Westminster – The fight over two proposed big-box stores in two north metro communities went down to the wire Tuesday night.
As of press time, an effort to overturn the approval of a proposed Wal-Mart in Westminster was losing by a nose but still too close to call. A measure that would repeal a rezoning decision that cleared the way for a big-box development in Thornton appeared to have lost. About 400 votes separated either side in both elections, with more than 80 percent of precincts reporting.
At 10 p.m., those wanting the Wal-Mart to be built were leading those opposed to it by about 6 percentage points.
“We’ve been up a little; we’ve been down a little,” said Dino Valente, an organizer for the Westminster group fighting the Wal-Mart. “It’s neck-and-neck.”
Valente and about 50 people from the group gathered at a community clubhouse Tuesday night to watch the returns. They huddled around a laptop and squealed each time new returns were posted on the Internet.
A couple of miles away, Richard Mayo, part of a group fighting to allow the Wal-Mart, waited at the Westminster City Hall for returns. He said he planned to wait until close to midnight.
“What I’m hoping is that the opposition got their people out early, so the votes coming in later will favor us,” he said.
At issue is whether a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter should be built in a run-down shopping center at West 72nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. The Westminster City Council approved the store, but numerous residents objected and organized a petition drive that forced the council to put the matter before the voters.
A similar scenario played out in neighboring Thornton, where the City Council approved a rezoning to allow for a big-box store near several new neighborhoods at East 128th Avenue and Quebec Street. Residents there protested as well, and the council also decided to put the issue on the ballot.
Proponents of the rezoning had a lead of about 7 percentage points as of press time.
“We just want responsible growth,” said Karm Sunday, one of the Thornton residents opposed to the rezoning.
Those on both sides of the campaign lamented the slow pace of returns.
Carol Snyder, the Adams County clerk, said she expected voter turnout to set a record for an odd-year election in the county. Close to 63,000 people voted, she said.
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
