Ordinance 30, 2025, & the Zoning Referendum

UPDATE (November 7): The City Clerk’s Office has issued a Statement of Sufficiency for the referendum petition after verifying 4,888 valid signatures.

On September 23, 2025, the City of Greeley received a notice of intent to circulate a referendum petition seeking to repeal Ordinance 30, 2025, which established a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district for approximately 833.786 acres located generally north of U.S. Highway 34 and east of Weld County Road 17. This property encompasses the City-owned entertainment district, known as the Catalyst project, and privately owned land slated for mixed-use development, also referred to as Cascadia.

The Referendum Process Questions & Answers

What is a referendum petition? A referendum petition allows residents to challenge most ordinances passed by the City Council.

Does filing a request to circulate a referendum stop an ordinance? No. Filing a request with the City Clerk to circulate a petition does not pause an ordinance. The ordinance remains in effect unless a completed petition with sufficient valid signatures is filed.

When is the ordinance suspended? A petition must be filed within 30 days of the ordinance’s final passage. If the City Clerk finds that enough valid signatures have been submitted with the petition, the ordinance is suspended until Council reconsiders it. If the Council chooses not to repeal the ordinance, the City will schedule a special election for the voters to consider whether to repeal it. The ordinance remains suspended until the election is held.

How many signatures are required? The petition must be signed by at least 10% of the voters who participated in the last City election.

What happens if a valid petition containing enough signatures is filed?

The ordinance is suspended.
City Council must reconsider it.
If the Council does not repeal the ordinance, it will be placed on the ballot for voters to decide at a special election.
The ordinance only goes into effect if a majority of voters approve it.

What happens if enough signatures are not gathered? If a petition is not filed or if it does not have enough valid signatures, the ordinance remains in effect as passed.

Ordinance 30, 2025, Key Takeaways

Ordinance 30, 2025, was passed on September 16, 2025, and took effect on September 24, 2025.
On September 23, 2025, residents filed a notice to circulate a referendum petition.
The City Clerk must prepare and certify a petition form approved for circulation by September 29, 2025.
Petitioners have until October 16, 2025, to submit a completed petition with at least 4,586 valid signatures (representing 10% of the voters from the last City election).
If a valid petition is filed, Ordinance 30, 2025, will be suspended while the Council reconsiders it. If not repealed, it will go to a vote of the people at a special election.
After a vote, the ordinance only remains in effect if a majority of voters approve it.

Timeline

September 16, 2025: Ordinance 30, 2025, approved by City Council. Watch September 16 Council Meeting
September 23, 2025: Notice of intent to circulate a referendum petition submitted.
September 24, 2025: Ordinance 30, 2025, took effect.
By September 29, 2025: City Clerk must issue the official petition form.
October 16, 2025: Deadline for petitioners to submit a completed petition with 4,586 valid signatures.