The first step toward the potential annexation of a roughly 78-acre property at the northwest and southwest corners of 119th Street and Baseline Road in Lafayette, also known as Gateway Lafayette, was approved by the Lafayette City Council.

At its Tuesday meeting, the council unanimously found the annexation petition was in substantial compliance with the Colorado Municipal Annexation Act of 1965. No final decisions about approving the annexation were made.

The land is currently in unincorporated Boulder County, meaning outside of city limits, and is owned by CLW 2 and the William M. Waneka GST Exempt Trust. Kairoi Properties sent the annexation petition to the city on behalf of the owners. The city owns the property east and west of the southern portion of the proposed annexation. The city-owned property includes Waneka Centennial Farm Open Space.

The public hearing for the Gateway Lafayette annexation was set to May 20. Residents will be able to provide public comment about the annexation during that hearing.

During the Tuesday meeting, Lafayette resident Karen Norback said the annexation property is a crucial part of what she has called open space, and any development in the area would deteriorate the integrity of the land. Norback is part of local group Preserve Lafayette, which has previously expressed its opposition to the proposed Gateway Lafayette annexation.

Preserve Lafayette has created a change.org petition against the annexation, which has over 650 signatures as of Wednesday.Multiple other Lafayette residents also expressed concern during Tuesday’s meeting about how development in the area would impact the local environment, arguing development would negatively affect the area and would likely drive out wildlife.

“It makes no sense for that land to be anything but open space,” Lafayette resident Stuart Langley said during the Tuesday meeting.

The council finding the petition to be in substantial compliance does not constitute any final action on the annexation by the city council nor does it represent the council’s position on the feasibility or desirability of the proposed annexation, Planning Manager Jacob Nitchals said.

Mayor J.D. Mangat said there will be more opportunity for residents to provide their feedback and comments on the proposed annexation.