Arvada ends FrontLine Farming lease, allows farm to operate through 2026 season

Arvada ended FrontLine Farming’s lease at Majestic View Nature Center on July 6, but is allowing the organization to continue farming through the 2026 growing season, which the city says ends in November.

The city says the termination followed about a year of efforts to address lease compliance, property management, operations and safety. FrontLine disputes that account, calling the city’s claims unsubstantiated and saying communication with city leadership broke down.

Why the city ended the lease

Arvada’s April 6 termination notice set July 6 as the effective date. The lease allows either party to terminate for convenience with 90 days’ written notice unless both sides agree to a shorter period, the agreement says.

The city says staff issued a formal notice in May 2025 and continued trying to resolve concerns through meetings, site visits, emails and coordination efforts. It cited lease compliance, use of city property beyond the leased area, required reporting, maintenance and coordination of activities.

The city identified an unauthorized electrical installation discovered in March 2026 as its most serious concern, though not the sole reason for termination. According to the city’s explanation, wiring ran more than 150 feet from a city-owned electrical panel through the Outdoor Classroom and Nature Play area to the farm. The city said the installation was not approved or permitted, did not meet applicable electrical-code requirements, and was removed after an investigation.

FrontLine’s response

In a May 14 letter, FrontLine Farming said the alleged lease violations were unsubstantiated. The organization said a city representative had acknowledged that some claims resulted from internal oversight and inadequate staff follow-up, and that FrontLine had tried to address concerns through meetings, documentation and proposed lease amendments.

FrontLine said its lease began in 2019 and was renewed in 2024 for five years, with a five-year renewal option. A June town-hall notice said the organization received no warning, mediation or opportunity to remedy the concerns. That account conflicts with the city’s description of its May 2025 notice and yearlong efforts.

At the Arvada City Council’s July 7 meeting, public commenters urged the city to reconsider, citing FrontLine’s food donations, farm tours and educational programming. They also raised allegations of racism, a hostile environment and a racial hate message found on a portable toilet near the farm. The meeting record reviewed does not show a substantive council or staff response addressing those allegations. One speaker said FrontLine donates thousands of pounds of food to a local food bank each year; that figure was not independently verified.

What happens next

Arvada says it will not reverse the termination. FrontLine can operate through the 2026 growing season and plan for its next location. As of July 14, the city had not published an exact November end date, and the available record documented no formal appeal, council reconsideration or extension beyond the growing season.

The city says it will not sell or redevelop the farming area. Because Jefferson County Open Space funding helped acquire the property and the deed includes a reverter clause, the city says it must remain in public ownership and be used for open-space, park or recreational purposes.

Arvada also says it is beginning a competitive process to select a future agricultural operator, but has not released the process or timeline. The city cited similar agricultural partnerships with GoFarm, Arvada Community Garden and Rose Roots Community Garden. The immediate issue is therefore a transition: FrontLine remains through the growing season while the city prepares to seek another operator.