A costly legal fight between Longmont and neighboring Fire stone may finally cease after the Longmont City Council made peace overtures this week.
The City Council — which has three new members — told the city attorney to begin settlement negotiations with Firestone on five lawsuits filed over annexation issues.
Newly elected Longmont Mayor Bryan Baum said ending litigation was a stated priority for all three council candidates during the election campaign.
“I think it’s fair to say one of our missions was to try to get out of the courts,” Baum said. “I think that’s a noble quest.”
By the most conservative estimates, Longmont has already paid more than $157,000 to outside attorneys to continue with the suits, Baum said.
“We just wanted to open up communications,” Baum said. “We’re anxious to get this behind us.”
Most of the lawsuits revolve around the controversial Union annexation, a proposed 365-acre commercial and multifamily development just east of Longmont.
LifeBridge Christian Church, which owns the Union parcel, wanted originally to have Union annexed into Longmont. But because of fierce opposition from Longmont residents, LifeBridge withdrew its bid and asked to be annexed into Firestone.
Firestone also wanted to annex the 74-acre Firelight Park property near Colorado 119 and Fairview Street. Longmont officials filed lawsuits to block the annexations.
The lawsuits have been circulating in Weld District Court. Firestone’s legal fees, now totaling about $190,000, are passed on to the developers involved in the lawsuits, said Fire stone finance director Ron Lay.
The council also asked that a lawsuit filed by the Longmont Times-Call newspaper be settled. The paper sued over alleged violations of open-meetings law.
Firestone Town Manager Wesley LaVanchy said the two communities can now write a new history.
“This will be a win-win between us,” LaVanchy said. “It’s an early Christmas present.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
