City Council Resolutions Open Doors for Economic Development and Annexation

Properties to be Annexed

The Lamar City Council approved two resolutions Monday, April 24, during their regularly scheduled meeting, which can help foster economic development opportunities in the community. The first resolution, 17-04-01, approves the annexation of property commonly known as T.L. Tucker property, located at 708 North Main Street.  The city recently acted on a petition from Jean Tucker and Eudora West, owners of the property, who requested the annexation take place.  A public hearing for comment on the annexation of the 8.4 acre parcel was set for June 12, 2017.  The property in question runs eastward from Main Street along Avenida Colonia, just north of the Lamar Canal.  The Street was formerly known as Auwaeter Drive during the years Neoplan USA was in operation.  The land has been marked for development into a future truck stop which will be operated by Pilot Travel Centers, LLC.

Property to be Annexed along Lamar Canal

The Prowers Journal has learned the truck stop will be bordered on the north by Lampton Road which will serve as the access route for car traffic, while semi truck traffic will run parallel to the Lamar Canal and Avenida Colonia. There is some discussion with CDOT for moving the traffic light at the intersection to accommodate the new development.  Fuel service and truck parking will be located at the rear, or the eastern end of the facility.  There are no plans for a sit-down, waitress-style restaurant at this point within the proposed facility, as the current plans call for more of a take-out or drive-thru styled restaurant.

The second resolution, 17-04-02, authorizes participation in the Rural Jumpstart Program, state legislated tax relief for new businesses and hires who locate into certain designated areas in Colorado to be known as “Jump-Start Zones”. SECED, Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, has encouraged municipalities to adopt the resolution which allows for various incentives to be offered to a business, above and beyond those generally available through a community government.  The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade have been contacted by a company that has indicated an interest in locating to Lamar if the program is adopted.  Prowers County officials have indicated they will participate in the Jumpstart program.  The proposal calls for a new business to be refunded 100% of the municipal business personal property taxes imposed on all the businesses approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission for eight years and no new businesses will be allowed after December 31, 2020.  Another stipulation is that the new business be unique in nature to the region of southeast Colorado and will not compete with an existing business operation.

By Russ Baldwin