The Complete Colorado: A citizens group aimed at stopping an urban renewal plan dubbed “the $30 land deal,” are questioning executive sessions being held by city government in response to its efforts.
Arvada For All the People has started a petition drive to amend the city charter, specifically the sections dealing with the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA).
According to the group’s website, a deal with a developer by AURA to sell land valued at millions of dollars at an “already traffic-congested Wadsworth Bypass and 56th Avenue” for just $30, sparked outrage.
“Lack of city council response to the deal has now generated this petition drive to bring more democracy and accountability to City Hall,” the site says.
The proposed amendment would require voter approval before the city could sell publicly owned land to private parties when the land is valued at more than $1 million and before the city could offer sales and/or property tax subsidies/incentives (Tax Increment Financing) to private parties when those subsidies are more than $2.5 million.
The petition was started after the Arvada City Council agreed to sell 9 acres of land that is currently a parking lot near the soon-to-be up and running RTD G-Line to a developer for high density apartments in the historic district of Arvada.
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