HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/06/2004 - RESOLUTION 2004-064 REPEALING AND READOPTING CITY ITEM NUMBER: 32
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: April 6, 2004
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I T e do
SUBJECT
Resolution 2004-064 Repealing and Readopting City Plan as the City's Comprehensive Plan, and
Repealing Certain Other Obsolete Plans.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. The Planning and Zoning Board voted 5-2 to
recommend adoption of the update to City Plan.
EXECUTIVES Rl�T DR ® WN
The adoption of this Resolution will complete a 20 month long process to update City Plan, the
City's Comprehensive Plan. City Plan was initially adopted in 1997, along with a commitment to
periodically review, and if necessary, update the document. The update results in revisions to the
vision, goals, principles and policies, and Structure Plan map of City Plan related to the City's
growth management area, redevelopment and infill development, the City's role in the region's
economy, open space and community separators, transportation, and neighborhoods and housing.
The update to City Plan was conducted in collaboration with the Transportation Master Plan update,
which was adopted by the City Council on March 2, 2004. The update to City Plan received input
from the Council, the Council appointed Citizens Advisory Committee, City advisory boards, key
stakeholders, and the general public throughout the planning process.
The revised City Plan Document distributed on Thursday,March 25,included a cover page with two
different dat a tadHDRA5,Wt were dated
April 6, 20 o t d ). a distributed
documents.
A new graphic has been added to the City Plan Document — Community Vision and Goals:
Transportation,page 27. This image provides an update to the original graphic by incorporating the
latest components of the street system such as transit, bike and pedestrian options for travel and
streetscape design.
BACKGROUND
City Plan and the Transportation Master Plan were both originally adopted in 1997, with a public
commitment that both plans would be periodically reviewed and, if necessary, modified to ensure
that they remain capable of achieving their respective goals and objectives. City Plan embraced the
concepts of new urbanism,including mixed land uses,multi-modal transportation options,fostering
April 6, 2004 -2- Item No. 32
pedestrian friendly environments, compact urban form, sustainable economy, and being a
responsible steward of the natural environment. The Transportation Master Plan introduced new
directions for the City's long-range transportation planning and funding.
For the past 20 months,a planning process has been followed designed to address local and regional
changes, incorporate other plans adopted since 1997, and to test the City's progress in successfully
implementing each plan's vision.The updates to City Plan and the Transportation Master Plan were
conducted in paralle issues are so closely
WITHDRAWN
Uel l
Key issues were reviewed in the City Plan update process including analyzing the City's growth
management strategies and examining what other communities are doing,examining the boundaries
of the Growth Management Area (GMA), looking at Fort Collins' relationship in the context of
regional growth,examining the relationship between housing density/compact urban form and traffic
congestion, exploring more housing options, examining infill and redevelopment policies, and
looking at the community's jobs/housing balance.
Key elements reviewed and integrated into the Transportation Master Plan Update included the
Master Street Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans, Transfort Strategic Plan, Mason Transportation
Corridor,and SmartTrips Transportation Demand Management programs. Regional travel patterns
and impacts into and out of Fort Collins were also addressed.
Part I of the planninWh
p p s W] ortation Master Plan
was to develop a list s s t iz a c a ter of the City of Fort
Collins. The list of characteristics was adopted by the City Council on March 18, 2003. The
planning process continued with a Part II where revisions to specific vision statements, goals, and
principles and policies were developed, including changes to the City Structure Plan map and the
Master Street Plan map. The Transportation Master Plan update used the community land use and
size information from the City Plan process to conduct a focused analysis of transportation needs,
trade-offs, and relative costs.
Part II of the planning process culminated with the release of a revised version of the City Plan
document dated October 15, 2003. This document was made available to the City Council,general
public and distributed to key boards for their review and comment. On October 30, 2003, the
Planning and Zoning Board conducted a ublic hearin Agh
rmulated a recommendation to the
City Council for the a n t i e gested changes. The
Board's vote was 5-2 t o a k s have also forwarded
their comments on the 10/15/03 version of City Plan to the Council.
The City Council conducted four study sessions during the City Plan update process. Two critical
study sessions were conducted on October 28, 2003, and on January 13, 2004. The October 28
Study Session allowed Councilmembers to submit their personal comments and suggested changes
to the 10/15/03 version of City Plan. Staff then organized Council's comments and suggested
changes,along with all comments and suggested changes received from the CAC and City advisory
boards, into a matrix table that formed the basis for the January 13, 2004 Study Session. At the
January 13 Study Session Council gave direction on final changes to the City Plan document.
April 6, 2004 -3- Item No. 32
The update to City Plan is, thus, the product of the City Council, the concentrated work by the
Council appointed Citizens Advisory Committee, staff and the consulting teams, interviews with
stakeholders, City advisory boards, a community survey, and numerous public meetings.
Throughout the process issues were grouped and discussed in the following major categories:
• Region and Economy
• Open Space t t `� N
• Transportation y Y
• Development and Redevelopment Patterns
• Neighborhoods and Housing
Region and Economy
Policies in this group provide direction as to the role Fort Collins will play in the region's
economy and the City government's future fiscal health.
Open Space and Communit}_Separators
Policies in the initial City Plan called for the preservation of natural areas and maintaining open
space corridors that separate Fort Collins from surrounding communities. Most of the policies for
the preservation of na r e �r ee d n Nr -.gc
Chan es. Anew set
of policies were deve al a�2 n n it
tion. gPolicies were
revised to add clarification of what was envisioned for the edges of thA, new policies were
added for the Boxelder drainage basin, and policies acknowledge that natural resources protection
should include a regional strategy.
Transportation
Policies in City Plan promoting mobility and safe and efficient multi-modal transportation choices
are the focus of the transportation policies. These policies are the same policies included in the
Transportation Master Plan.
Development and Redevelopment Patterns
Throughout the planniic sJaJURon
us /Aet
A size and boundary.
Policies in the update t t i tadned as it is generally
presently configured, except for the potential additions of the CSU Foothills Campus, the
Wildflower Area, and the Fossil Creek Cooperative Planning Area(CPA). Criteria and procedures
for GMA boundary amendments in the future have been defined and established.
Neighborhoods and Housing
Policies here deal with infill and redevelopment and minimizing the impacts of character changes
within neighborhoods. Additional policies deal with the provision of affordable housing.
April 6, 2004 -4- Item No. 32
Public Outreach
As indicated, a Council appointed Citizens Advisory Committee was very instrumental in helping
develop the update to City Plan. In addition,City advisory boards,key stakeholders,and the general
public were all involved in the process and had many opportunities to provide input. A resident
survey was conducted in December 2002 as another tool to involve the general public and obtain
opinions on some of the major issues being addressed in the plan updates. The survey contained
questions about the Gr a a o n � cture,development
9 P
and redevelopment, h i d en p e F a ub e n ork shops were also
conducted during the panning process.
Planning and Zoning Board Recommendation
On October 30, 2003, the Planning and Zoning Board conducted a public hearing and formulated
a recommendation to the City Council for the adoption of the update to City Plan, along with their
suggested changes. The Board's vote was 5 to 2 to recommend adoption of the update.
The negative votes expressed serious concerns with the fundamental issue of not expanding the
GMA; not cooperatively planning the area outside the GAM; infill and redevelopment would
become more difficult because everything would need to be consistent with subarea plans, and the
length of time it takes to complete subarea plans would be an effective moratorium; and acquiring
open space and incre� c� oe a giiwill increase traffic and
pollution. 11 1`N
ATTACHMENTS
Minutes of the October 30, 2003, Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
Attachments Previously Delivered to the City Council
• City Plan update document (April 6, 2004).
• Change Matrix Table summarizing changes made since the October 15,2003,version of the
City Plan document.
ITHDRAWN
RESOLUl'ION 2004-064
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
REPEALING AND READOPTING CITY PLAN
AS THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND
REPEALING CERTAIN OTHER OBSOLETE PLANS
WHEREAS,the City Council,working in cooperation with various boards and commissions
of the City and with citizen task forces and committees during the period of 1996 and 1997,
developed and adopted "City Plan" as the comprehensive plan of the City, culminating in the City
Plan document dated February 18, 1997; and
WHEREAS, at the time of the adoption of City Plan, a public commitment was made that
the plan should be periodically reviewed and,if necessary,modified to ensure that it remains capable
of achieving its respective goals and objectives; and
WHEREAS, a process for updating City Plan was established in 2002 to address local and
regional changes and to incorporate other plans that have been adopted since 1997 and also to test
the City's progress in successfully implementing the vision of City Plan; and
WHEREAS,the process for updating City Plan was divided into two phases with the purpose
of the first phase being to develop a list of"characteristics"that describe the future size and character
of the City; and
WHEREAS, the characteristics were adopted by the City Council on March 18, 2003, and
WHEREAS, the second phase of the planning process was to review and revise the vision,
goals, principles and policies of City Plan to assure their conformance with the adopted
characteristics; and
WHEREAS, staff and the consulting team, working with the assistance of a Council
appointed Citizens Advisory Committee,produced a draft update to City Plan on October 15,2003,
which was subsequently reviewed by the City Council, advisory boards,and the general public;and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted two study sessions to provide final direction as to
changes to the October 15, 2003 draft document; and
WHEREAS, the City Council on March 2, 2004, adopted the update to the Transportation
Master Plan, essentially the transportation element of City Plan; and
WHEREAS,because of the adoption of the updated"City Plan"and"Transportation Master
Plan" as well as changes which have been heretofore made to other plans of the City, the following
plans have become obsolete and should be repealed:
Fort Collins Congestion Management Plan
Downtown Parking Plan
Downtown Civic Center Master Plan
Poudre River Trust Land Use Policy Plan
Cache La Poudre River Landscape Opportunities Study.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the"City Plan"as adopted on February 18, 1997 and amended from time
to time thereafter is hereby repealed and rendered null.
Section 2. That the updated "City Plan," dated April 6, 2004 is available for inspection
in the office of the City Clerk,is in the best interests of the citizens of the City,and is hereby adopted
as the Comprehensive Plan of the City.
Section 3. That the following plans:
Fort Collins Congestion Management Plan
Downtown Parking Plan
Downtown Civic Center Master Plan
Poudre River Trust Land Use Policy Plan
Cache La Poudre River Landscape Opportunities Study
have become obsolete and are hereby repealed and rendered null.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this
6th day of April A.D. 2004.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Change Matrix Table
Summary of Changes made to the
October 15, 2003 Draft of City Plan
The following matrix table presents changes made to the October 15, 2003 draft version of the City Plan document as directed by the City Council from the
January 13,2004, study session.
The matrix format is as follows:
Column 1:
Page number from the 10/15/03 draft of City Plan.
Column 2:
Statements in this second column are from the October 15, 2003 draft of the City Plan document. The statements show additions to the 1997 version of
City Plan as underlines and deletions as sttikethfoughs.
Column 3:
This third column contains changes made since the October 15,2003 draft of the City Plan document. Revised statements in this third column show
differences from the second column(the column to the left). Additional wording is shown as underlines and deletions as strikethfoughs. An asterisk(')
indicates significant modifications completed after the January 13,2004 City Council study session.
t
0 ctober,15* 00$l draft of City 1%0 1141 015- TAWO.h J,690 V Plan -
All i Dates Changed throughout the document,headers, footers, and cover.
All Maps have been updated
All its' full share I Changed to: its'share
All The use of the verbs "shall"and"will"in the updated City TThroughout--the—final City Plan document, t-he verb"shall" will be
Plan document. changed to the verb "will."
Forward Updated to reflect current information.
Credits P B S&J Representatives added.
Appnd A List of plans updated here and throughout document.
All ......at least every five years 1 Changed to: .... every five years
All Aggressively Changed to: Actively
ME1 Related plans—updated-
xi 1 Add page#for Glossary of Terms Added page number G-I
—8 while protecting the best of what we have... while protecting the best of what we have...
Our community will act as a responsible steward of the Fort Collins' transformation from a small city to a larger urban center
environment. Thoughtful community planning will be used to will continue within its growth management area. To protect the
preserve qualities people value most about living in Fort desirable attributes of the city and its surroundings which we have
Collins. The natural environment will continue to be one of inherited, the geographical area of the city will be limited. Our vision
the primary contributors to the city's identity. The Poudre is that growth and change will continue within the growth area,
River will be a major part of a coordinated system of open affording new opportunities for us and for future generations.
lands that includes the foothills,corridors, streams and other
water bodies,parks, and natural areas and community Our community will act as a responsible steward of the environment.
separators. We will help conserve rural character at eity the Thoughtful community planning will be used to preserve qualities
edges of our growth management area by directing people value most about living in Fort Collins. The natural
development and redevelopment into areas where it can be environment will continue to be one of the primary contributors to the
supported efficiently with public services and facilities. city's identity. The Poudre River will be a major part of a coordinated
system of open lands that includes the foothills, corridors, streams and
other water bodies,parks natural areas and community separators. We
2
Page# Statements,Goals 4"i0ples and-to Can ed fra�efober 1 i d of City f ign
will help conserve rural character at the edges of our growth
management area by directing development and redevelopment into
areas where it can be supported efficiently with public services and
facilities.
i
9 When we talk to other people in Fort Collins,we tend to When we talk to other people in Fort Collins,we tend to describe
describe ourselves as residents of a particular neighborhood. ' ourselves as residents of a particular neighborhood. When we are
When we are away from home, we are all from Fort Collins. away from home,we are all from Fort Collins. This vision looks at
This vision looks at Fort Collins on a citywide basis and Fort Collins on a citywide basis and defines the terms of its future in
defines the terms of its future in citywide terms. At the same citywide terms. At the same time, it recognizes that the community is
time, it recognizes that the community is composed of many composed of many unique neighborhoods, districts and places. Our
unique neighborhoods, districts and places. Our network of : network of public streets,walkways, trails,^^ ;, open
public streets, walkways, trails,parks, greenways and natural lands aPA natural areas,and historic and new buildings, will blend
areas, and historic and new buildings,will blend such that the such that the total effect will be to create a community of which we
total effect will be to create a community of which we can be can be proud.
j proud.
15 The extension of utilities, especially wastewater services will The extension of utilities,especially wastewater services will be
be generally discouraged outside the boundary. generally discouraged outside the boundary.
L
17 1 Our Civic uses such as schools, libraries,recreation and Our Civic uses such as schools, libraries,recreation and cultural
cultural facilities, government offices,parks,plazas,and facilities, government offices,parks,plazas,and postal stations will be
postal stations will be placed in central locations as highly placed in central locations as highly visible focal points and
visible focal points and"community shapers." All civic uses "community shapers." All civic uses will be inviting public places i
will be inviting public places that serve as informal gathering that serve as informal gathering areas, with an appearance reflecting
i areas,with an appearance reflecting their intended use. their intended use. Downtown will be the focus of government
Downtown will be the focus of government administration and administration,cultural,and service functions.
service functions.
17 Our Community Commercial Districts combine moderate Our Community Commercial Districts combine moderate density
density residential,employment, service,retail,cultural, residential,employment, service,retail,cultural, learning and civic
leaming and civic uses. The physical environment will be uses. The physical environment will be conducive to promoting
conducive to promoting walking,bicycling, car and van walking,bicycling, car and van pooling, and public transit use,and
pooling, and public transit use, and thereby reducing reliance thereby reducing reliance on single-occupant vehicles,and providing a j
on single-occupant vehicles,and providing a high quality of high quality of urban life for residents. Community Commercial
urban life for residents. Community Commercial Districts i Districts will be developed on sites with the potential for
Will be developed on sites with the potential for redevelopment and in new areas within the GMA. urHsn gfewa-k
redevelopment and in new urban growth management areas. ffmnagement aFea . They will be located on transit routes. Vertical
They will be located on transit routes. Vertical mixed-use will mixed-use will be encouraged.
be encouraged.
3
A
q
is,W t�
31 j Our streets will fulfill their role as the most important, :1 Our streets will fulfill their role as some of the most impeftaR4
enduring public spaces. enduring defining public spaces.
38 t We will strengthen our economic base b seeking ways to We will strengthen our economic base by seeking ways to strategically
strategically expand and diversify employment opportunities expand and diversify employment opportunities within our City's
1 within our City's boundaries. beondar-ies Prowth management area.
1 -6.rco6ni��co—nti�--al-lyi—,�r�v�t-�-t��' ai Our con��unitiwill continually improve Fort Collins' air quality as
45 +47
quality as the City grows by applying strong,comprehensive the City grows by applying strong, comprehensive policies and
policies and strategies to address the following issues: 1 strategies to address the fellewin airQuali issues: emissions fro
emissions from vehicles,commerce/industry, and wood vehieles,eeffmareehadustFy, and weed btffaing,,Astial&if uality,
i burning, visual air quality,certain indoor air pollutants,and eeFtain indoor air pollutants, and gfeefiheuse gases.
greenhouse gases.
47 Because most air pollution comes from vehicles, the City will 1 Beeause fnest air-peflution eefaes frem vehieles,the Gitywill impFave
improve vehicle air pollution by reducing tailpipe emissions vehieIe aif politifien by redueing tailpipe efaissions thfough elefta
av
i through clean technolopies,and by reducing the growth rate of teehnelegies,and by re&6ing the gfe-Mh rate ef vehisle fRiles 4 eled
vehicle miles traveled(VMT)by changing travel behavior. 0R4T)by ehanging tFavel behaN4er.Although;4.ff ahe to
Although VMT-the total number of miles driven in Fort �MhAr of fmiles driven in Feft Gal ew:.a F-stff
Collins each day-is growing faster than population,the than peptija4ion,the Gity's vision is te feduee the 3,94 gpw�4hfatete
City's vision is to reduce the VMT growth rate to the the pepu4ation gre-A-ffi fa4e. Reduoing 344 gFewth is iwy to fneeting
population growth rate. Reducing VMT growth is key to land use,4r-anspeftation,and air-qupAity goals. Land use an
meeting land use,trgWortation,and air quality goals. Land tFanspeAafi a planning will help to ereate a City"ere+esident-s fi-fl-Fal 1
use and transportation planning will help to create a City that tFa 1 by feet,bieyele, ".,a transit afe more at4metive,and,-.,-,el
where residents find that travel by foot,bicycle,and transit are eaf is less fieeessar-y,than diey do today. F e eeffffnffeial and
more attractive, and travel by car is less necessary, than they - I -I develepment will be eeneefl4ated in Dewfllevvfi,
do today. Future commercial and multi-family development eeffflnereial and 160'-effheed eenAers and vAll feat me tFaas-i
will be concentrated in Downtown, commercial and i and pedesUiaa or-iefited urban design,thus reduoing the Fteed
neighborhood centers and will feature transit-oriented and vehialetw,e] The City will ifwest in#aRsit,waWng and eyelingit
pedestrian-oriented urban design,thus reducing the need for eapaoity d eneetwage residents to use altemative tFavel fRades-to
Vehicle travel. The City will invest in transit,walking and help shift tHwel eheiees teviaFd a4ternatives that r-eduee air pellufiE)
cycling capacity and encourage residents to use altematj ve and tFaffie eenges4imi,
travel modes,to help shift travel choices toward alternatives
that reduce air pollution and traffic congestion. ;The City will strive to reduce tailpipe emissions though clean
technologies and by reducing the rate of vehicle miles traveled(VMT)
by promoting a multi-modal transportation system that offers choices.
The City will continue to invest in transit,walking and cycling
capacity and encourage residents to use alternative travel modes, to
help shift travel choices toward alternatives that reduce air pollution
and traffic congestion. ---
4
pg # Ggrtals,ltdii il�q Ao$bes Ct►artge:rtu Qploher 14 ;�06�� a EvhtCity
Mementss and
Plan
51 + 53 ii Our community will have a balanced system of open speee ! Our community will have a belansed comprehensive system of open
lands,natural areas, recreation spaces,and parks,
lands., a .._i., . ,,a..aing wail and
including trails and urban streetscapes. u17b"l-stfeetssepes
Our community will contain and be surrounded by an Our community will contain and be surrounded by adjacent to an
includin natural
extensive regional system of protected open lands,natural extensive,regional system of protected open lands g
areas agricultural lands recreation spaces parks and trails. areas, community separators resreatien-spaces agricultural lands,
Our community will have accessible and diverse system of view corridors lakes streams ponds riparian areas-wetlands,
open lands that will include parks,recreation, streetscapes, ridgelines,parks,trails, drajnageways and wildlife corridors.Sur
scenic areas, landscape medians, gardens,trails, and historiceemffmnib� A ill have an ue n..., ,,:..e.n
' ' t meet our recreational needs.fef ll ' 'Y stFeetseapen
sites that his meets •---
F B at its
fnedians, gafdefis, rails, and histerieg! sites that Meet 8" fP FO iO 1
needs.
The City will utilize an"pportunities to develop public
access along stream and irrigation ditch corridors for
stream and iffigation , a s c .,_ _, .:. a: asitional�4fail
providing additional trail linkages throughout our community
-— — --- — -- ----- — - -- ---rt---
- . 1 Valued open lands such as natural areas,community separators,
51 + 54 I and agricultural lands will be preserved and protected through an
iI', Valued open lands such as natural areas,community active,comprehensive,and regional program. i
separators and agricultural lands will be preserved and l protect natura aras to_
intain
protected through an active en comprehsive,and regional O bitatmmeanritial to ty lthe conservation of plantsl animals,and theirs
Program.
! associated ecosystems,and to enrich the lives of citizens.
Our community will protect important natural areas to Development will be integrated into the natural landscape by directing
it away from natural areas and by applying innovative planning,
maintain a habitat essential to the conservation of plants,
animals and their associated ecosystems, and to enrich the design,and management practices, such as buffering and mitigation,
lives of citizens. y when such development occurs in close proximity to natural areas.
! I
Comprehensive policies and guidelines will be applied to Community separators will preserve the rural and natural landscape
manage existing and proposed development adjacent to the I between our communities maintaining separation between titres and
Poudre River and other streams and water bodies,to minimize towns These community buffers will be used as a lone-term tool to
impacts on,and restore the riparian ecosystem eselegi, and to ! preserve a permanent physical and visual separation between Fort
minimize hazardous conditions associated with flooding. Collins and surrounding communities.
i I
Development will be integrated into the natural landscape by 1 compfeliensive polioies
a developmentnes wil.« e ..o n"..a_" Affiag River And
directing it away from;e n.�natural areas and by applying
iai
innovative planning,design, and management practices, such na «" "" a" " itin
ns
as buffering and mitigation,when such development occurs in the 'r
-- 5
$agg# faEeplB#lfg t'A � rUA@il es aid PbWe4 tR�{es 1u Oetoboij ;2443 Draft of lEity-ll►lpy.
from ?a ►,' ; fa> t°hajt s-off! UO '4 -ter° a
close proximity to sensitive natural areas. MqSAiRtAtA4di flooding.
The City will continue to develop effective partnerships with the
The City will continue to develop effective partnerships with i County,other governmental organizations,and the private sector for
the County,other governmental organizations,and the private the protection and preservation of important open lands natfal areas.
sector for the protection and preservation of important natural
areas,
51 +55 Our community will continue to actively acquire and Our community will continue to actively acquire and manage land
manage land and water to preserve,protect,and enhance and water to preserve,protect, and enhance locally and regionally
locally and regionally valued open lands. valued open lands.
Our community will have an integrated system of publicly- Our community will have an integrated system of publicly-owned
owned natural areas to protect the integrity of important nawral-areas open lands to protect the integrity of important
conservation sites,protect corridors between natural areas, and conservation sites,protect corridors between natural areas, and
preserve eutstandirtg or restore examples of our diverse j preserve or restore examples of our diverse natural heritage.
natural heritage.
The City will administer a strong program to acquire and manage
The City will administer a strong program to acquire and important nshuelaeas open lands to preserve wildlife habitat and
manage important natural areas that to preserve wildlife native landscapes, while providing appropriate opportunities for
habitat and native landscapes, while providing appropriate ; education,scientific research,nature interpretation, fishing,relaxation,
opportunities for education, scientific research,nature wildlife observation,hiking,and other appropriate recreation
interpretation,ar-fishing,relaxation,wildlife observation, j activities.
hiking,and other appropriate recreation activities. j
Our community will actively protect,manage,and enhance the Poudre
Our community will actively protect,manage, and enhance the River,the foothills,natural stream corridors and other waterways,
Poudre River,the foothills,natural stream corridors and other wetlands,native grasslands,and other important local and regional
waterways,wetlands,native grasslands,and other important natural areas as natural ecological systems and for wildlife habitat.,
local and regional natural areas as natural ecological systems, and-passive-appropriate recreational areas.
impet4aat wildlife habitat, and aseessible passive recreational
areas.
6
Wage# N�Statements,Goads,'Mma A• aeh Champs to �'11 ,2008 Y? bf Ey Plan
from October 15'"bij Oba es of
51 +56 j Our community will have a balanced system of open lands and
recreational areas including parks,trails,recreational facilities
! and urban streetscapes.
Parks shall provide for a variety of experiences and be balanced to
accommodate active sports facilities and provide an attractive setting
for walking,picnicking_gardens, sitting,relaxing and other non-
programmed uses.
I
!
The City shall provide community centers and recreation facilities for
the citizens of Fort Collins including groups with special needs.
The City will utilize appropriate opportunities to expand the trail
system providing additional trail linkages throughout the community.
7
Pie .,� . Stateunti ° ? plea sallrct: A W OgtobeY �5 ,2008-twoft of Cityju
p ,
Yioot Ost 4" 1 !i Ch of tk is tip . I O" _ -
59 Our growth management program will be based on Our growth management program will be based on creating a
creating a City that is livable and sustainable. City that is livable and sustainable.
The City's growth management program will be consistent The City's growth management program will be consistent with the
with the core community values, overall vision,and planning core community values, overall vision, and planning goals described
goals described by City Plan.The City will assume, for li by City Plan. The City will assume, for planning purposes,a steady,
planning purposes, a steady, sustained growth over the next sustained growth over the next twenty years.The projected rate of
twenty years.The projected rate of growth is an average over : growth is an average over a 20-year period of time, and does not
a 20-year period of time and does not represent a target or represent a target or limit on the amount or rate of growth within the
limit on the amount or rate of¢owth within the community. community.
It projects population will increase at a compounded annual ! It projects population will increase at a compounded annual growth
growth rate of 2.2°/u and employment will increase at a rate of 2�%and employment will increase at a compounded annual
compounded annual growth rate of 1_92.4%, within the 20- growth rate of 1.941/o, within the 20-year planning horizon(to the year
year planning horizon(to the year 202520I-5). GreA 2025). Growth projections will provide a basis for estimating the
demand for housing,retail, education,transportation,health care
rate ef gfeA4 within the . Growth projections will : services,base employment and business services,publ
ic facilities and
)n J
provide a basis for estimating the demand for housing,retail, services, etc.,and for measuring the impacts of growth. Over the next
education,transportation,health care services,base twenty years the City's current population of over 130,000 will grow
employment and business services,public facilities and I to a population of approximately 193 000.
services,etc.,and for measuring the impacts of growth.
Population Proiections,2000-2025 QtV of Fort Gelfin.
City of Fort Collins
i
Year Population Pro eetion 2AAA "
2000 118.652 2905 '
2005 127,600 2030 '„ 0
2010 138,700 204-5 ',
2015 155.300 242-9 174W0
2020 174,000 2024
2025 192,800
Source Economic &Planning Systems,based on oBUrOW r nl-_mig_:_ e..sems.« vaDOI
DOLA growth rates U.S. Census and City of Fort Collins w.-q *r Gelisl.g And Giy,Fif Fe#Gelli s
69 — Interconnected System of Open Lands. A comprehensive Interconnected System of Open Lands. A comprehensive network
network of open greenways will linking important natural of open greenways will link important open lands naFiaFel areas parks,
areas,parks,neighborhoods,and community facilities—Aqu neighborhoods,and community facilities,weaving its way along major
iweave its way along ffiejerwmerways and drainage. waterways and drainages. --
8
Page# 3t$ diu�na;Goals,griA¢a014 Ifa�es. Ch�rtge§to ? teb�a'1l ,�bU�= i i �Clai►
from oE[tiltidF.166 Dfatt
69+ 70 Growth Management Area Boundary Urban Growth Area Growth Management Area Boundary. The City Structure Plan i
Boundary. The City Structure Plan retains and reinforces the retains and reinforces the concept of a growth management area, as
concept of a growth management area an uFban gFewth afea one means of managing our community's growth. City Plan presumes
beundary, as one means of managing our community's growth that the GMA boundary will generally remain as it presently is
in the eity's planning area. City Plan presumes that the GMA configured.However,the GMA boundary needs to be flexible in order
boundary will generally remain as it presently is configured. to provide for minor amendments in limited cases. The management
However, the GMA boundary needs to be flexible in order togFevvffi aFea boundary GMA can help preserve a physical separation
provide for minor amendments in limited cases. The urban between existing cities. This will require careful policy coordination
management growth area boundary can help preserve a with Latimer County and surrounding communities,to ensure that the
physical separation between existing cities. This will require goals of containing urban growth and maintaining rural character in
careful policy coordination with Latimer County and non-urban areas can be attained. A system of community separators
surrounding communities,to ensure that the goals of will be implemented to help reinforce the community's boundaries. j
containing urban growth and maintaining rural character in
non-urban areas can be attained. A system of community
separators will be implemented to help reinforce the
community's boundaries.
b +74 Direction of Growth Direction of Growth
Direction of growth determines where the outskirts of Fort Direction of growth determines where the outskirts of Fort Collins are,
Collins are,and what the edges of town the community look and what the edges of the community look like. Where should future
like. Where should future new growth in our City occur? The new growth in our City occur? The City Structure Plan balances the
City Structure Plan balances the direction of growth among ! direction of growth among several areas such as:
several areas such as:
• A new growth area in the northeast, shown on the map as a major
• A new growth area in the northeast, shown on the map as , Community Commercial District at Timberline Road and
a major Community Commercial District at Timberline Mountain Vista Drive;
Road Stun it`� :iew Dfive and Mountain Vista Drive; • Continued growth to the south of Harmony Road;
• Continued growth to the south of Harmony Road; • Protecting the foothills as a natural backdrop to our community;
• Protecting the foothills as a natural backdrop to our ! • Preserving a physical separation between Fort Collins and
community; and neighboring communities, such as Loveland,Timnath,Windsor,
• Preserving a physical separation between beveland and and Wellington; and
Fort Collins and neighboring communities, such as • Encouraging redevelopment and infill at appropriate locations,
Loveland,Timnath, Windsor, and Wellington: and including the downtown area.
• Encouraging redevelopment and infill at appropriate
locations.
75 The page shows three photos of: Bicycling,Transit, and Photo added to include cars, inclusive of our multi-modal approach..
Walking,
9
e#' 5t eauep H. 1h. . e3plps end On.,9V .
,_#�4 a M )atohe�r 1 �, 3� of City Pfau
if
78 As the dominant and most important areas within our City, As the dominant and most important areas within our City,
neighborhoods will serve as the primary building blocks. neighborhoods will serve as the primary building blocks.
! Neighborhoods will be walkable and connected, and will Neighborhoods will be walkable and connected, and will include a mix !
include a mix of housing types. Neighborhoods will include of housing types. Neighborhoods will include destinations within
destinations within walking distance, such as schools,parks, walking distance, such as schools,parks,neighborhood shopping,
neighborhood and senveniense shopping areas,employment areas,and civic uses.
areas and civic uses.
78 ; The most opportunity for change is in the undeveloped,new ! The most opportunity for change is in the undeveloped,new growth
growth areas,with change occurring in existing i areas,with change occurring in existing neighborhoods over times
unity allows. epperPani ews. as zoning permits or according to subarea plans.
neighborhoods over time, as opport
I
i
Most of our City's new housing will occur in the new growth Most of our City's new housing will occur in the new growth areas,
areas, either in Low Density Mixed-Use Neighborhoods or either in Low Density Mixed-Use Neighborhoods,or-Medium Density
Medium Density Mixed-Use Neighborhoods and in Mixed-Use Neighborhoods,and in redevelopment and infill areas.
redevelopment and infill areas.
7 -- — --
'I 78 Urban Estate Neighborhoods are for low density and large-lot Urban Estate Neighborhoods are for areas that will develop as low
housing,in order to acknowledge the presence of the many density, single family and large-lot housing with a maximum density
existing County subdivisions which function as part of the of 2 dwelling units per acr -.+n-eFdef These areas will to-acknowledge
community,and to provide,in some cases,a physical the presence of the many existing County subdivisions which function
transition between urban development and rural or open lands. as part of the community,and to provide,in some cases, a physical
transition between urban development and rural or open lands.
79 Redevelopment of existing districts, such as Campus West, Redevelopment of existing districts, such as the Downtown, Campus
North College,and the Foothills Fashion mall area, will West,North College, and the Foothills mall area, will provide.....
i provide.....
- ------------ ------
79 Major transportation corridors link our destinations and Major transportation corridors link our destinations and activities and
activities and make it easier to move around the city using make iteasier to move around the city using various modes of travel.
various modes of travel.Among these are enhanced travel Among these are enhanced travel corridors, multi-modal corridors
corridors multi-modal corridors supported by complimenting supported by complimenting land uses that link key areas of the city
j land uses that link key areas of the city. "Green"corridors-- "Green"corridors--such as the Poudre River, streams,drainage ways
such as the Poudre River,streams, drainage ways and trails-- and trails--collectively create a network that links our open lands;
collectively create a network that links our open lands,natural 1 natural areas,and pa to areas of the city where residents live and
areas,and parks to areas of the city where residents live and work.
work.
10
1rAge# $#stemedts,iioals,F tJutipl¢ls sill,$ litcs Chetlgei th,,00 lq 1 ;2003 Dtsllt dJl!~ifs �'!an
friim.bctoLjR>r15�h)ratfh .; 1Plliel- ,':
80 In other cases our edges should reflect a transition from the In other cases,our edges should reflect a transition from the developed
developed area of our City to the rural character of Larimer areas of our City to the rural character of Larimer County. These
County. These edges will take on many forms,such as edges will take on many forms,including foothills,agricultural/rural
including4he foothills,agricultural/rural lands, urban estate lands, and urban estate development. Certain edges will be
development. Certain edges may will be permanently j permanently protected through direct acquisition or conservation
protected through direct acquisition or conservation easements, such as community separators and lands that preserve
easements such as community separators and owned and habitat and native landscapes. Others will remain privately-owned
Fitanaged by the City as epe lands that preserve habitat and under agricultural use or clustered residential development.
native landscapes. ,rile Others will remain privately-owned
under agricultural use or clustered residential development.
Seine abes J v b faer-e.,ex` .,e «so as to ....hieye
I eefflnwnity Sepamtefs. Other edges ffm),he more flexible and
83 The key principles of the City Structure Plan include a The key principles of the City Structure Plan include a compact
compact development pattern, an interconnected transit development pattern,an interconnected transit system,new activity
system,new activity centers, a system of interconnected open centers,a system of interconnected open lands,a urbee growth
lands,an urban growth area boundary, and multiple means of management area boundary, and multiple means of travel—including
travel—including walking,bicycling,and transit. Together walking,bicycling,and transit. Together these principles reinforce the j
these principles reinforce the desired future described in the desired future described in the Community Vision and Goals element
Community Vision and Goals M-5 element of City Plan, and of City Plan, and establish a blueprint for future growth.
establish a blueprint for future growth. j
85 City Plan Principles and—Po-licies determines how we can best I City Plan Principles and Policies determines how wean c best achieve
achieve the values and ideals expressed in the Community the values and ideals expressed in the Community Vision and Goals
Vision and Goals 2814 document and the basic framework of document and the basic framework of the future of Fort Collins as
future of Fort Collins as reflected in the City Structure reflected in the City Structure Plan to the year 2025. City Plan
the fut
Plan, ure to the year City
2025. City Principles and Policies builds upon these elements to describe the
evePlan Principles and Policies builds upon these elements to fundamental prineiples and basiepokey-choices necessary to build the
describe the fundamental principles and basic policy choices future Fort Collins. A principle is defined as a general or
necessary to build the future Fort Collins. Aprinciple is fundamental rule,doctrine,or assumption; a policy is defined as a
defined as a general or fundamental rule,doctrine,or definite course or method of action selected to guide and
assumption; a policy is defined as a definite course or determine present and future decisions.Thus, City Plan Principles
method of action selected to guide and determine present and Policies defines ways to make that desired future happen.
and future decisions.Thus, City Plan Principles and Policies
defines ways to make that desired future happen.
I
11
a$e# glents;t f d ��!cineipies;tut li {lltr -= �f�h>inges a!~letoher _fflf Pfau
chapges of ti
86 Relationship to other adopted plans ■Added to paragraph
j City Plan Principles and Policies builds upon previous City Plan Principles and Policies also provide over-arching guidance
planning efforts --what really j for other policy plans. Other recently adopted plans consistent with
works well --and enhances it. Where these planning efforts the Principles and Policies of City Plan can be considered elements of
may not work as well as City Plan,helping to further shape our City's desired future.
they should,this Plan finds ways to shape improvements by Therefore these next tier of plans need to be considered when making
combining lessons learned decisions.
from successes and failures with new ideas from local
residents. City Plan Principles
and Policies will also serve as a framework to integrate and
coordinate future planning
efforts.
1 89,All Natural Areas and Open Lands(NOL) YAWwral.lreasend Open Lands(NOL)
93 +' Policy LU-4.6 Existing Plans. Existing subarea plans shall Policy LU-4.6 Existing Plans. Existing subarea plans shall will be
be reviewed and made consistent with City Plan,as reviewed and made consistent with City Plan,as needed.Three
needed.Three plans are planned to be updated: Four plans are planned to be updated:
j
Eastside Neighborhoods Plan a Eastside Neighborhoods Plan
Westside Neighborhoods Plan • Westside Neighborhoods Plan
Downtown Plan 4 Downtown Plan
rth College Avenue Corridor Plan
97 PNCIPLE T-1: h
p y The sical organization of the City PRINCIPLE T lo
RI g The physical organization of the City will be
will be supported by a framework of transportation supported by a framework of transportation alternatives that
alternatives that mars balances access,mid mobility, balances access,mobility safety, and emergency response
safety,and emergency response throughout the City,while throughout the City,while working toward reducing vehicle miles !I
reducing vehicle miles traveled and dependence upon the traveled and dependence upon the private automobile.
i private automobile.
100 Policy T-3.1 Demand management. The City will promote Policy T-3.1 Demand management. The City will promote travel
travel demand management measures that reduce automobile : demand management measures that reduce automobile trips and
trips and promote alternative transportation modes—such as 1 promote alternative transportation modes in which results can be
telecommuting and in-home businesses,electronic j measured—such as telecommuting and in-home businesses, electronic
communications, variable work weeks,and flextime, transit communications,variable work weeks,and flextime, transit access,
access,bicycle and pedestrian amenities,parking bicycle and pedestrian amenities,parking management, and trip
management,and trip reduction programs for large employers. reduction programs for large employers.
12
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from()ctdbj& I§1°.P[aR Chtip 8 '' '`Pldn .� � -�;, e
103 Policy T-5.3 Continuity. The City shall provide a safe, Policy T-5.3 Continuity. The City shell will provide a safe,
continuous and understandable pedestrian network continuous and understandable pedestrian network incorporating a
incorporating a system of sidewalks, crossings and trails system of sidewalks,crossings and trails throughout the community.
throughout the community. Bridges and crossings should be Bridges and crossings should be provided over railroads,rivers,
provided over railroads,rivers, drainageways, and other drainageways, and other features that may be major barriers to a
features that may be major barriers to a continuous pedestrian continuous pedestrian network. Where bridges and crossings are
network. Where bridges and crossings are appropriate, appropriate, impacts to wildlife and plant communities should be
impacts to wildlife and plant communities should be mitigated.
mitigated.
103 Policy T-5.4 Sidewalks. Sidewalks will be designed, Policy T-5.4 Sidewalks. Sidewalks will be designed,constructed, and
constructed, and maintained to provide safety, comfort, and a maintained to provide safety, comfort, and a"walkable"community.
j "walkable"community. New development will follow New development will follow adopted design standards for sidewalk
adopted design standards for sidewalk design. Older, existing design. Older, existing streets will be retrofitted to provide improved,
sheets will be retrofitted to provide improved,widened, or widened, or detached sidewalks in conjunction with capital
detached sidewalks in conjunction with capital improvement improvement or maintenance projects,,whefe feasible.
or maintenance projects,where feasible.
14
105 Policy T-10.5 Interregional Transit Corridors. The City + Policy T-10.5 Interregional Transit Corridors. The City will work
Will work cooperatively with regional partners to identify cooperatively with regional partners to identify opportunities to
opportunities to provide interregional transit connectivity ! provide interregional transit connectivity between along the North
between the North Front Range and Denver. i Front Range And Pm* .
118 Policy ECON-1.4 Jobs/Housing Balance. The City will Policy ECON-1.4 Jobs/Housing Balance. The City will strive to
strive to ensure that a reasonable balance exists between ensure that a reasonable balance between employment and housing
I housing demand erected by gre A4h in lower ineeme ebs and I is maintained as well as
residential development capacity. The primary intent is to a balance between basic jobs and non-basic jobs. The primary intent is
create a relative balance between the wages generated by to create a relative balance between the wages generated by various
various tomes of employment and housing prices. i types of employment and housing prices.
119 PRINCIPLE ECON-2: Economic Sustainability: The Citv will
strive to develop an economy which will be self-sustaining within
the limits of its GMA(including possible modifications for CSU
foothills campus and Fossil Creek area).
Policy ECON-2.1. Fort Collins will investigate ways to diversify its I
I revenue stream from the traditional "sales/use tax"model.
i
Policy ECON-2.2. Fort Collins will be a leader in developing an
economy which continues to "develop"within its GMA.
13
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' 1
from b4'oller 1 'At Clan or P 9 . .-.
i
Policy ECON-2.3. Fort Collins will investigate ways to maintain its
desired level of services.
121 Policy HSG-1.6 Basic Access . Housing units, including Policy HSG-1.6 Basic Access . The City supports the Practical
single family and multiple-housing units should be constructed Housing for all initiatives; therefore,14housing units, including single
with practical features that provide basic access and family and multiple-housing units, should be constructed with
functionality for people of all ages and widely varying practical features that provide basic access and functionality for people
mobility and ambulatory-related abilities. of all ages and widely varying mobility and ambulatory-related
abilities.
123 Dnn rnmr E 14SG '. __Neig bofheed _> t _ t be -PRINCIPLE HSG-3: Neighborhood stability must be maintained and
maintained _. _ enhanced.
n r 1199 3.1 Development Wast:ee, The eh ff ftete of I Policy HSG-3.1 Development Practices. The character of stable
residential neighborhoods should be preserved through neighborhood
fleighber-hoed planning,assistanee to neighborhood
planning, assistance to neighborhood organizations,and supportive
regulatory techniques.
127 De10 Policy ENV 1.2. Area-wide Approach. r*Policy ENV 1.2. City--Alfa-wide Approach. The City's primary
The City's primary approach to improving-..=oter :ale approach to improving air pollution is to reduce total ci -area-wide
related air pollution is to reduce total area-wide motor vehicle meter vehicle emissions over the long term.The City's secondary
emissions over the long termery-a�a c:': approach is to assure that localized air pollution exposures conform to
adopted health standards.
1 t Chet violates Met:e.,et Ambie-.t A i f Qu.d:�..
Standards.The City's secondary approach is to assure that I
1 localized air pollution exposures conform to adopted health
standards. -- - -
j 127 Policy ENV-2.1 Actions on Vehicle Miles Traveled.The Policy ENV-2.1 Actions on Vehicle Miles Traveled.The City will
City will slow the growth of vehicle-miles of travel by slow the growth of vehicle-miles of travel by employing strategies that
employing strategies that reduce vehicle trip rates,reduce reduce vehicle trip rates,reduce vehicle trip length,and increase
vehicle trip length and increase vehicle occupancy such as vehicle occupancy
t . to t_.ehiele.. and fwading ifte � ,. ....A �
providing alternatives to motor vehicle travel in single- �s,�r�b�� �-.�___� _ ,and ==s===o.-•..•-.. �-••.-
occupant vehicles and providing incentives and disincentives.
14
E�gRx# Stptemehis' GoiiyS, eip .- es chanses to 4etob f �,20b Draft o elt
ttfiU�ke .15'"Draft�hffn Q4- tiFH
133 ! Policy ENV34.3 Water Demand Management Policy. The Policy ENV-4.3 Water Demand Management Policy. The City will
City will initiate and intensify activities that demonstrate a initiate and intensify activities that demonstrate a commitment to the
commitment to the efficient and wise use of water, such as: efficient and wise use of water, such as:
b. All new residences must have water meters. A volunteer b.All new residences must have water meters. " velunteeF pregfaen
program will convert existing houses to meters,with 100% e existing houses« inetefs,....., ,nnot eenversie
conversion anticipated by 2005. antisipated by 2005,
133 PRINCIPLE ENV3-5: Energy efficiency and use of PRINCIPLE ENV-5: Energy efficiency and use of renewable
renewable energy resources will be encouraged,facilitated, energy resources will be encouraged,facilitated,and regulated in
and regulated in both the public and private sector both the public and private sector through information and j
through information and educational services,financial educational services,ftnaneiel incentive programs,requirements,
incentive programs,requirements,end-incentives in the ineentives and enforcement of regulations such as the Energy
planning-preeessr and enforcement of regulations such as Code.
the Energy Code.
134 + PRINCIPLE ENV-67: Community noise standards should PRINCIPLE ENV-7: Community noise standards should be
135 be adopted and enforced that are unambiguous (specific adopted and enfeFeed that are unambiguous(spe e method to
method to determine compliance),enforceable,(easy to ,(easy to determin
determine compliance and prove non-compliance),
scientific(employ accepted and consistent measurement
techniques), realistic(balance the physiological and
j 1 subjective aspects of noise perception with the need for per-eeption with the need for- PRIOMPNIP",and diseeFB*Bg
enforcement), and discerning(recognize that intermittentannoying than steady state
is more annoying than steady-state noise,and that noise,and that nighttime noise is more annoying than daytime
nighttime noise is more annoying than daytime noise). seise) will be enforceable,measurable,and realistic.
I
15
c—,Octob hao TN 4 150%20ft of i
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"
age
IA.
136 PRINCIPLE ENV-10: The City will apply pollution PRINCIPLE ENV-10: The City will apply cost-effective pollution
prevention and zero-waste strategies that will help protect prevention and zero-waste strategies that will help protect all
all environmental resources,including air,soil,and water environmental resources,including air,soil, and water and
and accelerate the community's ability to meet the City's accelerate the community's ability to meet the City's adopted goal
adopted goal of diverting 50% of the waste stream from of diverting 50% of the waste stream from disposal in landfills by
disposal in landfills by 2010. 2010.
137 Policy ENV-10.4 Regulation. Existing municipal ordinances *Policy ENV-10.4 Regulation. Existing municipal ordinances that
that promote waste reduction,efficient resource use, and promote waste reduction, efficient resource use,and recycling will
recycling will continue to be an important mechanism for continue to be an important mechanism for helping reach public policy
helping reach public policy goals. The City will support goals. The Gi4y will supp&A e&Fts to inerease fnaffefeettwers'
efforts to increase manufacturers' motivation to design fnetivafien to design preduets that feduee ffia4efial eensumptien an
reuse, feeilitate vouse veryaling and T-eeevery. The City will supports efforts
products that reduce material consumption and facilitate
recycling and recovery. that reduce materials consumption and facilitate reuse,recovery an
i recycliniz.
141 PRINCIPLE NOL-1: Preserve and protect natural areas PRINCIPLE NOL-1: Preserve and protect 1111tifFid areas and
and other types of open lands within Fort Collins,the other-types a open lands within Fort Collins,the Growth Community Growth Management Area,and regionally to Management Area,and regionally to provide habitat essential t o
provide habitat essential to the conservation of plants, the conservation of plants,animals,and their associated
animals,and their associated ecosystems. and tecerteU ecosystems.This will benefit the citizens of Fort Collins by i
the lives of This will benefit the citizens of Fort Collins by providing appropriate opportunities for education,scientific
providing appropriate opportunities for education, research,nature-interpretation,fishing,wildlife observation,
scientific research,nature-interpretation,m4,-fishing, hiking,and other appropriate recreational activities.
wildlife observation,hiking,and other netivifles
appropriate recreation.
NOL-1.1 Natural Areas System. The ------ -4-o—ficy N-0-1-Al.A Nat-ur—al r�_
141 Policy City will _Olen Lands System. The City
establish a system of publicly-owned natural areas to protect will establish have a system of publicly-owned natffal afeas Wen
the integrity of wildlife habitat and conservation sites,protect lands to protect the integrity of wildlife habitat and conservation sites
corridors between natural areas,preserve outstanding protect corridors between natural areas,preserve outstanding examples
examples of Fort Collins'diverse natural heritage, and provide i of Fort Collins'diverse natural heritage,and provide a broad range of
a broad range of opportunities for educational, interpretive, 1 opportunities for educational,interpretive, and recreational programs
and recreational programs to meet community needs. to meet community needs.
141 + Policy NOL-1.2 Urban Development. The City will Policy NOL,1.2 Urban Development. The City will conserve and
142 conserve and integrate natural areas into the developed integrate natural areas open lands into the developed landscape by
landscape by directing development away from sensitive afeas directing development away from natural habitats and features and by
natural habitats and features and by usinginnovative planning, using innovative planning, design, and management practices. When
design, and management practices. When it is not possible to it is not possible to direct development away from natural habitats and
16
Page# Statements,Gtight P Wilailfles 91311id, s th October
�Priift Cb"-es.0 C_ 1_"
6 02�_
ittom : be-rJ90' S '(
direct development away from natural areas habitats and features,they should be integrated into the developed landscape in a
features, . should iat hthey should be integraed 1 manner that conserves their integrity. If integration will not
it egg-Ae teni-
into the developed landscape in a manner that conserves their effectively conserve the integrity of the natural habitats and features
mitigation will be applied. The City will
integrity. If integration will not effectively-conserve the i then either on-site or off-site
gL I integrity of the natural habitats and features,then either on-site encourage and assist efforts by private landowners and organizations
and to
or off-site mitigation will be applied. The City will encourage to integrate natural areas open lands into new development
and assist efforts by private landowners and organizations to protect,restore, or enhance privately owned natufal areas open lands
integrate natural areas into new development and to protect, within the genunuin Growth Management Area.
restore, or enhance privately owned natural areas within the
Community Growth management Area.
NOL-1.3 Public Programs. The City will promote i
142 Policy NOL-1.3 Public Programs. The City will previde Policy regional open lands through
d-iverge,eduenti anal, inte prefive, Afeefeationalpfegrinnsto understanding and enjoyment of local and
appropriate recreational activities,formal and non-formal education,
promote understanding and enjoyment of local and regional 1
open lands natiaral areas by the publie. 14-Aill also previde and interpretive programs.
eppeftinnties fef eutdae through appropriate recreation,
formal and non-informal education,and interpretive programs,
an loeal no"al feavares to the 60H)HRIflitY.
142 Policy NOI,1.4 Partnerships. The City will seek to develop Policy NOL-1.4 Partnerships. The City will seek to develop
effective local and regional partnerships between the Gib% effective local and regional partnerships;with other governmental
with other governmental organizationsi and the private sector organizations-,and the private sector for the protection and
for the protection and preservation of locally and regionally preservation of locally and regionally valued open lands. It will also
valued open lands. It will also seek the cooperation and seek the cooperation and assistance of citizens,businesses,community
assistance of citizens,businesses, community groups, groups, conservation organizations,and governmental agencies in the
conservation organizations,and governmental agencies in the development and implementation of programs to protect and preserve
development and implementation of programs to protect and local and regional nabdr-el aregs And o0wF#jTe&-ef-open lands.
preserve local and regional natural areas and other Wes o
i open lands.
NOL-1.7-inte-r- Departmental and t Policy Internal Departin Agency Policy NOI,1.7 Internal Departmental and Agency Coordination.
Coordination. The City will coordinate natural areas and The City will coordinate natilrel.areaq And ethff open landLprograms
other open land programs within the City and region to within the City and region to maximize public benefit and explore
maximize public benefit and explore ways of integrating ways of integrating natiffal areas open lands protection into ongoing
natural areas protection into ongoing City programs. City programs.
142 Policy NOI,1.8 Ecosystems Management. The City will Policy NOL-1.8 Ecosystems Management. The City will manage,
manage, maintain, and enhance public open lands and natural maintain,and enhance public open lands and natural areas to ensure
areas to ensure the ongoing conservation of desirable plants the ongoing conservation of plants and animals in need of protection
and animals in need of protection and their associated and their associated ecosystems,to control the invasion and spread of
11
17
Rage# Staemente, 9 ;; $afgles @t!t�Po)lcgs r ' lytgBe to�lniobe► 15 ,2003;1irxit ptitY1nn
;.
ecosystems,control the invasion and spread of undesirable undesirable non-native plants, improve aesthetics, and provide
non-native plants and-aaimals, improve aesthetics,and provide opportunities for appropriate public use.
opportunities for appropriate public use.
143 Policy NOL-1.13 Access. The City will design trail routes in Policy NOL-1.13 Access. The City will design trail routes in na#lfal
natural areas to minimize ecological impacts. A hierarchy ef areas open lands to enhance access and recreation to while minimize
„b bl' 1, d a L' L 11 L a
! ��,,,, ..... ,,. _................. ... .._._......._ ....._.. ..... ..___ minimizing ecological impacts. Determination of type of trail or
with payed wails,whiati, %ill b _ eessible only by unpave suitability for access will be made dependent on potential ecological
feet tfails, and whiek will be left:_it_ees :ale Determination ; impacts and recreation needs. Special attention will be given to
I of We of trail or suitability for access will be made dependent environmentally sensitive trail design, location,and construction.
on potential ecological impacts and recreation needs. Special
attention will be given to environmentally sensitive trail
! design, location,and construction.
� I
143 Policy NOL-2.1 Conservation Tools. The City will purchase Policy NOLr2.1 Conservation Tools. The City will purchase open
open lands, conservation easements, and/or development j lands, conservation easements,and/or development rights and use
III rights and use eenseFvatien easements an other sueh tools other tools such as development regulations and planning for the
such as development regulations and planning for the purpose purpose of defining and protecting community edges. Sueh open lands
of defining and protecting community edges. Such open lands
include natural areas, agricultural lands,and areas for reereatieff.
appropriate passive er-limited recreation- ef nex ethletis
144 PRINCIPLE NO1 :_ The City's parks and recreation PRIENCIPLE NOL 3i The City's
system will include parks,trails, ,
natural areas and urban—
and urban streetscapes. Open lands and natural areas " '
secs will provide
reereation opportunities in an interconnected framework
that is distFibuted connecting these amenities throughout aMeni#Ps-thfeughont 22L22
our community the arbawafea.
PRINCIPLE NOL-3: A variety of recreational opportunities will
be provided to the community through a diverse and
interconnected framework of open lands including parks,trails,
community separators and natural areas.
18
Page# Statements,}Ctoalgl Il ci}lle8 R041o4ces Clt gk5 i 4l etober 13 ;20D -)b ra�E of City I L' Y E
jJ
144 Policy NOL-3.1 Corridors.Trails along streams, Policy NOL-3.1 Corridors.Trails along streams,drainageways,and
drainageways, and irrigation ditch corridors should be : irrigation ditch corridors should be dispersed throughout the City,
dispersed throughout the City,provide public access, and link provide public access, and link neighborhoods,parks,activity centers,
neighborhoods,parks, activity centers, commercial centers, I commercial centers,and streets wher
and streets where environmentally appropriate and compatible and compatible with natural habitat values utilizing environmentally
with natural habitat values. sensitive trail design.
147+ Policy GM-111 Community Growth Management Area *Policy GM 1.2 and GM1.3 Combined.
148 Boundary. The City will continue to collaborate with the
County in having a Comity Growth Management Area . Policy GM-1.2 Amendments to the 2003 Growth Management
boundary Area(GMA) Boundary.
surrounding Fort Collins for guiding and managing growth
beyond the City limits for the next 20 to oc year The i The GMA Boundary will remain generally as presently configured but I
Growth Management Area boundary will help delineate the will be subiect to limited amendments in accordance with the
extent of urban development in Fort Collins. The City's following criteria. Such amendments will be made only after
Community Growth Management Area boundary will be i opportunities have been provided for public involvement and
reviewed,and if necessary,modified no less them every five comment. The need for possible amendments to the GMA, to include '
yeaFs according to established criteria and procedures,and/er the Fossil Creek CPA,the CSU Foothills Campus District and the
"411 vc in conjunction with a comprehensive update Wildflower Areas,has already been identified as part of the 2004
of City Plan. comprehensive update to City Plan. The identification of any
additional proposed amendments to the GMA will be undertaken only
CAC Version: in conjunction with future comprehensive updates of City Plan. The
Policy GM-1.3 Growth Management Area Boundary criteria to be considered in reviewing each of these proposed GMA
Amendment Criteria. Except as provided in GM-1.2,the amendments will include,but need not be limited to,the following:
GMA boundary will remain as it is presently configured.
However, in limited cases,the GMA boundary may be 1. whether the proposed amendment is consistent with community
reviewed and modified as necessary. Modifications must goals,principles,and policies as expressed in City Plan,
occur in accordance with pre-established criteria and 2, whether the proposed amendment has a positive net fiscal benefit to
procedures in conjunction with comprehensive updates of City j the community;
Plan,which shall include opportunities for public involvement 3. whether the proposed amendment is necessary to accommodate an
1 and comment. activity that cannot-Fease.;a;;r•:be reasonably accommodated on lands
j within the existing GMA boundary: i
The following criteria shall apply when the city evaluates a 4. whether the land proposed for inclusion in the GMA contains any
proposed amendment to the GMA boundary. ; environmental resources or hazard constraints that make the area
unsuitable for its proposed use: and
1. Policy compatibility-that the proposed amendment is 5. whether the proposed amendment would result in a logical change
consistent with community goals, principles, and policies as to the Growth Management Area. Factors to be included in making
expressed in City Plan; this determination will include,but need not be limited to.the
2. Fiscal Impacts—that the proposed amendment has a following:
positive net fiscal benefit to the community;
19
Itage# iu{�I[ts,foals;Princtples. aaFouQ :t ; _ " bangs to.=1cvb..e_r _ hotyf
*_4r�5 r• tAd PI@df f : gi Jan
.
3 Reasonable Accommodation—that the proposed activity (a) whether the proposed amendment would allow for the logical,
cannot be reasonably accommodated on lands within the incremental extension of urban services;
existing GMA boundarv; (b)whether the proposed amendment would offer a desirable new
4. Land suitability—that the land proposed for inclusion in "edge"to the community;
the GMA contains no sensitive environmental resources or (c)whether the existing boundary to be extended is contiguous to
hazard constraints that make the area unsuitable for its existing developed areas of the city, and
proposed use; (d) whether the proposed amendment would contribute to the
5 Logical change or modification of the GMA—that the compact urban form of the city.
amendment is a logical change to the Growth mana eg ment !
Area. Factors to be considered include an efficient increment
for extending urban services a desirable community edge, a
change that is contiguous to existing developed areas of the
city, and a location that contributes to the desired compact
urban form of the city.
!
Staff version as contained in the October 15 City Plan
document showing changes from the CAC version: i I
Policy GM-1.3 Growth Management Area Boundary
Amendment Criteria. Except as provided in GM-1.2, the
GMA boundary will shall basically remain as it is presently
configured. However-,in,:.. iced eases,but be sufficiently
flexible to provide for future minor amendments tThe GMA
boundary may be reviewed and modified as neeessery.
in accordance with pre-established
criteria contained below and procedures in conjunction with
comprehensive updates of City Plan, which shall include
opportunities for public involvement and comment.
The following criteria shall apply be considered when the city
evaluates a proposed amendment to the GMA boundary.
!
1. Policy compatibility-that the proposed amendment is
consistent with community goals,principles,and policies as
expressed in City Plan;
12. Fiscal Impacts—that the proposed amendment has a
positive net fiscal benefit to the community;
3. Reasonable Accommodation—that the proposed activity
i cannot reasonably be reasonably accommodated on lands
within the existing GMA boundary;
20
Page# l tatements,_r od pi les.and P6409
from October 1'S. :l;titft. h dti of Ci`"Pt In •''
4. Land suitability—that the land proposed for inclusion in
the GMA contains no sensitive environmental resources or
hazard constraints that make the area unsuitable for its
proposed use; and
5. Logical change or modification of the GMA—that the
amendment is a logical change to the Growth Management
Area. Factors to be considered include an efficient increment
for extending urban services, a desirable community edge, a
change that is contiguous to existing developed areas of the
city, and a location that contributes to the desired compact
urban form of the city.
150 r Policy GM-2.1 Community Coordination t Policy GM-2.1 Community Coordination
The City will continue to collaborate with Larimer County and
other adjacent communities to plan the edges of our Growth The City will continue to collaborate with Larimer County and other
Management Area. The City will cooperate with adjacent adjacent communities to plan the edges of our Growth Management
governmental entities to ensure contiguity of development that Area. The City will cooperate with adjacent governmental entities to
limits sprawl and forms community separators. nib ensure contiguity of development that limits sprawl and forms
community separators.The City shell will provide guidance on factors
including,but not limited to future land use,infrastructure planning,
j j development standards, fees,and the preservation of open lands and
' Or.he pity.,.].....°a c_1 . e ..1... natwal-areas.
p-ee City The City shall provide guidance on factors
including,but not limited to future land use, infrastructure
planning,development standards,and fees, and the
preservation of open lands and natural areas.identi€ioatieof
q:he
an
development
e:e.' .me:tl:le. . .e*Mie:to the City,aftha ughv some areas-
for,....d.......peses, as deg°Fihed helA... ' GM
1.3 Cooperative
! 151 Receiving areas. Locations for potential receiving areas, Receiving areas. Locations for potential receiving areas,capable
capable of accommodating the development to be of accommodating the development to be transferred, shall will be
transferred, shall be specifically defined and designated specifically defined and designated within the Growth Management
within the Growth Management Area. No receiving areas j Area. No receiving areas shell will be designated within three miles
shall be designated within three miles of the City's of the City's Eemmnenily Growth Management Area boundary.
Community Growth Management Area boundary. Exceptions to the three-mile radius may be for properties located
Exceptions to the three-mile radius may be for properties 1 outside the City limits and within the Growth Management Area
located outside the City limits and within the t) boundary, and the Fossil Creek Reservoir area.
21
Page# taripntsj,C ,}"rinerp .aridlficea ��a't�Orober 15
has em o Ci A s= 77 ,
Growth Management Area boundary, and the Fossil Creek
Reservoir area.
P , -- -- g-FImprovement
-P --il - - - - - P B P P
153 � Policy GM-4.2 Capital Improvement Policy. The City will Policy GM-4.2 Capital Improvement Policy. The City will j
continue too operate under the following Capital Im rovement continue too operate under the following Capital Improvement Policies:
Policies:
• The City will develop a multi-year plan for capital improvements
:
• The City will develop a multi-year plan for capital and updated it annually.basis.
improvements and updated annually. , whieh shall be
FeNxiewed and updated on an annual basis.
155 . Policy GM-6.2 Limited-Low-Income housing. Special r Policy GM-6.2 Low-Income Housing. Special support will continue
support will continue be established to enable development of ! to be established-given to developersibuilders of low-income housing
linrited low-income housing. that will help offset the costs of the City's impact fees and
development requirements to enable development of low-income
housing.
g
155 PRINCIPLE GM-8: The City will promote compatible PRINCIPLE GM-8: The City will promote compatible infill and
Will and redevelopment in targeted areas where general redevelopment in areas where eeneral Offeement exists that these
agreement exists that these activities are beneficial within setivitles are besefieWwithin the 6emmueity-Growth
the Eemmneity-Growth Management Area boundary. Management Area boundary.
j 156 i Policy GM-8.1 Targeted Redevelopment/Infill. I Policy GM-8.1 Targeted Redevelopment/Infill.Redevelopment and
Redevelopment and infill development will be encouraged in infill development will be encouraged in targeted locations.The
targeted locations The pumose of these areas is to channel purpose of these areas is to channel growth where it will be beneficial
growth where it will be beneficial and can best improve access and can best improve access to jobs,housing and services with fewer
to jobs housing and services with fewer and shorter auto trips. and shorter auto trips. These targeted areas are parts of the City where
I These targeted areas are parts of the City where general general agreement exists that development or redevelopment is
agreement exists that development or redevelopment;- ; beneficial. A major goal is to increase economic activity in the area to
beneficial A maior goal is to increase economic activity in benefit existing residents and businesses and,where necessary,
the area to benefit existing residents and businesses and. ; provide the stimulus to redevelop. r`^"" ^-e"" ^" ' ^ -- ^'_ """ '
where necessary,provide the stimulus to redevelop. These
areas all have many different characteristics,but some of the
more common traits are close proximity to or abutting an j a This 11 ereate^___ t.-a^" for additional PO&StFifffi
arterial street or near an enhanced travel corridor. This will a __a ' e development T"_,.-'ed Fedeve'""'sent""`
'" r e
create opportunities for additional pedestrian-oriented,mixed- a the eppeFPdnity to r_us ._.....th in " way that benefits the aAt
use development.Targeted redevelopment areas provide the as _Miele. `_ a a S-[ZZ`e7e CQ0 n]l]
opportunity to focus growth in a Apss 41 PffisiLnt femas of._".."pertatio inel din
a whole. Future residents and workers in these areas will have walldeg,biki gg and`uses liewever, redevelepment in these"_"""
excellent access to efficient forms of transportation,including dee6 mete than just reduce the petential 4 faffie ,.enge t..n in the rip.,.
22
City le I� Z�9; aftof
te � ¢ples and Id Ce b§ h # �_$ a
;'2 H
'fnoih October 10,Di ft qaages.of
walking biking and buses However,redevelopment in these raaN,y ef build 4igs,,—AFeets
areas does more than just reduce the potential traffic lifbaththeses afeas
congestion in the City new development can improve the MWin the
visual quality of buildings streets and neighborhoods,
improving the quality of life in both theses areas and in the These areas should be defined from City Plan, Subarea Plans,Zoning
isurrounding neighborhoods. and location]criteria such as:
j
i These areas should be defined from City Plan Subarea Plans, • Underutilized land
Zoning and locational criteria such as: 1 • Areas already undergoing positive change,which is expected
to continue
Underutilized Ian d • Areas where infrastructure capacity exists
• Areas already undergoing positive change,which is • Areas where public investment is warranted from a policy
expected to continue perspective
Areas where infrastructure capacity exists • Areas with special opportunities, such as where major public
• Areas where public investment is warranted from a or private investment is already planned
Policy perspective Transportation opportunities:
• Areas with special opportunities such as where maior i) Along travel corridors
i public or private investment is already planned i ii) Along enhanced travel corridors
Transportation opportunities:
i) Along travel corridors
ii) Along enhanced travel corridors
157 Policy GM-8.2 Aasre Ident�ed by Neighborhood Subarea j Policy GM-8.2 Areas Identified by Neighborhood Subarea Plans.
Plans. Neighborhood Subarea Plans shall help designate Neighborhood Subarea Plans shall will help designate appropriate
appropriate areas for redevelopment and infill in historic I areas for redevelopment and infill in historic neighborhood In�n
neighborhoods In some cases redevelopment and mfill
projects in historic neighborhoods can negatively impact the . Appropriate design
standards are needed to protect the character of these areas and to
character of these areas Appropriate design standards are
needed to protect the character of these areas and to ensure ensure conformance with City Plan.
conformance with City Plan.
158 Policy GM-8.3 Intensification Areas. The community ' Policy GM-8.3 Intensification Areas.
io
should clearly understand developed areas of our City that r
may undergo significant change in the future based on the I
existing regulatory framework An understanding of the ' " ' ' `'�"" - _ aRee
desired future land use will ensure conformance with existing e fleighbefheeds,
neighborhoods, compliance with environmental regulations, a " ` " "" "« ` " D'" The City will develop a
and conformance with City Plan. framework for givine citizens notice that in utilizing its existing
regulatory framework to foster positive changes in developed areas
that lead to desired land uses in compliance with City Plan policies,
- 23
Pie# ' Sta"t d i ,Clow_ ; �tilniRl N iWid t ha► es to, letober l ,2u�13, of tiiy Sian
f 4 -October 15s'Dra h'"' ea"of 0 :FI:ii
vacant/underutilized areas in existing neighborhoods may develop and
! the character of the area may change as a result of this new
j development.
158 Policy GM-8.35 Public Investment. The City will consider J Policy GM-8.5 Public Investment. The City will consider
opportunities for targeted shoukkamet public investment in opportunities,and the costs and benefits for targeted public investment
order to encourage redevelopment and infill development in in order to encourage redevelopment and infill development in
j appropriate locations. appropriate locations.
jConsiderations shall may include the following:
• Public/private partnerships Publiel _iv
j • Financial subsidies • F:_...eial ^..b&idies
• Property acquisition
• Reduction or waiver of fees • D edlieti e_ of waiver-of fe-
• Density bonusesDensity bEM
• Reduction of parking of par4i4fte
� I
161 Policy GM4011.1 Frequency. City Plan and the elements Policy GM-11.1 Frequency. City Plan and the elements thereof,may
thereof,may be amended, in whole or in part,nor more be amended, in whole or in part,neF no more frequently than twice
frequently than twice each calendar year for citizen-initiated each calendar year for citizen-initiated amendments.and In addition to
amendments and in addition to the foregoing,may be the foregoing, City Plan may be amended at other times concurrently
amended concurrently with the adoption of Plan elements as with the adoption of Plan elements as needed and annexation or initial
needed. A comprehensive update of City Plan shall take place zonings. A comprehensive update of City Plan shell will take place at
at least every five (5)years, eginning in 2002. (Re Ased-by least every five(5)years.
161 Policy GM4911.4 Decision-making. Plan amendments shall Policy GM-11.4 Decision-malting. Plan amendments shell will be
be accomplished by an action of the Director of Community accomplished by an the action of the
Planning and Environmental Services for minor plan revisions ! City
and by the City Council,upon receipt of a recommendation Council,upon receipt of a recommendation from the Planning and
from the Planning and Zoning Board, for major Plan Zoning Board. , fer major Pl..n amendments. i
amendments. (ne..sod by neselutien 2000 140.)
181 Policy EXN-1.4 In611 Development and Redevelopment. Policy EXN-1.4 Infill Development and Redevelopment.
Infrll/redevelopment policies, standards,and procedures will hifill/redevelopment policies, standards,and procedures will apply to
apply to proposals for such activity in designated areas of proposals€eF be developed to og vem such activity,
existing neighborhoods as determined in a subarea plan. Infill/redevelopment will be permitted only in designated areas of
Residential development on any parcels over twenty(20)acres existing neighborhoods as determined in a subarea plan. Residential
will be subject to the density policies for new neighborhoods. development on any parcels over twenty(20)acres will be subject to
24
P,gc#" St4i OW60tsz Goals,Principles and Polices C, anges to October 15 ,2003 'ra R t:7A ,llln
from tlVtObpt- $'-Drhft Chan go o(div Pleb Y`µ
Other policies for new neighborhoods should be taken into the density policies for new neighborhoods. Other policies for new
consideration,if applicable. For parcels under twenty(20) neighborhoods should be taken into consideration,if applicable. For
acres, such infill and redevelopment activity will be supported parcels under twenty(20)acres, such infill and redevelopment activity
if designed to complement and extend the positive qualities of will be supported if designed to complement and extend the positive
surrounding development and adjacent buildings in terms of qualities of surrounding development and adjacent buildings in terms
general intensity and use, street pattern,and any identifiable of general intensity and use, street pattern, and any identifiable style,
style,proportions, shapes,relationship to the street,pattern of proportions, shapes,relationship to the street,pattern of buildings and
buildings and yards, and patterns created by doors, windows, yards, and patterns created by doors,windows,projections and
projections and recesses. Compatibility with these existing recesses. Compatibility with these existing elements does not mean
elements does not mean uniformity. The City will follow uniformity. The City will follow specific design standards for infill
specific design standards for infill development and development and redevelopment with an emphasis on protectin¢
redevelopment. existing residential neighborhood character.
185 + • Downtown District(DD): The essence of the • Downtown District(DD): The essence of the Downtown
186 Downtown District is diversity with a range of choice District is diversity with a range of choice of things to do and
of things to do and see, drawing people throughout the see,drawing people throughout the day and evening. The
day and evening. The objective of this district is to objective of this district is to embrace the fullest possible
embrace the fullest possible range of human range of human interactions, from the simple buying and
interactions, from the simple buying and selling of selling of goods and services to providing people with the
goods and services to providing people with the widest spectrum of cultural, educational and entertainment
widest spectrum of cultural, educational and experiences. Diversity means Downtown must include office,
entertainment experiences. Diversity means finance,civic, government, cultural, and entertainment
Downtown must include office, finance,civic, functions in addition to retail shops,services and restaurants—
government,and entertainment functions in addition served by a local and regional transportation system that
to retail shops, services and restaurants—served by a incorporates multiple modes of travel.To promote pedestrian
local and regional transportation system that activity and vitality, the Downtown should be compact and
incorporates multiple modes of travel. To promote walkable. Development intensity, land use,building height
pedestrian activity and vitality,the Downtown should and urban design should establish Downtown as the focal
be compact and walkable. Development intensity, point of the community.
land use,building height and urban design should
establish Downtown as the focal point of the
community.
25
P';;gg# ,` ",_>$tatengeii(s,ts074t$, 'i trigljllos YN�P11}!#pea Clt6d di�lfober 1S ,2DQg #ti 4nt of City Plan
uw Dptttl0er I5'"Ilr�E�t�h't� �"�6��i ,.i'Jan � per' "
192 Policy RD-5.1 Interconnected System. Where Policy RD-5.1 Interconnected System. Where environmentally
environmentally appropriate, greenways with trails/paths appropriate,greenways with trails/paths should line riparian corridors,
should line riparian corridors, irrigation ditches and storm irrigation ditches and storm drainageways connecting to destinations
drainageways connecting to destinations such as schools, such as schools,nat+nel-areas,open lands,perks and Neighborhood
natural areas,open lands, parks, and Neighborhood Centers. Centers. Special attention will be paid to environmentally sensitive
Special attention will be paid to environmentally sensitive trail trail design, location and construction. Property owners will be
design, location and construction. Property owners will be encouraged to coordinate their efforts in order to use open lands
encouraged to coordinate their efforts in order to use open efficiently and retain wildlife movement corridors.
lands efficiently and retain wildlife movement corridors.
201 Policy DD-3.4 Building Height. Maximum building height Policy DD-3.4 Building Height.
limits for the Downtown area will be twelve (12) stories in the the Do -- 11 be twelve (12) ^`E flies in the Canyon "venue
Canyon Avenue sub-district, and two(2)to three(3) stories sub a stme' and two (2)to.r._,.e (3) stories...:a.in the_eRiai....., ....1
within the remaining sub-districts of Downtown. An
additional fourth story may be permitted in the Old City the^,a City^e .� .., diqtFiAt--- -------e . e.r i v a e r ae v
Center sub-district if sufficient setback from the facade of the
under-stories is provided to maintain the human scale at street 'ow!,whieh weWd have beea otherwise_h__. a *4 w_'_.._-
level,which would have been otherwise achieved with the `• iding h ller buildings(over 3 storied will continue to be
lower building height. allowed downtown to support market vitality and reinforce downtown
s the mimary focal point of the community. Any such taller buildings
should be carefully located and shaped to respond to the surrounding
context A framework of standards for height mass and denim
should be established to maintain a human scale and reflect defining
historic characteristics in the different sub-districts
26
Page# Bta et)Jhd y`CdH ,Prinolpw , :P Ikea Cl�angea to OCfOber I a 01
frorir lietoHOt ism)I1Xaft Chan es of s, u
208 Policy CCD-1.3 Key District Areas for Future Infill and Policy CCD-1.3 Key District Areas for Future Infdl and
Redevelopment. Several areas offer key opportunities to Redevelopment. Several areas offer key opportunities to become
become transformed as redevelopment occurs in a manner that transformed as redevelopment occurs in a manner that is more
is more appropriate with the unique character and setting of appropriate with the unique character and setting of each District.
each District. These areas shall evolve over time to become These areas shall will evolve over time to become more intense in
more intense in development, attractive in appearance, and development, attractive in appearance, and accessible by all
accessible by all transportation modes, with a mixture of land transportation modes, with a mixture of land uses and activities.
uses and activities.
These areas will include:
These areas will include:
• Campus West
• Campus West • North College
• North College . Foothills Mall Area
• Foothills Mall Area . The Downtown
230 The Poudre River Corridor(PRC): designated to preserve The Poudre River Corridor(PRC): designated to preserve,protect,
and restore the natural features of the Cache]a Poudre River and restore the natural features of the Cache la Poudre River while
while providing mixed-use activity areas in the Downtown providing mixed-use activity areas in the Downtown District and
District and recreation opportunities. recreation opportunities.
232 Policy TC-1.7 Interface Between Transportation Policy TC-1.7 Interface Between Transportation Corridors and
Corridors and Open Lands. Transportation corridors that Open Lands. Transportation corridors that are adjacent to open lands
are adjacent too en lands and community separators shall be and community separators shell will be designed in a manner that
designed in a manner that attempts to avoid negative impacts attempts to avoids negative impacts on resources to the extent feasible.
on resources. Where avoidance is not possible, impacts will Where avoidance is not feasible,impacts will be minimized and
be minimized and mitigated while still maintaining the mitigated while still maintaining the intended function of the
intended function of the Transportation Corridor. Transportation Corridor.
241 Water Corridors contain natural and man-made drainageways, Water Corridors contain natural and man-made drainageways,
maintain appropriate wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors, maintain appropriate wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors, and
and provide trailsipaths for recreation use,where appropriate. provide trails/paths for recreation use, where appropriate. Water
Water Corridors collectively comprise a network to link larger Corridors collectively comprise a network to link larger flat gas,
natural areas,open lands,residential districts,parks and other open lands,residential districts,peFks-and other land uses.
land uses.
27
Aa p# StatemeUM,Go .,Principled quces ::: . , t"4anges to Qctoher i'i; ., Tjrxft of City Btau
,: -
-;._ r� 4m'Cletob�F:k��'>Ara&Chan
241 Policy WC-2.1 Recreation and Trails/Paths. Where Policy WC-2.1 Recreation and Trails/Paths. Agiere
environmentally appropriate,the Water Corridor system shall ewAreafnentally appfep-'^'','The Water Corridor system shall may be
be designed to include a trail/path system(with proper trail designed to include a trail/path system'-- ''�prope-'Fail design,
design,location and construction), excluding motorized leeatien and eoftstfa excluding motorized vehicles(except
vehicles(except emergency and maintenance vehicle access). emergency and maintenance vehicle access). Special attention will be
given to environmentally sensitive trail design, location,and
construction.
242 j Policy WC-2.3 Connections. Connections between Water Policy WC-2.3 Connections. Connections between Water Corridors
Corridors and nearby parks,natural areas, and other open and nearby par4Es,natwal areas,and othe open lands should be
lands should be developed,including trail/paths,if developed,including trails/paths,i f on-airenmentally appr-e ieAe with
environmentally appropriate,with proper trail design,location, i _pecial attention will be
and construction. given to environmentally sensitive trail design, location,and
construction.
242 Policy WC-2.4 Ed es. Water corridors, such as Boxelder Policy WC-2.4 Edges. Water corridors, such as Boxelder Creek, will
Creek will help define the edges of our community, form help define the edges of our community, form parts of community
parts of community separators and other open lands,in separators and other open lands,in addition to serving their primary ii
addition to serving their Lmary function as drainage function as drainage corridors.
corridors They may include trails/paths,if environmentallygeatien, and
appropriate with proper trail design location and eensttustiert
construction.
- - j - -- ---- —--- -- — -- - -
242 Policy WC 2.7 Boxelder Natural Features Protection. The
Boxelder Creek will be enhanced restoring the native vegetation,
j providing wildlife habitat and restoring the channel's topography to
naturally meandering plains stream corridor protected by natural
i features buffer zone adequate for preserving the drainage as a natural
feature.
246 i PRINCIPLE PRC-1: la-o Fte-To assure that the diverse i PRINCIPLE PRC-1: To assure that the diverse community values
community values of the Poudre River Corridor are of the Poudre River Corridor are protected and enhanced,land j
protected and enhanced,land uses must be carefully uses must be carefully managedthrough RB iffteffated land us
managed through an integrated land use plan. phM--
248 Historic and Cultural Core Segment(College Avenue to Historic and Cultural Core Segment(College Avenue to Lemay
Lemay Avenue). This segment of the river includes many of Avenue). This segment of the river includes many of the
the community's oldest and most significant historic and community's oldest and most significant historic and cultural features,
cultural features,the Old Town Historic District,and the the Old Town Historic District, and the Downtown. Land uses in the
Downtown. Land uses in the area should be more flexible - area should be more flexible than in other river segments and
28
Page# Statements, Goals,Rrinc►pl r ail Polices Chang to CJ4ober 15 ,2003 Dtatko Ply P!I"
from�ctoher 15"I?raftl'zt►aid-' of Ci ALA
than in other river segments and emphasize connecting the emphasize connecting the river to Downtown,providing multi purpose
river to Downtown,providing multi-purpose spaces that spaces that celebrate the historic relevance of the river to the
celebrate the historic relevance of the river to the community, community,continue the important and unique relationship between
continue the important and unique relationship between the i the waterway and surrounding urban environment,and maintain those
in natural elements of the river as it passes through the Downtown. To
waterway and surrounding urban environment, and mainta
those natural elements of the river as it passes through the the extent feasible,the floodplain will be protected and natural habitat,
11
Downtown. To the extent feasible,the floodplain will be wildlife movement,and floodplain and recreational values will be
protected and natural habitat wildlife movement, and maintained. Redevelopment opportunities will be permitted.
floodplain values will be maintained. Redevelopment
opportunities will be permitted. — — --- — - --- — —
249 Policy PRC-2.3 Restoration and Enhancement. The City Policy PRC-2.3 Restoration and Enhancement. The City will
will restore or enhance degraded or disturbed areas of the restore or enhance degraded or disturbed areas of the Poudre River
Poudre River Corridor to improve natural habitat conditions Corridor to improve natural habitat conditions and aesthetic and
and aesthetic values. Restoration and enhancement projects recreational values. Restoration and enhancement projects may be
will lU be performed cooperatively with adjacent private I performed cooperatively with adjacent private landowners and
landowners and volunteer community groups. volunteer community groups.
- --- - ----- — --
249 + Policy PRC-3.1 Environmental Sensitivity. Recreational Policy PRC-3.1 Environmental Sensitivity. Recreational features
250 features within the Poudre River Corridor will be located and I within the Poudre River Corridor will be located and designed in a
designed in a way to avoid or minimize impacts to sensiti:a way to avoid or minimize impacts to natural areas,wildlife habitats,
natural sammunities arm wildlife habitats,water quality, and water quality, and other environmental values. EiiiistingreBreatienal
other environmental values. Existing recreational features will f " ` a a may be Feleea«_a to-educe a&efse
be evaluated and may be relocated to reduce adverse
environmental impacts.
250 Policy PRC-3.2 Parks and Recreation Sites. In addition to Policy PRC-3.2 Parks and Recreation Sites. In addition to existing
existing facilities such as Lee Martinez Park,new facilities facilities such as Lee Martinez Park nem, faoilitiesthe
anticipated in the Parks and Recreation Policy Plan (1996) Parks and Recreation Policy Plan(1996)in ay includes pafk p
may include park preserves, gar-dens; iffban fishing eppefPmifies, ew renmerAal
community gardens, urban fishing opportunities, edusatien sites,watehable -•:,,n:e f eili«:e.. a«,.
new recreational
environmental education sites,watchable wildlife facilities, facilities within the Poudre River Corridor. Emphasis will be placed
etc.,within the Poudre River Corridor. Emphasis will be on integrating natural,historic,cultural, and environmental values
placed on integrating natural,historic,cultural,and within new public recreation sites.
environmental values within new public recreation sites.
i
29
Pagr# iQteuta;l'rnals,�ringlgle's aqd Folfces' l _angs'lto'(ietoper 15 ,2009`:' pity Pundoper ls". raft Chg- Cityplan.
' r
252 Policy PRC-6.3 Restoration and Enhancement. Degraded Policy PRC-6.3 Restoration and Enhancement. Degraded or
or disturbed areas of the Poudre River Corridor will be disturbed areas of the Poudre River Corridor will be restored or
restored or enhanced to improve aesthetic values and natural enhanced to improve aesthetics ,recreational values and natural
habitat conditions. Restoration and enhancement projects still habitat conditions. Restoration and enhancement projects may be
may be performed cooperatively with private landowners and i performed cooperatively with private landowners and volunteer
volunteer community groups. community groups.
257 Policy CS-1.1 Community Separators. Strategic open lands Policy CS-1.1 Community Separators. Strategic open lands that
that serve as community separators inside and outside the serve as community separators inside and outside the Eeity
Community Growth Management Area will be identified for Growth Management Area will be identified for either public
j either public ownership or other land conservation measures. ownership or other land conservation measures. Community
i Community separators should be as large as possible and separators should be as large as possible and could include low
could include low intensity residential development, intensity residential development,undeveloped lands,and natural or
undeveloped lands,and natural or rural landscapes including rural landscapes including open lands,natural areas, farmland,
open lands,natural areas, farmland, clustered residential clustered residential development and recreational areas such as golf
development and recreational areas such as golf courses. courses.
258 Policy CS-1.6 Natural Areas and Other Open Lands. Policy CS-1.6 NatuFal Areas and Othe Open Lands Protection.
Natural areas and other open lands should be preserved-and en lands should be preserved,and protected
protected through-purchase of lands development rights, or through purchase of lands,development rights, or conservation
conservation easements and/or other measures such as land easements and/or other measures such as land use planning or
use planning or development regulations. development regulations.
261 Policy FE-1.5 Recreational Development. Recreational Policy FE-1.5 Recreational Development.
opportunities should be allowed that do not threaten wildlife,
native plant communities aesthetics, site visitor enjoyment of wildlife. aRt ,.on fffuinit: a-a a«: a..: :« _e,,:,.wne..t-f i
public natural areas and open spaces,or the environmental
integrity of the foothills, the feethills. Appropriate recreational opportunities that provide for !
the diverse recreational needs and interests of the community may be
provided so long as they are designed and located to minimize
negative impacts on wildlife,native plant communities, aesthetics and
other visitor's enjoyment of public open lands.
30
Page* SUttefilei►t9f:Qpahj Principles bad-Podces Whinges to Octobfc I9 b4 8$ '1biA 6 1-` imi-.
from October,40 Draft Chan es'
267 City Plan Principles and Policies is a focused effort towards City Plan Principles and Policies is a focused effort towards adding
adding the levels of detail necessary to ensure successful the levels of detail necessary to ensure successful implementation
j implementation efforts. The City Plan Principles and Policies efforts. The City Plan Principles and Policies in this document
in this document state what Fort Collins must do in order to state what Fort Collins must do in order to realize the community's
realize the community's vision and goals for land use, vision and goals for land use,transportation,community appearance
transportation,community appearance and design, economic and design, economic development,housing,environment,natural
development, housing, environment,natural areas and open areas and open lands, and growth management as well as the places
lands, and growth management as well as the places in a city in a city identified by the City Structure Plan --neighborhoods,
identified by the City Structure Plan --neighborhoods, districts,corridors, and edges.
districts, corridors, and edges.
App. A Undated to o include plans
i
B-4 Pursue a revised Intergovernmental Agreement(IGA)with Pursue a revised Intergovernmental Agreement(IGA)with Larimer
Latimer County considering the following objectives: County considering the following objectives:
• Amend the Cooperative Planning Area concepts to reflect • Amend the Cooperative Planning Area concepts to reflect policy
policy direction for the GMA direction for the GMA
• Tighten restrictions on growth outside the GMA boundary • Tighten restrictions on growth outside the GMA boundary
• Establish community influence area
B-5 • Develop a set of design policies and standards for • Develop a set of design policies and standards for redevelopment:
redevelopment: o Neighborhood compatibility pelisies
o Neighborhood compatibility policies o Design stances
o Design standards
I ,
C-5 Citizen requests for a Plan Amendment shall be considered by Citizen requests for a Plan Amendment will be considemd—by&City
the City Council no more frequently than twice per calendar Council no more frequently than twice per calendar year Aekeber
year(October/April),unless the Director(of Community ApF4,unless directed by City Council upon receipt of a
:
Planning and Environmental Services, as stated in Policy GM- recommendation from the Plannrgg and Zoning Board tl�e Pireefef(ef
4-0 4 11.4 Decision-making)determines the proposed , as stated in Policy
amendment warrants expedited consideration by City Council. GM-11.4 Decision-making). se
Plan amendment requests based on proposed development Plan amendment
projects that involve rezonings may also be processed requests based on proposed development projects that involve
concurrently with rezoning applications(November/June). rezonings may also be processed concurrently with rezoning
Plan amendments initiated by City Council,City staff,and applications Rieye ffiber i June). Plan amendments initiated by City
boards and commissions,may be processed at any time. Council, City staff,and boards and commissions, and annexations and
initial zoning, may be processed at any time (Policy GM-11.1).
31
Page# "' afeui®tits,Goals,�"nd lei and Pdpc6 ,`• eUng-tw to October 15 ,2003h ft ofCity Plan
��.=fCAm:Ostobel
D-1 In March of 2003 City Council adopted 29 characteristics that hi March of 2003, City Council adopted by Resolution 29
describe the future size and character of the City of Fort characteristics that describe the future size and character of the City of
Collins For a full listing and evaluation of all 38 I Fort Collins. For a full listing and evaluation of all 38 characteristics
characteristics that were considered, see the Character that were considered, see the Character Evaluation Report:An
Evaluation Report:An Analysis of our City's future size and Analysis of our City's future size and character, December 20, 2002.
character.December 20, 2002.
They are the result of over 16 months of work by City of Fort Collins
They are the result of over 16 months of work by City of Fort ! staff, City Council,a Citizens Advisory Committee(CAC), a
Collins staff,a Citizens Advisory Committee(CAC),a Technical Advisory Committee, and a consultant team who was
Technical Advisory Committee and a consultant team who responsible for the City Plan Update and the Transportation Master
was responsible for the City Plan Update and the Plan Update .The planning process included a"What If'work session
Transportation Master Plan Update . The planning process workshop, public meetings, stakeholder interviews, a survey, an
included a"What If'work session workshop, public analysis report and monthly CAC meetings.
meetings stakeholder interviews a survey, an analysis report
and monthly CAC meetings.
-i — - —--... --- - - - ------- -
G-6 OPEN LANDS OPEN LANDS
Open lands include natural areas,greenways,developed Open lands include natural areas,community separators,
and undeveloped parks,trails,streetscapes, cemeteries, agricultural lands,view corridors,lakes,streams,ponds, riparian
drainageways, and golf courses. areas wetlands ridgeliBLS_gFeenways, developed and undei-eleped
parks,trails,drainageways and wildlife corridors sts-eetse es,
eemeter-ies, nod golf eour-ses.
�G-8 POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS
( PROJECTIONS
Replaced with:
The same projections used to forecast 2015 housing
unit and employment data in City Plan were used in Population and employment for planning purposes were
the North Front Range Regional Transportation used to determine potential build-out populations for the
(NFRRT) Plan (December, 1994). These estimates ! City by the year 2025. Estimates were developed by
were approved by the North Front Range Technical Economic and Planning Systems utilizing information from
Advisory Committee and the City and County the Department of Local Affairs and the State Demographer.
planning departments. The growth rates were A full market assessment and supporting information was
selected after the authors of the NFRRT Plan provided to the CAC,TAC and City staff. Assumptions
consulted a variety of sources: included that the City will assume a steady, sustained rate
growth over the next 20 years. The City will assume that
• Historic census data (1970, 1980, 1990) for population will increase at a compounded annual growth
-_population for Larimer and Weld Counties, rate of 2.0% and employment will increase at a compounded
32
Page# Statemedis,Goals,Principl}(s'�ig�dl'allees Chh ages td et4b 13 ,2003 bridl of Cif PIS
from October 15c Diatt Cfi9_ "4;ii ,City"Plan
_x:...
and for the Cities of Fort Collins, Greeley, and annual growth rate of 1.9% within the planning time horizon
Loveland was reviewed and growth trends (Year 2025). The projected rate of growth is an average
noted. over a 20 year period of time, and does not represent a target
• Historic ES202 data (1982, 1990, 1993) for I or limit on the amount or rate of growth within the
Larimer and Weld Counties as reported by the community. As demonstrated historically, individual years
Colorado State Demographer was reviewed may see rates of growth that are higher or lower than the
and growth trends noted. average rate
I
• The growth rate suggested by the existing data
i
was determined for each area and for a
number of subareas. Staff of local
governments and Chambers of Commerce
offered general comments regarding the areas
for which they felt these rates were grossly i
I
inaccurate.
I
• Forecasts by the Colorado State Demographer
for employment and population for Larimer
and Weld Counties were reviewed and
projected growth noted.
• Forecasts proposed by Coley/Forest Inc. in
previous work on several areas within the
North Front Range were reviewed and
projected growth noted.
I
• To the extent possible, major employers were
individually contacted regarding short- and
long-term plans for expansion
G-9 URBAN GROWTH AREA BOUNDARY GROWTH MANAGEMENT AREA BOUNDARY
33
w
r n
t 7
i
r
W Q I 'All 1 r l
A1
`CA I � T
I � �
\ y
r
y
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 2
Project: Recommendation to City Council on the
Revision of City Plan.
Project Description: Recommendation to City Council for
adoption of update of City Plan, the
City's Comprehensive Plan.
Hearina Testimony, Written Comments and Other Evidence:
Ken Waido, Chief Planner, and Bruce Meighen, Lead Project Manager, gave the
staff presentation. They highlighted both what is changing and what is not
changing in the first update of City Plan since its initial adoption in 1997. Staff,
consultants, and a Citizen Advisory Committee have been working on the Update
for about 18 months. The final step in the process before submitting the City Plan
Update to City Council for adoption is to gather input from City Boards and
Commissions.
Consultant Meighen explained the major changes in City Plan and the two-part
process used to update it. The first part focused on answering one question:
What is the future size and character of our community?This produced a number
of characteristics, adopted by City Council in March 2003. The second part,
which is where we are now, updated principles and policies in City Plan to
support those characteristics. The large public involvement included a public
survey, six pubic meetings, and a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) as well as
working with various Boards and Commissions and City staff.
In the first phase, staff and consultants found that our citizens want a compact
community, with a Growth Management Area (GMA) very similar to what it is
today with some flexibility; our undeveloped lands will continue to urbanize;
existing areas should be renewed through redevelopment; neighborhood
character should be preserved at all costs; our community should have a healthy
economy, good regional cooperation, a balance of jobs and housing, a high level
of city services; an active land acquisition program for open lands; and that our
community should be served by a multi-modal regional and interregional
transportation system.
The second phase, updating the City Plan document, was a five-step process.
Consultants went through the existing document and, in light of the adopted
characteristics, found places where changes were needed. They recommended
changes to the CAC, who provide initial feedback on those changes plus
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 3
additional areas in need of change. Based on those recommendations,
consultants reworked the changes and return to the CAC with final changes. The
CAC then gave final recommendations on whether the changes were
appropriate, and those recommendations were used to update the entire
document. Additional input on parts of the document was provided from City
departments and other Boards and Commissions, for example the National
Resources Advisory Board, to ensure requirements of other plans, such as the
newly revised Natural Resources Policy Plan, were consistent with the language
of City Plan.
Consultant Meighen presented changes to the document in five categories:
Development Patterns, Region and Economy, Open Space and Natural Areas,
Neighborhoods and Housing, and Transportation. He noted that most of the
document did not change, and the process served to reconfirm the original vision
of City Plan. Some of the changes that did occur were major, and these are the
ones he outlined.
In Development Patterns:
• the GMA is to remain essentially as it is today, with some flexibility to be
amended in the future. Two potential inclusion areas are the CSU Foothills
Campus and Fossil Creek Cooperative Planning Area (CPA), which the
document says will be investigated.
• Because they no longer make sense in light of the GMA remaining at its
current boundaries, references to maintaining a 20-year supply of land have
been removed from the document, as has the definition of a CPA as an area
of potential future city growth. City Council did not adopt a characteristic
calling for a CPA.
• Criteria and procedures for amending the GMA in the future were defined. In
Appendix C, the process for a comprehensive update of City Plan is outlined.
That is just one way of updating City Plan; there are also procedures for
minor amendments.
• City Plan calls for using subarea plans to focus on planning and
redevelopment. The Subarea Plan Map includes a proposed subarea plan for
the northwest area of the city, because it contains vacant lands, and is
expected to feel some growth pressure with the CSU Foothills Campus
adjacent. Staff feels a subarea plan will be warranted there in next five years.
• City Plan also calls for targeted redevelopment in areas where the community
in general agrees redevelopment is appropriate, not everywhere throughout
the city, and for infill to be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The
Redevelopment Map shows targeted redevelopment areas; areas covered by
existing subarea plans, and areas where existing zoning as well as City Plan
allows for greater intensification than current use.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 4
• The Structure Plan has been modified to take a more regional look at both our
immediate community and what is happening on the edges of our GMA. It
acknowledges the growth plans of surrounding communities and what we
would like to have happen on the edges of our community, including
anticipated county development and where we would like to see community
separators and open lands acquisition The Structure Plan Map has been
updated to more accurately reflect existing and proposed future land uses.
• The Action Plan, which addresses the question what are we going to do to
make City Plan a reality, has been refined, and is now a five-year plan. It
includes amending the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), evaluating the
two GMA amendments outlined in City Plan, development of a northwest
subarea plan, evaluating the targeted redevelopment areas for appropriate or
whether a new subarea plan is required as well as for any limitations, and
additional refinements to the Land Use Code identified through the City Plan
Update process.
In Region and Economy, consultants found a number of policies addressing the
health of the Fort Collins economy. The updated City Plan contains additional
policies:
• Related to attracting and retaining employers.
• Ensuring our community has a strong revenue base.
• Strengthening our retail base.
• Promoting regional strategies, not only in terms of economic growth, but for
land use, development and transportation as well.
• Addressing when public investment strategies are appropriate and how to
evaluate when to use them, and different ways to expand the city's revenue
given that the GMA will not be increasing.
In Open Space and Natural Areas, City Plan was modified to be consistent with
the updated Natural Areas Policy Plan (NAPP) and Air Quality Plan (AQP), In
addition:
• A section on Community Separators was added.
• What we envision for the edges of the GMA was clarified.
• New policies for protecting Boxelder Creek were added.
• Acknowledgement was made that protection of natural areas should require a
regional strategy beyond our GMA.
In the Action Plan, City Plan assumes the NAPP and AQP are the primary
implementation tools.
In Neighborhoods and Housing, the original City Plan was very strong. Updates
include:
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 5
• Additional refinements directed at providing stability to existing neighborhoods
while offering opportunities for infill and redevelopment.
• Conducting redevelopment and infill according to subarea/neighborhood
plans.
• Enhancement of policies related to development of affordable housing.
• A new policy on providing housing with basic access and functionality for
personas of all ages and abilities.:
• The Action Plan recognizes that further work beyond the City Plan update is
necessary to ensure the goal of neighborhood preservation is met. It calls for
modification of the Land Use Code and design guidelines to avoid
incompatible infill and redevelopment; updates to the Eastside and Westside
Neighborhood Plans; modification of zoning where intensification is
incompatible with existing neighborhoods, and new zoning to preserve very
low density (rural) neighborhoods.
In Transportation, City Plan policies were modified to be consistent with the
update to the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which will be presented later in
the meeting. Modifications include:
• A clarification and refined definition of transportation corridors.
• Additional policy on content-sensitive design.
• A new policy for transportation corridors within open lands
• Policies supporting a multi-modal transportation system and regional
transportation connections.
• The Action Plan recognizes that the TMP defines improved strategies to
implement the City Plan vision.
PUBLIC INPUT
David Wright with Citizen Planners spoke to add to the e-mail he sent the Board
prior to the meeting. Some of the changes he encouraged have been made, but
City Plan needs a statement that growth needs to pay its own way. We're in a
very unusual circumstance and will be for some time. Federal funds are
extremely limited. When she was in Denver, Gale Norton said the future of
federal funding is most likely in the past, and will likely stay restricted. State
having a hard time coming up with funds, with TABOR holding back generating
new funds even if the economy picks up. Citizens seem quite unwilling to dish
out new tax funds — we've had transportation issues defeated, and now a jail
issue—there's a consistent pattern of not wanting to pay more taxes. Our
population is expanding at a fairly rigorous rate, maybe over 3 percent. If growth
is not paying its way, the state and federal government is not providing money
and the public is not willing to dish out more taxes, the amount of money being
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 6
spent on infrastructure per person will be decreasing. California is the extreme
case -- in 1978 they passed Prop 13, and the people refused to pay any more
taxes. The population skyrocketed and growth was not paying its way, so now
hospitals are closing, roads are falling apart, schools are deteriorating, and police
services are not adequate. Colorado is close to being in a very similar California
Trap: People are reluctant to pay taxes, growth does not pay for itself. According
to Dr. Sieidel of CSU, for every $1 spent by developers, the people pay $1 in
taxes; for rural development the ratio is $3 of taxes for every $1. In that situation,
we start running a deficient, and pretty soon we are unable to provide
infrastructure. I hear Fort Collins alone has $600 million of deferred road projects,
things that need to be done. We have a county jail that needs improvement, but
that issue is not likely to pass. I would like to see this document ask all growth to
pay for itself. This is a very critical issue. The other item I want to talk about is
economic development. California has discovered they can't develop themselves
out of the problem. Frequently new development doesn't pay its full way, and the
situation deteriorates. Then new development actually contributes to the
problem. Economic development has to be a sustainable sort of development.
This document needs to address sustainable economic development, not just
passing out hundreds of thousands of dollars to businesses that when they come
don't cover the cost of infrastructure. The importance of economic sustainability
and development paying for itself cannot be overstated. I'm hoping such a
statement will show up in this document so it is there for future reference. This is
a great City Plan, and a great City. I want to make sure it stays that way. Thank
you for a great job.
PUBLIC INPUT CLOSED
Member Schmidt agreed that economic sustainability is very important, and she
didn't see anything in the Economic Development Action plan that deals with
sustainability.
Consultant Meighen said that CAC had made recommendations for a new policy
on sustainability at its last meeting, after October 15 when the draft document
was last updated. No direct feedback on adding anything to the Action Plan has
been received yet.
The Board discussed process for communicating recommendations to Council.
Member Craig suggested voting on specific policies and sections rather than
giving general recommendations. Chairman Torgerson had more general
comments. Planner Waido requested a formal vote on issues to get the Board's
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 7
position to effectively communicate to Council. Member Gavaldon suggested that
while members may be OK with an overall section but have concerns about
issues within the section. He proposed voting on any issues members have
within each section then moving on the next section.
Member Colton agreed, and suggested voting on topics and ideas first, then
going back to develop the specific wording of alternatives. The wording could be
distributed between this and the next meeting for review.
Member Meyer agreed with developing specific language offline, saying she
didn't want to spend the next three hours wordsmithing the document. She added
that any issues addressed in the section-by-section review should be things that
are unacceptable, not just little irritations. That way everyone can say what they
need to say, and the Board can move on to the Transportation Master Plan,
which is just as important if not more so..
Member Carpenter agreed, asking members not to beat dead horses, and to
concentrate on issues of concern to the entire Board rather than individual issues
that members can address before Council as citizens. We need to come to a
consensus of what we have problems with.
The discussion started with Member Colton proposing the same updated wording
for the Community Vision he had suggested as a member of CAC. This
rewording did not appear in the draft document.
Planner Waido explained that the draft City Plan document reviewed by P&Z has
not been changed or rewritten since October 15, so that all Boards and
Commissions can respond to the same document.
Chairman Torgerson said he would rather not vote on specific paragraphs.
Planner Waido suggested the Board vote on more general issues, such as
Member Schmidt's concern about the lack of principles and policies dealing with
economic sustainability. Staff could take that sort of useful direction and work on
the issue between now and when the final document is submitted to Council, to
develop language Council can decide whether to incorporate. He did not have a
firm date for when Council will consider adoption of City Plan.
Member Carpenter felt submitting items already voted on by the CAC didn't make
sense.
Member Gavaldon said all input should be incorporated, whether it is on a
concept or a text Issue. Individuals have to have the same weighted input as the
I
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 8
Board. He asked Planner Waldo how all the input will be presented to Council so
individual comments don't get lost.
All input will be compiled by staff, without analysis or commentary, on two lists
that will be forwarded to Council with the October 15 draft. One list will contain
changes that are either editorial in nature or where there is no disagreement.; it
can be thought of as similar to a consent agenda. The other list will contain items
where there is sharp disagreement either between different Boards and
Commissions or between Boards and Commissions and staff; similar to a
discussion agenda. This will allow all perspectives on key issues to come before
Council equally. He added that if Council members want to pull items from the
consent list, they can do so. The discussion list currently contains a manageable
amount of issues, according to Planner Waldo, and the key issues to go before
Council should be just a handful.
In response to a question from Member Gavaldon, Planner Waido confirmed that
this process applies to anyone who submits comments, individuals, Boards, or
outside groups, such as Homebuilders. In response to a question from Member
Schmidt, Planner Waldo explained that all comments will be given equal weight
and no Board or Commission has seen or been asked to comment on the
comments of other Boards and Commissions to avoid becoming trapped in an
infinite loop of comments on comments on comments. He emphasized the
Board's role as that of giving advice to City Council, which will ultimately be
responsible for weighing and reconciling the differing perspectives.
Chairman Torgerson asked the Board to start with discussing The Big Issue, the
GMA boundary, then work toward specifics. Member Carpenter suggested
confining the discussion to content and the bigger issues, the ones the Board will
actually be advising Council on, rather than try to change the documents at the
level of wordsmithing. Member Craig agreed, as long the Board is not giving up
its right to set policy.
Member Gavladon said he was OK with the GMA, but had some specific areas of
concern. He would like to see analysis done on alternatives to make sure any
acquisition is cost-effective for the city. If the cost of bringing infrastructure
improvements for the CSU Foothills Campus up to city standards is too high, he
doesn't want that piece of property in the city. He's uneasy dealing with CSU.
Planner Waido said that a future expansion of the GMA sets the stage for
potential annexation, which requires an annexation agreement, a negotiated
thing. The City is the logical provider of needed utilities, but that's down the road.
Intensification of use in the area will have an impact outside CSU's property, and
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 9
the University is sensitive to the issue. Lately there has been good cooperation.
Betweent he City and CSU, but Member Gavaldon still expressed nervousness
about dealing with CSU.
Member Craig said we should use the pre-established criteria in City Plan to
evaluate the two potential expansions. Chairman Torgerson countered that he
had a problem with those criteria, because bulleted Item 3 says expansion can
only occur if the activity cannot be accommodated on lands within the GMA. It
may require drastic measures, but all uses can be accommodated, and the item
does not say "reasonably accommodated." Member Schmidt noted that the word
"reasonable" appears in the title of item 3, and the CAC, of which she was a
member, thought it redundant to include it again. Consultant Meighen pointed out
there are two versions of this item; among other small differences, staff
recommends adding "reasonably" into the body of item 3, to emphasize that due
diligence must be performed. Member Schmidt explained CAC wanted to be sure
that in the future there was a very specific reason to expand the GMA, not just an
arbitrary decision. Planner Waido explained that both versions appear because
prior to October 15, this was the only issue on which CAC and staff could not
come to agreement.
Member Craig moved to recommend the CAC version of City Plan Policy
GM 1.3. Member Gavaldon seconded the motion. The motion carried, 4-3,
with Meyer, Carpenter, and Torgerson voting no.
The Board discussed the issue of requiring a 20-year supply of buildable land,
which was removed from the updated document. Chairman Torgerson disagreed
with the change. Member Craig suggested that with increased density and
increased intensity of use, there might be a 20-year supply within the GMA.
Chairman Torgerson said that according to the Redevelopment Map, there isn't,
especially in light of proposed down-zoning and a moratorium on infill and alley
houses in Old Town. Member Craig asked for staff input.
Consultant Meighen explained that the supply of buildable land depends on the
growth rate. Previously, City Plan was written so that the GMA would be sized to
accommodate everyone who wanted to come to Fort Collins, with a sustained
growth rate over 20 years of 2 percent. Now we will be at capacity within the
current GMA boundary in approximately 10-15 years. Chairman Torgerson
pointed out that 40 percent of the growth rate is internal, which means in 10-15
years, our kids can't stay here. Planner Waido added that an analysis of the
capacity of the current GMA performed by staff and consultants based on
available vacant lands, economic studies, and figures from the state
demographer, assuming 10 percent of the expected population increase can be
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 10
accommodated through infill, gives a total population of approximately 190,000.
Once that is reached, the community must make a decision on whether there
should be more infill and redevelopment like that 10 percent. Future updates of
City Plan may have to address the question, if you don't grow up and you don't
grow out, what do you do?
Member Colton said the basic question was do we want the GMA to grow? It is
consistent with the current plan to remove references to a 20-year supply of land.
The CAC and public input gave support for community separators and
maintaining the rural character of lands outside the GMA, and such references
would be in opposition to the adopted characteristics. He felt it was a major issue
at the heart of the document.
Chairman Torgerson said he disagreed with those characteristics as much as
Member Cotton disagreed with the Community Vision. Member Carpenter noted
that outside the GMA we have no control, and these policies will push growth
outside the GMA into surrounding rural lands, which is incongruous with
preserving the rural character of those lands. The whole document is based on
the first philosophical decision made at the beginning of the process, and we
have to look at the document in that light. Removing the references only makes
sense, whether we agree with it or not. Chairman Torgerson said that would be
the key issue why he will vote against the document as a whole, because limiting
the GMA is fundamental to the document.
Member Colton pointed out that allowing 50 percent more population is not no-
growth, and the CAC did not discuss growth caps, preferring to limit the physical
size. Member Schmidt added that the CAC expects nearby communities to
continue to grow and take responsibility for some of this growth, as embers of a
neighborhood of communities, and felt it would be better for Fort Collins to say
this is the area we are comfortable taking care of, rather than assuming control
and responsibility for infrastructure in an ever-expanding area.
The discussion returned to Member Colton's issue with the Community Vision
and Goals. He read his suggested wording, but the consensus of the Board was
members needed more time to digest it before voting. Planner Waido confirmed
that this change is already included on the consent list of changes for Council.
Member Colton felt more than one Board supporting the change sent a stronger
message, but Member Schmidt pointed out staff will be compiling all comments
with equal weight. Chairman Torgerson felt in light of stopping cooperative
planning and limiting the GMA, it is disingenuous to include maintaining rural
character of the area outside GMA control. Member Craig said she liked the new
community separators acknowledged on the Structure Plan, and those, in
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 11
essence, are our cooperative planning areas, where other communities have
agreed to clustering and other methods to keep the communities separate
entities. Chairman Torgerson disagreed, pointing out that the Timnath separator
is controlled by Larimer County which has agreed to no such thing and would
approve a subdivision in that area. The program is only voluntary, not a legal
agreement. Member Schmidt agreed that separators are not immune from
development, and she recapped the CAC discussion on this point, which hinged
on the definition of lands inside the GMA being destined for urbanization. The
City can own parcels of land outside the GMA to protect their character.
Members will review the wording of Member Colton's version of the Community
Vision during the next break, and vote on it later.
Member Craig asked to take up the issue of economic development and
sustainability, as presented on Page 117 for the document. She felt that while it
is referred to throughout the document, sustainability isn't stated in the Policies
and Principles at the level that it should be, and suggested that a new Policy
ECON 2 with two or three supporting Principles be added. In response to a
question from Member Carpenter, Member Schmidt read the definition from
Appendix G-9 of the document:
Sustainability, refers to the long-term social, economic and environmental health
of a community. A sustainable community thrives without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their meets. Sustainable cities use resources
efficiently and effectively. They conserve, reuse and recycle. The use local
resources where the can, they minimize exportation of environmental risk.
Sustainability requires integration of goals and policies. For example, economic
development, afford housing, public safety, environmental protection and mobility
are interrelated ad should be addressed in a holistic way. Similarly, the city's
future is intrinsically linked to that of the region, state, nation and the world.
Sustainability depends on inclusion bringing together different stakeholders to
identify common values and goals and to work to achieve them. Sustainability
means thinking long-term. Meaningful solutions to challenges transcend calendar
year and electoral cycles. All decisions about how to meet the present needs of
the community should take into consideration potential impacts on the ability of
future generations to meet their needs.
Member Craig would like this to be the basis for the new Policy ECON 2.
Member Schmidt moved to recommend that the City Plan document
Include more definite policies, principles and action items in the Action
Plan related to economic sustainability. Member Craig seconded the
motion.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 12
Member Galvaldon asked if sustainability is included throughout the Economic
section. Planner said that if it is a duplication, it's a good duplication. Member
Meyer pointed out that while she had no problem adding such a policy, the City's
has no economic development policy, which would be more important. Member
Colton felt it was important to start talking about how the City will achieve
sustainability.
The motion was approved 6-1 with Chairman Torgerson voting In the
negative.
Member Colton asked why Policy ECON 1.1 was rewritten by staff. Planner
Waido replied that it was in support of the adopted characteristics. Consultant
Meighen added that it was added through the CAC consensus and compromise
process, to be truer to the characteristics and provide a higher level of emphasis,
as with the sustainability policy just added. Member Colton wanted to know if it
implied the City will be giving financial incentives to companies. Planner Waido
and Consultant Meighen replied no, since the wording is not"will" but will be
"strategic" and working with employers and use other mechanisms. Member
Colton was concerned it would be expanding the City's involvement in economic
development. Quality of life is the economic engine of the community, and he
doesn't want to see the City start wooing new businesses. A supermajority of the
CAC did not instruct staff to reword it or strike it. Member Gavaldon asked for
clarification of why it was rewritten if the CAC was split on the issue. Consultant
Meighen pointed out that the CAC was split on most issues on which they voted,
and very little In the City Plan document received unanimous support. Without
the meeting notes in front of him, he could not say exactly what the vote was, but
if it was reworded, staff and consultants had received direction to do so from
more than 50 percent of the CAC.
Member Colton moved to keep existing wording of Policy ECON 1.1. Motion
seconded by Member Craig.
Member Carpenter would not support the motion, because she saw nothing in
the rewritten version implying incentives. She asked rhetorically, if our kids won't
have anyplace to live, they wouldn't need jobs either? She expressed concern
that the Board was pulling out anything and everything having to do with the
basics of life. It's part of the City's job to make sure the community has a good
economic environment. Member Craig said the old policy said the same thing in
fewer words. Member Carpenter asked why change it back?That's
wordsmithing.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 13
The motion was defeated 4-3, with Chairman Torgerson and Members
Meyer, Carpenter, and Gavaldon voting in the negative.
i
Member Gavaldon wanted to make clear that he felt ECON 1.2 would be
sufficient to prevent Incentives for being used, but he didn't want to see an
expansion of them, More words were better for him. Member Colton said
incentives were bad policy and didn't want to support them.
Member Schmidt brought up the criteria and procedures for GMA modification.
While the criteria are stated on Page 148, procedures are contained in Appendix
C. She would like to see the procedures moved up with the criteria, and focused
much more on what is required for a GMA expansion. She felt the procedures in
Appendix C dealt mostly with procedures for updating City Plan as a whole, of
which GMA modification can be a part.
Member Schmidt moved to recommend specific procedures for updating
the Growth Management Area become part of Policy GM 1.3, right below
the criteria, and refer to what is required for a review of the GMA. Member
Colton seconded the motion.
Member Gavaldon asked if we move this, shouldn't we move other items too? He
asked for staff input. Planner Waido pointed out that the GMA couldn't be
modified outside a comprehensive update of City Plan, but a comprehensive
update does not necessarily involve a GMA boundary change. If a GMA
boundary change is proposed, it automatically kicks in a cover-to-cover review of
City Plan. It's not a minor amendment. A comprehensive update of City Plan is
the only one way to change the GMA. Chairman Torgerson asked if a
comprehensive update of City Plan just for a minor expansion of the GMA would
be a good use of staff and city resources. Planner Waldo replied that while the
size of a GMA expansion may be minor, the implications of expanding it are far-
reaching, and those implications need to be considered fully. Member Colton felt
adding the procedures under the criteria would add clarity to the document.
The motion was defeated 4-3 with Chairman Torgerson and Members
Meyer, Carpenter, and Gavaidon voting in the negative.
Member Carpenter respectfully requested that the discussion remain focused on
content, not items like organization of the document more appropriately handled
by staff,
Chairman Torgerson addressed Policy HSG 1.6 on page 121. He read it:
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 14
Housing units, including single-family houses and multiple housing units, shall be
constructed with practical features that provide basic access and functionality to
people of all ages and widely varying mobility and ambulatory-related abilities.
He said what that means is that we'll all have handicapped ramps in our homes.
Visitabilty is a movement afoot in the Building Department, to make is possible
for handicapped folks to be able to visit every home in Fort Collins. He personally
feels he has a problem with this because he doesn't need ramp into his home.
Every seventh apartment built in Fort Collins is fully accessible, and that makes
sense for rentals, but not for individual homes. Member Gavaldon added that the
Fair Housing Act has specific requirements for accessibility, and he agreed with
Chairman Torgerson that he didn't want a ramp in his home. Chairman
Torgerson said that the reality is that he's never had this problem at his home so
he doesn't see the need to cause extra expense. Member Craig asked what
practical features meant. Planner Waido explained the policy came from staff and
the Commission on Disability and grew out of the Practical Housing for All
projects. Director Gloss added that some of the requirements include wider door
openings, bathroom dimensions to allow wheelchair access, walls constructed to
be able to support grabbers in the bathroom but not the grabbers themselves, as
well as one accessible entrance. Member Craig pointed out that minor
modifications made at the time the house is built are much less expensive than
retrofitting should the need arise in your family or you want to sell your house in
the future. She recalled the Practical Housing presentation to the Board and
thought it made some valid points. She suggested giving staff general direction
on this point rather than voting on including or not Including it, and have staff
check if it would mean ramps or an extra stud or two in the wall. Chairman
Torgerson said adding handicapped accessibility upfront still adds significant
expense to construction. Member Gavaldon said his remodeling of his 1940s
house was made accessible through means other than a ramp at the front door.
He didn't want to be micromanaging design issues that are better dealt with by
consumers, builders and neighborhoods. The rest of the document isn't
micromanaging, why is it here? Member Carpenter felt the wording was so
undefined, it wasn't clear if it meant wheelchair ramps or extra studs, so she was
uncomfortable approving it. Member Colton suggested changing the wording to
encourage not mandate accessibility. Member Meyer added that another
question was who is going to be in charge of deciding what you have to do, and
who will administer it. It can be interpreted to mandate a ramp.
Chairman Torgerson moved to recommend striking Policy HSG 1.6,
Accessibility. Member Gavaldon seconded the motion.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 15
i
Member Craig said she would hate to lose the thought behind this, and though
she will vote to strike it, she would like to add the caveat that staff should look at
the wording as Member Colton suggested and rework it before it gets to Council.
The motion carried 6-1 with Member Schmidt voting In the negative.
BREAK
As the final item in the section of City Plan dealing with Policies and Principles
Communitywide, discussion returned to Community Vision.
Member Colton moved to replace the second paragraph of the Community
Vision section on page 7 with new wording:
Fort Collins' transformation from a small city to a larger urban center will continue
within its growth management area. To protect the desirable attributes of the city
and its surroundings which we have inherited, the geographical area of the city
will be limited. Our vision is that growth and change will continue within the
growth area, affording new opportunities for us and for future generations. Areas
between Fort Collins and surrounding communities and in the areas immediately
outside the GMA will be managed to preserve the existing rural character.
Neighboring communities will continue to develop and maintain their own
identities and character. Fort Collins will become part of a neighborhood of
communities, each separate and identifiable.
Member Craig seconded the motion.
Member Carpenter said she would not support the motion, being more
comfortable with the currently wording than with this change.
Motion defeated 4-3, with Chairman Torgerson and Members Meyer,
Carpenter, and Gavaldon voting in the negative.
Member Colton brought up the issue touched on by David Wright in his
testimony, of development paying its own way, specifically Policy GM6 and its
related principle GM 6.1 on page 154.
GM6
Development will pay its "fair share" of the costs of providing need public facilities
and services.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 16
GM 6.1
The City will have an efficient and fair system of fees and development
requirements that assess s the costs and benefits of financing public facilities
and services the need for which is generated by new development.
Member Colton recommended strengthening the requirement, to ask
development to pay its full cost, not just a "fair share." Fair is ambiguous and
public facilities are becoming inadequate because we have not been aggressive
in charging an adequate level of fees to new development.
Member Colton moved to recommend changing "fair share" to "full share"
in Policy GM 6. Member Gavaldon seconded the motion.
Member Gavaldon agreed, wanting to send the message that there is a full share
of costs that should be charged to new development for public facilities and
services. The public school district, university and public sector should be
included, since we pick up the cost for that, too.
Deputy City Attorney Eckman explained that courts usually interpret the fees
needing an impact-related connection or nexus. He suggested wording such as
"full legally permissible share of services."
Member Colton amended his motion to substitute "full legally permissible
share" for "full share." Member Gavaldon accepted the friendly
amendment.
Member Schmidt asked who determines what is legally permissible. Attorney
Eckman confirmed that developers would have the right to have that determined
by the courts.
Chairman Torgerson asked Transportation Planning Director Mark Jackson if a
high proportion of the transportation deficiencies were attributable to out-of-
community trips into town, and what percentage of the deficiencies could be
attributed to development, the school district, the university and government not
paying its own way. Director Jackson did not have those percentages in front of
him, but did confirm that the deficiencies are a combination of all those factors.
He said through the Master Transportation Plan Update process, staff had found
a marked increase in the willingness of people within Northern Colorado to live
further from their employment and increase their travel times as a result. He
added that the newer development coming in is being built to our current-day
standards and pays impact fees proportionate to the impacts they generate.
Chairman Torgerson asked if restricting growth within our community would
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 17
increase the regional transportation problems. Director Jackson replied that
traffic does not respect lines on a map, and as long as there is growth in
surrounding communities, and Fort Collins remains a center for employment,
shopping, culture and entertainment, he would have to agree that there would be
a remarkable increase in the regional travel shed. Member Colton disagreed with
the characterization of new development paying its own way outside of the
immediate area surrounding it. His point is that the impacts of new development
on the greater community have not been covered. Rather than a Regional
Transportation Authority (RTA) that would collect taxes, he would prefer charging
regional impact fees. Member Schmidt suggested using creative ways to come
up with development fees to cover parks and other services as well, and maybe
broadening the scope of the Land Use Code to gather it more effectively.
Member Carpenter has a problem with anything other than fair fees. Blaming
development is easy, but the changing nature of the community itself is part of it,
as kids grow up and start driving. Fort Collins can't solve this problem alone, it
needs regional cooperation, and simply raising our impact fees won't solve it.
Chairman Torgerson added that raising our fees might exacerbate the problem.
Motion carried 4-3 with Chairman Torgerson and Members Meyer and
Carpenter voting in the negative.
Member Gavaldon asked if the reference to special support for low-income
housing In GM 6.2 on page 154 should be changed to affordable housing.
Planner Waldo said the terms are interchangeable and both refer to housing
affordable to families making less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income.
Member Gavaldon suggested combining the terms with a slash. He asked about
"special support." Planner Waldo said it includes programs that waive or delay
collection of certain development fees, federal grants and subsidies of impact
fees.
In the Neighborhoods section, there were no concerns raised.
In the Districts section, Member Craig asked about building heights on page 199,
and wanted to be sure that the references correspond with the requirements of
the Downtown Strategic Plan. Planner Waldo confirmed that when the Downtown
Strategic Plan is adopted, if the requirements of Principle DD3.4 are inconsistent
with it, this section of City Plan would have to be amended.
In the Corridors section, there were no concerns raised.
In the Edges section, there were no concerns raised.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 18
In the Appendices, Member Colton addressed the characteristic concerning
jobs/housing balance: The ratio of jobs to housing must be considered in
determining planning policies so that a balance between employment and
housing can be maintained as well as a balance between basic jobs and non-
basic jobs.
and it's supporting Policy ECON 1.4 on page 118: The City will strive to ensure a
reasonable balance between housing demand and residential development
capacity.
Member Colton wanted to know what was wrong with using the wording of the
characteristic in the policy. He saw a difference between planning for right
amounts of employment, commercial and residential and trying to balance
housing demand and residential development capacity.
Member Colton moved to recommend that staff reword Policy ECON 1.4
more closely to conform to the characteristic. Member Craig seconded the
motion.
Planner Waido explained that staffs intent was to have the types of housing
available for the types of wages being paid. The scope of the policy was
expanded to focus on all types of housing and employment, not just low-income.
Member Carpenter clarified that the intent was to have a match between the
various types of housing and the types of employment available. What would be
the mechanism to ensure that. Planner Waido said the emphasis is on workforce
housing because they are the one usually squeezed out of the market.
Consultant Meighen confirmed that the change under consideration would not
change the intent of the policy.
Motion carried unanimously.
In Appendix C-3, Member Schmidt asked staff if there could be a requirement
that the area to be affected by any modification of the GMA be represented on
any future CAC, even though they would most likely be County residents..
Member Gavaldon moved for recommendation affirmative to the City
Council regarding the revised version of City Plan, the City's
comprehensive plan, and to include the specific votes and items that were
Identified by the Planning and Zoning Board and Planning and Zoning
Board comments to be forwarded as well to City Council for their
consideration. Member Schmidt seconded the motion.
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 19
Member Gavaldon observed that lots of good work has gone into City Plan, even
if it is not what everyone entirely agrees with. He thanked everyone who
participated in it. Member Carpenter felt there were lots of good things in City
Plan that she could agree with, but she disagreed with the basic premise to limit
the GMA. She said she realizes that she'd lost that fight a long time ago. She will
support the motion for all the good in it overall. Member Meyer said the GMA limit
is the reason she will not be supporting the motion. The basic premise gives her
chills. She cannot live with that premise, which lets the whole world decide who
we are. Once we close the gate, the rest of the world can do what they want and
they won't be asking us for recommendations on how to us their land. She
thanked staff for all their hard work. Member Colton said he would be supporting
the motion. He recognized the long process that produced the document, and
that it addresses hard questions. Communities all over the country are dealing
with landlocked situations and are deciding to limit their area. City Plan gives us
pragmatic tools, like open space, low-density zoning and community separators,
to protect our lands and the character of our community. He praised the Structure
Map for showing Fort Collins' intent to protect areas between communities, and
to work with Larlmer County to maintain their rural character. He called it a big
step forward. By not addressing the GMA sooner than every five years, we can
give the City Plan vision a chance to work. Member Schmidt observed that the
differences of opinion on the Board and the CAC reflect the opinions of the
community. Staff worked hard to reconcile the opposing views. Sooner or later
the City will run out of space, and we're trying to address that sooner to find the
most effective ways to deal with it in the long term. We've got a plan in place for
how to make the best use of resources so we have our options open in the
future. She urged continued public outreach so the citizens can continue voicing
their opinions. Chairman Torgerson had serious concerns with the fundamental
issue of not expanding the GMA and not cooperatively planning the area around
us. This document makes infill redevelopment more difficult. Everything going
through the subarea plans is an effective moratorium, because we can only do
subarea plans so quickly, and downzoning limits development within the city
even further. Aggressively acquiring open space while hiking impact fees sounds
like Boulder. He feared we'll have a lot of the same consequences, including a lot
of growth just outside of the GMA, increased traffic and pollution. Capital projects
will rise as everyone drives in to use our facilities but not providing any funding
for them through taxes. Growth will continue but we can't control it, and there
could be nasty unintended consequences. This is not a good direction for the
city, and he won't be supporting the motion. Member Craig said it was time for
the other communities to build communities, build their own parks and libraries
and cultural facilities. They don't want to be just bedrooms for Fort Collins. I
strongly support the characteristic that says we go out into the region and partner
with the other communities. We respect they want to be their own entities, which
Planning and Zoning Board Minutes
October 30, 2003
Page 20
1. requires physical separation, and 2. we look at things like fiscal sharing on
regional roads. She didn't feel we have to be the leader, but that we can be part
of the neighborhood of communities. Let's let them build what they want to build
and don't think everyone is coming to Fort Collins. When it come to appropriate
regional commercial investment, like the lifestyle center, we're here and we're
ready to support that out of the appropriate funds. She will be supporting the
motion.
The motion carried 5-2 with Chairman Torgerson and Member Meyer voting
In the negative.
Project: Recommendation to City Council on the
Transportation Master Plan Update.
Project Description: Recommendation to City Council for
adoption of update of the Transportation
Master Plan.
Hearing Testimony, Written Comments and Other Evidence
Mark Jackson, Director of Transportation Planning Services, and Consultant R.A.
Plummer gave the staff presentation. They said the updated Transportation
Master Plan (TMP) final draft document is the result of two years of work, and
has been developed in close collaboration with the City Plan Update, especially
in the areas of goals, principles and policies. Staff and consultants have also
worked with the P&Z Board in study sessions to shape the document. It is also
an analytical and forecasting document, a long-range vision document, and an
implementation document that deals with the City's Master Street Plan and
develops a fiscally constrained capital improvements plan. Some parts are an
update, some have been completely rewritten, and some items are completely
new since the original document was adopted in 1997, including traffic signals
and the traffic management system. It's a comprehensive look at transportation
in Fort Collins, both within the City and how we connect to the rest of the region.
Included as an intellectual exercise is the Enhanced Fiscal Capital Improvement
Plan, which looks beyond the stark picture presented by our current financial
situation to ask "What if?" It outlines what hypothetical additional funding would
buy. This will be moved to an appendix in the final document. Current fiscal
restraints have limited the number of projects that can be considered now. The
document is definitely a step up from the 1997 document, especially in the way
THIS DOCUMENT IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
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