Arvada Press 0617

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June 17, 2021

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 16

VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 52

Arvada City Council votes down Amazon’s Proposal Annexation ordinance crucial to proposed warehouse rejected with 5-2 vote BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A youth group at AUMC’s Pride celebration.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATIE VIGIL

Arvada United Methodist Church holds Pride Month Celebration More than 70 attendees celebrate LGBTQ+ community BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Arvada United Methodist Church held a celebration in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month on June 13 at their location on Carr Street. The event was attended by over 70 members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community featured a small parade, informational booths, and speeches from House District 27 Rep. Brianna Titone and AUMC Bishop Dr. Amy Gearhart. The event ran from 12-2 p.m. and saw attendees adorned in rainbow regalia with signs supporting the LGBTQ+ community. A youth group set up an informational table to share resources for young people who identify as LGBTQ+. The AUMC joined the Reconciling Ministries Network in 2000, meaning that the congregation believes that “all people are God’s children and affirm(s) that all SEE PRIDE, P8

House District 27 Representative Brianna Titone and Arvada United Methodist Church Lead Pastor Dr. Amy Gearhart at AUMC’s Pride celebration on June 12.

After seven hours of deliberation, dozens of public comments and months of debate, Amazon’s proposal to build a warehouse in western Arvada was rejected by City Council on June 15 with a 5-2 vote on an annexation ordinance necessary for the tech giant’s proposal to move forward. Mayor Marc Williams and Mayor Pro Tem Dot Miller were the two dissenting votes. Amazon’s proposal to build a 112,485 sq. ft. “last-mile” Delivery Station warehouse in Arvada — referred to as “Project Indiana” — involved annexing of unincorporated county land into the city, rezoning some of the land parcels and approval of the warehouse development plan. When the annexation of 6700 Indiana Street, 6702 Indiana Street, 6710 Indiana Street and a Portion of 6720 Indiana Street E was voted down, Amazon’s proposal was effectively denied. The 36-acre site in question borders the Maple Valley neighborhood and the Ralston Creek trail, a habitat for bobcats, coyotes, deer, and other species of wildlife. A group called the Ralston Valley Coalition — formerly known as Protect Maple Valley Park — formed to oppose the development based on a number of concerns that the group has raised. Prior to the Project Indiana vote, Council unanimously voted to annex Maple Valley Park, previously located in unincorporated Jefferson County, into Arvada. The council subsequently voted 7-0 to rezone Maple Valley Park from Jefferson County A-2 (agricultural) to Arvada Open Space. SEE AMAZON, P14


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