This story first appeared in a Colorado Community Media newspaper. Support CCM’s neighborhood news.
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 early Tuesday by 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 Jefferson County land into the city, rezoning of some of the land parcels and approval of the warehouse development plan.
When the annexation of 6700 Indiana St., 6702 Indiana St., 6710 Indiana St. and a Portion of 6720 Indiana St. was voted down, Amazon’s proposal was dead in the water.
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 – which formed out of Protect Maple Valley Park –formed to oppose the development and raised a number of concerns regarding the proposal at the City Council Meeting.