Littleton 12-5-2013
December 5, 2013 75 cents
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 125, Issue 20
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlittletonnews.com
Complan update gets board’s OK Document now goes to council for final approval By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com
Santa’s reindeer await his arrival at Bradford Auto Body on Main Street during Littleton’s Candlelight Walk on Nov. 29.
HURRY UP, SANTA!
Thousands headed downtown for Littleton’s annual Candlelight Walk the night after Thanksgiving. The crowd enjoyed caroling, fire dancers, hot chocolate, warm cider and Santa’s traditional visit.
Amy and Aaron Krieg of Littleton hold little Adler and Aven up to see the giant candy-cane switch that lights up the big tree next to the Melting Pot.
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SMITH
After years of wrangling with a vision for the city, members of the planning board are finally ready to move on to specifics. The board unanimously approved an amendment to Littleton’s comprehensive plan that lays out its goals as they move into updating individual neighborhood plans. “My goal is to ensure the small-area plans are inclusive and that they do provide the integration of the citywide goals and policies,” said president Randy Duzan. The plan, written in 1981, has been stuck since 2005 between those who think it should be an action plan and those who see it as a guiding vision. Required by state law, it guides the evolution of the city and is supposed to reflect the residents’ desires. It tends to emphasize things like community character over specifics like lighting and height requirements. The section currently being revised only addresses the citywide vision, not the neighborhood plans. Those are being left alone until after the areas around the two light-rail stations are addressed. Three citizens appeared in front of the board to protest the plan, saying the plan’s ambiguity allows too much room for interpretation. But the board maintains this section simply lays out guidance for the rest of the update, and note they’ve incorporated more specific documents into the plan, including the economic-development plan and corridor studies. “If we put everything in here that everyone in the city wanted, it would be about 600 pages and would take about 20 years to vet,” said board member Curt Samuelson. Residents will have one more chance to weigh in on the document at a yet-to-be scheduled public hearing. The entire document is at www.littletongov.org.
Six finalists make cut for fire chief position Mullin leaving job at end of December By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com After a national search, Littleton City Manager Michael Penny has announced the names of six finalists for the Littleton Fire Rescue chief position. Division Chief Wayne Zygowicz is the only LFR employee to make the cut. The others are Christopher Armstrong, former division chief in Miramar, Fla.; Joseph Bruce, chief of North Metro Fire Rescue in POSTAL ADDRESS
Arvada; Gary Curmode, chief of the Sedgwick County Fire District 1 in Park City, Kan.; Jack McArthur, chief in Yuma, Ariz.; Thomas Solberg, director of fire service training at Montana State University. John Mullin, chief since 2004, announced Aug. 23 that he would end his 40year career effective Dec. 31. “How exciting for the new chief to be coming to an organization that is hungry to grow and hungry to go forward,” he told the Highlands Ranch Metro District board of directors Nov. 26. “Thank you for the support you have given me and the friendships I’ve made. It’s been a good run. It’s been fun being a part of this, this is a good place to live and work.” He announced his retirement on Aug.
23, four months after the firefighters’ association formally declared their lack of confidence in his leadership. “Once a proud and well-regarded emergency services provider, we have watched with dismay and disappointment as Littleton has been passed up by other metro fire departments,” the association wrote in an April 16 letter to Penny. “It pains us to see how far we have fallen under the leadership of John Mullin.” Mullin called the vote a distraction. “I turn 65 this October and will achieve 40 years in the fire service on April 1,” he said in a statement Aug. 24. “I leave a wonderful, adventure-filled career on my terms.” At the time, Joel Heinemann, president
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of the Littleton Firefighters Association, said the department was looking forward to a new start. “We wish him well in the next chapter of his life,” he said. “We’re excited about moving forward with the future of the Littleton fire department with new leadership.” The switch comes as South Metro Fire Rescue is studying the feasibility of joining forces in some fashion with LFR. A similar study conducted last year between LFR and the Englewood Fire Department recommended an eventual merger with Englewood’s department, but no real steps were taken toward that end.
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Chief continues on Page 12
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