Project Summary

An application for a logistics distribution center (LDC) — warehouses that incorporate heavy trucking and distribution — five times larger than the project rejected by Arvada in 2021 - is being proposed for 5950 McIntyre, according to the application filed with JeffCo by the developer. The 500,000 square foot heavy logistics distribution center will be built next to established neighborhoods, violating the compatibility standards provided in the Jefferson County Comprehensive Master Plan. This location is in close proximity to schools, daycare centers, and recreational areas. This location is not consistent with industry best practices.

The issue: 5950 McIntyre has been an empty lot for twenty years. Part of the acreage was zoned 60 years ago as light industrial. The surrounding area remained residential and agricultural. Before being demolished, one and two-story small office buildings were on site. Today the area is surrounded by residential development. The zoning regulations have not been updated to address changes in modern industrial warehousing. The new warehouses, called logistics distribution centers, can be 90 feet tall and operate 24 hours daily.

Our concerns: The County is in the process of updating its regulations, but the updates may not be completed in time to address the following problems:

  • This proposal is not compatible with the Jefferson County Master Plan

  • The county currently allows 24/7 industrial operations near established residential neighborhoods

  • The county has not placed height limits on warehouses, and LDCs can be up to 90 feet high

  • No regulations exist to effectively control noise from heavy trucks that exceed noise levels allowed in residential areas, for example, backup beeps of trucks or sounds or trucks accelerating or slowing down as they enter and exit the site 24/7

  • Traffic is going to get worse as the traffic volume on McIntyre is already at capacity and is expected to increase

    • A four-story retirement home and two residential developments have already been approved between 64th and 50th on McIntyre.

    • The trucking center will add an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 more daily trips.

Aerial picture of Hyatt Lake

Timeline of events

  • There are MANY issues that need to be addressed and the permit application will undergo a second round of reviews. Review the letter here.

  • A letter describing the findings from the County’s Planning Engineering department. You may read the letter here.

  • Nick has written an email answering some questions and providing some comments. You may review the PDF here and to respond we have another document outlining the steps for Agency comments.

  • The City of Arvada has submitted its comments regarding this project. You may review them here and please write to the Commissioners asking that they adopt these recommendations.

  • MNU, a grassroots organization of 18 HOAs, hosted a town hall meeting to provide the community with an overview of the Proposed Development.

    We discussed environmental issues, with Mr. Fonda Apostolopoulos, P.E., Hazardous Materials & Waste Management Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

    Voluntary Cleanup Coordinator/ State Project Manager also attended.

    If you missed the meeting, you may watch it on YouTube here

  • On July 19th, 2023, the developer submitted the site development plan. The case manager assigned is Nick Nelson and the engineer assigned is Ross Klopf. The current status of the project is in 1st Referral stage.

    Deadlines for review by various parties are due by the end of August.

    Both the Pre-Application and the Application details are inconsistent with the postcards and presentations sent/made by the owners and the developer. They are saying this is to be a business park, not a trucking distribution center, yet the application explicitly shows that it will be a warehouse distribution center.

  • The Jeffco County Commissioners rejected our second request to place a moratorium on permits for logistics distribution centers built too close to homes.

    We disagree.

    We are more determined than ever.

    We have momentum.

    We have our next steps ready to roll out so please stay tuned and check back on this website often.

  • What a great day! We had 21 people advocate for the moratorium, and 40-50 people attended the hearing in person.

    This was quite an unusual Tuesday 8 a.m. Board of County Commissioners meeting. Typically the first six or so people provide public comments; the meeting lasts for an hour, and then the rest of the folks wishing to make public comments speak. However, this meeting took so long that MNU had to wait at least two hours before we could speak. But people stuck it out.

    And the local CBS news team did a great, very long piece on our issue (please see the video).

    Let’s keep the momentum going. Please follow up on today’s public comments at the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting and email the commissioners to ask them to put the moratorium on next week’s agenda for a vote. Our toolkit page has their contact info.

    We are reaching out to commissioners to win their hearts and minds. If you have a relationship or know others who do and might be able to advocate the commissioners’ support for the moratorium, please let us know, and we can coordinate with you to reach out to them.

  • Community resubmits a more narrowly focused moratorium on approval of new permits for logistics distribution centers in-fill projects within 500 feet of established residential properties in text goes here.

  • The Jefferson County Commissioners table a community’s request for a moratorium on permits for logistics distribution centers within 3000 feet of residential homes. We are resubmitting a new moratorium citing 1000 feet of residential homes.

  • JeffCo grants conditional approval of land disturbance permit to relocate canal pending approval from Army Corps of Engineers.

  • The property owner submitted a land disturbance permit to relocate the Farmers High Line canal. Jefferson County will review that permit and decide during the next 40 to 70 days. The permit: Case Number: 22-124792GPA.

  • Preapplilcation filed with JeffCo for 3 logistics distribution centers.

Project Details

Building Permit - Jefferson County

Building Permit: Case Number 23-116521 Click the Advanced Tab and scroll down to “Search for a Permit/Case using Permit/Case number”. Enter 23 in the first box, 116521 in the second, and select “Site Development Plan” from the 3rd box.

Pre-application Permit to build 3 industrial warehouses with 725 parking spaces. Case Number: 22-113264PA.

Applicant’s project overview

Canal Realignment Engineering Schematic

Grading Permit to move Farmers Highline Canal. Case Number: 22-124792GPA
Aerial view of Farmers Highline Canal

ENVIRONMENTAL & ECOLOGICAL

The area to be redeveloped Is a “Brownfield,” an area with residual contamination after mitigation efforts.

The 40-acre site has a history of heavy metal contamination; the northern 20 acres must still be tested for residual contaminants and mitigated if needed. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has imposed Reuse Restrictions and Covenants on the site mostly for residual contamination for 1) restricting the use of shallow groundwater and 2) requiring the elimination of migration of Trichloroethylene (TCE) and radon into new structures. Additionally, as part of the Reuse Restrictions, a Materials Management Plan outlines procedures that must be followed if any issues are encountered during excavation.