LONGMONT — The fate of LifeBridge Christian Church’s massive retail and residential development in east Longmont will now be decided by the voters.
Longmont City Council members Tuesday night said they will put the church’s proposal on the ballot early next year.
The council’s decision came at a work session in which City Clerk Valeria Skitt announced that at least 4,725 valid signatures had been collected during a September petition drive organized by opponents of the church’s plans.
“All I can say is that democracy is alive and well in Longmont,” said Councilwoman Karen Benker, the lone council member who voted against the development on Aug. 14.
A majority of the council voted to annex 348 acres of the church’s land on Colorado 119 south of Union Reservoir and approved preliminary development plans.
But opponents last month collected enough valid signatures to overturn the council’s decision. The council was then left with two options: repeal its vote or put the issue up for a special election.
Council members Tuesday night voted unanimously for the public vote. Many said they looked forward to defending their original decision to back the LifeBridge idea of putting up religious buildings alongside commercial and retail development.
“I’m quite comfortable with the decision I made, and this may be the opportunity to describe why we went this route,” said Councilman Marty Block.
LifeBridge and 4C, the church’s business arm, want to build 300 to 700 homes; construct 680,000 square feet of commercial development – including a 150,000-square-foot sports and fitness center; and build 1 million square feet of religious and civic structures.
The church says the proposal will bring needed jobs and tax revenue to Longmont and improve the city’s eastern entryway.
But opponents say the church’s tax-exempt status affects how much actual revenue the city will get from development. It will also put too much pressure on local roads and add to school overcrowding, they say.
“We are just tired of seeing sprawl and overcrowding in our schools in Longmont,” said resident Norma Figgs.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
