After nearly two weeks of contentious debate, introduction of the Beltway Enhancement Act is halted — for now.

Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Arvada, confirmed information sent in a press release by the city of Golden Monday afternoon that stated the proposed bill would not be introduced before the current legislative session ends May 6.

“I just think people at this time have gone back to the drawing board,” Hudak said. “There are bills that can go through this process very quickly, but because of what would be at stake and all the opposition against it, this is not something that would not have had that capability.”

Jefferson County Commissioner Don Rosier said the county and Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority decided to pull the legislation after an agreement was reached with the governor’s office and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

As a part of the agreement, he said, Jeffco and the JPPHA will re-establish mediated negotiations with Golden, Superior, Broomfield and Arvada, and pull back legislative efforts until next session “in order to hopefully work through some sort of mediation and or collaborative process.”

“If, however, that process ends the same way as before — by Golden going all the way to the end and just leaving the table, and with no recommendations — then obviously something else will have to happen,” Rosier said.

Golden Mayor Marjorie Sloan agreed previous negotiations had ended, but insisted the city never declined to participate in any further talks. She said the city had agreed to get more data and talk to community members. Sloan said the city is currently gathering information from Golden residents on the best way to meet their needs while accommodating regional traffic.

“I don’t understand why the county would in any way feel that filing this bill would help the process at all. It only seems like it would hurt it,” she said. “I believe that actions have consequences, and the fact that the county decided to address the problem in this way will have consequences later.”

Prior to pulling the legislation’s, Rosier said the county and JPPHA were seeking support from the Denver Regional Council of Governments and state legislators. If the bill were passed in its drafted form, the Beltway Economic Enhancement Project Act would have created a 19-member Beltway Completion Authority charged with constructing the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway portion of the proposed Denver Metropolitan Region Beltway that runs through Golden, Arvada, Westminster and Broomfield.

The act’s definition of dominant eminent domain, which granted the authority to condemn property for the beltway route that is superior to city, town and county or other public corporations, was a concern among some legislators.

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (

Following an April 19 JPPHA meeting, Rosier said dominant eminent domain is a common practice exercised by many municipalities for public works projects, would only be exercised to build the 20-mile Jefferson Parkway and then lapse once construction is complete. But Superior Trustee Chris Hanson said the bill’s language concerning dominant eminent domain is ambiguous and creates a loophole that can be used to justify future highway expansion projects absent in projection maps. Superior Mayor Andrew Muckles said in an April 19 interview, “It is abhorrent to give that kind of power to a nongovernmental entity, because it would override local interests. It’s concerning to use that justification for commercial development, because those are decisions that should only be exercised by elected officials in the municipalities that it (eminent domain) is designed for.”