Arnold Council Postpones Vote to Close a Small Business

Arnold councilmen experienced a tense, but brief, moment with a business owner who failed to construct buildings in a commercially zoned area.

No one can run a business in Arnold without a building and an office according to the city’s ordinances, Community Development Director Mary Holden said to councilmen during the public hearing at 2101 Jeffco Blvd., on April 5. 

The hearing occurred, prior to the City Council meeting, with the entire council present at .

In 2009 the city granted a commercial zoning ordinance to Tim McKeever, owner of Spruce Up Scaping, which is bounded by Hickory Ridge Trail, on condition that he constructed Arnold-approved buildings in 2010, said a memo to the Arnold City Council from Arnold Community Development Engineer Christie Hull-Bettale.

None of the buildings were built, the memo said, and McKeever never responded to City Hall’s request for construction information in 2011.

The city would repeal the ordinance granted to McKeever if construction did not begin by March 23, 2012, City Hall documents said.

Without the buildings, McKeever would have to close his business, remove any equipment and relocate to another city, Holden said to councilmen. 

McKeever said, three separate times, “If you don’t want me in Arnold, I’ll move.”

Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz said, “I hope that’s not a ultimatum.”

Moritz said that he wants small businesses to succeed in Arnold and to give McKeever an extension but needed to know McKeever would update City Hall about any construction problems.

“You have to follow up, you have to be a good neighbor,” Moritz said. 

Moritz also said that he was only one councilman on an eight-person council that would decide McKeever’s fate and that McKeever needed to repair the communication with City Hall about his construction plans.

Dan Govero, who will build McKeever’s buildings, said he needed more time to get approval for proposed building changes.

“Give us a chance, there’s no way in hell this can be built by July 13,” Govero said to councilmen.

McKeever had problems obtaining financing a year ago, Govero said, but the bank has approved the small business construction loan.

Govero hoped to begin construction in a few weeks and complete construction in six months.

After City Administrator Matt Unrein proposed postponing the vote to repeal the ordinance, Community Development Director Holden said she needed to see Arnold Building Commissioner Dan Conley’s approval on the revised plans as part of the solution.

She also suggested that McKeever and Govero adhere to specific deadlines for submitting plan revisions, construction and communication with City Hall. If they miss any deadline, the ordinance should be repealed.

The city needed a public hearing on the new construction plans to allow residents living near the small business site to voice their opinions and concerns, Arnold City Attorney Bob Sweeney said.

The councilmen decided to postpone the vote to repeal the ordinance given to McKeever until the next Arnold City Council meeting on April 19, at City Hall, at 7 p.m.

Editor's Note: The original article omitted that Mr. McKeever said his quote three times and that Mr. Moritz's sentiment for all businesses to succeed in Arnold. The article has been revised. Also the business is bounded by Hickory Ridge Trail and cannot be accessed by that road. Again our apologies.