homes and 640,000SF of commercial development on 350 acres adjacent to and east of Firelight Park. That development was approved in unincorporated Weld County two years ago. LifeBridge applied for annexation into Longmont but that move was stalled by a citizen petition forcing the matter to a public vote. LifeBridge subsequently pulled its annexation request. The Firelight Park annexation issue is likely to be decided by State officials and Weld County since the right of way (ROW) in question is owned by the State and both municipalities want to annex the same property. Owners of the 74-acre Firelight Park parcel applied for annexation to Firestone in February, igniting the current annexation battle.