WEEK OF NOVEMBER 14, 2024
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 20
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Arvada City Council votes down resolution for RV storage facility proposal on former landfill
Daugherty beats Bandimere in Colorado State Senate District 19 race
Lindsey Daugherty BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The environmental concerns about the site were brought up by residents who live nearby.
Controversial RV storage facility proposal that drew ire of neighbors looks to be dead in the water BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Afterdrawing the ire of neighbors due to environmental concerns, the controversial proposed RV storage facility that would have been built along Ralston Creek at 6800 Kilmer St. has been struck down by Arvada’s City Council, which denied a motion to amend the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Code to make way for the development. At the Nov. 5 city council
meeting, council denied a resolution to amend the Comprehensive Plan for the site, which would have needed to be zoned Industrial/Office rather than its current designation of Mixed Use; Residential Emphasis to facilitate the construction of an RV storage facility. Many objections to the change were brought, chiefly concerning the environmental impacts of industrial activity on the site, which was formerly a landfill, and the lack of an appropriate buffer between the site and the surrounding neighborhoods. Before council can review a zoning change proposal — much less the actual site plan for the RV storage facility — the Comprehensive Plan would have needed to be amended to facilitate the construction of an industrial development.
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13
In order to satisfy the conditions of a Comprehensive Plan amendment, the site would need to meet seven criteria for the zoning change including being compatible with the surrounding area, having no negative impacts on transportation and promoting the public welfare of the surrounding community. On Sept. 17, the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment was reviewed by the city’s planning commission, which recommended that council deny the resolution. Community member Suzanne Grandchamp, who lives “500 to 1,000 feet from the proposed development” spoke out against the resolution and said that there had been no substantial changes to the proposal between the time it came before the planning commission and now. “I don’t think there was
COURTESY CITY OF ARVADA
anything presented this evening that was new or not considered by the planning commission,” Grandchamp said. “Arguably, the planning commission was in the best position to consider all of the evidence and the process was lengthy and thorough… That’s why they’re the advisory arm to city council. Their 6-1 vote was pretty decisive; it wasn’t close.” Many other community members came to the city council meeting to speak out against the proposal, including Deborah Gander, who said that the resolution doesn’t satisfy item two of the approval criteria, which states that a change to the Comprehensive Plan must be compatible with the surrounding area and be compatible with the goals and policies of the Plan. SEE PROPOSAL, P6
Democrat Lindsey Daugherty beat Republican opponent Sam Bandimere in the Colorado State Senate District 19 race. Daugherty declared victory on social media. “This victory belongs to every person who believes Colorado deserves leadership that puts families first — every volunteer, supporter, donor, and voter who made their voice heard,” Daugherty said. “As a mom, attorney, and State Representative, I’ve seen firsthand how decisions at the State Capitol affect real families. Now, because of your support, I’ll bring that perspective — and your voices — to the State Senate.” The SD19 seat, which covers Arvada, is currently held by Democrat Rachel Zenzinger, who is term-limited. Daugherty currently serves in the Colorado House of Representatives as the District 24 representative. Bandimere conceded on social media. “While defeat is hard for any of us to deal with, I am encouraged with the fact that we have a sovereign God who makes no mistakes,” Bandimere said. “However, sometimes it is hard to determine where His sovereign will and man’s freewill choices cross. I want to express my heart felt Thank You to all who prayed for and supported our effort to win this election for Senate Seat 19.”
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