By Surveyor staff

Berthoud could finally see some development at the Interstate 25 and State highway 56 interchange in 2015.

According to a press release from the Town of Berthoud, Love’s Travel Stops and the town have agreed upon terms for the proprietor to develop the land.

“Love’s Travel Stops has been negotiating with the Town for several months and both parties have reached a successful agreement,” the release stated.

The new Love’s Travel Stop will feature two restaurants, showers, a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, and ample truck parking spaces for professional drivers. The new location is expected to add approximately 50 new jobs to the area, according to the release.

“We are thrilled to become a part of the Berthoud community,” said Kealey Dorian, a spokesperson for Love’s Travel Stops. “The I-25 and SH 56 interchange is the center of many new and exciting developments up and down the Front Range and we will be well positioned to serve the traveling community and professional drivers.”

The real estate developer on the project is Donald Waterlander, with M & C Real Estate, LLC, according to the release.

The I-25 and SH 56 interchange provides the Town of Berthoud with many development opportunities, but has sat dormant for years. However, in addition to the new Love’s location, Wilson Ranch, a 1,600 acre mixed use development at the south east side of the interchange, offers many opportunities for both residential and commercial development.

Aims Community College, an expanding community college with three campuses, also owns land on the northeast corner of this interchange with it being a possible future location for a Berthoud campus to address the needs of the growing northern Colorado business community.  MC Real Estate also still has an additional 110 acres of property available for development that is adjacent to the new Travel stop with access off of Hwy 56.

According to Town Administrator Michael Hart, this interchange is one of the few remaining interchanges along I-25 that has yet to attract commercial or retail activity due to the lack of a proper wastewater treatment system. Utilizing a combination of grants, substantial contributions from the private sector, and “impact fees” that have been collected from the development community specifically for this purpose, it has become financially feasible for Berthoud to plan for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant to serve the I-25 area.

“The Town of Berthoud’s Business Development office is committed to economic development of both small and large scale projects that make a difference to our community and quality of life” Hart said.

The Town of Berthoud Planning Commission will conduct a final review of Love’s Travel Stops’ development plat at its Dec. 11 meeting. The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the Berthoud Town Hall, 328 Massachusetts Ave.

Founded in 1964 by Tom Love, Love’s Travel Centers & Country Stores is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and remains entirely family-owned and operated. With more than 330 locations and more than 200 Love’s a Tire Care centers in 39 states, Love’s approximate growth rate is 20 stores per year. Love’s is currently ranked No. 13 on Forbes Magazine’s annual listing of America’s Largest Private Companies. To learn more, go to www.loves.com.