Wheat Ridge City Council will not reconsider a rezoning request to allow a property owner to build stores complete with loft housing above each building at 42nd and Xenon.
Property owner, Matthew Rock, wanted to rezone his land from agricultural to mixed-use. Neighboring residents opposed the request, saying that the little business the street sees is more than enough. Among their concerns were additional traffic in the area, making it dangerous for children.
Council voted 4-3 in favor of the rezoning of the property at its Jan. 14 regular meeting, however, because of a legal stipulation there needed to be a three-fourths majority in favor.
District IV Councilman Joseph DeMott said council’s discussion on the subject was inadequate and proposed a motion to reconsider the request.
In order to vote on it, one of the three dissenting members from the last vote would have to request a vote to reconsider. DeMott asserted that all Rock was requesting was a zone change and in and of itself, a zone change could not damage the safety of the neighborhood. DeMott then said that council had approved dozens of identical requests and felt that this one shouldn’t have been different.
Councilmembers Langworthy and Jay answered by saying they were content with their decision. Langworthy elaborated on her position, citing that people often use the intersection as a bypass which would cause problems if more business came to the neighborhood. None of the three dissenting members changed position on the matter, forcing council to leave the issue as is.