HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 1/21/2020 - Memorandum From Delynn Coldiron Re: Item #18 - Public Hearing And Second Reading Of Ordinance No. 138, 2019, Hughes Stadium Site RezoningFrom: Charles Kopp
To: City Leaders
Subject: Next Hughes redevelopment site vote
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 1:32:32 AM
Dear City Leaders----I’m disappointed by your recent vote to approve the Montava project before
more considerations of consequences, which I believe were warranted for such a massive project. I
still fear many negative unintended consequences. However, at least this project and its developer
have some positive attributes, which seems much harder to say about the current plans for the
Hughes redevelopment site and its proposed developer. First, I found out that the Lennar company-
---though currently the largest home-builder in the U.S.----has very poor customer satisfaction
ratings. The Consumer Affairs online link gave the company a mere one-star rating based on 113
reviews. And the Better Business Bureau received 587 complaints against them in the past three
years. Lennar is also not even currently accredited by the BBB. At the very least, it looks like a
better developer should be found for whatever development is considered.
I don’t live near the Hughes site, so I wouldn’t be directly affected by whatever happens there.
However, I have a broad-minded interest in what’s good for our community, and the idea of
another big development at this location----though it’s no where near the size of massive Montava---
-seems like another environmental insult that can also have many negative consequences. From
what I’ve read, the proposed project has no environmental or public benefits; and can only have
deleterious effects on local traffic , the nearby natural areas, and cause lots of local congestion and
possibly even more flooding potential. There should be better locations and ways to address the
city’s housing, including affordable housing needs----which this project seems deficient in anyway.
I’m one of the many who believe CSU made a foolish decision in building the new stadium instead of
renovating Hughes; and that institution’s consequent debts have resulted in its willingness to sell the
property to a high bidder like Lennar. This is certainly not CSU’s best example of their concern for
the local environment and its stewardship. And the city should be firm with them and not enable
them to do what’s most profitable for them after the hole they got themselves into.
Please oppose the next adoption of the rezoning ordinance that would enable the proposed project
to go through with the current developer.
Sincerely,
Charles Kopp
Fort Collins
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Emily Gorgol
To: Delynn Coldiron
Subject: Fw: Representing Your Constitutes
Date: Monday, January 20, 2020 1:56:15 PM
Thank you,
Emily Gorgol
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
City of Fort Collins
Councilmember, District 6
970-556-4748
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________________________________________
From: Cindy Harris <cindyh53@msn.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2020 8:38 AM
To: Emily Gorgol
Subject: Representing Your Constitutes
Ms. Gorgol:
With the contentious Hughs Stadium development vote coming up for second reading on Tuesday, I
want to remind you that you were elected by the people of this district, who trusted you to represent
them. I want to remind you that your represent us, and not your personal agenda or the realtors.
You haven’t lived in Ft. Collins long enough to fully understand what made this a great place to live
in the past. It appears that you are drinking the realtors Kool Aid, and voting for what they are
selling as affordable housing. You know darn well that high density development of the Hughs
Stadium property will ruin the west side of the city. Where are those roughly 2,000 people going to
drive to get to their workplace, etc? Who’s going to build new schools for them? Increase emergency
services? It’s already congested over here, with student traffic and virtually no law enforcement. I
honestly do not think that you understand the west side.
Does the majority of people in your district want high density housing on Hughs ? I doubt it. So do
the right thing- represent us honestly and faithfully. We voted you in. Not the realtors and not CSU.
Do not be a one term wonder who leaves the City in un- doable tatters. Do not model Troxell & his
toadies.
Sincerely,
Cindy Harris
931 Kimball Rd.
Ft Collins, 80521
Sent from my iPad
From: Jackie Leidholt
To: City Leaders
Subject: Hughes Stadium site development
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2020 9:17:40 PM
I would like to add my urgent plea to the city council to keep the old Hughes Stadium area as an open space. As a 25
year resident of Bellvue, living just west of Horsetooth Reservoir, I have seen so much crowding happening in my
area that it breaks my heart. My once peaceful home now has non-stop traffic, especially on the weekends, heading
toward Lory State Park, or crowding the dam road so that it is really uncomfortable riding a bike or running up
there. I know most people see this as inevitable. Certainly that’s been the story of my life, growing up in Denver.
But is there any point at which we can choose to slow development down, to not cover every inch with cement and
roads and electrical grids, preserve some sense of peace and calm? I urge you to do whatever you can to keep this an
open space where there are no houses and cars. I know the powers that be have rejected this as an open space. But
someone, somewhere has to take a stand for nature. It is essential for human happiness. We have to take a stand
against money being the bottom line for every decision!
From: gabriele rearick
To: City Leaders; gabriele rearick
Subject: please read: Hughes Stadium site -- rezoning vote
Date: Monday, January 20, 2020 10:56:46 AM
Dear honored and respected Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fort Collins City Council,
This letter is with regard to your vote on the rezoning of the former Hughes Stadium site.
We would like to ask you to vote on rezoning in such a way that the developer would like
to choose to walk away from the contract with CSU.
The CSU Stadium site is an absolutely unique Foothills location adjacent to significant open
space that, in our opinion, constitutes one of Fort Collins’ signature attributes. We find it
unwise to consider handing over this gem to a private nationwide developer driven by
maximizing shareholder value rather than keeping the best interests in mind for the City of
Fort Collins. In your elected roles as the guardians of our city’s future, we appeal to you to
vote on the side of sustainability and quality of life and preservation of nature over short-term
financial gain. There is plenty of other lands near the city better suited for development;
please don’t sacrifice this one-of-a-kind location to become just another subdivision.
We strongly think there are much more viable alternatives and forward-looking opportunities
with different use cases, not involving medium or high-density housing! Consider Boulder’s
Chautauqua Park area: it is a bridge between existing residential areas and hiking trails, much
like the Hughes site, and includes an auditorium and is an anchor for the Interurban park area
with high-tech facilities nearby. We believe that this very different vision than just another
Lennar neighborhood is a more sustainable development opportunity which would:
create significant income streams for the City of Fort Collins,
preserve the uniqueness of the land,
be in balance and satisfy the needs and wishes of citizens to maintain the uniqueness of
this beautiful area and nature,
be accomplished in a sustainable, renewable energy and thus lighthouse project fashion
which could enable Fort Collins to be a leader in adopting sustainable, new energy
concepts, and
potentially give several local developers business and income.
We understand that CSU needs about $10 million. We think that this could be accomplished
via a crowdfunding initiative and/or a City-backed plan to rezone the land appropriately,
repurpose it in a sustainable and forward-looking way, and mandate renewable energy usage!
Perhaps CSU itself would be interested in being a partner in this vision as a way to enhance
their image as a leader in 21st
-century science and engineering.
This approach would allow our citizens to see the future preservation and prospects of the
land in balance with their usage model, all while the City could maintain various income
streams.
We are hoping you will vote according to your conscience and do everything you can to
protect this unique land instead of sacrificing it to a national faceless developer to become
just another tract of generic housing.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warmest regards,
Jeff and Gabriele Rearick.
From: Jen Strating
To: City Leaders
Subject: Hughes development
Date: Monday, January 20, 2020 4:09:54 PM
Thanks for all of your service to our community!
Although I cannot make the meeting tomorrow night, I'd like to express my opinion on the
Hughes development. I agree with the PATHS group about wanting to see less development
in this area. This area is SO special and I hope it can be retained as some sort of natural area
or at the very least less homes. This is a special piece of land up against the foothills and
doesn't need to be ruined with a huge housing development. 600 houses would be too much!
Traffic would be a nightmare for those of us who live over on this side of town. Please be
forward thinkers with tomorrow's vote. Have the best interests of citizens in mind and NOT
developers and greed. Choose the legacy you want to leave on this choice city. Don't be
remembered as the council who developed the whole city into a place non of us want to live
anymore. Please choose to keep our city great which includes keeping the beauty! Thanks
for listening and also for your service.
Thanks,
Jen Strating
970-690-2153
From: Karen Kalavity
To: Wade Troxell; City Leaders
Subject: Hughes Stadium Redevelopment
Date: Friday, January 17, 2020 8:19:42 AM
Hughes Stadium Redevelopment
CORRUPT, DISRUPT and then CONSTRUCT
Let’s remember that the GREAT RECESSION was caused, in large part by the
housing and banking industries to begin with…
After the recession of 2008-2012, there were only a few developers ready to fill in the
void. Unfortunately, the most opportunistic of them filled in quickly. This is when you
witness the likes of Lennar Homes and its “designer/approval expediter” firm of Norris
Design, come into the new decade with out-of-date, non-sustainable, large-scale and
generic home-building plans for acreages from Thornton, to Ft. Collins to Parker and
beyond. Please keep this in mind.
Also, if the whole “Ethics-Board Thing” that went down in December of 2019, is any
indicator of the ETHICS involved with the relationship of CSU and Lennar Homes,
then we should all be forewarned:
In the ethics complaint, in November of 2019, against two Fort Collins
councilmembers, Nicolas Frey and Mary Grant wrote that Mayor Wade Troxell and
Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stephens should not be participating in decisions about the
Hughes rezoning because, as Colorado State University employees, they have
financial and personal conflicts of interest.
When the “Ethics Board” addressed this complaint by holding a sham of a hearing in
December of 2019, it seemed to do nothing but confirm the VOID or absence of any
ETHICS revolved around the whole project in its totality. In other words, putting
together a group of supposed “ETHICS” experts who do not send out proper
notification of a hearing, then allow the defendants (mayor Wade Troxell and Kristin
Stephens) to have lawyers present, but give no notice for the complainants to even
be AWARE the formal hearing was even being held, well . . . then we all know how
“ETHICAL” this whole real estate deal really is, in the first place. And of course, it
was held in December when most people are involved with holiday planning and
other focuses. This is another key component of working with the “professional firms”
of Lennar Homes and Norris Design. The most “professional trait” of these groups is
how they sideline any real proper design and construction or public interest . . .
instead these firms regularly involve themselves in politically-timed development,
rather than truly responsible development.
As a person who was involved with developers and construction for over 25 years,
before the recession, I can attest to how both Lennar Homes and Norris Design
function as a “development team”. Although I do not know the particulars of this
particular project and how it really went down, based on past experience, I can only
conjecture that it went down something like this:
In 2014, or so, John Norris, head of Norris Design, went and talked with Tony Frank,
president of CSU. This is likely as John N. loves to connect himself with powerful
people who can help him with real estate deals … and sports-related projects. John
Norris is a Basketball Player Wannabe who is, theoretically tall enough to have
played basketball, but was never talented enough to play basketball. I think this has
always haunted him to the point that he has to “compensate” over and over and over
and over again.
Anyway, John Norris and Tony Frank got to talking about real estate and sports then
came up with a . . .
WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA! They could kill two valuable, unique birds with
one stone!
By moving the stadium into town, they could require significant sums of money
be spent on a stadium that had been paid off long ago, and then they could
exercise eminent domain powers on adjoining residents and businesses within
Ft. Collins, proper. This would also allow 165 acres of real estate to become
“AVAILABLE” on the south side of town so that John Norris could get his
typical client/partner, Lennar Homes another great place to put up another one
of its obsolete and gigantic generic “neighborhoods”.
By “SELLING” the stadium concept as a way of constructing a “great” NEW Stadium,
and thereby, “creating a great football team” (JEEZE, these guys are really bonehead
“optimists”) and then by promising that no outside funds would be needed, Tony
Frank and John Norris had a perfect plan! Of course, there became architectural and
construction problems, but that really did nothing but JUSTIFY the need, even more,
to sell off the old Hughes Stadium to pay off the newly-generated “DEBT”.
Anyway, I surmise this is a likely scenario because this is the METHOD of
OPERATION these two Clown firms often use. Add on the METRO DISTRICT
component and you have a perfect recipe for expensive disaster on a piece of
property that BELONGS to CSU, the students of CSU and the tax-paying residents of
the State of Colorado. This piece of property should be doing some good beyond
lining the pockets of Lennar Homes and the pockets of CSU.
This site should be used for something of real meaning.
All this empty rhetoric about respecting the Native Americans might actually have
some substance if we returned a predominant amount of this old Hughes Stadium
land back to nature and to the plants and animals who already call this place home.
A Wildlife Rehabilitation Center would only cement the intent.
As well, other parts of this 165-acre site could be used for responsibly-designed
neighborhoods with net zero carbon use (solar, geothermal, energy etc.) and green
infrastructure (drainage swales rather than pipes, pervious pavement rather than
concrete and asphalt, planting trees and other carbon neutral implementation etc.)
This work could be sourced out locally, or best case scenario – involve the students
at CSU for some true education!
Any time I hear Lennar Homes or Norris Design, I cringe. We can do a lot BETTER.
We need to be thinking long term, NOT simply considering constituents who want to
make a quick buck on their REMAX home sale commission. Please REVERSE
YOUR VOTE!
Sincerely,
Karen Kalavity
CSU ALUM
From: matt clark
To: City Clerk Office; Rebecca Everette; Wade Troxell; Darin Atteberry; Julie Pignataro; Susan Gutowsky; Ken
Summers; Emily Gorgol; Ross Cunniff; Kristin Stephens; jburks@fcgov.com; Cameron Gloss
Subject: Please Take the Planning and Zoning Recommendation
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2020 8:59:57 PM
City Council has heard numerous public comments and received many letters consistently
asserting that Fort Collins residents do not favor LMN and RF zoning for the Hughes
redevelopment, as recommended by City staff. At several Council meetings, you have heard
consistently that the community does not want 500-1000 homes on this site. Residents have
repeatedly expressed their concerns about problems that the proposed redevelopment will
create:
increased pollution next to the foothills,
greater traffic congestion,
limited means for emergency evacuation,
inadequate consideration of residents’ safety,
lack of accessibility to public transportation,
overcrowding in local elementary schools,
unsightly sprawl in a beautiful area, and more.
Instead of following the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation for RF
Housing zoning, Council is now considering the staff recommendation for LMN as well
as RF housing. According to Fort Collins Zoning Codes, LMN and RF zoning can allow
over 1,000 houses to be built on the Hughes property.
As you know, Lennar Builders has a contract with CSU incentivizing the University
with bonuses once 625 homes are built at this site. Although Cameron Gloss, the City’s
Long Range Planning Manager, stated before Council that the builder will probably not
construct more than 550 houses at Hughes, there is no incentive or motivation for
Lennar to stop at this estimated number of units. In fact, nothing can block Lennar
from building the maximum number of homes on this parcel unless City Council decides
to take a different path.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, recommend the alternative that a majority of our
community would support—the P&Z recommendation for RF. If the land is zoned RF,
there are a number of advantages:
CSU and Lennar have their purchase agreement satisfied.
CSU gets its $10 million.
Lennar gets to build homes on this site.
The community and 500,000 visitors to Horsetooth continue to enjoy open space.
Increased traffic congestion is avoided.
PSD will be able to accommodate any new students at existing schools.
Bicyclists on Overland Trail will not be endangered by greater traffic congestion.
The safety of residents will be less compromised during an evacuation.
The City’s Night Sky Initiative will be supported with less light pollution.
Reduced GHG emissions will help the City reach the goals of its Climate Action Plan.
The City will have up to 200 new houses on the west side and enjoy other benefits from
RF zoning.
The best interests of the residents of Fort Collins will be served if the City agrees to the
RF zoning for the entire Hughes redevelopment.
Signed,
Russell Ayer 80525 *Brendon Sullivan 80521 *Scott Umbreit 80526
Julie Raaz 80525 Marilyn Peltzman 80526 Carol Montgomery 80525
Marianne Flenniken 80526 David Grossett 80526 Beth Grossett 80526
*Tamra Muerer 80525 Bonnie Ayer 80525 Arleen Erber 80526
*Aja Jha 80528 *Renee Walkup 8052 Doug Henderson 80521
Ted Walkup 80521 Gary Faris 80521 Matt Clark 80521
Susan Leopold 80528 John Leopold 80528 Rachel Walkup 80521
Ann Conroy 80525 Diane Couvier 80528 Liz Thompson 80524
*John Thompson 80524 Liz Irvine 80525 Jenny Morse 80521
Gretchen Iberra 80528 Fernando Iberra 80528 *Ann Baron 80525
*Jephta Bernstein 80528 *Greg Tjossem 80521 Karen Tjossem 80521
*George Soderling 80524 Cath Nelson 80528 *Mary Grant 80521
*Susan Frost Davis 80521 Maureen McCarthy 80525 *Rex Miller 80526
*Denotes business owners in Fort Collins.
From: Russ Ayer
To: City Clerk Office; wtroxill@fcgov.com; Julie Pignataro; Kristin Stephens; Emily Gorgol; Ross Cunniff; Cameron
Gloss; Rebecca Everette
Subject: Another Thoughts for consideration
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020 9:33:08 AM
Dear Recipients:
A great deal of time, money and effort to arrive at a reasonable solution the question(s) as how
to agree upon a reasonable solution concerning the Hughes Property development.
I respectfully request that each of you take the time to carefully consider a reasoned approach
to meet the needs of all parties in this very important matter for our community.
Thank You,
Russ Ayer
russ.ayer46@gmail.com
From: Russ Ayer (via Google Docs)
To: City Clerk Office
Cc: wtroxill@fcgov.com; Julie Pignataro; Kristin Stephens; Emily Gorgol; Ross Cunniff; Cameron Gloss; Rebecca
Everette
Subject: Hughes Signature Letter 1-17-2020 - Invitation to edit
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020 9:15:39 AM
russ.ayer46@gmail.com has invited you to edit the following document:
Hughes Signature Letter 1-17-2020
WE appreciate your taking the time to read and consider this proposal.
Russ Ayer
russ.ayer46@gmail.com
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City Council has heard numerous public comments and received many letters consistently
asserting that Fort Collins residents do not favor LMN and RF zoning for the Hughes
redevelopment, as recommended by City staff. At several Council meetings, you have heard
consistently that the community does not want 500-1000 homes on this site. Residents have
repeatedly expressed their concerns about problems that the proposed redevelopment will create:
• increased pollution next to the foothills,
• greater traffic congestion,
• limited means for emergency evacuation,
• inadequate consideration of residents’ safety,
• lack of accessibility to public transportation,
• overcrowding in local elementary schools,
• unsightly sprawl in a beautiful area, and more.
Instead of following the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation for RF Housing
zoning, Council is now considering the staff recommendation for LMN as well as RF housing.
According to Fort Collins Zoning Codes, LMN and RF zoning can allow over 1,000 houses to be
built on the Hughes property.
As you know, Lennar Builders has a contract with CSU incentivizing the University with
bonuses once 625 homes are built at this site. Although Cameron Gloss, the City’s Long Range
Planning Manager, stated before Council that the builder will probably not construct more than
550 houses at Hughes, there is no incentive or motivation for Lennar to stop at this estimated
number of units. In fact, nothing can block Lennar from building the maximum number of homes
on this parcel unless City Council decides to take a different path.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, recommend the alternative that a majority of our community
would support—the P&Z recommendation for RF. If the land is zoned RF, there are a number of
advantages:
• CSU and Lennar have their purchase agreement satisfied.
• CSU gets its $10 million.
• Lennar gets to build homes on this site.
• The community and 500,000 visitors to Horsetooth continue to enjoy open space.
• Increased traffic congestion is avoided.
• PSD will be able to accommodate any new students at existing schools.
• Bicyclists on Overland Trail will not be endangered by greater traffic congestion.
• The safety of residents will be less compromised during an evacuation.
• The City’s Night Sky Initiative will be supported with less light pollution.
• Reduced GHG emissions will help the City reach the goals of its Climate Action Plan.
• The City will have up to 200 new houses on the west side and enjoy other benefits from RF
zoning.
The best interests of the residents of Fort Collins will be served if the City agrees to the RF
zoning for the entire Hughes redevelopment.
Signed,
Russell Ayer Brendon Sullivan 80521 Scott Umbreit 80526
Julie Raaz 80525 Marilyn Peltzman 80526 Carol Montgomery 80525
Marianne Flenniken 80526 David Grossett 80526 Beth Grossett 80526
Tamra Muerer 80525 Bonnie Ayer 80525 Arleen Erber 80526
Aja Jha 80528 Renee Walkup 80521 Doug Henderson 80521
Ted Walkup 80521 Gary Faris 80521 Matt Clark 80521
Susan Leopold 80528 John Leopold 80528 Rachel Walkup 80521
Ann Conroy 80525 Diane Couvier 80528 Liz Thompson 80524
John Thompson 80524 Liz Irvine 80525 Jenny Morse 80521
Gretchen Iberra 80528 Fernando Iberra 80528 Ann Baron 80525
Jephta Bernstein 80528 Greg Tjossem 80521 Karen Tjossem 80521
George Soderling 80524 Cath Nelson 80528 Mary Grant 80521
Rex Miller 80526 Kelsey Meurer 80526 Alexis Coover 80526
Jennifer Hernandez 80525 Neslie Hernandez 80525 Chelsea Evans 80521
Jeri Davis 80526 Tamra Meurer 80525 Lonna Miller 80526
Mary Wenhoff 80526 Glenn Wemhoff 80526 Marc McKee 80526
Codi McKee 80526