Megachurch withdraws annexation application

A megachurch has withdrawn its application for annexation to the City of Longmont.

LifeBridge Christian Church purchased more than 313 acres of land in 2000 on the eastern edge of Longmont in unincorporated Weld County with plans to build a new church campus.

In the past two years, church officials worked with Longmont city officials to develop a 20-year impact analysis, which predicted the new church could bring up to $5.59 million to the city.

Though the city conditionally approved the annexation of the property for the proposed church-sponsored mixed-use development project on Aug. 14, a referendum petition to repeal the decision was submitted to the council in October.

The Union development project plan, which has received scrutiny from some community members, includes about 300 apartments, condominiums and single-family homes; 40 acres of office, commercial and retail space; and 57 acres of religious and civic space.

The newly elected city council decided, based on public opinion and new priorities, the project did not fit with its future plans.

Martin Dickey, the chief operating officer of the Corporation for Community Christian Connections, a subsidiary of LifeBridge Christian Church founded to develop the property, said the church has a 116-year history of being a part of the community, and plans to continue with the project in Weld County.

"For a church to be in the community as long as it has, meant to be a source of bridge building, this has become much more divisive than anyone would have thought," Dickey said. "Council was focused on smart growth and economical change, and that has changed."

Dickey said the withdrawal of annexation, which the church announced on Thursday, doesn't change the development plans, already approved by Weld County, as quickly as possible.

Roger Lange, Longmont mayor, who was on the city council and voted for the Union Plan, is sad with the turn of events, and agrees with Dickey's assessment that the council is taking a new direction.

"My preference would be that it is in the city rather than in the county, because it would bring a lot of attributions to the city," Lange said. "There is not much you can do but move on."

"We are still committed to high quality of standards set forth in the design and planning of this project," Dickey said. "And we look forward to being an economic partner as we move forward."

Box:

LifeBridge Christian Church current locations:

10345 Ute Highway, Longmont

Legacy Elementary School, 555 8th St. Frederick

Pioneer Ridge Elementary School, 2300 Cinnamon Teal Ave., Johnstown