Issuu

STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903

75cI

VOLUME 119

Issue 49

WEEK OF DECEMBER 8, 2022

Grocery, convenience stores to sell wine

‘Tis the holiday season in Brighton

Change starts in March BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SU

negotiated terms are more protective than city and state requirements, the operator agreed to plugging and abandoning existing wells within the city, the city will receive financial reimbursements, higher insurance and assurance requirements, there will be training and coordination with the fire department and the operator conducted a location analysis to see where the best location would be. Some of the negotiated terms that exceed protective requirements include using electric equipment on site, Tier 4+ fracturing pumps, ongoing 24-hour computerized monitoring, response to Ozone Action Days and early implementation of Leak Detection and Repair inspections.

After counting up the remaining votes from Denver, Proposition 125 changed direction and narrowly passed, letting Coloradans buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store. Grocery and convenience stores with a license to sell beer can begin selling wine March 1. That’s approximately 1,819 licensees as of June 2021, according to the Department of Revenue. They’ll also be able to offer beer and wine tastings. “We’re pleased that Coloradans will soon be able to pick up a bottle of wine when purchasing groceries,” said Rick Reiter, campaign director for Wine in Grocery Stores. “Consumer habits are evolving, and it was inevitable that either this election, or one soon thereafter, that Colorado would become the 40th state to have wine in grocery stores.” The measure was losing by less than a percentage point for most of election night and the next two days. The “yes” votes jumped ahead on the third evening. As votes were counted, the opinion was stark between rural and urban communities. Rural counties voted largely against Proposition 125 while the Denver metro area and El Paso County were in favor. La Plata County, in the southwest corner of the state, rejected Proposition 125 by a clear majority, or 57.3% of voters. Denver voters, meanwhile, approved the measure

SEE FRACKING, P15

SEE WINE, P7

Five-year-old Charlotte Rowland is about to deliver her Christmas wish list to Santa and Mrs Claus at the city of Brighton’s treelighting program Dec. 3 at Founders Plaza. After repairs to a breaker, Mayor Greg Mills lit the Christmas tree, signifying the beginning PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH of the holiday season See story Page 5..

Civitas gets thumbs up for 10 fracking wells in Thornton BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Thornton city council approved a proposed 10-well fracking site at the southeast corner of the E-470 and I-25 intersection on Nov. 29 on a 6-2 vote. “You’ve done everything that can be done for that location,” Mayor Jan Kulmann said. Civitas Resources Inc. bought land from Sands Partners LLC and will use 3.6 acres to develop 10 wells. However, the rest of the land plans to be developed as well. A proposal is awaiting city council approval for 1.3 million square feet of warehouse development next to the fracking site. The site will be active for 20-30 years. Even if city council didn’t approve

the project, it would’ve most likely been given the green light through a different route of authorization. Thornton’s Municipal Code outlines three different routes, according to Colin Wahab, acting planning manager. The Oil and Gas Permit Process requires a public hearing if the minimum requirements are satisfied, the Expedited Oil and Gas Permit Process says staff approves administratively if the operator meets heightened standards, and the Operator Agreement, which is approved by city council and establishes a framework for environmental, public health, safety and welfare. Civitas went through an operator agreement and staff recommended approval. According to Wahab, the

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