ButterBall LLC, the Longmont Turkey Processors are asking the city of Longmont to vacate Emery Street between 1 st and 2 nd Avenue and to give it to them
for free as 1.14 acres of development property having a value of about the $750,000.00.
The public hearing of this application before the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) was re-scheduled many times, most recently so the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) could discuss this issue on Monday, May 12 at 6:00 P M in the city building
located on the South/West corner of 4th and Kimbark. Entrance is in the East door.
The public hearing before P&Z is currently scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 7:00 P M in the city council chambers.
Currently, there are five streets east of the overpass that cross the Railroad tracks, which are Terry, Coffman, Main, Emery and Martin. During the last council meeting, council was notified by the planner assigned to the proposed Butterball Emery street vacation that bringing FasTracks into Longmont would likely mean vacating (removing)1 st Avenue West of Main street to make way for a rail station where the street currently exists. The proposed FasTracks rail station concept plan calls for vacation (removal) of the rail crossings at Terry and Coffman leaving Main, Emery and Martin the only streets east of the overpass to cross the Railroad. Vacation of Emery Street and removal of that Railroad crossing will leave Main and Martin as the only streets east of the overpass to cross the tracks.
Without even considering the proposed FasTracks vacations of Terry and Coffman, approval of the proposed Emery street vacation will negatively impact the area properties with access blight (a condition found at Twin Peaks Mall). This impact will obstruct and/or sever emergency access. One of many examples would be, accidents requiring intersection closures at Main or Martin. This loss of "reasonable access" will negatively impact tenant and property ownership rights and values of some area private properties much worse than others. Imagine coupling this with the proposed FasTracks rail crossing vacations of Terry and Coffman. There are many-many other issues.
Emery Street was not dedicated
to the city by some developer, it was
entrusted to the people as part of the original Chicago Colorado Colony plat, which this part of Longmont developed around and in reliance upon.
I need your help. I feel like a one legged man in a rump kicking contest in this issue.
Please mark the dates of the above TAB meeting and P&Z hearing on your calendar and be sure to show up and oppose the proposed vacation of Emery Street. Otherwise, please call or send your objection to:
City planner: Phil Greenwald:
Ph.303-651-8335
Fax 303-772-3351
Phil_Greenwald@ci.longmont.co.us .
Director of transportation:
Joe Olson at 303-651-8323