Cabela’s officials said Thursday they would consider backing out of their proposed Wheat Ridge site if the outfitter is required to pay for more than its fair share of road improvements.
“We are firmly committed to the project,” said Mike Callahan, Cabela’s senior vice president for retail operations. “But there are some decision points as we move forward. Once it begins to exceed our expectations and begins to impact the rate of return, then it’s a board decision.”
The key decision will come when the regional traffic study is presented to the Colorado Transportation Commission. It’s anticipated the commission will decide on a traffic solution and who pays in August.
Traffic congestion has been the No. 1 concern about the 230,000 – square-foot “retail destination showroom” that Cabela’s wants to build on 40 acres southwest of Colorado 58 and Interstate 70.
An estimated 4 million people annually would visit the store, which would generate a projected $10 million yearly in sales and property tax. The store would employ about 450 full- and part-time employees.
Callahan said Cabela’s has earmarked more than $15 million to improve area roads, such as Youngfield and McIntyre streets and West 32nd Avenue.
Road-improvement costs assigned to Cabela’s above that amount might be a deal-breaker, especially since the project has cost more than twice what a typical Cabela’s costs to open, Callahan said.
The area has significant traffic problems, as neighbors have testified about in public meetings about Cabela’s plans.
“This isn’t a problem that Cabela’s created. It’s a legacy thing where over the last 20 years, there has not been a lot of money spent on infrastructure as that place has grown,” Callahan said.
Cabela’s wants a “workable traffic solution,” Callahan said. “The last thing we want is customers walking in with tight jaws because they had to wait in traffic.”
Officials of the Nebraska-based chain are perturbed with Jefferson County, which objected to an interim zoning approved May 23 by the Wheat Ridge City Council.
Under state law, land must be zoned within 90 days of annexation. The land was annexed at the end of February.
While grading work has begun as part of required mining reclamation, no construction is permitted under the interim zoning.
On Thursday, county officials reiterated support of the project, saying they objected because road plans are incomplete.
“This is the highest of priorities” on the county’s road plan, said Commissioner Kevin McCasky.
The county board asked U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, an Arvada Republican, to earmark money for the traffic-troubled area. It’s estimated it would cost about $58 million to improve the Colorado 58/I-70 interchange.
McCasky said $9 million in federal money has been earmarked over two years in addition to $2 million already received.
The commissioners have realigned their five-year transportation project program to pour “anywhere from $9 (million) to $12 million of our money into Highway 58 and I-70,” McCasky said.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
