Transcript WHEAT RIDGE 3.7.13
Wheat Ridge
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 29, Issue 37
March 7, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
County eyes mixed-use zoning Category a catch-all for residential, commercial combinations By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Mark Kelly speaks to reporters during a state Capitol press conference that preceded testimony on several gun control measures. Kelly’s wife is former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot during a political event in Tucson, Ariz. Following his remarks, the retired astronaut and Navy captain testified before the Senate’s State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, in support of a bill that would require universal background checks on all gun sales and transfers. Photo by Vic Vela
Gun-control bills advance Two sides stake out positions in lengthy hearing
Capitol Report
By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Seven Democratic-sponsored gun control bills passed state legislative committees on March 4, following a remarkable day where swarms of people filled the Capitol to make their voices heard on the most polarizing political issue of the session. The seven bills passed two Democratic-controlled Senate committees on party-line votes, following lengthy hearings that often became emotional — and sometimes got a little rowdy. The first bill hearing began just after 10:30 a.m., with passage of the seventh and final bill of the day taking place about 12 hours later. There was plenty of buzz in and around the Capitol throughout much of the day — including honking vehicles that drove around the Capitol in circles all day long, in what was a grating display of displeasure from some opposed to the guncontrol measures. Those in favor of the bills also made their opinions known before the hearings started. A press conference was held by gun violence victims and family members whose lives have been affected by mass shootings, all of whom called for tighter gun laws.
One of them was Mark Kelly, the space shuttle commander and husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. On Jan. 8, 2011, Giffords was seriously injured in a shooting rampage while she was hosting a constituent event outside a grocery store near Tucson. The shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, used a Glock 18 semiautomatic handgun to fire more than 30 rounds in a matter of seconds into the crowd, killing six people and injuring many. Loughner ended up pleading guilty to several federal charges and is now serving life in prison. After the press event, Kelly testified in support of House Bill 1229, which requires universal background checks for gun sales and transfers, telling members of the Senate’s State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee that the bill would help keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people like Loughner. “Behind every victim lies a matrix of failure and inadequacy,” Kelly said, referring to issues such as poverty and mental health. “The breadth and complexity of gun violence is great. But that is not an excuse for inaction.” But Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, did not take up
Kelly’s call for action. “Public policy should not be based on emotion,” Harvey said. “Public policy should be based on logic. Even if this (law) was in place in Arizona, it would not have stopped the shooter from getting the gun.”
Horns honk for firearms
Disputes of the Kelly and Harvey kind were hardly unique on March 4. All day long, through several hours of testimony and hallway conversations, there were pointcounterpoints being made on a day of frenzied activity at the Capitol. The two large committee rooms that held the hearings — including the Old Supreme Court Chambers — felt more like phone booths for much of the day, as concerned citizens and members of the press packed the standing-room only affairs. That’s not to mention the phenomenal lines that wrapped around the committee rooms, which were full of Coloradans — predominantly Second Amendment advocates — who showed up well in advance of the first hearing in hopes of having a chance to testify. Mark Dunham of Conifer —
who was sporting camouflage gear and an “I Vote Pro-Gun” sticker on his chest — was sitting alone in a hallway, after having arrived at the Capitol about 9:30 a.m. It was 1 p.m. in the afternoon when he spoke with a reporter, and he was still waiting for his name to be called. “This is nothing,” he said. “These are just the people who could make it today. There’s a lot more of us, and I plan to stay in here the whole day, until it concludes.” Meanwhile, there was wild theater going on outside the Capitol. Vehicles made continuous circles around the building, with drivers who opposed the gun bills participating in what seemed like an endless hornhonking display. The blaring noise from outside was muffled, but was certainly audible from inside each of the committee hearing rooms. One of the vehicles, a largesized truck, flew a Tea Party flag and the Stars and Stripes as it circled around, and around and around. “It’s just a zoo out there,” said Juliette Hidahl of Denver, who showed up in support of Gun Control continues on Page 18
Jefferson County is officially mixing it up — establishing a “mixed development” zoning designation. Mixed-use zoning is a catch-all term to describe development that residential and commercial elements “planned as a unified complementary whole.” That description was included as part of the county planning staff’s proposal to add a mixed use zone to the county books. “We are behind many cities and counties in Colorado on this,” Commission Chair Donald Rosier said. County Planner Alan Tiefenbach presented the proposal on Feb. 6, which was accepted 3-0 by the county commissioners. Effective immediately, developers will be able to request land be designated part of a Mixed Use Zone District, for the purpose of building any project that entwines residential space with other uses. Such developments have already been planned and built in Jefferson County, but had to go through a separate Planned Development process to reach county approval. Tiefenbach said establishing specific zoning guidelines for mixed use projects would save time and cut confusion for planners and developers. “I think this is a great tool to have in the toolbox,” District 2 Commissioner Casey Tighe said. There would be three levels of proposed mixed use: limited commercial, neighborhood commercial and large scale commercial. The lowest level would accommodate the “live above the shop” kind of development. Step two would be more fitting for shopping centers along major roads with residential units mixed in. Large scale commercial would accommodate higher commercial square footages. “These would be your Belmar-style projects,” Tiefenbach said. The mixed-use zoning would encourage buildings be moved closer to the street, with entrances placed along sidewalks, to encourage pedestrian traffic. Parking lots are suggested to be shifted to the sides and back of properties. “It’s a different concept, because we’re so used to driving down the road and seeing the parking lots with the store in back,” District 1 Commissioner Faye Griffin said. “But this looks good to me.”
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Mark Kelly testifies before the Senate’s State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, in support of a bill that would require all gun sales and transfers to be subjected to background checks. The retired astronaut and Navy captain’s wife is former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot during a political event in Tucson, Ariz.
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