At least 5,500 signatures are expected to be delivered to the Longmont city clerk today as part of a bid to halt a church’s massive housing and retail development.
If enough of the signatures are verified, the petition opposing LifeBridge Christian Church’s 348-acre Union project in east Longmont will be presented to the City Council, said City Clerk Valeria Skitt.
The referendum petition calls for the City Council to either repeal approval of the project and its annexation into Longmont or put the matter to a public vote.
The council approved the annexation and development agreement Aug. 14.
But several residents objected because of questions over the tax-exempt status of the church as well as the traffic congestion and the school crowding the development could generate.
“We’ve been amazed at the passion and the turnout of this issue,” said Jen Gartner, who led the petition drive. “We need 4,021 valid signatures. At this point, we’re turning in nearly 40 percent more than that.”
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
