Council tables Uplands filing 1 public hearing over notice/signage concerns

The Westminster City Council on Feb. 24 voted unanimously to table the public hearing and consideration of an official development plan for Uplands Filing 1, Block 3 (PA/A3) after questions about whether the developer met required public-notice and signage rules.

Deputy City Attorney Graham recommended postponing the hearing so notice could be corrected. “So it would be my recommendation that the hearing be postponed,” Graham said during council comment.

Resident John Palmer told the council that the project’s required public notice sign was missing or improperly maintained and that neighbors were not adequately informed. “For that reason, I’m asking that this public hearing be tabled until such time as it can be brought into compliance,” Palmer said while distributing handouts to the council.

Council discussion focused on whether the notice complied with Westminster’s posting rules. Councilor Ioannon urged legal caution and recommended postponement until the sign and other notice requirements were addressed. Councilor DeBart asked whether postponement and tabling were the same procedurally; the attorney and council treated them as equivalent in this case because the hearing had not been opened.

The motion to table the hearing passed on a roll-call vote of seven to zero. The council did not adopt or reject the Uplands development plan at the meeting; instead, it directed staff and the developer to correct notice deficiencies and bring the item back when in compliance.

What happens next: Staff and the applicant must confirm the posting and public-notice requirements are satisfied before the council will reschedule the hearing. The transcript shows the council’s vote ended the matter for the night; no date certain was set while staff and the developer address the noticed defects.