Farmers harvest tomatoes in a portion of the Palizzi Farm fields where a stormwater pipeline is planned to be built in Brighton, Colorado, as seen on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. But tucked into the final page of Adams County District Judge Sarah Stout’s 41-page eminent domain ruling was an “expectation” from the court “that the Palizzis will be able to continue to farm on the land at the conclusion of the Project.
Faye Hummel, a Brighton resident since 1987 but a customer at Palizzi Farm since the late 1970s, said she hopes the city takes a closer look at the plans for the pipe. She wants it to require whatever changes are needed to keep the farm in business before approving anything. “It is clear to this Court that the taking meets the great needs of the City and residents of Brighton, that for the reasons stated above a benefit is bestowed upon the City who cannot otherwise finance this type of improvement, and that the Project is necessary for the long-term safety of the Brighton community as development continues,” Stout wrote.
The project will carry stormwater runoff for Bromley Farms, which will sit on 135 acres and feature 750 residential units in a mix of single-family and multi-family homes. Hoagland, who helped lead development of the sprawling Sterling Ranch community in Douglas County, said his team was making every effort to be as minimally disruptive as it could.No Brighton City Council hearing on the pipeline project has been scheduled at this point, Hoagland said.
But the farm’s reach goes beyond Denver’s northern suburbs — Palizzi sells its produce at farmers markets in Parker, Denver and Evergreen. Anne Davis, the food resource manager for Evergreen Christian Outreach, better known as EChO, said Palizzi Farm had proved indispensable for the nonprofit food pantry’s inventory.