Plans for I-70 truck stop west of Denver withdrawn amidst resident and activist objection

Plans for a truck stop along Interstate 70 west of Denver have been withdrawn after serious objection from local residents and outdoor enthusiasts.

 Plans for a Golden Gate gas station and truck stop first appeared in the news back in December. The location would feature an extensive convenience store and truck parking on I-70 at the Bakerville exit west of Denver, Colorado. As of Monday, January 12th, developers have officially withdrawn their application for a rezoning request that would have allowed for the new business. 

According to The Colorado Sun, comments from residents, land protection groups, and politicians prompted the business to withdraw its application for a rezoning, which would change the area from its current mountain residential designation. 

“From the outside, everybody thinks that the Rocky Mountains are so rugged. But in reality, it’s very fragile, and it needs to be protected,” said local resident Gary Woodward. “You can’t just beat it up,” Woodward said. “And I think that this is just a great example of a grassroots, a community, getting together, and putting the word out there, letting people know what’s going on.” 

The community says that the parcel of land the proposed truck stop would have been built on was never zoned to permit gas stations or drive through restaurants, so the business knew about the restrictions when the land was purchased. The Bakersville exit is also considered the doorway to multiple popular mountain hikes and biking trails. 

“The investment company that owns this lot bought it years after that plan was published, so they’ve known all along that the community would push back,” said resident Maggie Murray. “There were so many reasons that putting a truck stop here made no sense: outdoor recreation, public safety, environmental, economic and quality of life.  Hopefully the fact that the applicant withdrew their proposal means they realized that. With the huge volume of comments that the county received, I think that shows just how important this area is to people.”

“Everybody up in the neighborhood is just thrilled,” Woodward said. “It’s amazing.” 

The business has the option to reapply for the request. It is unclear if they will choose to do so.