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| Video clip - watch the Loveland City Council laugh at a joke before being told 200 new residential units at Linocln Place have no visitor parking (click on camera) |
| Watch Tim Veldhuizen of Loveland blast the City Council at (click here) |
| Click here for Video clip from April 17, meeting where Pielin states "850 people" - apparently not understanding he was voting to increase the McWhinneys' development by 850 Residential units (more than 2,000 residents) not 850 people. |
| VIDEO LIBRARY |
Loveland - Oct. 13, 2007
City of Loveland negotiations to buy 97 acres at the southwest corner of 402 and I-25 for over $6 million was
nixed from the October 16, 2007 City Council agenda to be announced instead after the current city elections.
Mayor Pro Tem Gene Pielin told the Loveland Reporter-Herald (see front page story Oct. 13) the Council needs
more details and that is why the item was pulled. This isn't what informants tell LovelandPolitics, the details of the
plan are already finished and the Council fully briefed and apparently in agreement in a closed session. The reason,
according to an unnamed source inside City Hall, was the timing of announcing a "McWhinneyville Sequel" right
before this election.
Despite Pielin's argument that it is preliminary and lacking details, both the City Ordinance allowing the purchase
of the land and cover letter by Don Williams, City Manager, appear to be complete and ready for the Council
to act. It appears political motivations were at work when these documents were removed from the public portion
of the agenda for the next Council meeting. It remains an item for discussion in closed session. The City Clerk has
pulled all the agenda until it is revised - here is a copy of the original agenda.
It is clear the current incumbents on City Council are concerned about their re-election chances as Pielin is about
his race to be Loveland's next Mayor. The documents obtained by LovelandPolitics indicate this is a move by
Loveland to start subsidizing new sprawl (housing and retail) developments along the 402 corridor from Loveland
to the I-25. Given the current sentiments expressed by the candidates at their last forum, it appears the City
Manager wasn't listening and felt ready to announce the diversion of more capitalization money towards a new
"McWhinneyville" effort along the I-25 and 402 instead of helping downtown. Like the subsidized trolley and $80
million parking garage, the official public decision has been postponed until after the election.
City of Loveland negotiations to buy 97 acres at the southwest corner of 402 and I-25 for over $6 million was
nixed from the October 16, 2007 City Council agenda to be announced instead after the current city elections.
Mayor Pro Tem Gene Pielin told the Loveland Reporter-Herald (see front page story Oct. 13) the Council needs
more details and that is why the item was pulled. This isn't what informants tell LovelandPolitics, the details of the
plan are already finished and the Council fully briefed and apparently in agreement in a closed session. The reason,
according to an unnamed source inside City Hall, was the timing of announcing a "McWhinneyville Sequel" right
before this election.
Despite Pielin's argument that it is preliminary and lacking details, both the City Ordinance allowing the purchase
of the land and cover letter by Don Williams, City Manager, appear to be complete and ready for the Council
to act. It appears political motivations were at work when these documents were removed from the public portion
of the agenda for the next Council meeting. It remains an item for discussion in closed session. The City Clerk has
pulled all the agenda until it is revised - here is a copy of the original agenda.
It is clear the current incumbents on City Council are concerned about their re-election chances as Pielin is about
his race to be Loveland's next Mayor. The documents obtained by LovelandPolitics indicate this is a move by
Loveland to start subsidizing new sprawl (housing and retail) developments along the 402 corridor from Loveland
to the I-25. Given the current sentiments expressed by the candidates at their last forum, it appears the City
Manager wasn't listening and felt ready to announce the diversion of more capitalization money towards a new
"McWhinneyville" effort along the I-25 and 402 instead of helping downtown. Like the subsidized trolley and $80
million parking garage, the official public decision has been postponed until after the election.
| Secret Plan To Subsidize More Sprawl City To Buy 97 Acres - Councilmembers Angry City Manager Made Docs Public |
| Documents The City of Loveland Released and Later Pulled From Agenda Cover Letter To Council Proposed Ordinance Authorizing Purchase Original Oct. 16 Agenda |
| Recent disclosures of secret land purchase negotiations along I-25 and 402. Mayor Pro Tem Gene Pielin (who is running for Mayor) has asked the item be pulled off the Council's public agenda until after the election. Loveland taxpayers have grown weary of the City Council throwing every extra city dollar into "incentives" for development along I-25 corridor. As foreclusres rise in Loveland and property values decline, the public is angry over further "incentives" to create more new homes and retail along I-25. Pielin is said to be angry the City Manager placed the approval on the October 16, 2007 City Council agenda. It is clear they support the action (because they don't want to vote no and were aware of the negotiations) but prefer it be done after the elections since this action contradicts what they have been telling voters.. |
| Below - an aerial image of the property the City of Loveland is trying to purchase for over $6 million. |