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Longmont can’t afford annexation for church development

Tuesday, September 18 at 10:39 AM

This Speakout has not been edited.

By Richard Juday

I respond to the SPEAKOUT piece by Scott Weiser, Sept. 2, in which he examines part of the objections to the LifeBridge/Union annexation in Longmont. My name was used, but I am associated with a large number of like-minded individuals (www.whatsinitforlongmont.org).

In short, he propounds that we criticize LifeBridge as a church and would choose to oppress it by denying Longmont’s annexation of its undeveloped land in Weld County. Emphatically, none of this is true.

LifeBridge is a church well serving its 3,000 congregants. That’s clear from its reputation in town, the pleasant and interactive nature of its worship services, and its welter of activities and support mechanisms. It’s of a size that is representative of the population of Longmont and the diversity of religious expression here.

The church purchased the land in question that is close by major holdings of the church’s elders. LifeBridge obtained permission from Weld County to do a development ultimately capitalizing at $700M — one feature is 154 houses to sell for over $1M each. Contemporaneously and integrated with that development, the elders-owned properties would be developed for a very tidy profit. After stating unequivocally to Longmont that they wished NOT to be incorporated, upon further financial reflection it became clear to the elders that by using City services instead of Weld County’s they would save some tens to maybe a hundred million dollars. LifeBridge’s negotiations with the Planning Department make it clear that profit is at the bottom of the elders’ drive for annexation. They energetically resist school benchmarks, in-community affordable housing, and being taxed on non-religious materials and structures as a commercial developer would be.

We show that the development’s net cost to Longmont will be over $1M per year in the long run, and there will be non-recurring costs in the tens of millions. We can’t afford it; in fact the City is laying off municipal workers in FY2008. To our understanding this is not the congregation speaking, but some number of the elders. It does not sound like a church’s religious activity to me. Our group seeks repeal of the annexation because we think Council did not do its financial homework correctly nor discern the true sentiment of Longmont’s population at-large. The repeal will clarify these points to Council.

LifeBridge stated that if denied annexation they would do their development under Weld County’s (actually lax) rules, so in no way can our objection be regarded as oppression. If they wish to develop within Weld County, then power to ’em. But just not Longmont electric power.

Richard Juday is a resident of Longmont.

READER COMMENTS

Yep, if they are getting special deals, I would not support that, but if they are getting the same consideration as other developments, then there is no problem.

I still wait to see what the particulars are. By the way, Wal-mart pays it's taxes to the city, but it is not a savior.... it is a business, just like any other. It generates tax revenue. If Longmont has to balance it's budget, great, we all have to do that.

Posted by Dravur on September 26, 2007 10:19 AM

Dravur - what will be tax-exempt and what will not is a major cause of the concern surrounding this development. 4C will not give a candid, specific answer to that question. Instead, they hide behind "we will pay what ever taxes we owe". The fact that the church who owns the land and the development company are both not-for profit corporations also factors into the concern about taxation.

If they wanted to present this development scheme on the same level playing field that other developers have to deal with, more people might support this project.

There is just something icky about church elders using the church to cure their "money fever"

Posted by Ms Longmonter on September 25, 2007 12:57 PM

Color me suspicious...... I assume since you live in Longmont, as do I, you have power, water etc runnign to your home and at one time your neighborhood was annexed into the town. Are you a net drain on the system? I assume you pay property taxes, etc? I also assume that the housing, etc on the Lifebridge land will also pay taxes etc.... If they build a church there, it would be tax exempt as well. I assume your church is exempt too? Yet, it is probably in the city limits as well? I see a church right across the street from my home, should it be shoved out of town as well?

As long as they step up and all non church land pays their fair share of property taxes, I don't see how this is any different than any other subdivision that has been built... except they might be evil right wing fundamentalist christians.... and isn't that what this is truly about?

If it truly is money, then I would love to see the methodology used and whether the numbers coincide with other developments annexed by Longmont or other nearby cities.

And this comes from a totally agnostic person who has not been to a church since I was a kid.

Posted by Dravur on September 21, 2007 02:56 PM

I live in Longmont and I agree with the concerns of Mr. Juday. Longmont just announced they have to reduce next years' budget (probably by firing some employees) . This after Walmart, our supposed sales tax savior, has been open for some months.

It is a SIN for a church to get in the for-profit business while hiding behind it's tax exempt status! Remember how Jesus treated the moneychangers at the Temple?

Posted by Ms Longmonter on September 21, 2007 12:49 PM

It is a SIN for a church to get in the for-profit business while hiding behind it's tax exempt status! Remember how Jesus treated the moneychangers at the Temple?

Posted by Ms Longmonter on September 21, 2007 12:49 PM