This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Longmont City Council Members approved bill O-2017-26 last night (May 2nd, 2017) to rezone the Creekside business park, located at the southeast corner of Pike road and Hover street, from business light industrial (BLI) to residential high density. The vote was 5-2. Council Members Brian Bagley and Joan Peck voted against the bill.
During the first public hearing session of last night’s meeting, various community members stated their opposition to the rezoning, with traffic and building height being the most brought up issues. Traffic is expected to increase at Pike and Hover by nearly 20% during peak hours; the applicant, Tetra Tech, is, however, "proposing to provide dual southbound left turn lanes at the intersection." Building heights could go as high as 65 feet, but are expected to be between 40-45 feet.
At one point during the meeting, City Council Member Brian Bagley asked if neighborhood meetings and neighborhood input ever took place regarding the proposed rezoning. According to the March 15, 2017 Creekside 2nd Filing Rezoning & Concept Plan, WGG Longmont Development, LLC, the property owners of the 14.39 acres of land, held a neighborhood meeting at Fire Station #5, 617 Barberry Drive, Longmont, CO 80503 at 6:30pm on September 12, 2016. The meeting was attended by 18 neighbors. While two notices were sent, they were only sent to property owners and residents within 1,000 feet of the project.
The property, part of the Pike Phase III Annexation, was approved in 1987 to be BLI. According to the aforementioned Concept Plan, the property owners, WGG Longmont Development LLC, they have been attempting to develop the property for several decades but have seen little interest due to the zoning being BLI.
The approved rezoning will accommodate a senior living facility on lot 1 and multi-family dwellings on lot 2.
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