Two Million Dollar Open Space …
with a Wal-Mart Next Door?

In the August 2003 issue of the Littleton Report (pictured below) the city announced a $2 million purchase of land designated for open space.

Here is what the article said:

“A strategic piece of open space was purchased in June by the City of Littleton that will serve to protect South Platte Park and provide much needed parking and boat access to the South Platte River and the Mary Carter Greenway. The 22-acre Central Construction site was acquired at a cost of $2.12 million dollars. The purchase was made possible by voter approval of the TABOR ballot question in 2000.”

*Read the whole Littleton Report article here.

A site directly adjacent to this same land is now being considered as the site of a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

What are your thoughts about this?

Please submit your thoughts here in the comments or email them to us at walmart@littletonexaminer.com.

THE LITTLETON EXAMINER’S EDITORIAL POSITION

A Wal-Mart further south on Santa Fe would be just as convenient for Littleton shoppers. Putting it next to this open space is just not right. Wal-Mart could find another spot in Littleton to locate.

WHAT’S HAPPENED

Littleton’s Director of Communications issued a press release describing the process as follows:

“Wal-Mart is proposing an 187,000 square-foot store on the west side of Santa Fe Drive south of the Meadowood Village Mobile Home Park. The 23.5-acre site consists of three parcels and is zoned R-S (Residential Suburban Agricultural District). For the project to move forward, the city council must ultimately approve rezoning the property to PD-C (Planned Development Commercial).

The City Code specifies the criteria for all rezonings. The criteria include: an error in the original zoning of the property, or changing conditions in the particular area or in the city in general, or consistency with the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan.

The Planning Commission is an advisory body and its decision is not binding upon the city council. The city council will hold a public hearing at a later date after the Planning Commission forwards a recommendation.”

The Planning Commission has recommended that City Council approve the rezoning.

Wal-Mart has been through the conceptual Developmental Review Committee (“DRC”) meeting on the Site Development Plan, Plat and Rezoning.
They are currently making revision to the three applications and will be resubmitting to the DRC for final review on their time schedule.

Plat is being put on hold until applicant gains approval or denial on rezoning application.

The City’s website describes the DRC as follows:

“The Development Review committee (DRC) consists of three voting members, all from the City staff. Members are the City Manager the Director of Community Development and the Director of Public Services. Members may designate others to serve in their behalf. Many other City agencies provide technical assistance to the DRC, including Building, Engineering, Fire, Planning, Police and Zoning Departments.

DRC reviews all development proposals within the community. Recommendations are made by DRC to the Planning commission or the City Council on rezoning, subdivision or conditional use applications. DRC has final approval authority on all site plans required for the issuance of a Building Permit.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The City Council has scheduled two meetings to hear this rezoning application. The first was on January 23. The second meeting is on Tuesday, January 30.

It will be held at Littleton Center (City Hall) at 7:00 pm. It is a public meeting and if this issue is important to you we recommend that you attend if at all possible.