Content originally published by the Denver Business Journal on May 25th, 2016.

Commerce City could be getting a step closer to developing a nearly 1,000 acre tract of land that was once part of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal chemical weapons manufacturing operation for homes, offices and retail stores.

U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, Michael Bennet, D-Colo. and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, are among the sponsors of amendments to the Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017 that would lift deed restrictions on the land that were put in place after the closure and cleanup of the arsenal in the early 1990s.

The deed restrictions prohibit development of transportation infrastructure, housing and commercial developments Preliminary testing in the early 2000s showed no evidence of lingering contamination on the land, but a much more extensive examination of potential sources of pollution in the soil will have to be conducted before any development would proceed, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Much of the former chemical weapons plant is now a national wildlife refuge. The area targeted by the Congress members' legislation is outside the refuge's boundaries.

“Commerce City should have the authority to fully develop the land it purchased nearly a decade ago to boost its local economy and retain and attract residents to the community,” said Gardner. “My amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act alters current law to allow Commerce City to do just that, so long as a risk assessment under federal environmental law confirms the property is safe for development.”

The city has already dubbed the planned development Victory Crossing. Plans envision a mix of housing, commercial and retail uses on the land, which is north of the Northfield Stapleton area and just west of the Dick's Sporting Goods stadium.

According to the city’s website, “The city believes the success of the Victory Crossing development could be strengthened with multifamily housing (owner-occupied and rental) and ground floor retail that provides a sense of place and highlights (the wildlife refuge’s) assets.”