Amprius Tech's plans to build a lithium-ion battery factory in Brighton will take it's no vote from the city's Planning Commission to the City Council.

Brighton City Clerk Natalie Hoel said the item is tentatively set to be on the council's Sept. 5 agenda.

Brighton Planning Commissioners voted 3-1 to recommend the City Council not approve Amprius' rezoning application to allow planned development project and zoning change on the 103 acre site.

The company announced in March its intention to occupy the empty former distribution center on Bromley Lane, setting up their new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in the 775,000-square-foot building. Their first phase would create 332 net new jobs in Brighton with an average annual wage of $68,516.

The site is the former location of a Sears/KMart distribution center that contains 1.3 million square-feet of space and parking.

The current zoning specifically limits the project to warehouse and distribution uses. Amprius hopes to get the zoning changed to allow industrial, commercial and public uses.

The facility would be located at 18875 Bromley Lane, just 600 feet south of Brighton's Mt. Princeton St. and homes in the surrounding Brighton Crossings neighborhood and due north of Brighton's water treatment plant and 15 neighbors urged commissioners to say no the project, saying they were concerned about fire danger from the facility and about chemical contamination.

Lithium-ion batteries have been the news lately, with fires in battery-powered E-bikes and cars, but but the company said most of the danger comes from mishandling and overcharging by users. They plan to mitigate the threat of fires and plan to deliver their batteries with minimal charge, reducing the fire risk. The warehouse's interior space would be divided into smaller, fire-resistant rooms for making and storing the empty batteries and the factory will have a state-of-the-art fire suppression system.

Commissioners Valerie Wolf, Kathryn LaDonne and Jim Snyder all voted against the zoning change. Snyder said he is concerned chemicals from the facility would contaminate Brighton's water supply while LaDonne said she believes industrial zoning is wrong for a property that is so close to houses.

Commission Chair Chris Maslanik was the sole supporter, noting that Interstate 76 regularly carries hazardous materials through Brighton and said the jobs would be welcomed.

If councilors vote to approve the zoning change, the company still needs permits from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Company officials said they plan to submit their applications to the state this fall. The company hopes to be operating by the beginning of 2025.