City Council approves plans for future retail, housing in south Broomfield

More retail and housing plans are in the works for the area near Jefferson Academy Charter School.

City Council on Tuesday narrowly approved a plan to develop a 35-acre property on the northwest corner of Main Street and West 112th Avenue. The land, which was originally zoned for industrial and office use, will now include areas of retail development and possible housing units, as well as six acres of open lands.

The growing area is a key location for adding more retail and office opportunities for families and students, said Jim Hill, owner of Baseline Engineering Corp.

Hill said the area is a southeastern gateway into Broomfield because of the 2013 completion of the Uptown Avenue bridge, and because of the area's location near the growing Jefferson Academy Charter School.

At its meeting Tuesday, council, in a 6-5 vote, approved the company's plans to change the area from light industrial use to retail, commercial and residential use, but members were skeptical of some aspects of the plan. Mayor Randy Ahrens, who only votes in the event of a tie, was the deciding vote that will allow developers to move forward with the plan.

There is no timeline for when developers will bring back a more detailed plan.

Some council members agreed retail and office buildings would fit well in an area that is anticipated to see more traffic and growth in the coming years, but most members disagreed with a suggestion to add up to 275 multi-family housing units to the site.

The site is just north of the newly realigned 112th Avenue, which was under construction in 2013 to put in the new Uptown Avenue bridge. The bridge goes over U.S. 36 to connect 112th Avenue to the Arista development west of the highway.

The property also is near Jefferson Academy and the Broomfield Industrial Park ball fields, and is on the border between Broomfield and Westminster.

The development proposal calls for building space for retail and places for office and child care businesses. Mike Anderson, Baseline's financial consultant, said the development could bring more than 360 jobs to Broomfield during the construction and when businesses and offices begin to open.

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City Council approves plans for future retail, housing in south Broomfield