Council changes could help Topgolf complex

The giant Topgolf entertainment complex that had been approved by Thornton and then struck down by a judge may have new life after City Council this week made legal changes that could smooth the way forward for the 65,000square-foot facility.

But whether the Dallasbased company is still interested in locating at the southeast corner of Interstate 25 and 136th Avenue, as it had been planning to do for more than a year, is not clear.

In an email sent to The Denver Post on Wednesday, company spokeswoman Morgan Wallace said “we are evaluating all of our options across the area and will continue to work on finding the best location possible for a Topgolf venue.”

The facility, which would boast a three-story, 102-bay driving range as well as a restaurant, bar and rooftop terrace, ran into problems with residents in the nearby Rolling Hills neighborhood almost as soon as it was announced. They raised concerns about bright lighting, after-hours noise and the hazard Topgolf’s large ballcatching nets pose to birds.

The company told the city it would bring 475 jobs to Thornton.

After the city approved the project last summer and offered a $3.75 million incentive package to Topgolf to make Thornton its second Colorado location — the company’s first facility opened in Centennial in 2015 — a resident sued the city, claiming the land being eyed by Topgolf isn’t appropriately zoned for the project.

An Adams County district judge in July ruled that the city had erroneously granted Topgolf its permits, a decision that put the project on indefinite hold.

That’s what brought Thornton leaders to a table Tuesday for a special meeting during which amendments were made to the city’s comprehensive plan and its zoning code that will now permit “commercial amusement — outside uses” in the city’s business park zoning district.

Councilman Joshua Zygielbaum said it’s only fair that private property owners be given the opportunity to develop their land holdings. Topgolf does not own the 14-acre parcel near Rolling Hills and Thorncreek golf course where it had proposed its project.

Lotte Radoor, the neighbor who filed the suit against Thornton, said she was weighing her options in terms of whether to challenge the city again over this week’s zoning changes.