Resident claims petition to stop Englewood multifamily development is invalid

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

First, Englewood City Council approved zoning for multifamily housing at the former Sam’s Automotive lot; then a citizen petition appeared to throw a monkey wrench in those development plans; and now a protest is challenging the validity of that citizen petition.

So now the question remains of whether a 395-unit residential complex in Englewood will be built, as a city resident — with the support of the proposed developer — has led the protest that will go to a hearing.

To determine the anti-development referendum petition’s validity, a public hearing was held on June 23. A story on that hearing will be in next week’s edition of the Englewood Herald.

If the referendum petition is found to be invalid, the proposed development would be expected to move forward, or an appeal of that decision could be led in district court.

However, if the referendum petition is still deemed valid, then the city council will decide whether to repeal the ordinance approving the development or have Englewood residents vote on the matter at the next general municipal election, which will be in November, unless the city holds a special election sooner.

e e ort to stop the proposed development e Englewood City Council approved the proposed development earlier this year through a series of votes, given that the developers had to go through a planned unit development (PUD) application process to facilitate a rezoning of the property. e letter cited infrastructure issues that some residents felt were not considered and asked for studies regarding tra c density, noise quality, air quality and soil contamination on the site. e referendum petition stated that those who signed it are protesting the ordinance that approved the planned unit development.

Embrey Partners, the proposed developer, aims to build 361 apartment units in a four-story building and 34 rental townhomes in seven three-story buildings on a lot stretching south and east from the intersection of West Oxford Avenue and South Navajo Street, where the former Sam’s Automotive business was located.

On April 7, the o ce of the city clerk received a letter initiating a referendum regarding the proposed development from residents Davon Williams and Gary Kozacek.

It stated, “By signing this petition, you are protesting this ordinance going into e ect and — if su cient signatures are obtained — causing Englewood City Council to reconsider this ordinance, by either repealing it in full or calling a special election to submit it to a vote of the electors of this city.” e referendum petition needed at least 1,466 valid signatures of Englewood registered electors by May 4. e city announced in a June 6 news release that the city clerk’s ofce determined the petition “to be valid and su cient.”

City Clerk Stephanie Carlile said via email that 1,747 signatures were submitted and, after review by the city clerk’s o ce, 254 signatures were rejected. e total number of valid signatures was 1,493, she wrote.