Years from now, northern Golden will be a hub for recreation, businesses and community connections.
The Junction, a 52-acre property along Highway 93 just north of Canyon View Business Park, has been annexed into the City of Golden. It’s now zoned for commercial and light industrial uses, which the City Council approved Nov. 28.
During the Nov. 28 City Council meeting, local developers from BBGR LLC said their property will offer:
- much-needed light industrial and commercial spaces;
- crucial trail connections between Golden and Jefferson County parks;
- overflow parking for North Table Mountain; and
- safety improvements to Highway 93.
The property at 5079 Highway 93 was previously zoned for agricultural use, city senior planner Lauren Simmons said.
Jefferson County bought the property in 2000 as a possible site for a juvenile sex offender group home. However, the county didn’t proceed with that plan, so it’s been sitting vacant since 2000, according to county staff members.
In November 2021, Jeffco listed the property for sale and received eight offers. According to a May 2022 document, the county drafted a purchase and sale agreement with BBGR for approximately $8 million total. Three acres were to be withheld from the price for future trail connections, though.
The sale was also contingent on future agreements with Golden, as Simmons noted the developers would need to connect to city water and utilities.
The property meets state requirements for annexation, Simmons said, and both city staff and the Planning Commission recommended that City Council annex it to better manage the anticipated growth on the property and along the Highway 93 corridor.
Updating Highway 93
City Council unanimously approved both the annexation and subsequent development agreement, and the property’s initial zoning. The north and south ends of the property are now zoned as M-1, or limited industrial. The middle 8 acres is now zoned C-1, or limited commercial, and will include the access point from Highway 93.
Developer BBGR LLC’s conceptual site plan shows a mix of light industrial and light commercial uses on The Junction’s 52 acres, as well as access via a roundabout on Highway 93. The property will help connect trails between several open space parks in northern Golden, provide overflow trailhead parking for North Table Mountain, and include safer pedestrian and cyclist access across Highway 93. Credit: Courtesy graphic
Because Highway 93 will be the only way in and out of the Junction, the stakeholders plan to install a roundabout along Highway 93 and an underpass for pedestrians and cyclists. Both will require collaboration among BBGR, Golden, Jeffco and the Colorado Department of Transportation.
BBGR will be financially responsible for the roundabout’s design and installation, Simmons said. The pedestrian underpass is estimated at $4.4 million, and the city has tentatively agreed to pay $500,000 for that, subject to future agreements.
While the councilors were concerned the roundabout would cause traffic congestion along Highway 93, BBGR representatives said they’d design the roundabout to accommodate large volumes, higher speeds and semi-truck traffic. They believed it also would improve access from the North Table Mountain’s western trailhead.
The timeline for both the roundabout and the underpass has yet to be determined.
Much-needed space
Both Simmons and the developers — local business owners Chris Ball and John Bauknight — stressed how important these safety components are, along with the Junction’s role in trail connectivity.
The Junction, a currently undeveloped 52-acre property just north of Canyon View Business Park, will help connect trails between North Table Mountain, Mount Galbraith and White Ranch parks. The City of Golden recently annexed the property and zoned it for light industrial and light commercial uses. Credit: Courtesy graphic
Ball said the Junction would connect North Table Mountain to Mount Galbraith and White Ranch parks, along with the forthcoming Tucker Gulch Path Extension.
The two said they enjoy hiking and biking at these parks, and thought the Junction would benefit the Golden and Jeffco communities as a trail corridor and gathering space.
They envisioned a commercial hub with a public plaza-type setting where recreationalists, families, groups of friends and local employees can spend their time. They said the Junction also would offer much-needed light industrial space that could accommodate aerospace, bioscience, engineering and similar industries.
Ball described how he’s been working with industrial-space users for almost 30 years, and the local manufacturing market is healthy right now. However, businesses are leaving because there’s not enough space to grow locally, whether it’s a start-up looking for their first real space or an established company wanting to expand, he said.
During public comment, representatives from Holidaily Brewing Company, Powder7 and other local businesses told the councilors how they have multiple non-adjacent locations, because space is at a premium. Both the Golden Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation championed the annexation, saying the Junction will be an asset to Golden and Jeffco.
The chamber’s Nola Krajewski said one of the most common calls she receives is from business owners looking for space to expand their operations. She also saw its value for recreation and trail connectivity.
Councilors’ comments
During council discussion, Councilor Don Cameron said he was worried that C-1 zoning technically allows for residential-commercial mixed use. However, Ball and Bauknight assured him they weren’t pursuing any residential use, but instead light industrial with some commercial space.
The Junction, a currently undeveloped 52-acre property just north of Canyon View Business Park, will help connect trails between North Table Mountain, Mount Galbraith and White Ranch parks. The City of Golden recently annexed the property and zoned it for light industrial and light commercial uses. Credit: Courtesy graphic
“I’ve been looking at this property for a dozen years, (and) it’s really the gateway into Golden,” Cameron said. “I wish it could’ve been annexed into Golden as open space. … This wasn’t the change I desired, but I appreciate the approach.”
Like Cameron, other councilors said they were happy with BBGR’s approach to the property and its emphasis on trail connectivity and safety along the Highway 93 corridor.
Mayor Laura Weinberg acknowledged that, while the Junction could’ve been developed as an unincorporated Jeffco property, she believed annexation allowed “for a community approach.”
Councilor Casey Brown said he’s been hearing from residents about the long-desired northern Golden trail connections since he joined City Council eight years ago. He also thought the city’s contributions to building the pedestrian/cyclist underpass would be “money well spent.”