LONGMONT — A two-year border war over growth at the edges of Longmont and Firestone is finally settled, with officials saying they want peace between the communities.
“This is a case where everybody took a step back, took a deep breath and decided there is a better way than squandering taxpayer money,” said Firestone Town Manager Wes LaVanchy.
In a settlement agreement filed with the Colorado Court of Appeals and Weld County District Court this week, Longmont and Firestone both made concessions but also got a measure of protection for their borders.
Longmont within 30 days will pay Firestone $100,000, which is roughly half of Firestone’s legal fees of more than $220,000 during the annexation war, said LaVanchy. But, he pointed out, Firestone passed all its legal bills to the owners of the Union and Firelight developments on Longmont’s eastern edge. The proposed developments were at the center of the lengthy court battle.
Longmont spent $190,000 through May 27 to pay for outside attorneys to handle its end of the litigation.
Under the settlement, Firestone’s annexation of Union and Firelight can move forward. Longmont, meanwhile, can continue annexing city-owned open space along the St. Vrain River to provide a community buffer and protect sensitive ecological areas.
Both communities, Firestone Mayor Chad Auer said, got just about everything each needed to assure responsible growth.
“This settlement agreement provides Firestone and Longmont in southwest Weld County an opportunity to cooperate on intergovernmental matters to the benefit of both communities,” Auer said.
“Longmont can now move forward with important projects in Weld County on property owned by the city of Longmont, including the annexation of open space . . . trail connections and other projects that serve Longmont,” said Longmont Mayor Bryan Baum.
Lawsuits began flying in 2008 after Firestone began to annex the 74-acre Firelight Park property, at Colorado 119 and Fairview Street, and the nearby Union parcel, just south of Union Reservoir.
The Union property was especially controversial because LifeBridge Christian Church wanted to develop commercial, housing and church-related buildings on the parcel.
Longmont tried to block the Firestone developments by annexing city-owned open space along the St. Vrain River and east of Union Reservoir.
Several lawsuits were filed, and many were decided against Longmont, which kept appealing. But in December — with new members on the City Council — Longmont decided to pursue a settlement.
The end of the feud is a positive development for Life Bridge, which is moving ahead with its plans for the Union parcel, said LifeBridge administrative pastor Kevin King.
“To have the cooperation of those municipalities is really a good thing for the community at large and for us as well,” King said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
