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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 5/19/2020 - Memorandum From Delynn Coldiron Re: Item #18 - Hughes Stadium Site RezoningCity Clerk 300 LaPorte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6515 970.221-6295 - fax fcgov.com/cityclerk May 19, 2020 To: Mayor and Councilmembers From: Delynn Coldiron, City Clerk Re: Item #18‐Hughes Stadium Site Rezoning Attached please find public comments regarding the Hughes Stadium Site Rezoning, submitted from Thursday, May 13, 2020 until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2020.    # ,% & '(! #"%##)*$"&&#+,-  +."3#55!7#-//#&-#0+67#>#+/#)4#+-,1.+-#2 ;- 4/,& -+889:=?<)@66=$,),A4,   98>,-#4#F#@,>G+/ B,4#+,-,8'(#C4+ /+#)DE "++"+,-@##>-%,H)-*/+4++.4#F-/##+)J-0+,F-& #*)M+1.,&#/ - K;#)F-88+4L+&K;#) 88+4N 9+);$-I,-J/1" QRS 2"    $,7 $ $ @EF 2:EMNO!2:2:    % G45G62622HI3JK-G4HG62624JI46P7 G4HG62624JI44?AB CSU, Ft. Collins City Council and the Old Hughes Stadium Site: Talk about Shenanigans and “Antics”! CSU is suffering financially – mostly because of the unwise decisions they – along with the Ft. Collins City Council ‐ have made within the last decade – or more. As a CSU Alum, I used to get requests for money from the CSU Alumni Association approximately once a year … now I get requests for money from them almost every two weeks. It’s ridiculous AND pathetic. CSU has got to start making WISE financial decisions starting NOW … not continuing to put band aid after band aid on years of crappy decisions, starting with the decision to prop up ”debt” on the new Canvas Stadium with a proposed outdated, obsolete, high density, unsustainable AND un‐needed “housing plan” on the old Hughes Stadium site. This is a “deal”/proposal that Lennar Homes and other crooks will benefit from while the residents and tax‐payers of Ft. Collins and the State of Colorado surely will NOT. All the “capital improvements” that CSU has been making the last few years also don’t help matters at all, either:  Canvas Stadium‐ which was supposed to be built without any debt load. Well, of course, this “capital improvement” did, indeed, incur debt in its construction and is incurring even more debt in the fact that it cannot be used to generate any income while social distancing is in place, and there is a loss of revenue from any large events. At the same time, maintenance cost of keeping the stadium keep mounting like heating, lights, etc.  CSU “Leed Certified” Campus Buildings ‐ These buildings are being newly constructed on campus while teachers/professor’s wages are going down & teacher’s responsibilities are going up. All the while, tuition keeps getting higher and even fewer students can even afford basic education. And, let’s face it, there are going to be more and more ON‐LINE classes, that don’t require brick and mortar structures at all! All this unnecessary new construction will represent nothing more than even more wasted “capital improvements costs” for buildings that have to be maintained while students are not using them anyway, and will likely not use them in the future, either.  CSU Stock Show Complex in Denver ‐ Yeah, right, let’s keep pretending that the Wild West is alive when we killed off millions of Native Americans and Buffalos and introduced domestic cattle to a range and ecosystem that these animals were not suited for. Then let’s kill off any animal on the range that represents “competition” to the introduced cattle, like wolves, horses, antelope, rabbits, etc. Then let’s implement factory‐farming techniques to the land so that we can fit more and more animals – including cattle ‐ into small feedlots – like the one in Greeley and Ft. Morgan, and then, let’s teach people like the JBS Corporate family (owned and profiteered by Brazilians –not Colorado owners) how to implement SLAUGHTERHOUSES like the ones modeled on the CSU campus ‐ for Greeley and Ft. Morgan ‐ that are breeding grounds for killer viruses, much the same as the wet markets in China are breeding grounds for viruses, then let’s… Let’s face it, CSU has got to get AHEAD of the curve, not behind the curve in teaching sustainable agricultural practices, not simply propping up 19th and 20th century exploitive agricultural AND community practices that are going to destroy our whole civilization – as well as bankrupt CSU AND Ft. Collins! Get with the “freakin’ Program”. Stop supporting and subsidizing every opportunistic, exploitive and obsolete idea that Tony Frank and his group of “associates” keep proposing! As the Corona Virus outbreak continues, it is time to realize a change in the fundamental structure of our food system — including banning factory farms — to decrease the likelihood of the next pandemic, and keep our food supply safe and sustainable. Last year, Senator Cory Booker introduced the Farm System Reform Act (S. 3221) to transition our food system to a healthy, sustainable, equitable model. And this month, Representative Ro Khanna introduced a House version of the bill (HR 6718). At the same time, the City of Ft. Collins needs to be come progressive in its approach to sustainable communities. Tacking solar panels to a bunch of 1970’s‐style homes and community design – a la Lennar Homes – simply doesn’t cut it! Norris Design is headed by a person who graduated from Kansas State University and whose company “Norris Design” is involved with almost all the Metro District “communities” being approved within the last few years. You want to know how “GREAT” Metro Districts are? Just read a few articles by David Migoya in the Denver Post. Why couldn’t John Norris and his gang remain in Kansas and make a mess out of that state instead of making a generic mess out of our state of Colorado? We need to find local talent that appreciates and reveres the nature and uniqueness of our state to develop a new form of regional housing and community design. Let’s help teach and implement ideas from CSU and its students that will help improve our world … not continue to destroy it. THIS is the future … not more slaughterhouses, not more unsustainable housing options, not more dealing with crooks with money who can give CSU a 3‐month monetary fix. AT THE MOST! CSU‐ and the City of Ft. Collins ‐need to be in the forefront of this movement … not lagging behind and propping up old bad, and financially unsound decisions with another bad idea like this state‐ owned land give away! CSU and the City of Ft. Collins need to get ahead of the curve and realize truly sustainable uses for the old Hughes Stadium site. This is instead of a short term fix of $10 million to Lennar with the unrealistic expectation that a demand for more “housing” will justify the back‐end deals on this financially and environmentally unsound proposal of selling the Hughes Stadium Property to Lennar Homes! CSU and the City of Ft. Collins have got to become more than “CORPORATE PAWNS” for the likes of the JBS slaughterhouses and for Lennar’s unsustainable and obsolete communities. VOTE THIS DAMN THING DOWN, ONCE AND FOR ALL! Sincerely, Karen Kalavity Gordon Hadfield 215 W Magnolia St #201 Sara Stieben Fort Collins, CO 80521 Bill Doutt+ Ph: (970) 221-2800 Pete Dusbabek+ Fax: (970) 360-1004 Shannon Sharrock+ Cassandra Wich +Also licensed in Wyoming May 18, 2020 SENT VIA EMAIL: cdaggett@fcgov.com Carrie M. Daggett City Attorney City of Fort Collins 300 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 RE: Second Reading of Ordinance No. 138, 2019. Dear Ms. Daggett: I write on behalf of our client, Rex Miller. As you are likely aware, Mr. Miller resides on property he owns just north of the Hughes Stadium site, with a street address of 3838 Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80526. He has owned that property since 1974. Prior to the second reading of Ordinance No. 138, 2019, I wanted to provide you with a concise overview of Mr. Miller’s opposition to the rezoning, and his assertion that the proposed rezoning is arbitrary and capricious. Please be aware that Mr. Miller is not opposed to all development on the Hughes Stadium site. He merely requests that the zoning reflect the historical parameters and precedents on which he has relied for over forty (40) years. In the 1980s, the Fort Collin’s City Council recognized the “Foothills Area” that includes the Hughes Stadium Site and Mr. Miller’s property as a “Special Area” within Fort Collins’ Urban Growth Area. The City established “[p]olicies reflecting an intent to limit land use in the area to low density residential, environmental concerns, and an efficient delivery of utility services…”. See Minutes from August 19, 1986. These policies sought to preserve the “special ‘rural character’” of the area. Id. at 4. Accordingly, any ground annexed by the City was first zoned RF, and then an application for clustering units could be submitted. Carrie M. Daggett City Attorney City of Fort Collins Page | 2 Although more dense developments have occurred since the 1980s, specifically the small allowance of LMN in the north-eastern corner of the Bella Vira development, Ordinance No. 138, 2019, would exponentially increase growth west of Overland Trail. Specifically, the LMN zoning in Bella Vira applies to only 3.67 acres of a 40-acre parcel. Accordingly, approximately 9% of Bella Vira is zoned LMN. The Ponds development west of Overland Trail was originally zoned RF. When the Bella Vira acreage is combined with the Ponds, LMN only accounts for 1.2% of the total area, and the combined parcel averages 1.16 acres per unit. After construction was completed and the Ponds subdivision was developed, the eastern edge of the Ponds was rezoned as RL. This post- development rezoning runs north-south from the southwestern boundary of the Bella Vira parcel. The rational for the rezoning is unclear, as the zoning line actually bisects six homes in the Ponds. No one from the City has been able to articulate a basis for the rezoning. Despite this, the City’s representative, Cameron Gloss, has pointed to this designation of RL zoning as the basis for zoning the eastern portion of the Hughes Stadium Site as LMN. During the City Council Meeting that occurred on November 11, 2019, Council member Stephens asked Mr. Gloss how this line was drawn. Mr. Glass was not particularly knowledgeable and simply claimed that it was contemplated in the Foothills plan. As you can see from the actual plans from the 1980s, however, this RL zoning was never contemplated—only RF was. The proposed zoning for the Hughes Stadium site will result in a housing density that is 2 to 3 times greater than currently exists. Mr. Miller makes the following proposal to the City Council. The eastern portion of the Hughes Stadium will be zoned LMN. The boundaries of this will run contiguous with the existing MMN zoning allowed for the Westgate development. This will move the boundary for higher density zoning further east from what is currently proposed, but it will allow for ample and meaningful development of the Hughes Stadium site. The remainder of the site—i.e., all ground west of the Westgate development—would be zoned RF. Please discuss this proposal with the City Council. It is reasonable and avoids the inevitable litigation that will follow the passage of Ordinance No. 138. Sincerely, HADFIELD STIEBEN & DOUTT, LLC Gordon Hadfield GMH/eo From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Take a drive, listen to the birds Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 4:55:46 PM Attachments: image001.png Hi Delynn, Please see the below email regarding Hughes. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ From: Megan Dyer <meggster@comcast.net> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 7:35 AM To: City Leaders <CityLeaders@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Take a drive, listen to the birds Good morning, I'm hopeful you'll be reading this before tomorrow's meeting.... Driving throughout Fort Collins I see new construction for housing in some capacity in just about every district making it extraordinarily optimistic don't you think? Morning on the west side, at the Hughes site, is steeped with birds singing and flying getting a jump on the day. The habitat for them at the Hughes are has grown and it's lovely to hear. Then the traffic starts to pick up, which becomes the only thing you hear. Housing on this property is a bad idea; especially now with the uncertainty of what this virus is doing to the economy. At the least limit the density to as little as possible. Thank you, Megan Dyer From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Hughes Site Needs POL or RF Zoning Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 4:36:24 PM Attachments: image001.png Hi Delynn, Below is another email regarding Hughes. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ From: Trish Babbitt <chaang61@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 4:19 PM To: Wade Troxell <WTroxell@fcgov.com>; Kristin Stephens <kstephens@fcgov.com>; Susan Gutowsky <sgutowsky@fcgov.com>; Julie Pignataro <jpignataro@fcgov.com>; Ken Summers <ksummers@fcgov.com>; Ross Cunniff <rcunniff@fcgov.com>; Emily Gorgol <egorgol@fcgov.com> Cc: Sarah Kane <SKane@fcgov.com>; Carrie Daggett <CDAGGETT@fcgov.com>; Darin Atteberry <DATTEBERRY@fcgov.com>; Jeff Mihelich <jmihelich@fcgov.com>; Matt Bloom <matt.bloom@kunc.org>; marc.sallinger@9news.com; Jacy Marmaduke <jmarmaduke@coloradoan.com>; tips@coloradosun.com; jesse@coloradosun.com; moe@coloradosun.com; denis@democracynow.org Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes Site Needs POL or RF Zoning Dear City Council Members, This weekend, I spoke with a neighbor as she was getting ready to enjoy a bicycle ride with her husband at the Soapstone Prairie Natural area. They were hoping to see some baby bison there, and later I learned that they did. This led me to think about a particular professor in the Tourism Management program at CSU, with whom I have shared many students over the past seven years and have had many long conversations about environmental conservation—a passion of mine since childhood. I thought about how instrumental he was in working with the City of Fort Collins to preserve this important natural space for future generations of wildlife and people to enjoy. I also thought about how easy it is for some members of our community to hop into their cars and drive to this space to enjoy a hike or bicycle ride, while for others who are unable to drive for any number of reasons, this beautiful wild area is inaccessible without somebody’s help to get there. I then thought about how much time I spend at the Poudre River, as it is not far from my home and I can get there without a car. I appreciate all we have received from this beautiful river, and this is why I’ve tried so hard over the past several years to save it from being compromised by an unnecessary pipeline to the City of Thornton, a city which has acquired an abundance of water and land in questionable ways and which also seems to have a special relationship with Lennar Homes. This is also why I am now trying so hard now to convey to our City Council members how important the Hughes site is for so many Fort Collins residents who depend on our beautiful natural areas which we can access by public transit, bicycle, and/or foot. During the Covid 19 crisis, it has become very clear how many people have relied on the use our natural areas to cope with so many different challenges they have come to face. It is also clear how many plants and animals depend on this space to survive, whether it is in their path of migration or a permanent home. One of my neighbors, a nurse who works in the ICU at Poudre Hospital, has said over and over how thankful she is for our natural areas and the important role they have played in helping keep our Fort Collins residents physically and mentally healthier than they would be if we didn’t have them. She, like so many others in Fort Collins, is very concerned that our supposedly “green” university is even considering allowing our precious Hughes land to be sold off and developed as a way to pay for other costly endeavors that CSU has undertaken in recent years, including the building of the Canvas Stadium as well as the “meat harvesting center” in the middle of campus—both far-from- green places which were built in spite of serious and valid concerns voiced by a number CSU students & alumni as well as other residents in Fort Collins and throughout Colorado. Over the past few months, people all over the world have had their lives turned upside-down from the Coronavirus scare. We’re living in a different time than we were when CSU started making deals with Lennar to build 600+ homes on the Hughes property. This is the time to reconsider how the land could be used to enhance the health of our wildlife and people of future generations by enhancing its use as a recreational and educational space. With POL or RF zoning, this land could potentially become home to a wildlife rehabilitation center, where students, Fort Collins residents, and others could learn more about how to protect our wildlife, while also protecting ourselves from wreckless growth by metro-districts and housing developments, such as that being proposed by Lennar. Please, please, please listen to your constituents and zone the Hughes property POL or RF. Current and future generations of wildlife and people will absolutely thank you if you do. Sincerely, Patricia K. Babbitt 309 Scott Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80521 From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: Hughes Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 4:30:45 PM Attachments: image001.png Hi Delynn, Please see the below email regarding Hughes. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ From: Tony Gosch <Tonyg@creative-electric.com> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 3:50 PM To: City Leaders <CityLeaders@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes We do not want the 600 homes. Make it a park or open space. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] No to zoning for Lennar Homes Development on Hughes Property Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 3:48:08 PM Attachments: image001.png Hi Delynn, Please see the below email regarding Hughes Stadium. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ From: Zoe Volpa <zoevolpa@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 11:57 AM To: City Leaders <CityLeaders@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] No to zoning for Lennar Homes Development on Hughes Property I am emailing you to urge you to vote NO to zoning for Lennar Homes Development on Hughes Property. This piece of land is one of the few natural areas left in Fort Collins. Having lived in Fort Collins all my life, I recognize the value of having natural lands. Yes our population is growing but it should not be at the expense of what the Fort Collins' citizens value and that is the protection and enjoyment of natural lands. So tomorrow, please vote NO on the development of Hughes Stadium. It is what the Fort Collins community wants you to do. Thank you. From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Hughes Stadium Zoning, Second Reading Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 3:46:58 PM Hi Delynn, Please see the below email regarding Hughes Stadium. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Denny <barbarawaves@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 12:24 PM To: City Leaders <CityLeaders@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes Stadium Zoning, Second Reading Mayor and Council Members, I am very disturbed that you have decided to vote on this at this time. I had understood that only issues requiring “emergency” authorization would be taken up during our Pandemic shutdown. Why does this issue fit that criteria? What is the urgency here? I would be at the Council Meeting, but I’m High Risk for Covid-19, and must remain “Stay at Home”. I appreciate City’s efforts to include community input, but I think it still excludes too many. "Perception is everything” and this feels like a shadowy "sneak it through" when our community is shut down and vulnerable. I think it would be prudent for the Council to Pause and Reflect, Reassess what was decided before the Pandemic when Economy was booming, and Developers were pushing hard to build out Fort Collins. "Must make more homes because so many want to move here”. Is that the reality now?? Now our economic future is unknown. Many economists speculate a profound downturn, likely a recession, and even a Great Depression is very possible. Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chairman, predicts a “…prolonged, bumpy Recovery… and a lasting drain on American prosperity.” If everything goes well, could be 10 years before we return to the economy we had in February. Do you think everything will go well? I don’t. The entire landscape has changed. Radical changes in business practices going forward, and who knows how many businesses won’t make it through. Predicted slow growth, and stagnant incomes, job losses, and the future outcomes get bleaker with “2nd waves of infection”. Most all are experiencing tremendous financial stress, and that will also be the City of Fort Collins. When uncertainty is certain, how can you be sure your vote is the right one? What will be the consequence? Please postpone this second reading until the City Council can return to the chambers where we can all attend and share our perspectives as before. Time to Pause, Reflect, Reassess our future, and include all of us. Respectfully, Barbara Denny 80521 From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Hughes stadium property Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 9:47:15 AM Hi Delynn, Here is another email regarding Hughes. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ -----Original Message----- From: Mary Dantonio <amdantonio@verizon.net> Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 9:32 AM To: City Leaders <CityLeaders@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes stadium property The fact that you plan on holding your “public” meeting on May 19th for your second vote in regards to Hughes property, when it is unsafe to hold such a meeting and that all of you, yourselves may not be present to vote is in my opinion both unethical and shameless. It further convinces me that this agreement was a “back door” agreement from its inception. The citizens of Ft. Collins deserve better. Everyone should be entitled to their right to speak in public not some virtual method you have proposed. What you decide changes Fort Collins for better or worse FOREVER. The density of development proposed leaves me dumbfounded!! Questions, thoughts that come to my mind and hopefully yours are: water, sewage, schools, traffic, pollution- air, water, noise and light, burden on parks and recreation and the loss of property that should have been bought or donated to the City from the beginning. Please vote no to this development. Do the right thing for the current citizens and future citizens of Fort Collins. Thank you, Mary DAntonio Sent from my iPad From: Melanie Clark To: Delynn Coldiron Cc: City Leaders Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Re: Hughes stadium property Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 9:46:07 AM Hi Delynn, Please see the below email regarding Hughes. Thank you, Melanie Clark Executive Administrative Assistant City Manager’s Office 970-416-4312 COVID19 Resources For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ -----Original Message----- From: Mary Dantonio <amdantonio@verizon.net> Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 10:57 AM To: City Leaders <CityLeaders@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Hughes stadium property In my previous letter I forgot to mention the burden this development is going to place on our fire department, police department, hospitals, ambulance service. Thank you Mary DAntonio Sent from my iPad > On May 17, 2020, at 11:31 AM, Mary Dantonio <amdantonio@verizon.net> wrote: > > The fact that you plan on holding your “public” meeting on May 19th for your second vote in regards to Hughes property, when it is unsafe to hold such a meeting and that all of you, yourselves may not be present to vote is in my opinion both unethical and shameless. It further convinces me that this agreement was a “back door” agreement from its inception. The citizens of Ft. Collins deserve better. Everyone should be entitled to their right to speak in public not some virtual method you have proposed. What you decide changes Fort Collins for better or worse FOREVER. The density of development proposed leaves me dumbfounded!! Questions, thoughts that come to my mind and hopefully yours are: water, sewage, schools, traffic, pollution- air, water, noise and light, burden on parks and recreation and the loss of property that should have been bought or donated to the City from the beginning. Please vote no to this development. Do the right thing for the current citizens and future citizens of Fort Collins. > Thank you, > Mary DAntonio > > Sent from my iPad From: Sarah Kane To: Sara Gonzales; Delynn Coldiron; Heather Walls Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Hughs Development Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 8:52:07 AM For your packet of Read-before materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Kane Executive Administrative Assistant to Deputy City Manager Jeff Mihelich and Mayor Wade Troxell City of Fort Collins 970-416-2447 office COVID-19 RESOURCES For all residents: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus For businesses: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ Want to help: https://www.fcgov.com/volunteer/ Connect with resources: https://uwaylc.org/ RECURSOS COVID-19 Para miembros de la comunidad: https://www.fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus Para empresas: https://www.fcgov.com/business/ ¿Quieres ayudar o necesitas ayuda? https://www.fcgov.com/neighborhoodservices/adopt Recursos de United Way: https://uwaylc.org/ -----Original Message----- From: cindyh53 <cindyh53@msn.com> Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 6:26 AM To: Sarah Kane <SKane@fcgov.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughs Development To Mayor Troxell: The high density housing currently planned for the Hughs Stadium site is wrong for the city. 600 houses is far too many. The west side of town can’t handle it. Where, for example, will all the children go to school? Please do the right thing and for once in your tenure, don’t do what all your realtor buddies want you to do. Cindy Harris 931 Kimball Rd. 80521 Sent from my iPad From: Julia Rose To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Vote NO to development on Old Hughes site Date: Sunday, May 17, 2020 5:09:02 PM Sent from my iPhone From: Lindsay Morgan To: City Leaders Cc: Lindsay Morgan Subject: [EXTERNAL] The May 19th Hughes Property Vote Date: Sunday, May 17, 2020 2:45:26 PM Dear City Leaders, I am again emailing you to object to your attempt to force a final decision on the rezoning of the beautiful Hughes property when so many who want to save it and take the time to work together and create and invent unique uses for it that most of our citizens can be proud of in the future. With the event of the Covid19 virus, so many people cannot take the chance to be out in the public in person. And there are so many people who are not computer savvy enough to figure out how to attend these confusing computer platforms remotely, or they don’t even have computers. It is really unfair to expect the attendance to be that which represents the population that wants to wait in these dangerous health times. I cannot attend because of health reasons. If you could see the numbers against this rushed decision, it would make you realize how important it is to wait, instead of disallowing fair representation and public opinion to be heard in person. It’s all very difficult to have our voices heard in this confusing fashion. Please consider being fair in these times of the public believing that our elected officials all over our country are in their positions to further their own benefits and that their decisions are made before the public even has a chance to participate properly. We must be able to trust you in the future. You are working for us. We must WAIT and we ask you not to force a final decision now. We must WAIT until we can meet in person to ensure a full, fair decision from both sides on this beautiful place. Sincerely, Lindsay Morgan 80526 From: Mary Dantonio To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Hughes stadium property Date: Sunday, May 17, 2020 10:57:08 AM In my previous letter I forgot to mention the burden this development is going to place on our fire department, police department, hospitals, ambulance service. Thank you Mary DAntonio Sent from my iPad > On May 17, 2020, at 11:31 AM, Mary Dantonio <amdantonio@verizon.net> wrote: > > The fact that you plan on holding your “public” meeting on May 19th for your second vote in regards to Hughes property, when it is unsafe to hold such a meeting and that all of you, yourselves may not be present to vote is in my opinion both unethical and shameless. It further convinces me that this agreement was a “back door” agreement from its inception. The citizens of Ft. Collins deserve better. Everyone should be entitled to their right to speak in public not some virtual method you have proposed. What you decide changes Fort Collins for better or worse FOREVER. The density of development proposed leaves me dumbfounded!! Questions, thoughts that come to my mind and hopefully yours are: water, sewage, schools, traffic, pollution- air, water, noise and light, burden on parks and recreation and the loss of property that should have been bought or donated to the City from the beginning. Please vote no to this development. Do the right thing for the current citizens and future citizens of Fort Collins. > Thank you, > Mary DAntonio > > Sent from my iPad From: Kathryn Dubiel To: Julie Pignataro; Susan Gutowsky; Emily Gorgol; Kristin Stephens; Ross Cunniff; Ken Summers; Wade Troxell Cc: City Clerk Office Subject: [EXTERNAL] Former Hughes Stadium rezoning decision tomorrow Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 5:29:41 PM Members of City Council, The actions undertaken by the City administration and several of its elected officials with respect to planning the transition of the Hughes Stadium site are revealing. Too frequently, actions reveal that our City’s administrative organization and some public officials seek only to accomplish the goals of a few while pretending to seek the input of those who engage in public decision-making in good faith but later realize that the outcome was not really open to discussion. That’s the impression I have after attending the first Hughes Open House about 18 months ago, a second public engagement event hosted by Current Planning, listening to the Planning and Zoning Board discussion and the unanimous vote recommending a different zoning outcome than the one forwarded by City staff, attending City Council meetings where the item is on and off the agenda with little explanation as to the reason, and now the forced quasi-judicial vote on the rezoning ordinance tomorrow. City administration and some elected officials were so bent on accomplishing their rezoning and development plan that they were going to hand off a Project Development Plan application and Rezoning application all rolled into one. Why the rush to seal the fate of the last large tract of undeveloped land along the foothills? But then, why complicate the process for achieving the goals of CSU and the national developer they had under contract? Thankfully, the two processes were uncoupled so that public discussion could inform this outcome, rather than just have the public informed of the outcome. Way back in 1986, a different City administration and Council crafted and enacted a resolution (86-141) that spelled out the uniqueness of our city’s foothills for the purposes of an IGA with Larimer County to manage growth in the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. The resolution added a section to the IGA specifically for the Foothills Area which reads: “The purpose of the Foothills Area is to: (1) protect public health, safety and welfare by discouraging development in areas of geologic hazards; (2) preserve the natural physiographic foothills as an aesthetic backdrop to the City of Fort Collins; and (3) provide the opportunity for large lot residential development.” The City Planners, Administrators, and most importantly, the citizens and their elected officials put into words the qualities that future uses must respect: “ (e) design should demonstrate a concern for the view of the foothills as well as from the foothills; (g) design should consider wildlife habitat. Leaving open space in a single block is encouraged; and (h) design should address compatibility with existing and planned uses . . . [and] might include buffering incompatible uses or providing access through the development to public recreation areas.” In 2020, the Foothills and surrounding public open lands seem all the more valuable and worthy of preservation, “due to the environmental uniqueness of the area” as identified by the 1986 resolution. Zoning these 165 acres as public open lands (P-O-L) and/or residential foothills (R-F) would let the current City Council demonstrate that they’re not falling for the promise of affordable/attainable housing while no such legal obligation exists. Making that the basis for a vote of this importance is not supported by facts. In addition, voting for this zoning designation in order to add hundreds of housing units without addressing the amenities needed or the impacts to public infrastructure is short- sighted. Remember, we still don’t have a Vine and Lemay overpass. It is also ill-advised for Council to vote to rezone this parcel for development when it’s not clear that a negotiated City purchase of the property has ever been pursued. To date, we have seen no facts relating to when or if such a discussion took place, what terms were discussed or what prevented a deal from being reached. Now that the economic outlook for public revenue is questionable, lack of funding would be a convenient response. But what about 18 months ago? Respectfully submitted, Kathryn Dubiel and Paul Patterson Concerned residents of Fort Collins From: Joyce DeVaney To: City Leaders Cc: Sarah Kane Subject: [EXTERNAL] Citizen input on Hughes Stadium vote Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 8:50:55 PM I am unable to attend the Tuesday, May 19 City Council meeting to voice my concerns about the Hughes Stadium vote, so thank you for the opportunity to offer my written comments. First of all, many of us in the neighborhood feel that the Council is making a serious mistake by making an exception to voting on this zoning issue on May 19, with the community not “out of the woods” of the pandemic. The restraint on attendance is very concerning, & I respectfully disagree with Council members who feel that they have waited long enough, & a decision needs to be made. Why? If vote is delayed further, after the social distancing is lifted somewhat, it would assure appropriate citizen involvement. This is too important an issue to vote in the current pandemic crisis. I am strongly opposed to the current Hughes zoning recommendation. It seems inconsistent with the core values as outlined in the City’s Triple Bottom Line theme: livability, community, and sustainability. It is inconsistent with the City Plan, as adopted by the City Council in 2019. There is only one space in Fort Collins like the Hughes Stadium access to the foothills. Once it’s gone, there is not another. Sad! There are many problems with the zoning being recommended, including: No plan for integrating land use and transportation Limited access to bus lines No sensitivity to the environment. No protection of air and water No plan for affordable housing Serious concerns about evacuations and emergency vehicles having access Poudre School District already has a funding crisis; how can they absorb another 1,000 students? The cost to build a new school would be $80 million, and the per pupil costs to the District could be as high as $8 million. With the District having a 15-25% budget cut, is that possible? Risks of flooding because of future climate change effects Serious concerns about traffic congestion Concerns about wildlife habitat Residents have requested the following, but to my knowledge, they have not occurred: Environmental and wildlife impact study Financial impact study Economic impact study Horsetooth dam failure risk study An extended traffic study from LaPorte Ave. to Drake This is not a “not in my backyard” resistance to development. This is an attempt to assure that the true values of this community are upheld in preserving the environment, promoting healthy living, and protecting our cherished foothills. Please give this more time and consider other options for this “Fort Collins jewel”. I believe there exists an opportunity to work with CSU in order to create something lasting, meaningful, and beneficial to all stakeholders. Yes, please give this more time, study, and attention. Do the RIGHT THING! Thank you for your consideration of my concerns. Joyce DeVaney 2842 McKeag Drive Fort Collins, CO 970-223-0692 jdevaney6@comcast.net From: Gayla Martinez To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Land use for Hughes Stadium area Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 12:50:10 PM Dear Mayor, Council Members and City Leaders, The discussion regarding future use of the land recently occupied by Hughes Stadium is not a question of whether or not to build homes, but rather of whose homes are to be built? That is, will this land be used to construct houses for an expanding human population or will we consider the equally urgent need to provide homes for a diminishing population of meadowlarks, native pollinators, yucca and prairie sage and scarlet globemallow, killdeer and red-tailed hawks? The choice we make will impact all of us for generations to come. This same land was once home to the Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples. My father, who grew up exploring these foothills, told me that he had found tepee circles there. When people of European descent, including my own ancestors, came to Fort Collins, or Ho’oowu Heetou, in the 1860’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, they did so with little respect or consideration for those who lived here before them. They were driven not by malevolence, but by ambition, ignorance and, in some cases, poverty. We need to take care that these same elements do not cloud our judgment today as well. As a child, I remember visiting my grandparents, Paul and Emerald Maxwell in the little stone house that they built near the end of Prospect Ave. on the west side of Overland Trail. In the evenings, with my grandmother at the keyboard of her upright piano, and uncles, aunts and cousins standing all around, we sang together. Later, saying goodnight and heading for our car, we could hear the coyotes having their own sing-along in the not too far distance. In the summer we picked apples from the apple orchard my grandfather had planted and in the coldest months of winter there was fun to be had skating on the pond. Today the stone house stands empty and the coyotes have been displaced. Houses surround the pond and the apple orchard is gone. But we have an opportunity to restore some of what has been lost. To dedicate a piece of land, on the highly ozone-polluted western edge of town, to the grasses and plants who know best how to clean the air, to the bees and butterflies who assure the propagation of the flowers that grace the hills with their beauty, and to the birds and other creatures who will be given a better chance of survival by having access to land corridors that allow them to move from place to place without confronting barriers of concrete and asphalt. It is true that as the population of Fort Collins continues to grow we need more affordable housing. This housing can best be provided by building UP on urban space that is situated close to public transportation and to places of work. But it is equally important to preserve the increasingly rare pieces of land that can provide homes for the native plants and animals that are also essential members of our community. If we make a place for them, they will return. These are the places that remind us of our ties to the land, air and water that sustain us all. These are the places that nourish our hearts and our spirits. If they do not flourish, then neither will we. I ask that City Council vote tonight to preserve the Hughes Stadium property as OPEN SPACE. And in anticipation of that vote, I thank you. Sincerely, Gayla Maxwell Martinez P.S. I don't have the exact date, but I know that sometime in the first decades of the 20th century, my great-grandfather, Robert G. Maxwell, leased to the university (Colorado Agricultural College) the land on which the Aggie "A" is painted. He charged the college one dollar for the 100 year lease. A pretty good deal. It would seem an appropriate gesture for the university to make a similarly generous gesture by donating that land to the community that has been its home. As an alumna, whose own graduation ceremony took place in Hughes Stadium, it would make me very proud. From: JOHN MARY BOWLING To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes Property Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 8:34:51 AM Please vote NO on the zoning to Lennar Homes Development on Hughes Property. If this pandemic has showed us anything, it has showed us we need open space to breathe and appreciate what we have not add more development of homes in such a special area. Please let us keep some of Ft Collins' beauty and let our current residents enjoy our city. I have been a proud resident of Ft Collins for 45 years and am getting to the point where I am ashamed on what we are doing to our few open spaces left. We need to preserve our quality of life here and adding more homes is not going to do that. Once it is done, it can never be undone. Let our children enjoy what we did years ago and VOTE NO !!! Mary and John Bowling Family marjohn800@msn.com From: Rebecca LaPole To: City Leaders Cc: Jacy Marmaduke; Matt Bloom; North Forty News; marc.sallinger@9news.com; tips@coloradosun.com; moe@coloradosun.com; denis@democracynow.org; jesse@coloradosun.com Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 138, 2019, AMENDING THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE HUGHES STADIUM SITE REZONING AND APPROVING COR... Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 9:09:33 PM Hello, I am writing again to plead with Mayor Wade Troxell, Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stephens, Ken Summers, and Emily Gorgol to consider, at this time of emergencies and deeply impactful changes in our lives, listening to the community regarding the Hughes Stadium Redevelopment. There is a public record hundreds of pages long full of statements from the community of the City of Fort Collins asking for open space. It is time for our elected servants to stand by their oath and represent the people's wishes regarding this beautiful parcel of land. While Lennar and CSU may be focused on making money, building more housing, and destroying a crucial wildlife corridor, this is the time that the City Council can stand up for those without voices - the animals and native plants there - and do what's right. I am asking, as a 21-year resident of the City of Fort Collins, that you zone this property either as Public Open Lands, or at the very least 100% RF zoning. Thank you. Love & Light, Becca LaPole Cell: 970-231-6040 From: Nancy Heinzmann To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Zoning for Lennar Homes Development Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 3:06:39 PM Council members, Respectfully, I am requesting you please vote NO on the zoning for Lennar Homes Development on Hughes Property. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nancy Heinzmann From: Chris & Dee To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes Stadium Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 2:29:16 PM Fort Collins City Council RE: Hughes Stadium I support non-development of the Hughes Stadium property. We need more open space for carbon fixation and undeveloped habitat for corridors for wildlife corridors. In addition to serving as an unobstructed view, the foothills and mountains west of town define our town – this is beautiful Fort Collins with our Horsetooth rock -not just another piece of urban sprawl in Anytown U.S.A. Conserve the land. This is never been more critical. Yours Truly, Dee Colombini 80525 Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Becky Gosch To: City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hughes stadium Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 4:17:02 PM I would like to vote for against the planned housing development. Becky Gosch From: John Barth To: Cameron Gloss; Development Review Comments; Sylvia Tatman-Burruss; City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: PATHS comment letter on Hughes Stadium rezoning proposal Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 3:56:02 PM Attachments: Exhibit 14.pdf All Attached is Exhibit 14 to the PATHS comment letter. Please confirm receipt. John Barth On Tue, May 19, 2020 at 3:55 PM John Barth <barthlawoffice@gmail.com> wrote: To whom it may concern: Attached please find a comment letter submitted on behalf of Planning Action to Transform Hughes Sustainably Corp ("PATHS"), along with 15 exhibits, opposing the City's proposal to rezone the eastern half of the Hughes Stadium property L-M-N zoning. Please confirm receipt of this comment letter and attachments. Finally, Exhibit 1 to this letter is the City Plan, which is over 50 MB in size. The size of the City Plan exceeds my email sending capability. Please let me know if I should make this document available via Google Docs, or if the City will download it from the City website and make it part of the administrative record for this proceeding. Also, I will send Exhibit 14 by separate email. Thank you. -- John Barth Attorney at Law P.O. Box 409 Hygiene, CO 80533 (303) 774-8868 barthlawoffice@gmail.com -- John Barth Attorney at Law P.O. Box 409 Hygiene, CO 80533 (303) 774-8868 barthlawoffice@gmail.com From: John Barth To: Cameron Gloss; Development Review Comments; Sylvia Tatman-Burruss; City Leaders Subject: [EXTERNAL] PATHS comment letter on Hughes Stadium rezoning proposal Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 3:55:08 PM Attachments: PATHS comment letter FINAL 05192020.pdf Exhibit 2.pdf Exhibit 3.pdf Exhibit 4.pdf Exhibit 5.pdf Exhibit 6.pdf Exhibit 7.xlsx Exhibit 8.pdf Exhibit 9.pdf Exhibit 10.pdf Exhibit 11.pdf Exhibit 12.pdf Exhibit 13.pdf Exhibit 15.pdf To whom it may concern: Attached please find a comment letter submitted on behalf of Planning Action to Transform Hughes Sustainably Corp ("PATHS"), along with 15 exhibits, opposing the City's proposal to rezone the eastern half of the Hughes Stadium property L-M-N zoning. Please confirm receipt of this comment letter and attachments. Finally, Exhibit 1 to this letter is the City Plan, which is over 50 MB in size. The size of the City Plan exceeds my email sending capability. Please let me know if I should make this document available via Google Docs, or if the City will download it from the City website and make it part of the administrative record for this proceeding. Also, I will send Exhibit 14 by separate email. Thank you. -- John Barth Attorney at Law P.O. Box 409 Hygiene, CO 80533 (303) 774-8868 barthlawoffice@gmail.com This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA -1- ORDINANCE NO. 138, 2019 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE HUGHES STADIUM REZONING AND APPROVING CORRESPONDING CHANGES TO THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SIGN DISTRICT MAP WHEREAS, Division 1.3 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code (the “Land Use Code”) establishes the Zoning Map and Zone Districts of the City; and WHEREAS, Division 2.9 of the Land Use Code establishes procedures and criteria for reviewing the rezoning of land; and WHEREAS, on October 16, 2018, City Council approved Ordinance No. 123, 2018, annexing the Hughes Stadium Annexation property (the “Property”) consisting of approximately 164.56 acres into the City; and WHEREAS, on October 16, 2018, City Council approved Ordinance No. 124, 2018, to place the Property into the Transition (T) zone district upon annexation; and WHEREAS, on July 16, 2019, City Council adopted Resolution 2019-084 to initiate the rezoning of the Property and directed City staff to prepare a rezoning application on behalf of the City and make a recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Board and City Council regarding the appropriate zoning for the Property, all in accordance with Land Use Code Section 2.9.4; and WHEREAS, City staff submitted an application for rezoning requesting that the Property be rezoned as “Low Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood (LMN) on the east half of the property and Residential Foothills (RF) on the west half of the property, with a condition that residential units be clustered and 50% of the area be retained in an 'open' condition” (the “Proposed Rezoning”); and WHEREAS, on September 19, 2019, the Planning and Zoning Board on a 4-2 vote recommended that City Council not adopt the Proposed Rezoning and instead that Council rezone the Property entirely as Residential Foothills (R-F); and WHEREAS, City staff is recommending that City Council implement the recommended condition by requiring that residential development on the Residential Foothills zone district portion of the Property meet the requirements for Site Design for Residential Cluster Development set forth in Land Use Code Section 4.3(E)(2); and WHEREAS, after publishing public notice on Sunday, October 13, 2019, City Council held a public hearing on November 5, 2019, to consider the rezoning as set forth herein and at that hearing City staff and members of the public provided information and testimony. -2- NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That City Council, after considering at the November 5, 2019, hearing the Planning and Zoning Board recommendation, the testimony of the public and City staff, and the information provided for the hearing, hereby finds that the Proposed Rezoning is: (1) Consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan; (2) Is compatible with existing and proposed uses surrounding the Property and is the appropriate zoning for the Property; (3) The proposed zoning would not result in significantly adverse impacts on the natural environment; (4) Would result in a logical and orderly development pattern. Section 3. That City Council hereby rezones the western half of the Property as Residential Foothills (R-F) zone district and the eastern half of the Property as Low Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood (LMN) as follows: A north to south dividing line (“Dividing Line”) shall be established on the Property with such line running parallel to and 1368.63 feet west of, as measured perpendicularly, the eastern line of the southeast quarter of Section 20, Township 7 North, Range 69 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian, City of Fort Collins, County of Larimer, State of Colorado. The portion of the Property located west of the dividing line shall be designated as Residential Foothills Zone District and the portion of the Property located east of the dividing line shall be designated as Low Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood District (L-M-N). Section 4. That Council imposes the following condition of approval upon this rezoning pursuant to Land Use Code Section 2.9.4(I): All residential development occurring on the portion of the Property zoned Residential Foothills (R-F) shall be residential cluster development in compliance with the version of Land Use Code Section 4.3(E)(2), Site Design for Residential Cluster Development, in effect on the effective date of this Ordinance and attached to this Ordinance as Exhibit “A”. However, any Land Use Code section or defined term referenced within Land Use Code Section 4.3(E)(2) shall be to the version of such section or defined term in effect at the time such section or defined term is applied to any development application for any portion of the Property zoned Residential Foothills. -3- Section 5. That Council finds that the condition of approval imposed in above Section 4 is necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Land Use Code, specifically, Land Use Code Section 1.2.2(A), (C), (D), (I), and (N), and is consistent with City Plan. Section 6. That Council finds that the rezoning and condition of approval adopted herein are in the best interests of the citizens of Fort Collins. Section 7. That the Residential Neighborhood Sign District Map adopted pursuant to Section 3.8.7(E)of the Land Use Code be, and the same hereby is, changed and amended by showing that the above-described property is included in the Residential Neighborhood Sign District. Section 8. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to amend said Zoning Map in accordance with this Ordinance. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 5th day of November, A.D. 2019, and to be presented for final passage on the 19th day of November, A.D. 2019. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on this 19th day of November, A.D. 2019. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk EXHIBIT “A” Land Use Code Section 4.3(E)(2): Site Design for Residential Cluster Development. Property in the Foothills Residential District may be developed in clusters, subject to approval by the Planning and Zoning Board. In a cluster development, lot sizes may be reduced in order to cluster the dwellings together on a portion of the property, with the remainder of the property permanently preserved as public or private open space. The following standards shall apply to cluster developments in this District: (a) Only the uses specifically permitted in subsection (B) above shall be allowed. (b) Minimum lot sizes may be waived by the Planning and Zoning Board, provided that the overall density of the cluster development is not greater than one (1) unit per gross acre. (c) A cluster development shall set aside at least fifty (50) percent of the total land area of the proposed development as private or public open space that is permanently preserved as open space through dedication of ownership, if acceptable to the City, or placement of an appropriate easement granted to the City or other nonprofit organization acceptable to the City, with such restrictive provisions and future interests as may be necessary to ensure the continuation of the open space use intended. As a condition of approval, the City may also require the property owners to maintain the dedicated open space to city standards through a maintenance agreement. (d) Building envelopes shall be identified on the cluster development, and the minimum area of lot, minimum width of lot, minimum front yard, minimum rear yard, minimum side yard and maximum building height shall conform to the requirements established in the Residential Low Density District. (e) The design of the cluster development shall be appropriate for the site, as demonstrated by meeting the following criteria: 1. preservation of significant natural resources, natural areas and features, native vegetation, open lands or agricultural property through maintenance of large, contiguous blocks of land and other techniques. 2. provision of additional amenities such as parks, trails, common areas or access to public recreational areas and open space. 3. minimizing the visual intrusion by dwellings and other structures and blocking of vistas to the foothills and prominent mountain vistas by avoiding building in the center of a meadow or open area. 4. protection of adjacent residential development through landscaping, screening, fencing, buffering or similar measures. 5. the layout of lots on the cluster development is designed to conform to terrain and is located so that grading and filling are kept to a minimum. Natural features such as drainage swales, rock outcroppings and slopes shall be preserved. 6. taking into account the unique micro-climate of the foothills so that building envelopes are selected and individual structures are built for protection from high winds and to function with maximum conservation of energy. 7. if farm animals are intended to be allowed within the area, indicating those portions of the area to be developed that will be reserved for the keeping of farm animals and the mitigation efforts used to buffer these areas from surrounding uses. H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 1 | 14 Hughes Neighborhood Listening Session – Feedback by Attendees September 20, 2017, 6-8 p.m. Drake Centre; Fort Collins, CO CSU and CAA ICON offered five “listening” stations as described below where attendees could ask questions and provide their feedback. Each station was manned by CSU and/or CAA ICON representatives. The below are nearly 400 comments, questions and concerns which were logged by station notetakers or written by attendees on comment boards. Redevelopment Process Station 1. Requested that all boards on display at meeting be posted online for reference. 2. Does CSU/City of FC have any idea of timeline for Annexation? 3. Do not annex property. Low cost housing is more affordable if the property is left within the county. 4. Imperative that the property go through the Annexation and P&Z Process. 5. Recommends emphasis on recreational development 6. Recommends that the public be provided the selection criteria for the future developer. 7. Work with Great Outdoors Colorado, City of Fort Collins, Loveland, and Larimer County to preserve as open space and Multiuse recreational. 8. No Housing 9. No Apartment Buildings 10. Preserve Existing Landscape 11. No Development – Leave in County 12. No Low-income housing 13. Hughes is last piece of open space in Fort Collins. Leave as Open Space 14. Develop into Music Venue 15. Leave Open 16. Emphasis on recreation 17. Is there a projected timeline for the overall Development? 18. If Developed – Prefer Mix Use 19. Festival Site/ Park and Ride 20. Be clear about potential interests. Transparency. 21. Prefer Small Housing Development 22. Site to be utilized as Park and Ride 23. CSU/City to provide feasibility study to develop the property based on the case study of “The Eden Project”. 24. Leave as Open Space/Recreational 25. Can you be denied Annexation? 26. What are the city’s boundaries? At what point can they no longer annex property? 27. Are their examples of other projects within the city that have recently been annexed? 28. You’ve already lied to us to get us here to “listen” to us. You’ve already make up your mind to develop. This isn’t about listening to us. It’s you (CSU) telling us what you’ve already decided. It’s going to hurt Fort Collins, wildlife, and people to develop that land and opens H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 2 | 14 up our foothills for more housing. You pay for it. Raise your own money. No one wins again, but CSU. 29. This is a very rare property – Keep it for recreation and nature. We don’t need more housing up against the foothills. 30. Please keep this open space or recreation based. Please do what’s right for community and not CSU’s pocketbook. 31. Develop into a Senior Living Community 32. Ed Zdnek – Working with Miller Family (Land owners with 40 acre lot to the north). a. Would like to be included in the planning process. b. Millers are developing the property to the north. c. Potentially developing a Continuing Care Residential Community with Open Space. 33. Please keep it open for Recreation, Peace, Dog, and their human enjoyment. Being so close to nature in today’s crazy world is good for everyone. Thank you. 34. CSU to gift land to city. Keep Open 35. Combined FC/Loveland community GOCO money to preserve open space, maybe multi-use outdoor recreation, hike/mtn bike trails, picnic area, etc. 36. Can city of Fort Collins purchase the property? 37. Multi-Use – Open space (especially retention areas, west, trails, etc.) & residential, affordable housing for CSU Employees. Especially staff and others. 38. There is plenty of low-income housing on the west side already. No more of that, please. 39. Keep it natural – Open space for community and dogs. 40. No housing, shopping malls, or development of any kind. 41. BRB – Getting louder over past year. Existing Site Station 1. Artery status of Overland Trail? 2. Annexation process? 3. Will there be high density housing built to offset demo process? 4. If new development is built – will it feed into CSU’s goal of being green/carbon neutral? 5. Hopeful whatever is built is innovative and an example for the future 6. Land banking – future of affordable housing 7. Communal work with City of Fort Collins, Loveland, Larimer County Parks, and Great Outdoor Colorado (GOCO) for multi-recreational and outdoor use exclusively 8. Run an analysis – recommend a traffic and noise study 9. Worried about too much traffic and noise – sound reverberates off foothills – nervous about noise 10. Native animals could be impacted – concern for overall environmental impacts 11. Across Maxwell area where the land deviation exists – could be turned into another reservoir 12. Hopes for partnership with Larimer County, City of Fort Collins, and CSU to buy the land and extend open spaces 13. Take down Hughes 14. If land is developed – develop on NE side with same density as along Sumac 15. Build townhomes and/or single family homes from SE to SW side along foothills (similar to Ponds development) H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 3 | 14 16. Concern for impacts on Pineridge, Maxwell, and Dixon Reservoir 17. If area’s developed – wants single family and low density to preserve recreational flavor and whole west side 18. Development should embrace recreation – should be some form of recreational area that embraces outdoor/active culture 19. Develop something that everyone can enjoy 20. Mom/Pop shops would be fine but keep recreational culture represented 21. Development should be low density – anti inner city high density 22. If not developing – use space for high schools or something community supported 23. Leave for festivals for city, county, and CSU 24. Park n ride to new stadium 25. Should reflect CSU’s message for sustainability and green living 26. Don’t build high density developments along foothills – housing can happen anywhere – keep as green and nature based as possible 27. Development could be mixed use i.e. low-density housing, recreational, and retail and restaurants 28. Implement traffic study – Overland is narrow with few through streets and there’s also another high density development across the way 29. Pro low income housing – keep in mind when looking for ways to develop 30. Would be interesting to turn Hughes into something – studio apartments? 31. If Hughes is torn down hope that the materials are recycled 32. Keep existing trees – spent time and effort being cultivated 33. Respect and preserve culture of the west side – neighborhood focused/recreational 34. Preserve as much open space as possible 35. What would the Maxwell’s want? It was their land 36. Preserving safety of the area – lots of trails and open space that people currently feel comfortable using all times of day and night 37. Traffic, noise, and density are concerns – wants to keep view of mountains preserved – want single family/2 story housing 38. Keep recreational feel 39. Please listen to residents and not developers 40. Focus on housing for local CSU employees before opening up to the community 41. Contact Niantic (Pokémon Go creator) and remove Pokémon Go Gym “Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.” – could be a safety hazard when/if demo and development begins 42. Fence backing up to Sumac that CSU maintains – what’s going to happen when/if demolition and/or development begins 43. Maintain green characteristics – selling point of buying a house in this part of town 44. Safety concerns about low income housing around trails and outdoor spaces o Dan’s answer – talk about priority given to CSU employees 45. Will there be a lock on low income housing? – concern about people buying low and selling high 46. Turn area into schools for growing population 47. If developed as low-income housing for CSU employees – how will that be managed? Concerned about it turning into student housing which brings noise, trash, parties, etc. H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 4 | 14 48. You lied to us telling us it wasn’t being redeveloped to get us to come here. You said you were going to hear us about whether it should be redeveloped. We’re not being heard. You’re going to pay for it regardless. I hope you will consider the impact for the animals, people, and environment. 49. Concern about the drainage area, trees there, and impact on neighborhood if that’s changed. 50. Concern for the value of existing homes if low income housing is built 51. Traffic and traffic noise that comes with building additional homes are a concern 52. Please preserve the history of the area/space 53. Encouraged by though of housing mixed with recreational space 54. Safety concerns regarding traffic if area is developed 55. Maintain integrity of the foothills 56. Create a multi-use recreational area 57. Do not care if Hughes stays or gets torn down 58. NO housing or commercial retail developments 59. Would rather see a golf course developed (if financial gain is the motivator) than housing. Golf course – open space, tourist attraction, brings in money, etc. 60. Area is the last existing open space recreational area left in town 61. Not excited about low income housing 62. Would like to see open space funds (GOCO) used for preservation of space 63. Concerned about Sea Surf being involved in the development of the project o Dan’s answer – they won’t be 64. If area gets developed I will move away 65. Once you start to fill the area with something that could potentially ruin it there are long standing and far reaching negative effects 66. Like the open space idea – don’t want housing or retail. If it gets developed wants it turned into a park (like what they’re doing on Zeigler over by Fossil Creek HS). That way you’re using the land but preserving the integrity of the environment 67. Small concert venue would be nice – would encourage community interaction 68. Capitalize on and preserve open space – dovetailed with master trail plans of city and county 69. Keep culture of the west side of town 70. Already have plenty of high density housing on the west side 71. There’s lots of wildlife in the area – please keep area as wild as possible 72. Would like the city to take it and use it for an ice rink and outdoor concerts 73. Sacrificed centrally located housing in favor of a stadium used infrequently in central Fort Collins – don’t compound the error by establishing housing in the foothills 74. Hopes for a senior-living focus in new development 75. Are they thinking/targeting faculty housing opposed to student housing? o Dan’s answer – Yes 76. Curious about what types of home will be built if area is developed – singe family, condos, etc. 77. Wants to preserve trails 78. Curious about the time frame o Dan’s answer – will take several months before anything occurs 79. Transit is weak in that area – improve public transit (buses) which could help with traffic and parking concerns H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 5 | 14 80. Tell CSU to keep/preserve a pocket of land – don’t sell everything 81. Keep continuity with the land to the North – Miller property 82. Move government facilities in downtown Fort Collins to Hughes area – develop high taxed housing properties downtown 83. Turn area into sports fields/facilities for kids 84. Keep some open space truly open/natural for kids to explore in 85. Keep it open for recreation, nature, and peace and quiet next to city 86. It’s special to be able to take your dog into the area 87. Don’t cram it full of houses and retail like Walgreens and Starbucks Land Use Context Station: (+1) = agreement by another person who wants to second the comment 1. No major housing construction; no condos 2. Does the property have to be annexed into the city? Why? A developer would have more latitude and flexibility if it wasn’t annexed. 3. No concert venue due to concern for noise. 4. Because the land was given to CSU for practically nothing, ethically they should raise the money to tear down stadium, make natural area at CSU’s expense, and give the land back to the people. 5. Once a little housing is there, it will continue to spread. We’ve seen that in other areas nearby. 6. 800 homes would be huge amount of traffic. 7. What is the GMA (Growth Management Area) process? 8. There is plenty of low income housing on the west side of town. Don’t need more. 9. Don’t want to see wildlife diminished by this project. 10. Wants full transparency in the RFQ/RFP process with all the submittals posted online for the public (not just the shortlist submittals, but all of them). 11. Wants low density housing, not high density—or wants open space—no retail, but recreation is okay. 12. In old town, city and county buildings don’t collect tax (low tax base). Put this issue in front of the community by putting the low income housing (high tax base) in old town, then move the city and county buildings to the Hughes area where there is lower traffic impact. 13. Consider how the adjacent Miller property coexists with the Hughes site cooperatively. The Miller property has not had any contact from CSU/Facilities or from Icon on planning. 14. Concern about low income housing—what it will do for safety of recreation for kids, women, and family, as well as for the property value of the neighborhood. 15. Keep open space/recreational 16. Would a new school go in, if more housing went in? Could a low density neighborhood handle that? Who would pay for the school? 17. Do developers have to set aside a certain amount of park/recreation/open space if housing goes in? 18. Is there any idea of how much space that area would support? 19. Velodrome for cyclists could bring in income. 20. High density housing is a concern because city is already doing it; do it by I-25, not in a place with natural boundaries. H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 6 | 14 21. Leave the property for festivals for the City, County, and CSU. 22. The property could become a Park & Ride to transport people to the new on-campus stadium. 23. (This commenter has been in Fort Collins since 1967) A special quality of Fort Collins has been the ability to protect open spaces in this community, so it can be watershed and natural landscape. It is important to have a buffer between the developed city and the rest of the foothills. 24. If developed, restrict the property to low-density mixed use. 25. Would like no development—or make the property a concert venue to compete with Red Rocks. 26. Mostly worried about traffic 27. Against more housing and traffic, especially given the development on Drake and Overland. 28. Ecological effects—concern over the traffic along the reservoir road (“Every day will be like game day”) 29. Make it a high end golf course, restaurant okay too, to provide income. It would preserve the view of the foothills while being natural but manicured. 30. (Sarcasm intended) It should be a gated community reserved for the most elite of the 1% comprised of McMansions and servant quarters. Or, a commune for hippies. 31. Think about using natural materials with respect to absorbing sound. 32. Concern for flood planning 33. (+1) Would like it to be a natural area—it’s a very special space. Keep growth on the east side. There are wonderful animals that live on this property. 34. 18 years ago when she moved here, it was originally communicated to this person that this area would remain a green belt all the way to Loveland. She is very concerned about high density growth in this belt. 35. Existing roads aren’t adequate. 36. This is an area that the community uses. 37. Preference for lack of buildings; maintaining the view is important. 38. Suggestion to add another reservoir on this property that connects to the bottom of Horsetooth. 39. Don’t want to see homes built; this will maintain view and space and promote tourism. 40. Will there be an environmental assessment (from human to wildlife to noise, etc.)? 41. Leave the space natural—no development (no parking lots, parks, houses); trails are okay 42. No need to keep developing. 43. Treasures the open space; the property is unique—the interface with the prairie, foothills. 44. What is the zoning for the space? Question about the area represented as LMN (represented in the map). 45. Don’t add traffic—concern about more vehicles and pollution and the environment. Concern about the animals that live on that parcel. 46. Concern that what comments that are received from residents will be put aside for what makes the most money. 47. Keep it natural—open space for community and dogs. 48. No housing, shopping malls, or development of any kind. 49. What is low income or affordable housing? Who does it include? Would like this defined. 50. No more shopping malls or big name stores, no hotels or resorts. Preference for an art center and crafts-based area, could have a healing center and alternative businesses, old town unique feel is okay; no box stores. Other ideas: Bike paths, open space, community farm, a place where H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 7 | 14 art is integrated with open space, eco-friendly landscaping for kids and animals, eliminating the use of toxic stuff like pesticides. More like the Gardens on Spring Creek. 51. No students. 52. “Agriburbia”—a combination of agriculture and houses together, right under the “A” 53. Mode of sustainable living with good building materials and the use of vegetable gardens. 54. Low density development with a feeling of space. 55. Have a development for profit, do not have low income housing tax credits used, but instead have it with a proper mix of affordable housing. 56. Incorporate housing in a balanced/aesthetic/open way. There’s already high density condos/housing near here. 57. Keep it a dog/human focused area—like having a dog pool. 58. CSU said this property was too valuable not to develop. However, the property is too valuable to develop. 59. Need for innovative transit-oriented workforce housing, mixed use with recreational space merging into open space around it. 60. Currently serves as space for running and dogs. 61. Limit traffic 62. NO HOUSING, NO COMMERCIAL 63. Venue where it maintains integrity of the foothills, animals, open space/multi-use (hiking, golf course), which would bring in tourist recreation based money. 64. Ask CSU to raise employee wages to not be forced to provide low income housing. 65. Support low-density development, however make reasonable and appealing if high density low income housing, then target families—but then issue of traffic, so provide resources within the neighborhood and promote alternative transit. 66. Is there a potential buyer already for this property? 67. Will CSU lease the land? –Steady revenue 68. What is the economic value? 69. What about this space for senior housing? A community of different levels of care; a building that includes daycare for seniors and children. 70. Would like to hear a wish list from the City of Fort Collins before any developers come on board or any more meetings occur. 71. Integrity of the open space recreation is important; protect it. That’s the reason why I moved to my neighborhood. 72. “You lied to us. The letter said you were going to listen about whether we are redeveloping or not. If you take down the stadium, raise your own money for it. Please consider the animals, the people, and the environment.” 73. (+1) Sell to Stryker/music venue (Fort Collins Red Rocks) 74. Low density—acreages/horse properties 75. (+1) Detention pond – impacts of development, will it handle 76. No “Destination” Development 77. No retail 78. 10 pm Quiet time 79. (+1) Like Observatory Village or Rigden Farm, Bucking Horse would be great. 80. Community feel, mixed, nothing big. 81. Planned community H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 8 | 14 82. If CSU owns land & private developers build- is it taxable on land & improvements? 83. Not money driven 84. Not multi-million dollar homes 85. What is affordable? 86. Lower density 87. Mixed use 88. Neighborhood retail—no big box. 89. Repurpose Hughes to other uses 90. If more housing, what are the impacts on local schools? 91. Engage PSD early in the discussion 92. No new traffic lights 93. Low density/no traffic 94. Preserve open space 95. Mixed better—No development 96. Low height—two story maximum 97. Overland/Drake impacts 98. Keep feel of area 99. This is a big PR show—won’t change desire to development 100. Stay as is—given to CSU should remain with public purpose—CSU doesn’t need –tear down—return to people as a natural area—ethical thing to do. 101. (+1) Leave natural / no development 102. (+1) No parking lots 103. (+1) Trails open space are ideal 104. (+1) Critical to conserve wildlife habitat and corridors 105. (+1) Travesty to develop 106. (+1) Poudre District Library & other community uses such as Gardens and other recreation if developed 107. Secondary reservoir—whole site with associated open space. 108. Lied to us to get us here. Letter said “talk about” whether to develop. 109. If develop—raise money yourself. 110. Please consider animals, people, and environment. 111. Take stadium down at CSU expenses and leave land alone. 112. Reflect “proposed” trail, City-Bike FC. 113. Connections for bike connections between city natural areas. 114. Strengthen trail connections 115. Connect natural areas—County and City. 116. CSU should keep this property: no more land, sale is short-sighted 117. Maintain easement for City connections 118. Will money override values 119. Trail connection to neighborhoods east of Overland Trail. Community Needs & Values Station: 1. Move & Expand the Holiday Twin Drive In to this new space! 2. Open space & capitalizing on what is already there a. Connect trails H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 9 | 14 b. Keep disc golf course c. Add Velodrome 3. Open space, close to nature a. Keep the peaceful atmosphere b. Keep the views of the ridge c. Keep the openness/visibility 4. Velodrome for bicyclists 5. Space for festivals – CSU & City 6. Parking area to transport fans to new stadium 7. Use space so community can benefit ex. like Spring Creek Gardens – but doesn’t necessarily need to be a garden 8. No more traffic lights – don’t make something that would make this happen 9. Keep it in county zoning 10. Utilize space so community can benefit i.e. Spring Creek Gardens 11. Minimize traffic & control traffic 12. Permanent home for farmer’s market - This ties to CSU’s mission & education 13. Place for dog(s) to roam without city restriction 14. Open space & mixed housing (affordable +, not low income) 15. Low light – respect the culture of the west side of town 16. Keep integrity of open space, not be an eye sore, protects property values 17. Encourage conservation & land trust groups to purchase land & gift it to the city for open space 18. 100% opposed to construction (housing, retail, commercial) 19. Open space trails 20. New library location & open space & community gardens & conserve wildlife corridor & habitat 21. Open space – lots & lots 22. Protect passage/migration areas of wildlife 23. Straight bus-line from overland to campus a. Would ease parking issues on campus b. Important for staff & faculty c. Important for affordability & access to campus 24. If developed, can they use local developer? 25. Green energy space/sustainable space/eco-friendly a. Solar power b. Create an example of what can be done with sustainability & green energy 26. No retail/no commercial 27. Velodrome 28. Outdoor gym/fitness area 29. Keep Frisbee golf! 30. Keep water retention 31. Protect wildlife & incorporate into design & encourage more wildlife 32. Why does it need to be annexed? Why does CSU want to get rid of it? Can CSU repurpose it to their benefit? Can CSU repurpose for CSU? a. Use for educational purpose -> research on plants, land, animals, environment 33. Low-density/low-profile & sustainable living 34. No Walmart! No retail/no commercial H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 10 | 14 35. Community gardens – weave in w/ educational purpose of CSU 36. Farmer’s market 37. Keep integrity of CSU as Ag School a. Repurpose space to support mission b. Education 38. Protect mountain bike trails 39. Low profile & minimize traffic 40. If land gets developed for affordable housing and/or CSU staff/faculty, how will it be regulated? a. Concern for property turning into rentals by CSU staff/faculty kids/college students b. Concern of rental property vs. ownership 41. If land is developed. Make low profile & blend in w/ surroundings & environment 42. Maintain integrity of foothills 43. No eye sores! 44. Wildlife refuge & be mindful of wildlife & their habitat 45. Create parking low profile, no high rises 46. If developed make multi-use 47. No hotels, resorts, commercial/big-name stores 48. Large park! a. New recreational opportunities 49. Non-chain, local food 50. Food truck rally night(s) 51. No bars or brewery or distilleries 52. Quiet space 53. Multi-use space a. Has retention ponds – keep b. Keep open space c. Some affordable housing – keep towards Overland i. CSU staff 54. Multi-use space a. Keep the views (nature & mountains) b. Keep the trails c. Connectivity/ability to connect to nearby spaces/parks/open space d. Make a “City Park 2” e. Recreation 55. Take stadium down & leave alone a. Wildlife viewing b. Lied to us about redevelopment c. Protect the wildlife d. CSU must raise money for taking down stadium/whatever happens e. No housing or construction because we lose it all 56. Tear down stadium & give land back to the people 57. Make all natural area 58. No housing, no commercial development 59. Affordable Housing – only part of the space, maintaining natural area a. Limit business & local, not commercial/non-local H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 11 | 14 60. Maintain integrity of foothills 61. Faculty/staff housing & open space/natural area a. Mixed type of housing 62. Open Space 63. Open space w/ recreation opportunities 64. Maintain outdoor community space – Fort Collins/Loveland/County to work together to create 65. Open space a. Protect interface between the mountains & prairie b. Close to wildlife habitat c. Non-manicured – keep it natural d. Unstructured e. We want to come to see nature 66. Open space a. Conserved space, protect interface between mountains & prairie b. Trails for walking c. Wildlife conservation space d. Central wildlife corridor 67. Lower crime at Elizabeth/Overland & mitigate this issue 68. Open space a. Walking trails b. Natural habitat 69. Open space 70. Recreation space 71. If there must be structures, build affordable housing (2-story max height, low profile) a. NO retrial space 72. Open space/recreation a. Yoga studio 73. Open space/recreation a. No condo & no residential b. No commercial 74. Open space & recreation a. Keep the natural views b. No man-made structures 75. Open space/recreation a. Maintain viewshed b. Don’t lose access to trails c. Don’t lose user ability of open space/personal recreation d. Keep values of Fort Collins biking/transit/sustainability & inclusivity 76. More open space 77. Additional reservoir 78. West Elizabeth needs additional traffic light at Overland Trail (or a roundabout) 79. More open space/recreation – large space 80. Lower traffic 81. Additional traffic lights on Overland 82. Affordable housing H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 12 | 14 a. Lower cost of construction b. If CSU sells Hughes land to developer, could some of the money go back to developer in a covenant to help cover development cost so it makes it more affordable to lower income brackets? 83. Leave space open (natural preserve) a. Not much open space along foothills now 84. Low profile if developed 85. Park-like a. Mountain bike park b. Ball fields c. Picnic areas 86. Recreation/open space/bike path/walking paths/sledding hill/dog park a. No additional construction (housing, buildings) b. No additional congestion/traffic 87. Open space a. Link to other open spaces nearby b. Create pedestrian/open space corridor c. Unstructured recreation – nature-based 88. Protect access to trails from neighborhoods 89. Low density housing 90. Need for openness 91. Increase park area & accessibility to parks 92. No gas stations / no big box retrial Traffic, Multimodal Access Station: # IN FAVOR: STATEMENT/ISSUE/SUGGESTION: 3 Multiple buses on multiple routes that’s paid by the developer 3 Roundabouts are great! 3 Plan ahead – make sure whatever goes in has traffic capacity to accommodate BEFORE it becomes a problem. Proactive, please. 5 Moved to the west side of town to avoid the traffic and congestion happening in other areas that are already more developed. Please do not put in more housing/traffic, high rises, etc. Keep it beautiful, scenic, and a beauty that attracts outdoor enthusiasts! 1 Pedestrian crossing lights from neighborhoods on east side 5 Accentuate open space already in place – dovetail with current master planning for trails and trail 1 Speed bumps on Overland 2 No speed bumps on Overland 2 Mixed use open space/residential (some affordable) 1 Tell CSU to keep part as something easy on the eyes/breathing room and sell the rest 2 Speed bumps on Stuart 1 Build overpass or means to cross Drake to get to Overland Park – if traffic increases 1 Zipcar station pick-up point within development and bus line to help congestion H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 13 | 14 4 Concern with overloading of Drake & Prospect 2 Increased housing will increase traffic to Horsetooth Reservoir for recreation 1 Light at Dixon Canyon Rd./Overland 6 CSU tear down stadium and return property to the people to make into a natural space @ CSU’s expense 3 Once building starts it will never stop and lead to increased expense and traffic 4 Congestion on Drake is terrible 5 Decrease traffic by affordable housing so CSU employees do not have to commute in to Fort Collins 3 Shuttle service for employees and students to campus 2 Shuttle service to games and events for fans 6 Greenway through property on Overland to Prospect 2 You lied to us – the letter said we were talking tonight about whether to redevelop or not. If you do, you raise the money yourself, including the stadium demo and leave the land as open space and consider animals, people, and the environment – not the money. 6 Interested in reducing traffic & pollution 24 In favor of more open space 8 Affordable options for housing 11 More bike lanes 5 More transportation options 1 City/County partnership 6 No lights on Overland which causes congestion 3 No lights on Elizabeth which causes congestion 1 No lights on Mulberry which causes congestion 11 Roundabout on Overland and W Elizabeth and Mulberry is very dangerous 7 Stoplight at Overland and W Elizabeth 9 Relieve congestion on Prospect 1 Light on Yorkshire/Drake needs to be on a regular timed cycle 1 Yorkshire/Drake light cycle is okay as is 5 Volume concerns on Stuart 8 Stoplight at Overland/Drake needed 1 Opposed to stoplight at Overland/Drake. If something is needed – prefer roundabout 8 Wildlife concerns with traffic (more roadkill) 9 Overland/Drake – roundabout should be added 6 Add pedestrian sidewalk on east and west side of street 4 Noise reduction needed with added traffic 4 There is only transit to CSU but not downtown. Please add downtown too! 5 Sell the land to Pat Stryker for music venue – Red Rocks of Ft. Collins H u g h e s N e i g h b o r h o o d L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 14 | 14 3 Add low density housing 3 Use some of the acreage for horses 11 Protect wildlife migration with corridor 4 Do not widen Overland to 4 lanes 2 Keep the speed limits low 1 Add housing development like Harmony cottages 2 Encourage living and playing in the area vs. driving elsewhere 6 Do not make the area a retail or destination spot 2 Add a stoplight and pedestrian crossing at Hampshire/Drake 12 Use Hughes to connect Maxwell and Pineridge as a natural open space 2 Widen Dixon Canyon Rd. if development happens 1 Will traffic study push traffic to Dixon Canyon Rd? 1 Left turn on westbound land on Dixon Canyon Rd 1 Would like to partner and have involvement in the planning process for the 40 acre Miller property north of the Hughes Stadium property 1 Relocate the city offices out to Hughes since they currently occupy prime real estate space and generate no taxable income. Instead rent that space to tax generating occupants H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 1 | 9 Hughes General Public Listening Session – Feedback by Attendees October 18, 2017, 6-8 p.m. Drake Centre; Fort Collins, CO CSU and CAA ICON offered five “listening” stations as described below where attendees could ask questions and provide their feedback. Each station was manned by CSU and/or CAA ICON representatives. The below are 200 comments, questions and concerns which were logged by station notetakers or written by attendees on comment boards. Redevelopment Process Station 1. Build High Density Affordable Housing 2. Will the Public Open Land remain the same? 3. Parking Garage/Shared parking for access 4. Medium to Higher Density Affordable Housing/Housing of some sort 5. What are the possibilities so far regarding redevelopment? 6. Are you putting affordable housing/apartments on the site? a. Answer: Nothing has been decided as of yet. 7. Where do investors come into the process? 8. Work with Habitat for Humanity for a portion of the property to create affordable housing 9. Has developer been selected? a. Answer: No 10. Where are these and other comments/feedback going? a. Answer: We are collecting feedback and will eventually share it on the website. 11. Keep it for open space 12. Keep some of it for open space and views 13. Concert Venue 14. Will you be soliciting different concept plans from developers? 15. What is the timeline? 16. Who owns the property? a. Answer: The Board of Governors 17. Mountain Bike Park (like Valmont in Boulder) 18. How is the Hughes property zoned? 19. How many acres is the property? a. Answer: Approx. 160 Acres 20. Is the development going to be owned by CSU or privately owned? a. Answer: Privately Owned 21. Capitalize on the asset of the property 22. Something where you can remember Hughes 23. Something more than just housing 24. Maximize the asset for CSU 25. Can we keep the Frisbee Golf Course? 26. Emphasize open space 27. Connect Spring Creek Trail to Maxwell to Poudre 28. Private individuals purchase and donate to the city as Open Space 29. Ethics of sustainability integral to the ongoing project H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 2 | 9 30. Bike park (see Valmont Park in Boulder) 31. If Fort Collins grows, we need to preserve open and rec space to support it 32. “Outdoor lifestyle” = reason for FC desirable place to live INCLUDING attracting top CSU faculty 33. A mountain bike park would provide recreational opportunities for FC residents AND visitors. Progressive, forward thinking! a. Agree! Progressive and forward thinking is key. Affordable housing is not for this space – prime real estate 34. Open space/park/trails 35. I would like to see the history of the stadium maintained. I like the idea of an outdoor adventure park for CSU students and the Ft. Collins community alike. There could be a sports complex, boat and equipment rental, and various summer camps to drive in revenue for the university as well as climbing walls, sledding hills, and other activities that bring mountain experiences closer to home 36. How does this impact the legacy of CSU and the City of Fort Collins? People come to school or move here for our “lifestyle” and access to open space. There is plenty of area in F.C. to develop, but not many unique areas like this to preserve as open space a. AMEN! Existing Site Station 1. Could expand parking area for Maxwell (might not be part of the property) 2. Would be nice to create a safe and fun sledding area for kids 3. Turn into huge construction laboratory to design housing of next century. CSU has several relevant depts (construction management, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture). City has housing needs (students, seniors, etc.). This land could be used to develop new designs, train students for the new century’s needs, give students the opportunity to design for new century, train a new generation of skilled craftsmen, and provide needed housing 4. Keep Frisbee golf course – does get used and its presence is appreciated 5. Concerned about any development abutting the mountains – issue for fire spread 6. Concerned about traffic esp. at the Drake and Overland intersection 7. Concerned about another large track of houses with nothing else to offer – wouldn’t even mind a mixed use commercial/residential development 8. Love to see mixed use development of commercial and residential – not high density 9. Suggest zero energy homes and buildings 10. Why the rush to sell and get rid of the property? 11. Is there a fiduciary duty to our citizens for open space? 12. How large is the land 13. 160 acres 14. Concerned about traffic if the area gets developed 15. Keep the Frisbee golf course 16. Concerned about traffic esp. at Drake and Taft – currently not a lot feeding in from Overland Trail. Worried especially with other development already being built 17. Keep detention pond 18. County road heavily used by runners and bikers for hiking, running, and getting to Horsetooth and trails in Maxwell area 19. Not adequate parking along Overland H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 3 | 9 20. Overland needs to be expanded anyway 21. Intersection at Drake and Overland is archaic – could be redesigned 22. Concerns about development of land and height of structures effecting leisure and enjoyment of the outdoors 23. With continued increasing land value in Fort Collins – possibly very valuable land in the future? 24. Why isn’t CSU looking to expand the equine center 25. Why turn the land over now when it could be used to expand vet program (one of the best in the country) 26. How much does it cost to hold lease of land – building housing now seems short sited 27. What/how will development impact trail use for hikers and bikers – safety issue 28. CSU is an agricultural school – losing sight of that by developing that open space 29. If they’re going to take away this open space are they going to offset it with other open space? 30. Recommend that CSU and the city collaborate to keep costs down on affordable housing by selling some parcels of land at under-appraised value and the city reducing costs for utilities and permits 31. Recommend a variety of different housing types to meet the needs for affordable housing i.e. clusters of duplex houses, very small one-story houses, and stacked apartments for rent 32. Build a second unit with Fort Collins housing authority replicating the big complex on S. College Ave (“Housing First” – housing for homeless families and managed by housing authority) including all the amenities such as case managers, advising, etc. 33. More trees and greenery 34. Preserve the view 35. Preserve the site and turn it into an alternative sports venue – world class track racing venue (cycling). Use the budge you have to convert it instead of demolishing it. 36. Convert Hughes Stadium into a giant terraced horticultural/botanical research greenhouse with a bowl shaped, rain capturing fabric translucent lid. The bowl shaped interior would have varied cooler and warmer growing zones depending on their elevation from the floor. Snow will melt on contact, and rain would be collected at the bottom and drain thru to a green machine. People will come to see this for sure – the world’s first stadium converted to a botanical garden!!! This idea comes from my brother, a celebrated architect. He has done worldwide projects. He happens to be Fort Collins based. He developed Block #1 and helped with 5 star city building. Currently working on confluence project in Old Town. 37. I would like something innovative and unique to Fort Collins. No simply another densely packed area of large houses. Combine with ample open space possible mixed use, other creative ideas. We don’t simply need more boredom and traffic on the west side. 38. Agree! 39. Me too! 40. I would very much like to preserve the trails going up behind Hughes to the open spaces. If this property is sold and developed, in a year this access will disappear – this area is heavily used by bikers, runners, and walkers. Doing mixed use would be ideal – recreation, horticulture, creative community gathering, etc. use would be ideal 41. Our own Red Rocks type area would be perfect and what we deserve!!! 42. Sorry…no!! We don’t need a Red Rocks…we have a $220 million stadium!! We need AFFORDABLE HOUSING. H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 4 | 9 43. Let’s not lose sight of the fact this property is directly beneath one of the Horsetooth reservoir dams – potential safety consideration for only residential development 44. Also high density of wild life in this area that would be impacted by further development, not to mention fire hazard 45. Convert to pumped-storage hydropower (renewable energy): requires Hughes for storage – remaining lands use for 2nd Olympic training park or supplemental terraced ‘grow’ facility (legal cannabis) – pay of bonds in 4 months – Adam P. Million 46. Mixed use – open space/recreation; housing, including “housing first” units for homeless families/individuals; below market (housing authority type) apts/condos (not prices “beginning in the low 300s) for working people that support all of us who live here 47. Please be mindful to keep connections to open space and Horsetooth intact with appropriate zoning and density to keep gradient to open space healthy. 48. We can and should build affordable housing in other areas of the city. Open space near Horsetooth is limited and decreasing. This is an opportunity to offer the citizens of this community increased recreational/outdoor/natural use of beautiful land. Keep it recreational 49. Re: above comment: I don’t think we can build affordable housing in other areas of the city. There is just not available sites elsewhere 50. I would like to see something new and different, aside from housing and land conservation! The space I unique but also next to the electrical center, mountains, and my house. I run up the trails and want something worthwhile!!! CSU housing does not make sense. DO IT! 51. Please consider making it into a park which would include grass sports fields, trails, a bike park, open space. We need more open space to absorb carbon emissions and give recreational opportunities and preserve wild life habitat 52. We don’t need brightly lit (reference to grass sports fields above). Night time darkness is GOOD! Land Use Context Station: 1. Affordable housing either for CSU-related or general public 2. Need affordable housing; can CSU include non-profits in RFQ process, so development fees can be reduced? 3. Tiny house community (500-1000SF small homes and micros homes) a. Comment stating “are not affordable”! 4. LEED ND (Neighborhood Development) Certified 5. Height restriction on buildings 6. Please no commercial 7. Expand Maxwell parking 8. We could think (not exclusively) of public park or a “children’s” park a. This won’t stop other plans, necessarily. b. Most important: A creative park/space for children. Would connect us to the future and next generation! 9. Wouldn’t mind a mix of open space/mixed use development to break monotony of west side. Wouldn’t mind some commercial integrated with housing 10. A mass of dense rooftops would be detrimental to the premier foothills property 11. Preserving open space, recreational areas and wildlife habitat is critical as areas near Hughes are being developed H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 5 | 9 a. I agree (3x) 12. If housing is developed, hope there is some affordable housing for CSU employees 13. How would development of property affect adjacent natural areas, including access points (human vs. wildlife access) and G.A.P. (continuity/contiguous/pathway) issues? 14. Expand Maxwell parking and trail system 15. If there is development for housing – mixed use, different sizes and densities. 16. Continued access to Maxwell is very important for neighbors 17. Tiny affordable homes a. I agree. 18. Expand Maxwell wilderness area – we need dark space! a. Yes! 19. Desire open space to keep overland biker safety 20. Park multiuse would be viable option 21. Horse park in Northern Colorado to serve Wyoming/Fort Collins/Greely for Eng/Western competitions and education 22. Municipal garden/farm for example: Jessup Farm, bike/family friendly 23. Is there any way to connect CDC/Infectious Disease Campus Section to Stadium Property to develop large employment center for drug/disease research? 24. Good opportunity to provide land use that would absorb carbon emissions rather than cost $ to build infrastructure, pavement. Consider renewable energy for part of the space 25. Does the school district have a role in determining whether they have capacity for the number of students that would need to be served in a new development? (In addition to those that will come from the new development at the corner of Drake and Overland? a. Great concern! 26. NO retail near foothills, traffic and lights after dark – NOT wanted!! a. Agree!!! 27. Need integrated bicycle and pedestrian facilities: paths/walkways connecting to existing trails to the west. Integrated recreational amenities like cycle cross course, crit. course, pump track, … 28. Keep the space open, I’m concerned if we turn the land into affordable housing this doesn’t solve our housing problem. It’s only a Band-Aid to our current problem. Plus, we’re already having issues over water rights in FoCo. Community Needs & Values Station: 1. Keep the views of the foothills 2. Integrated retail and residential would be okay if done tastefully. Do not want subsidized low income housing – too much crime in area already. Sorry. 3. Should be like Red Rocks kind of area 4. Would like it to stay natural, but single family housing would be more appropriate than affordable housing 5. Concern with far more traffic 6. It’s not easy to get around without a vehicle near this property 7. Are there other areas that make more sense for affordable housing that is more convenient? 8. Likes that it’s so open and nothing is really on the west side H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 6 | 9 9. University should retain control/ownership of the property no matter what is done with it (all of it can be done.) Concern that the space will be needed long-term for the university as it expands. 10. Keep Fort Collins unique, not just build home – I agree 11. Open space is #1 in terms of values – ideal opportunity for CSU to walk-the-walk of environmentalism 12. Would like to see some of the property set aside for affordable housing (not market price) – even housing given to staff, students, employees (lowest owners.) Could alleviate this city concern. 13. Housing for the homeless – a portion of the property 14. “Housing First” 15. No “free” or “given” housing – not sustainable and will encourage more movement to Fort Collins 16. Beautiful land/property – already tree there – keep that value added 17. Impact on schools – where will kids go to school in this area if more development is added? a. I agree b. (Redistricting?) I agree 18. Mixed development and recreational sports + health activities – integrate bike, paths and connectivity to the paths that go west. From a developer perspective – mixing can be really good. 19. Nonprofits and developers partner in RFQ/RFP process to ensued reduced city fees for development 20. Opposed to retail and commercial 21. No more bright lights at night! 22. Expand Maxwell parking area, county road is access for bikes and pedestrians 23. Cap the height of development (no 6-8 story buildings) 24. Keep detention pond for flood control 25. Open to low cost housing (Low density – done properly) 26. Higher density that backs up to the other higher density makes a buffer with what’s already there 27. Open space is good, such as with Frisbee golf 28. It’s okay to have some retail – community focused retail, so people don’t always have to drive – can walk/bike to it. 29. Consider traffic on Drake due to future developments, please! 30. Is there a “Land Swap” or other opportunity between CSU and City of Fort Collins? 31. Is the land suitable for construction? a. Geotech reports? b. Soil reports? 32. Support annexation  mitigate potential fire threat 33. Will community be a part of selection committee/process? 34. Will there be transparency with where money goes with sale of property? 35. Adequate parking requirements 36. What is “GMA” – Growth Management Area? H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 7 | 9 37. Encourage “smaller” housing (1200 sq. ft.) – a smaller footprint – more efficient, “innovative” housing (zero energy use, solar, eco) a. Or 600-750 sq. ft. for a single person or person with a child 38. Provide public access paths to the open spaces if there is development 39. Open spaces, views and recreation are the most important community values. a. I agree. 40. Plenty of other spaces for affordable housing out by I-25 – don’t get rid of existing open spaces 41. Some of the land (maybe 10-15 acres) could be used as “experiment” or “research” housing a. A large organization (BRE TRUST) in London recently asked I.B.E. if we would consider a research housing development, funded by industry, in Fort Collins! 42. If we miss this opportunity, the loss will be immeasurable – opportunity for discreet segments, some for purchase, others open space/parks for children, different uses, some for affordable rent housing. 43. Balance need for food related retail in this part of town with congestion that heavy retail brings so near to open space. 44. Small grocery store (with 3 types of laundry detergent instead of 27) 45. Need to provide bike trail link between Spring Canyon Park and extend north to the Poudre. a. I agree. 46. Wouldn’t mind retail if integrated into neighborhood. No 7-Elevens or Fast Food. a. I agree. 47. More Trees. a. I agree. 48. Homes that are affordable for “regular” people too – not just limited to low income and homeless for qualification 49. Maintain: a. Biker Safety b. Egress and wildlife to trails 50. Farm use and park use 51. Water concern with 600-800 homes a. Doesn’t solve our housing issues! 52. Access through 168 acres to trails; multiuse and horse, pedestrian, bike friendly 53. Agriculture Learning Center Traffic, Multimodal Access Station: 1. More housing = more traffic = more people moving here = more business =  A mix of outdoor recreational activity areas interspersed would be nice to get people off their computers and outside. Fort Collins just came in 1st in outdoor encouragement opportunities for citizens. 2. Disagree with the above. People will move here… always have, probably always will… the choice becomes how the area will develop (not if!) and how will people be encouraged to enjoy the wonderful environment here. 3. Connect to public transit in more meaningful way – none of the most obvious uses will reduce traffic congestion without transit solutions. East to west to Max line. 4. Agree with third point. Move away from cars/parking and toward public transportation. H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 8 | 9 5. Second needing connection to public transit! Hopefully some affordable housing will be developed & families will need bus line transportation. 6. To move more people from property to downtown, complete overland as 4 lane as in City plan and connect to larger east/west roads from Vine to Drake. Look for new bypass route for north circle of city. 7. Can City purchase property? 8. Can group of alumni purchase property? o As a non-profit, etc. 9. Like others concerned about the traffic with more cars on the road with runners and bikers it’s already becoming more and more unsafe to run along the roads. 10. What is a good solution for the traffic at the corner of Drake and Overland trail 11. Traffic, traffic, traffic, how to handle? 12. Need better transit on west side of town that connects to city center 13. Improve intersection of Drake & Overland. 14. Agree with improving intersection of Drake & Overland – Roundabout? 15. Roundabouts at Prospect and Cedarwood/Hampshire for traffic calming 16. Overland Trail needs an overhaul to accommodate more development (honestly it needs it already). Would love to see an east – west Max line from CSU to O.T. and then down to Hughes property, plus expanded/safer bike ways. 17. Concerns about too much traffic on O.T. (@ capacity now) 18. This concern goes away with any future development as roads and intersections are relatively easy to redesign and incorporate into development plans. 19. Trail concerns 20. Bicycle facilities 21. Recreational facilities as part of Development – Pump track, cycle cross course 22. Support bicycle, pedestrian, transit on Overland Trail 23. If housing, where will children go to school? – Elementary schools full 24. Concern about traffic load at intersection of Drake & Overland – another housing development currently underway 25. Dixon Canyon Road sees high volume of bikes and runners and heavy use for parking by those accessing Horsetooth, Maxwell & Pine Ridge 26. Concern about traffic on Drake – other development underway already 27. Concern about traffic on Prospect 28. Would be ideal to have bike path going north from Spring Canyon to Poudre 29. If higher-density housing, make sure there’s enough parking so it doesn’t spill over into neighborhood 30. How will this affect Taft Hill Rd.? Additional: The following concept for a cycling and fitness theme park was shared by an attendee: What if a visionary developer wanted to create something unique located in a world class city? Imagine the * Cell Phone Co. Kids Bike Safety Town * GPS Co. paved Crit/Skate/Ski Course * Broadband Co. MTB Courses * Sporting Goods Co. Cross Course * Energy Bar Co. BMX Course * Bike Components Co. Trials Course H u g h e s G e n e r a l P u b l i c L i s t e n i n g S e s s i o n P a g e 9 | 9 * Energy Drink Co. Fitness Center * Innovative Toy Co. Playground * Bike Tool Co. free (self -help) shop * Health Svc. Co. Sports Medicine Ctr. * Grocery Co. Healthy Food Court * Bike/Sports Equipment Co. Mall * Brewing Co. Velodrome/Concert * Amphitheatre with Classrooms or Gym under the stands *JUST fill in the blanks with your favorite brands (with $$$) "AT THE" * Fort Collins (or Colorado, or NoCo, or Foothills, or Rocky Mountain, or Northern Colorado) (*circle one) CYCLING AND FITNESS PARK Sustainability and Innovation at every level is essential! Think THEME PARK based public (CSU, Front Range Community College, PSD, City of FC, Larimer County, State of CO) private (food, beverage, merchandise, and naming sponsors) partnership with facilities AND programming for affordable housing, education, fitness and recreation. Add a Mixed Use Private RE Development to include: Affordable Loft Condos and Apartments, plus commercial business and professional offices above a healthy retail grocer, bike, sportswear University, Community College, K-12, and Private Industry Classroom, Lab, and Field Courses that relate to the disciplines and passions supported by the Center An auto fuel and recharge station. Cooperative Relationships with Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown private convention and lodging businesses public transportation connections, including bike share. This becomes: THE LIFECYCLE CENTER HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 1 | 33 The below comments were received between August 28 and October 31, 2017, through the Hughes website online feedback form. More than 100 community members have used the online form to email their ideas, questions and concerns. All feedback received is cut and pasted below with all identifying information about the submitter removed. CSU will continue to update this document as more input is received via the online feedback form. 1. I would like to see any type of program/project that would benefit the Northern Colorado/CSU community. * Low-income housing for CSU staff and students (not like the upscale/overpriced housing options near campus) *Non-profit Fort Collins Rec outdoor adventure park with subsidies for Fort Collins residents (http://www.colorado.com/ziplining-aerial-parks/epic-sky-trek) * Convert the stadium to a large seating amphitheater for outdoor concerts * a really awesome outdoor space for residents. * a tree research area (in other words an area where CSU can plant a variety of species of trees to learn how different trees grow and adapt to Colorado weather and species) or gardens since the CSU gardens were relocated with the new stadium What I don't want to see *Investment opportunity for a corporation for high end housing (similar to the ponds) or high end student housing like those near campus * no green space or parks for residents *removal of disc golf course 2. What type of housing are they planning for the redevelopment of Hughes Stadium? I am a resident in this neighborhood and do not want to see low income housing in my neighborhood. Can you provide more details on the type of housing? 3. What is the best method for me to give specific feedback to Colorado State University, in particular Tony Frank, and to the Board of Governors? Will we be able to see the comments and information that you collect and forward to CSU and the Board of Governors? 4. My highest priority is natural features, trails, wildlife and open space. Please fully explore a sale to the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department so that it can be preserved as an open space. The department has a large conservation fund and can pay fair market value. I am a neighbor and the reason I chose this area is the access to the outdoors. Please don't pave paradise! 5. I live in Quail Hollow Neighborhood, very near Hughes Stadium. I don't recall seeing an invitation for the September listening session. Is there a way for me to attend? Thank you HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 2 | 33 6. Overcrowding the west side and the foothills is not good for the city or the natural areas near by the proposed site. If it has to be developed larger lots and buffers to minimize the amount of vehicle traffic is preferred. Since there is no shortage of buyers in Fort Collins making some arbitrary non-market based price should not be done. Cramming more apartments like the area just north of the site will increase traffic, noise and lights on the foothills ecosystem. The city just paid a large sum to buy the BACK half of the Horsetooth Rock area which is viewed by only a few daily so putting more housing next to the foothills effects all in the city and lessens the open areas. 7. This would be a great place to build an outdoor amphitheater to compete with Red Rocks and have CSU build a west campus since student population is growing. No other universities in America are selling their land for development. I would hate to see another boring development take this over and ruin this side of town. 8. Please keep it natural, no dense housing projects, please. A concert venue would be nice. Something tasteful. 9. We live on Coneflower Dr, in the Ponds subdivision. We have not received an email, or physical invitation to this Sept 20th Listening Session. Please send an invitation, as our neighborhood is adjacent to Hughes Stadium, and we wish to attend. 10. A concert venue or the drive in theater could move there. Please do not sell it to residential developers. There is too much housing construction on the west side of Fort Collins. The open space is critical to Fort Collins' culture and values. 11. I definitely feel that CSU should look at developing affordable housing for its employees. The cost of living is so high here, and it is becoming harder and harder for us to hire employees for jobs that pay below $24 hour. This is our chance to develop housing that can be used by our employees - Fort Collins is rapidly running out of room to build housing. I am a CSU employee, and feel very strongly about this. 12. Regarding the affordable housing option: The west and north-west portions of Fort Collins already have a very high concentration of lower income housing. Schools such as Bauder Elementary, Blevins Middle School, Lincoln Middle School etc are already at a 70% free and reduced lunch rate - a valid proxy for determining the percentage lower income families in an attendance area. While I understand the Universities need for developing lower income housing for staff, it is important to consider the impact to those schools and communities that are already struggling to provide the support and resources needed to assist those families in need. Affordable housing projects in Fort Collins need to more fairly dispersed into other school attendance areas (east and south-east Fort Collins) where funding and resources are more available. Bottom line - affordable housing is needed in the city but concentrating it all on the west side of Fort Collins will only hurt already struggling schools and the community. Feel free to call me any time. I haven't received an invite to HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 3 | 33 the September open house but would like to attend as I live less than 1 mile west of Hughes. Thank you for your consideration. 13. Good morning, Hughes Stadium (re-development) gatekeepers; Ever since Hughes Stadium was built, a key component of its 'sizzle' was the natural backdrop. If you read past articles about Hughes Stadium, time and again, it is described as being nestled in the foothills, splendor and beauty surrounding it, making it a 'special' place, not because of the stadium, but because of what it lay next to. Turning the now defunct Hughes Stadium into housing will be a lost opportunity for future generations. The noble sounding "build affordable housing' for the masses is a bunch of bull - you all know that. No matter what the price point is (and housing nestled against the foothills isn't going to be given away), or how many houses are built, housing availability will still be chronically short in Fort Collins. At current growth rates, Northern Colorado will be a blob of indistinguishable development from Cheyenne into Denver in less than 50 years. There is no vision in adding to that reality - and really, putting housing on this site shows no effort at making Fort Collins, and Colorado, a better place, a special place. Against the wisdom of the bean counters, the true visionary choice for Colorado State University is to protect this land for future generations. CSU is a Land Grant University - national land given to the State to teach citizens about agriculture. There is no better way to honor this legacy than to protect this land, taking advantage of the natural resource in place, and adding something that will be a true gift to the citizens of Colorado, something that will last forever. This is from Colorado State University's own website: "At Colorado State University, sustainability is foundational to who we are. As a land-grant university, we’re compelled to steward, conserve, and protect the world around us. It's central to everything we do - from academics, research, and operations to outreach. It's an ongoing mission that we embrace together." When there is money to be made, there are bad choices to be had. The singular opportunity to protect and preserve this space is the higher and greater use for the old Hughes Stadium footprint - it fits with the vision that Colorado State University itself says is important, helps to protect a unique Colorado ecosystem, and ensures that as growth and development continue unabated, the citizens of Fort Collins and Colorado have a legacy from Colorado State University that provides a respite, instead of chewing up this beautiful site with housing and development that will economically benefit only a handful of citizens. 14. I hope this land is not developed as affordable housing. When have few enough open spaces. I hope this can be maintained as open for the citizens to enjoy. Its location is optimal for this. We do not need more homes or apartments blocking one the views left. I think more residential units would be the worst possible uses of this land. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 4 | 33 15. The land including Hughes Stadium should not be sold or leased for development. CSU has made a commitment to achieving 100% "renewable" sourcing of electricity and this land could be advantageously used to install a massive solar photovoltaic farm serving the CSU campus, thus showcasing a part of CSU's contribution towards mitigating climate change. Alternatively, this land could be used as part of a pumped hydroelectric energy storage project (using Horsetooth reservoir), but my preliminary estimations are that this may not be feasible. Thank you 16. Open space has the greatest long-term benefit to the people of Fort Collins and northern Colorado. While the idea of affordable workforce housing sounds appealing, I have no faith that that could ever be achieved. It's simply rhetoric. Once the land has been declared for sale, the highest bidder will eventually win. 17. I have commented to the City and city council that I think we should build a large recreation/bike park for our residents. Something akin to Valmont Park in Boulder. With the announcement that Hughes will have to be demolished and the rewriting of the City Plan, I think the ideal location for that park would be in the stadium's grave and the ideal time is now. The location already has existing bike trails (up Maxwell), a disc golf course, and is near enough town but not in the way of current development to be ideally useful and successful. We have wonderful bike paths and some great hiking/biking trails in town. What we are missing, however, is a quality bike park. Valmont Bike Park in Boulder is a great example and has been hugely successful. These efforts reduce crime, encourage healthy living, and increases the quality of life for residents. Boulder was able to re-draw their city Master Plan and open the park within just a couple of years, and I think Fort Collins could be even more successful using Boulder's signature project as a guide. PLEASE consider this option. It will have a large impact on the City, and draw more quality students and workers to the town and University. Thank you. 18. Northern Colorado lacks a large concert venue that is big enough to attract bigger, more well- known acts which bring a huge list of benefits. With minor retrofitting, part of the stadium could be converted to that kind of concert venue and amphitheater and still maintain a piece of Hughes as part of its legacy. Think Red Rocks, but right here in town, and similar to Red Rocks, it doesn't need to be limited to concerts. They host a variety of events, have day uses, and it adds a sense of place and community. Not all of the land in the area would be required for a concert venue either, and it could still allow those other pieces to be developed as the market sees fit. It would be a great add to our community, become a huge economic draw, and become a landmark that has historical and sentimental value. Fort Collins overall is slowly developing the arts and music scene. It would build upon that and add a place of entertainment and culture, as well as some geographical balance to Fort Collins by adding a destination to the west side. Having an anchor facility would bring Fort Collins to a new level that all residents could enjoy and appreciate. 19. Hello, I live in the area of Hughes Stadium but unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the Neighborhood Listening Session, so I would like to make sure my voice is heard on how to proceed HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 5 | 33 with this unique opportunity of development in west-central Fort Collins (of course FC must eventually annex the site in order to provide proper zoning, permitting, etc). I am glad that CSU is seeking ideas for this site, and I like what the web page says about community needs ("affordable housing, walkable neighborhood, community culture, sustainability"). Here is my vision for the site which I hope someone will listen to: a mixed-use, walkable/bikeable neighborhood - not just residential! - with a *grid* narrow streets (no dead-end cul-de-sacs!) that have bike lanes, easy transit to Fort Collins' main attractions of CSU and Old Town, buildings close to the sidewalks like they are in Old Town, pedestrian-scale infrastructure like lighting and bike racks rather than gigantic wide open parking lots, and almost everything a community would need within walking/biking distance including an elementary school, restaurants, houses of worship, and a local market. The site is approximately 2500 feet by 2500 feet, and it would take the average person only about 10 minutes to walk from one side to another which is nothing. Biking would be even faster! Add a transit station near the edge that connects to both the CSU transit station and the Downtown transit station. With the huge size of this location, if density is done properly, it could serve tens of thousands of people and allow Fort Collins to grow WISELY instead of sprawling out all the way towards Wellington. It could be an ideal location right up against the beautiful natural asset of the foothills and those trails/lakes/creeks, but also easy access to Campus West and CSU. Find a way to connect trails in the neighborhood to the Spring Creek Trail just south of the site, along with the Natural Areas just to the west. Avoid sprawling apartments where parking lots surround the buildings like Rams Pointe, instead have the buildings up against a street for a more urban feel. Aim for unique living like lofts above retail & restaurants for the multi-unit buildings that front the street. Red brick buildings of 3-5 stories can be beautiful and aren't too imposing, rather than the bland beige stucco of some parts of 70's era Campus West or the giant dorm towers on campus near Moby Arena. There should also be plenty of room for single family housing provided that it's done in a traditional manner with houses close to the street, with front porches, on narrow but deep lots (think of the Old Town neighborhoods). Houses on 0.20 of an acre is plenty to work with, and alleys provide multiple ways to traverse the neighborhood while also hiding cars. Additionally lofts should be available for purchase, not just rent, to encourage property ownership and longevity in the neighborhood. Work with Poudre School District to make sure neighboring elementary schools can handle the incoming load of new housing. Kids should be able to safely walk and bike to elementary school without fear of being struck by a car going 40mph! DO NOT widen roads. Overland Trail and Prospect so far west can stay 2-lane roads. Instead add *safe* bike lanes, build trails, and work with Transfort to make riding buses easy (routes that operate every 20 minutes is ideal, and if a coffee shop is nearby to wait in while the bus comes that is even better!) Avoid big-box retail of all kind, including grocery. Those have no charm and encourage driving. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 6 | 33 Instead think of a small local market, similar to Beavers or the Fort Collins Food Co-op, that would meet most day-to-day needs of residents and would also make the big trips to King Soopers, Safeway, or Costco less frequent (this equals less cross-town traffic!) Do away with parking minimums for this development, but learn the lessons of The Summit and provide real transit options instead. Consider financial incentives for those who don't drive a car. Remember that it doesn't have to be all done at once. Building in phases, incrementally over time, is a workable approach. Developers likely won't agree to this because they want their money back quick, so you might have to sub-divide the site into smaller acreage and sell to different developers. Don't worry they will still come crawling because of how hot Fort Collins is! I hope that this provides a vision for a more sustainable, traditional, new-urbanist spot in west Fort Collins. I can't wait to ride my bike and come visit! 20. I am a FC resident and want to see something built here for the community! What I mean: since the stadium is so far west, it isn't practical to tear it down for a regional attraction since people from other cities would have to drive across town to get there, clogging the roads. Instead let us turn it into a Community Attraction, for the residents! How about a "New Town" (similar to Old Town) with all the charm and fun places that could go there. Loft studios, retail, bars and restaurants. Make it accessible with transit with bus stops that go to CSU, and trails, like to Spring Creek trail. Make it easy and safe to walk around this new development, not like the new Super Target at Harmony and Corbett, too many blazing cars! Make it something that Fort Collins residents will be proud of! Not chain restaurants and strip malls! Thank you for listening. 21. We live in the neighborhood that is invited to the listening session. However, we were out of town most of the summer and didn't get the invite in time. We would like to be invited to the invitation only listening session. Please let me know how to get on the list. 22. I would like to see the University strategically keep the property and expand the veterinary equine and food animal veterinary center. I am not in favor of selling the property to a developer, as it would impact the access and egress to the dam, centennial road and to the trails and wildlife. 23. I share concern about the fate of the Hughes stadium site, and hope that it can be preserved as open space or agricultural land. I am a member-owner of Poudre Valley Community Farms, (PVCF) which purchases land and leases it back to farmers for local food production. This model provides farmers access to land that might otherwise be lost to development at relatively low costs. I’d encourage you to explore this model – and the idea of converting Hughes stadium into farm land more generally. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 7 | 33 Converting the Hughes stadium site to agricultural land for local food production would be enormously beneficial to the community, and would align much better with CSU’s mission as a land- grant university than would converting the site into a housing subdivision. I hope you will consider the former concept – as well as simply converting Hughes into open space – seriously. 24. I am a musician, business person, and teacher at PSD Laurel Elementary School of Arts & Technology. I would like to share this idea for a perfect use of the old Hughes Stadium site. Interested parties would include Pat Stryker/The Bohemian Foundation and all participants in the Fort Collins arts and education community. Please view this link to enjoy the Idaho Shakespeare Amphitheater. It is a flexible venue that fits perfectly into an outdoor, foothills locale. In addition to supporting our performing arts community, this is a perfect draw for residents and visitors to northern Colorado. http://idahoshakespeare.org/ 25. Hello! I am a Fort Collins resident for 2 decades and I found this web page from the Coloradoan article. First I want to say to the ICON Venue Group that we do not want a Texas or California style MEGA development here in our town. At least ICON is based in Denver so they should know that we Coloradoans like to BIKE and WALK and enjoy our beautiful state! Too much out of state developers not knowing our Colorado CULTURE building things that no one likes, like General Growth and that Foothills mall, what a mess, it's like they were making it up as they went along and didn't have a PLAN. And speaking of Colorado, this spot where Hughes was built is GORGEOUS and UNIQUE right up against the foothills. Whatever is built there should HONOR that BEAUTY as well as the CSU TRADITIONS like the big A on the mountains! If there's a neighborhood, I hope it's SMALL and the houses have front PORCHES so people can have COMMUNITY and chat with their neighbors. If there's restaurants, I hope they have PATIOS next to large SIDEWALKS so people can have COMMUNITY and have their DOGS with them outside. I hope there are PLAZAS and SQUARES so people can informally gather and LINGER and have COMMUNITY. Also, aside from neighborhoods and restaurant uses, don't forget the other uses that can help build COMMUNITY: Libraries Schools Churches, Synagogues, Mosques (YES even in this day and age there is LOVE!) Bus Stops (being inside our own cars having ROAD RAGE in traffic does not build community!) Coffee Shops Corner Stores (make it CLASSY like Fort Collins Food Co-op, NOT a 7-11 or Loaf-N-Jug!) Trails THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Please make us PROUD to be FORT COLLINS! HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 8 | 33 26. I can't attend the listening session, but I have some concerns... It seems like ICON only has experience building arenas and stadiums based on their website... So why are they involved in deciding what goes here? Seems like a conflict of interest if you ask me!! Of course they'll want to build another stadium!! I live on the west side town in the Rossborough neighborhood and everyone here likes it nice and quiet... Except for game days at Hughes but those are over now. We would oppose any gigantic "attractions" on that side of town that bring crowds and noise and traffic. The drive-in is unique and not a problem, everyone loves it, but some new taxpayer-subsidized sports stadium like ICON builds all over the world?? No thanks!! 27. Hughes stadium and its surrounding property should include an easement along the foothills that could be donated to the City of Fort Collins. This natural area should be used as a park. This would go a long toward repairing CSU's and Dr. Franks reputation to residents of the city. 28. Due to the traffic concerns on the West side of town an additional housing development of up to 1000 single/multi-family dwellings seems inappropriate. It would be best if the University were to partner with Poudre R-1, The Fort Collins Soccer Club, Fort Collins Youth Baseball, etc. and the City of Fort Collins to develop sporting venues which could support these activities. 29. During the development process CSU should be held accountable for maintaining the property. The weeds, the bone yard of discarded materials from CSU, etc. are an eyesore and a haven for the transients in town. 30. Why should we think that anyone is going to listen to what the community says? It was the perfect location for a stadium, as past attendance has shown. The next best use would be a community park. High density residential use would make the poorly planned road system in the area a nightmare in early morning and evening hours, I get the feeling that these "listening sessions" will be one sided. Please prove me wrong. 31. Affordable, aka low income housing will negatively affect property values. I am opposed. Additionally, traditional "affordable housing" is provided as high density housing. More units per land measure equals more$$ for developer, right? This would add greater population utilizing the services and infrastructure, not to mention additional traffic, adding to the increased transit problems already associated with CSU. Let's put them in Tony's front yard. I support addition to Maxwell Natural area, CSU agricultural use or other LOW density usage. 32. Unfortunately, I am on travel for work this week and will not be able to attend the meeting. We live in the Ponds neighborhood off of Overland Trail and have been impacted by CSU game day traffic for 17 years up until this year. We learned to deal with it and planned as best we could to avoid driving on Overland Trail during games. Traffic has been increasing on Overland Trail over the years as it has in much of the city. It would be extremely nice for us if the new use for the Hughes stadium land be not something that would severely increase traffic on this already busier road. I was hoping the garden area that had to be HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 9 | 33 moved due to the construction of the new stadium could have been moved to Hughes. Then have the cross country teams run at this site through the gardens and CSU could have had another world class athletic facility. Maybe there are other options for CSU besides selling it for development. I realize that CSU needs to make money, but I recommend something that better fits the boundary here between dense urban development and the Foothills. 33. We prefer NOT to have anything like the mall, shopping square, etc. I know this may not work out economically, but would LOVE to have them as nature area, if you take the stadium down. Or, somehow use the stadium as it is (or do a bit of taking down so as not to be needing frequent maintenance) for, maybe, youth athlete training etc. 34. I think it is a shame to tear down such a beautiful facility. I think it should be USED! 35. Thank you for hosting the neighborhood listening session on September 20th. It was very informative and well organized. I agree with CSU's decision to have the property annexed into the City of Fort Collins. It makes sense to have the city control ultimate development of the site. I would like to see the plot developed for affordable and workforce housing primarily for CSU staff. I think the idea of having Habitat for Humanity use part of the lot in the same way they are doing Harmony & Taft Hill will significantly improve our community. Most of the lot should be for townhouses and smaller homes. WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE 4,000 SQFT McMANSIONS eating up land and not contributing to our community. WE need to encourage transit routes into the section which should include the underserved areas east of Hughes Stadium. WE also need bikeways, like Spring Creek bikeway, to connect residents to the city without forcing them to use automobiles every time. 36. I was at the Listening Session last night (Sept. 20). I found it to be helpful and liked that my voice was being "heard". One question that I neglected to ask: Will the public have access to the list of developers that have submitted an RFP and RFQ? 37. Whatever goes in there, don't widen Overland Trail, because of induced traffic (it's a *provable* fact that adding more lanes to roads brings in more traffic - if you don't believe this, read about it!) Lots of cyclists including me ride along here, we need bigger bike lanes, but *not* more cars! Keep Overland Trail on a road diet please! So whatever goes in there, please don't make it something that will bring in more traffic and then the traffic study says "Oh we need to widen the roads" - *wrong*! 38. At least some of the property could be designated for "affordable housing' as defined by HUD and FHA standards because there is very little, if any, truly affordable housing for first time home HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 10 | 33 buyers in the lower middle income range of earnings, young families, and persons in the service and hospitality jobs so vital to the economy of Fort Collins. Developers and builders could be given the land which should shave $15-30,000 or more off the ultimate price of a home to the initial home buyer, and a deed restriction and/or covenant could run with the land keeping the home in the affordable "pool" for 20-30 years. Affordable housing is not "low-income" housing although some of that might be considered as well. It is not sub-standard housing. It is generally a bit smaller and with fewer frills but good quality starter housing. There should be some reasonable restrictions on profiteering on this land by developers and builders. Some of the "profit" or income from the land should go to the real estate department at the University for scholarships to study and come up with more, new, and creative ideas for providing affordable housing in Fort Collins to its hard working citizens who could not otherwise afford to buy a home in Fort Collins, Loveland, or this area generally. There should be some neighborhood commercial area which would be retained by the University Endowment so the net profit could benefit the worthy students who might need financial assistance and especially in those curricula which are needed and will benefit the society of the future...not to faculty or administrative salaries and benefits. 39. I strongly encourage the University to consider the long term impact this large space and the use of it will have on the Fort Collins community. Understandable why decisions have to be made on what to do with the land and of course money is a factor, but a broader look at the appeal of our hills/open space/trails to our town. People from all over the region come to these trails to hike, run, and bike. My concern is the long term affect if the spaced is subdivided and the inevitable increase of foot traffic. Living near to this space I am also concerned about overall traffic increase/patterns. I have seen one too many accidents in the last year with the increase in automobiles during busy times on Overland Trail. The general consensus of the community near to the old stadium is that the University is asking the community for input but the decision has been made - subdivide for lower income housing. Many feel that no matter what they say, their voice will not be heard. Please do the right thing and listen to the residents and take their ideas/input seriously and not just for "show". I haven't met a person yet that has said, "Yes, add new homes which will increase the traffic on the trails and roads". 40. Senior housing cottages, coexisting with affordable housing for CSU staff, in a park like setting. If the homes can go up the west foothill a quarter of the way it could be beautifully tiered and then down into the "valley"... The stadium hill road going up to Horsetooth needs to be at least 3 lanes, and overland trail needs to be 4 lanes. Overland trail and drake road needs to be A ROUND A BOUT...thank you for reading this!!! 41. The thing about Fort Collins that sets it apart from all other cities in the Front Range, and in our county, actually, is the abundance of open spaces. Repurposing Hughes Stadium into a recreation area/open space will benefit our city for generations to come. We've got to stop the sprawl of development against the foothills. 42. Hello, I am writing to provide feedback on the Hughes Stadium property, as we were unfortunately unable to attend the Neighborhood Listening Session that was held on the 20th. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 11 | 33 As a home-owner/resident in the immediately surrounding area to the Hughes property (and as a small business owner here in Fort Collins), my hope is that the property will end up being used for some type of recreation; for example: a park, an open space with trails for walking/bike-riding, a place for athletes to train, etc. At the very least, whether the property is leased or sold, my hope is that whatever company takes over its use keeps that area's wide-open, picturesque scenery (being right up against the foothills) and will be mindful of the environment, as it already seems very wasteful to be tearing down the stadium (which, based on my understanding, will be part of the eventual plan), as opposed to re-purposing it as some type of outdoor athletic/training facility, for example. As Fort Collins is already becoming overly congested and housing developments (apartment buildings, etc.) are already being squeezed into what feels like every inch of space that we have left, having something that is open and natural would be wonderful in keeping Fort Collins a destination for people who want to get out and explore - really keeping with the community culture. As it is, I talk to more and more people over the years that think about leaving Fort Collins (including myself and my family) due to the increasing congestion, roadwork and construction...which is unfortunate. So I think something that keeps the sanctity of the natural area on that property would go a long way in terms of sustainability for the area. I'm not sure what ideas or proposals might already have been shared at the listening session, but thanks very much for your time and consideration. If you could please email me back at the email address indicated, so I know my comments were received, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you! 43. I would love to see this transform into a natural area, park, or other place to be outside enjoying our beautiful community. 44. The Hughes Stadium property should be maintained as open space for the city of Fort Collins. Access to the foothills adds value to the community, and to the university - it’s already hard enough to compete with CU/Boulder for outdoor-oriented students. 45. No housing....change into natural area or fair venue. 46. Open space along with some affordable, sustainable housing (but not low-income housing). 47. Just make sure that some open space is preserved. Super high density housing there after many years of a large open area would be devastating. 48. Please, please, please NOT another housing development. A big park or natural area would be best for the community! 49. The easy solution is to force through housing that no one wants. That is what happened with the new on campus stadium. The city didn't want it, but CSU did so they said they would use private finding, which ended up being insufficient. So, they bonded it out to get their money. It feels like CSU is going to do the same thing here. People overwhelmingly do not want housing on this very HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 12 | 33 unique piece of land. Have it be natural space, a park, recreation center, or music venue. Nearly anything would be better than more housing on this side of town. Overland Trail already feels packed for a small road because the city comes to this side of town to get to the mountains, hike the "A Trail", mountain bike, etc. At the first community meeting, it was very clear and overwhelming that people do not want housing there. I hope an institute for higher learning will be more creative with this awesome piece of land than but more houses on it. One would only hope. 50. The area immediately surrounding Hughes Stadium - to the north, west, south and even east, has been a paradise for many residents for many years. I'm sure you have heard many stories, but I want to impress upon you that this space has afforded a rich history and spiritual wonderment to all that have wandered the trails. Personally, I have a connection that spans over thirty years. Selfishly, I want to protect those memories and experiences that have ultimately made me who I am (I am a CSU graduate, upstanding and contributing citizen), and I am just one of many thousands (no data to back up that number, just the folks I have seen their daily, year in and year out over decades, now). We have been borrowing freely, exploring and enjoying that which was never ours in the first place, without compensation, and I sincerely thank you for giving me (us) a wonderful place in FC to grow up in and experience life. We have no right to ask, demand, kibitz or negotiate any preservation of this space - I know this. If I had a magic wand or a winning lottery ticket - any means to buy and maintain this incredible part of Fort Collins and my life, I would do it within a heartbeat. You have a choice, and obviously you have a business and legacy to maintain. I respectfully ask that you consider some option that will preserve the beautiful space surrounding the old stadium - at least to the north and west. If housing is built there, the new residents will love and appreciate this space, too - for decades to come. Thank you for providing a forum for feedback. 51. Please preserve the nature of the property in some way. I realize that the almighty dollar is calling and CSU stands to make a tidy profit from selling the land. Putting in any kind of housing development, especially high-density will forever alter the neighborhoods that feed into this area. Where Hughes sits it really a destination area while Prospect and Drake are the only road in ... and out! In my opinion, high-density will be a disaster in planning. I can barely turn in or out of my neighborhood from Yorkshire onto Drake. Just since I've moved here the traffic has multiplied exponentially. Do we really want out of control growth and a re-make of one of the most scenic and photographed areas of FoCo...turning it into an urban jungle? 52. I would love to see it continue to be a space that can be shared with our community. An open space... Place for concerts... Natural area...etc. 53. Make it an open air park or outdoor music venue. Open some of the land up to student gardening. They can sell the food like a CSA. Use it for student hands-on learning. Please don't put housing there. The Mountains Edge property will be full of multi-family homes soon and will totally fill HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 13 | 33 Overland Trail with too much traffic. Don't make the west side of FC like the East side. Let's come up with low impact, outdoor learning solutions everyone can enjoy. 54. Will there be a genuine community input process? The "listening session" was what I would call "we're doing this because we have to" and not designed to have a discussion. The overwhelming majority of people want no development, but I think protecting a large part by keeping open space with low density development might be acceptable to many. People are talking on neighborhood forums about how CSU has already made up their mind and will sell to the highest bidder. I hope this is not the case. I'm hoping that LEED design concepts will be incorporated and that wildlife corridors will be maintained. Traffic studies and mitigation will be of utmost importance since the only collectors from Overland in that area are Drake and Prospect. Prospect is only three lanes (middle turn lane, so essentially two lanes) from Overland to Taft Hill. Traffic will be increasing a lot, especially with the housing development going in on the NE corner of Drake and Overland. I hope CSU does right by the community, even though they have shown they don't really care about community input since they agreed to "listening sessions", probably to avoid conflict. 55. I think the area needs to be developed to reflect the best of permaculture systems and values especially given we are supposed to be an agricultural school and have been an agricultural area that has been encroached upon by development that does not reflect consciousness about the fragile bio-system we live in that includes the air which has become painfully poor due to traffic and lack of development of a public transit system of consequence. I would therefore suggest an intentional community with gardens and housing and entertainment and shop services that demonstrates environmental acuity. Such a small example of this kind of system has been developed in Buena Vista and could be used to model this project. I can only hope you would consider this given the evidence of environmental decline that has occurred with the developments presently and has further created an imbalance in all socioeconomic strata. 56. Please no housing!!! The building that is going on in this town is sad. Any little piece of open space is being turned into something. Soon there will be none left. Please turn it into a natural area. 57. I currently live in The Ponds subdivision, close to Hughes Stadium. I plead to keep the property as a natural area/open space (maybe with an event center), and to NOT develop housing. This property has a long history with Fort Collins as a natural area and connector to other open space. Fort Collins is often on "best place to live" lists because of the mindfulness put behind our natural area planning and open space opportunities. There is value in keeping this property natural, and contributing to the quality of life of its CURRENT residents. Sacrificing the property to the highest housing develop goes against the characteristics and qualities of what makes Fort Collins great. 58. This property is one of the only remaining areas along the foothills in the City. It is a gem! Please don't add more housing here to an area that has much more potential. Selling this land that CSU acquired for nearly nothing to make a huge profit and going against what the community wants is NOT the answer. No one that lives in this area wants more house here. It will affect traffic, light and noise pollution and overall enjoyment of our natural areas and open spaces. Please try to be more conscious of what is best for our community. As it is now, Fort Collins citizens think CSU is only HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 14 | 33 thinking of themselves -- please prove us wrong. Everyone I talked to (including myself) that attended the community listening sessions believe that our voice doesn't matter, that CSU will do whatever is best for their pocketbook and that is their only motive. Prove us all wrong. Do the right thing. Be a hero, not a developer of open space. Don't ruin the beauty of our community and upset citizens with another greedy choice. Sell the land to the City for a fair price for natural areas or recreation. Don't pack a bunch of housing in this area. We don't want more housing in this area. Please, do something you can be proud of for generations to come!! 59. I am most concerned about the plan to handle the increase in traffic and people in this area. I am not a proponent for more congestion, foot and vehicle traffic and possibly more crime. I question the true motivation of CSU in this endeavor believing what they are most interested in is increasing revenue and influence for the university. Please consider continuing to keep the area a low key residential area. Fort Collins has plenty of growth in other parts of town and the city is not keeping up with infrastructure needs to support that growth. 60. This land was purchased with public funds, as CSU is a state school. The idea that it can now sell this land, for profit, to a developer and not pay taxes on the property is absurd. This land, which is bordered by City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, should be sold back to the city and remain public property. Adding housing in an area set aside for outdoor recreation would be a huge, irreversible mistake and one that will forever decrease the quality of life for all Fort Collins residents and visitors who now are able to peacefully access and enjoy the adjoining property. There are plenty of areas already under development that are in much more logical locations to build housing, and ones with more correct property tax status. If CSU were to lease the land, it would therefore have to provide all emergency and support services as the City and County are not receiving property taxes to fund such support. This land should be returned to the City of Fort Collins and the city should decide how best to use it. That's the only course of action that is reasonable. 61. Despite the neighborhood meetings and online feedback forms, I fear CSU has already made the decision to develop this land for some kind of density housing, commercial use and/ or lease it to the highest bidder for development, no matter what the impact on the environment, water, land and neighborhood community. I live in a nearby neighborhood to Hughes Stadium. PLEASE do not make the old stadium and land into more housing with a retail mini mall! Leave open space around Hughes and if the land must be used, then limit use and buildings for one of CSU's horticulture or green land management programs. Let's not add more density and stress to the land and water resources that we already have. We don't want Overland Trail to become a 4-lane highway for all the traffic! CSU is supposed to be the 'green university' so how about bringing those green concepts to this opportunity in an innovative way that benefits this particular environment, Horsetooth reservoir and Fort Collins? The idea of CSU developing some kind of housing for their low-paid employees is ridiculous as CSU should not be in the business of real estate development. 62. My first choice would be to keep it an open space. Keep Fort Collins unique and beautiful. Second choice, sell it back to the City for the cost of demolishing the old stadium. The city could work with the CSU Design program and students in landscape architecture to design a sustainable city-owned recreation center on the current stadium footprint. CSU could attract high quality HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 15 | 33 students to these and other programs by using this as a demo project and the City would benefit from a state of the art recreation and art center that serves the public and preserves surrounding open space. 63. This area should be kept as open space/ recreational. No houses, condos, or development of any kind other than hiking/ mountain bike trails. Please keep me informed as plans progress. 64. Please don’t put more low income housing here. Keep it as beautiful open space! 65. I am strongly against housing or music venues. I realize CSU wants to make money. I hope the university also considers he burden on city infrastructure that housing or music venues would create. Many homeowners have intentionally chosen this end of town for its lack of traffic and/or noise. Low income housing may cause property values in the area to drop. We need to consider open space management. We need to consider environmental concerns. I pray city officials will speak up and university officials will seriously listen. 66. The west side of Fort Collins suffers the worst air quality. Adding more housing will exacerbate this. Please do not develop as high density. This side of town can't support the traffic (even with more lanes on Overland). 67. I live on the west side of town close to the stadium. I think housing is the worst option for the city. Prospect Road is already an irritating road to drive on and adding a larger population to the west side would make it so much worse. I think the area should be for recreation, open space, park system, bike park, amphitheater. The land is located in an ideal spot for outdoor recreation. Please no housing! 68. Please do not turn this property into low-cost housing. It is a beautiful site and deserves better than cheaply built housing. The surrounding area already has enough shoddy construction. I would like to see it turned into a nature appreciation area. In keeping with the golf Frisbee course already there, maybe add a bicycle course, skate park, ropes course, etc. Make it an area the entire community can use and enjoy, not a rapidly deteriorating eyesore of shabby housing. Take into consideration how much it will cost to build the infrastructure necessary to support the addition of hundreds of people. Do NOT try to cram as many ugly, cheap apartment complexes as possible into this area. Yes, that would fit in perfectly with the housing that is already in the area but not at all fitting for the scenic setting. I especially would not like to see development such as that which has recently been built on Willox Lane (west of McDonalds). A prime example of ugly, cheap construction that was allowed to be built because the area was already ugly and economically depressed. Please do not destroy the beauty of the area that Hughes Stadium occupies. Use this area for recreational and educational purposes, please. 69. Please maintain open space for this property. We will never get it back if it is developed. We have new housing going in on the corner of Harmony and Taft Hill, housing going in on Horsetooth just East of Taft Hill. Traffic is getting worse by the day in this area and if this land is developed it will HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 16 | 33 become intolerable. I bet if the land were offered to the city, we could come up with a way to purchase it. 70. The property needs to be deed restricted to allow for reasonably priced, attainable housing only. 71. Open space is most important to me. My preference would be to keep the entire thing as a natural area, but that doesn't seem realistic from what I've read. Please, please work with City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Dept to conserve as much of the open space, trails, wildlife habitat and other natural values on this site. 72. Please, no housing. That beautiful foothills area is prime for a foothills park, open-space, watch beautiful sunsets, bike, stroll, walk, enjoy fresh clean air in a rural setting as our "choice city" was meant to be! Please don't ruin our "choice city" with more tall apartments, condos and air pollution infiltrating those beautiful foothills and Overland Trail access. Please don't let the "almighty dollar" rule and ruin your lives and ours forever. We could all enjoy a lovely, open-space park for a long, long time while we are on this earth! 73. I live in the area and would NOT like to see high density housing, nor low or affordable housing. The area already has a high level of low income housing and it is a major eyesore. The area is starting to look like "the projects" and additional low income housing will make the area worse. The area should be kept as open space or CSU botanical / green house facilities. If CSU is concerned about affordable housing for its employees, then CSU should pay its employees a better wage! 74. While I want affordable housing in Fort Collins, surely any for profit housing in place of Hughes Stadium will be on par with current rental / housing rates and therefore not affordable. I also live just off Mulberry and walk my two kids and two dogs east on Mulberry to City Park and do not want more traffic on Mulberry; if massive housing units were built West of us then surely there would be more traffic on Mulberry than already is. People speed on Mulberry, they run the red light on Bryan, they race to pass each other, none of these are helping keep our city safe and why I don't want more housing West of us. 75. I am totally opposed to housing being built at Hughes Stadium our city is being inundated with more large complex housing which impacts city streets and detracts from the charm of our city. Keep it open space!!!! 76. No more housing! Outside public pool, fitness center for families kids and/or concert venue! Absolutely no housing!! 77. I am not ok with a music venue! I live very near the corner of Drake and Overland. When they started the music for the marathon at 6:30 Saturday morning it worked me from my bed! The sound of the announcer from the football game was regularly audible in our house. I can't fathom how loud a concert venue would be, with the sound reflecting off of the hills into our neighborhood. Please, this is not red rocks, out alone in the hills. We do not want an open concert venue across the street from our neighborhood. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 17 | 33 Those are my only two cents. Appreciate the opportunity to respond. 78. Please, please, please do not put in new housing on the stadium grounds. It will ruin the quality of life for both the people that live on the west side, as well as for the wild life that calls this area home. We have all moved to this side of town to get away from the busy side of FC, and adding a huge development would take so much of that away. It will increase traffic and possibly lower our home values, by taking away such a beautiful recreational area. We love going sledding there in the winters, playing Frisbee golf and hiking in the spring, summer and fall. Please, if anything, turn it into a music venue that will bring something positive to the area. A music venue is something that the city of Fort Collins is missing and just think of what it can bring to the city. I understand that this is business and that money is the bottom line. I guess I am just hoping that you care more about the people of Fort Collins, than you do the bottom line. Thank you for your time. 79. Housing and/or commercial development is the last thing this area needs! This part of the City is crowded and there is minimal open space and few recreational opportunities. Bike paths end on busily trafficked streets and biking is becoming increasingly dangerous. Housing development is rampant on the South side with new "communities" in FOCO, and developments in Loveland which eventually will merge into a densely populated megalopolis. One of the successes of FOCO that has drawn so many new residents, is the small town feel in a City that has so much to offer. As the population grows, and as the present population ages, more activities are needed for youth lest FOCO follow the example of so many other cities where youth have inadequate opportunities to keep them active and fall prey to drugs and alcohol, which is already a significant problem here. With increased traffic, seniors will have more difficulty getting around town to carry out their routine errands, and to enjoy the cultural events. The Old Town area, that has so much to offer, has become almost inaccessible if you are not in walking distance in the evenings and weekends. The stadium area would be a perfect location to serve both the existing and the future population with indoor and outdoor recreational activities, hands-on classes (e.g. pottery, stained glass, jewelry making, weaving), lectures, live theater, and other venues to draw people of varied ages. 80. My husband attended the first "listening" session, where it was made abundantly clear that no one associated with the redevelopment plan wants to hear concerns or opposition to what has obviously already been decided. The density of population in this area is already intense, the unique environmental area in question cannot be replaced ... yet build, build, build is all that is ever offered. It is well known that Overland Trail Road is not a good candidate for expansion due to its lovely route along the foothills. Adding congestion, pollution and too many people is a recipe for disaster. Decisions need to be made with regard to what is best for the environment and our future not the wallets of developers and CSU. 81. I am strongly opposed to the demolition of Hughes stadium with housing development. As it is, you cannot even cross Overland without an extended wait due to severe traffic. A new housing development will greatly exacerbate this problem and make west Fort Collins a gridlock just like central Fort Collins and downtown. I know that expressing my opinion will do nothing to stop this HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 18 | 33 process but feel obligated to state my strong opinions as a faculty member at CSU. I am so disappointed with this decision. 82. I am a neighbor in the Ponds and can see the stadium lights from my back porch and have listened to the games that were held at the stadium for close to a decade, (which is easy to hear from our house). I welcome the use of the stadium as a music venue or some other public event spot. I do not believe high density housing is a good use of the property and am strongly opposed to this type of development in particular. It would have a negative impact on the adjacent neighborhoods. We already have lots of high density and low income housing in the immediate vicinity. 83. No more houses, please! We do not need more traffic, more congestion, more noise, more people on this side of town! This property would best serve the public as an open-space/park. Please help Fort Collins retain its nice-place-to-live character by not succumbing to the short-sighted "more is better" ideology! What happened to the "quality of life" view that used to be on the forefront of city planners? 84. I agree with the idea of using the NE corner of the property for CSU employee housing, as it would expand the residential housing directly north (Sumac St). I am much more passionate about maintaining the remaining land as open space, natural habitat and keeping the CSU disc golf course. I would support a community garden on the site, perhaps near future housing. I am in favor of demo and removal of Hughes Stadium. I am very passionate about no other development on the entire site, including turning any of it into a park or adding additional landscaping. I would like to find out if the dirt parking lots could be re- planted with prairie grasses after removing the noxious weeds. The beauty of this area and a few other open spaces is not due to resources and amenities on the ground, but in the unobstructed views of the big sky. 85. I am a 2 time CSU graduate, long time Fort Collins resident, and Colorado native. I am currently a resident of the Quail Hollow neighborhood which sits at the intersection of Overland and Taft Hill Road, very near the stadium location. I am sorry I couldn't attend the listening session last night but I had a funeral to attend. I would like to very strongly advocate for selling the land so that it can be preserved as open space/recreational use. It is adjacent to the Pine Ridge Natural Area, at the base of popular mountain biking trails, and is used by the City's children as a sled hill all winter. We have so much rapid development going on within our community that the qualities that make it the recently named "4th happiest" city in the nation are going to be tested. One reason we are so happy is due to our amazing open space and recreational areas within biking distance of the city and our neighborhoods. I believe development of the property into residential or affordable housing would cause real disruption to this area due to increased traffic along Drake/Overland, negatively impact the few remaining wildlife corridors on the west edge of town, mar our views of this beautiful area, create HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 19 | 33 conflicts with long established recreational use, and necessitate expensive roadwork to accommodate increased congestion in the area. My vision for this property is one in which the land, if annexed by the city, is designated for a natural open space and recreational area to augment our quality of life and embrace our wildlife as well. My vision includes habitat hero gardens (pollinators), a sled hill for the kids, a conduit for mountain bikers and hikers, and the like. Please consider open space and recreation and prioritize it over residential or commercial development. It isn't the right space for that and this is one of our last crown jewels in the area for open space (certainly within city limits)! 86. Let’s keep Hughes Stadium as natural of an area as possible. Our beautiful state of Colorado is becoming so over run with overwhelming population I fear it will be ruined. Please keep a little piece of paradise around for our future generations to enjoy. 87. Please leave it as open space, we really need it. 88. The west side of town is already too congested and Overland Tr/ Prospect/Drake already have trouble handling existing traffic at times. In addition, the foothills open space helps make FoCo what it is. Please do not develop it further. CSU has already gone against public opinion by building the new on campus stadium. Please do not further disrespect FoCo by selling this land to a developer. 89. Please consider not developing this area with MORE housing. Fort Collins is really beginning to lose its charm with the incessant building in almost every corner of this city. The additional traffic on Overland, being one lane, and Prospect between Overland and Taft will be ridiculous if the projected housing comes to fruition. Let's think about Fort Collins and not about lining the pockets of developers. 90. There is a lot of great Open Space along Overland, and Hughes is such an icon of our community, especially with the A-Trail there. These types of spaces are quickly getting swallowed up by development and West Fort Collins is beginning to lose what makes it special - a place to access trails, view the Foothills, and appreciate that Fort Collins is so unique in that it sits at this "urban- rural interface." I understand the need for affordable housing, but I feel we should be building "up" closer to and more densely within the city. The development that is sprawling into our more rural areas across Fort Collins is so ugly, cookie cooker, and not the types of homes that are built to last years and conserve water and energy. I would love to see the Hughes stay a cultural icon in some way, celebrating a natural landscape that is becoming so uncommon. It would be great to see a skate park, bike park, playground, something that can engage youth and families, or be a place for music, events and festivals - the events/festivals downtown have become so standardized and everyone feels exactly like the one before. It was so nice having events like the Peach Festival when it was still at Hughes. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 20 | 33 91. Would really like to see this unique property left as open space/foothills buffer. A concert venue at most. The push for "low-income housing for CSU employees" seems unrealistic and unworkable in fact - a mere talking point. (Plenty of low-income housing on this side of town already. What happened to the City's vision of mixed-density neighborhoods?) More housing would affect both the traffic on limited arterials and pollution in this area. Back in the 1980s, there was concern about further development west of Overland Trail negatively impacting air quality along the foothills. (What happened to that?) A recent study indeed showed Fort Collins' pollution is worse on the west side. 92. Let's do something big: http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/18/technology/future/google-toronto- sidewalk-labs/index.html?sr=fbCNN101817future0302PMStory. 93. Please take the traffic situation into consideration when deciding what to put in place of Hughes Stadium. The situation in town is already VERY difficult with very few good east-west avenues through the city. Adding additional housing would significantly impact the traffic situation. Spreading out the housing a bit more would help, but the proposed "affordable housing" would be sure to increase the traffic problem exponentially. Thank you for your consideration. 94. I am a resident of Westgate Townhomes (the neighborhood which shares a fence-line with the stadium on the north side). As a resident, I would like to offer my feedback regarding any redevelopment. I think the property should be used for open space. This area already has a very high concentration of rental properties, usually with more than one tenant, which has created quite a bit of traffic congestion during busy times and a lot of noise pollution. Also, the scenery and character of the area would be ruined if this area was developed for housing. 95. Is there a possibility that this could be used as a High School sports complex? 96. Hope CSU chooses to sell to a developer with low-cost housing in mind. Whatever CSU chooses to do, remember all of Fort Collins has to live with that choice. Thank you. 97. The Hughes Stadium property has been a fantastic resource for Fort Collins residents, even outside of games and special events. The disc golf and sledding hill are popular and trails behind the stadium are an important connection between the local open spaces. I would vastly prefer a continuation of a public space, be that open space or an auditorium. Our foothills public lands are a great draw for the city: an ugly dense development alongside the road to Horsetooth Reservoir would be a shame. The west side of town lacks the infrastructure investment and high tax base of the southeast part of town - how would the city cope with hundreds of new homes? We on the west side would like to keep things less crowded. 98. Let it return to grassland and utilize it as open space or natural area for all residents. I'd be happy if the disc golf course got an upgrade too. NO CONDOS!! HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 21 | 33 99. This property should NOT be used to build more housing or residential areas. Keeping this space open and natural is crucial to the environment of Fort Collins. We are known for being natural and agricultural and we need to keep it that way! 100. As a CSU Alumni 1990, 2000 and a thirty year Fort Collins Resident. The Hughes property should be donated to open space. Located next to Dixon reservoir and a key view shed entry into Horsetooth Reservoir the last thing the City of Fort Collins needs is more apartments right there. It's tragic that the decision to develop this has already been made any community engagement is a farce, developers clearly drive government and approval processes. Maintaining livability and desirability of current residents means nothing. 101. It would be great if CSU could convert the Hughes Stadium property into open space or a recreation area. With the neighboring natural areas, it would be beneficial to keep the space free of residential housing units. The traffic and light pollution would impact the surrounding natural areas in a negative way. With so many areas of Fort Collins filling up with houses, we have very few real open spaces for CSU students and city residents to enjoy. If given the opportunity, I think it is worth preserving this space and the surrounding natural areas. A second idea would be to convert it into a natural space that could be utilized by CSU classes, so that it has some functionality for the school. Some extension classrooms or laboratories could be built, that would preserve some open space while serving an academic purpose. This would not negatively impact the other natural areas as much as residential housing, and could provide a fun learning environment for students. 102. The space around Hughes Stadium should be developed and maintained as open space/recreational space. It is such an important space for those uses currently- both the Frisbee golf course and the space around the stadium. Coyote, deer, and other wildlife are also frequent users of these spaces and with the proposed impending development on the corner of Drake and Overland and ever-expanding development filling in space northwards on the west side of Overland, having these wildlife and recreation areas on the edge of town are important to support those animals and prevent them moving even further into town than they already do. Please take a long look at the current use and its enrichment of the current community and its importance ecologically during this process. IF the option does not exist for the land to be used as open space/recreational space it should be used for something innovational and beneficial to the community... some type of community garden with family programming...tiny house cohousing... something that isn't just more housing or businesses, and something that honors the importance of this space. 103. Bikes 104. You should build a BMX race park! 105. Want me a BMX bahk park pls and thanks. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 22 | 33 106. I am a homeowner living on Overland Trail. I am concerned that the Hughes stadium land will turn into yet another large housing development. Please do not litter the west side of town with more crumby condos, automobiles, noise, pollution, and traffic. There needs to be a wildland-urban transition from the foothills to town. The space between the foothills and Overland Trail should be preserved for this purpose. Filling it with housing would be a desecration to the landscape and to the community. I would encourage the City of Fort Collins to act reverently and turn the Hughes space into public open space or natural area. 107. Please do NOT build housing on the Hughes land. This will destroy the open space around that area! This is a great collaborative opportunity for the City, County and CSU to work together to keep this land undeveloped. So many possibilities, including an area that students can use for environmental studies, etc. The idea of all of those homes on that land makes me sick. Keep this land as some kind of natural open space. 108. Preserve the existing parking as a renewable energy hub with wind/solar energy hookups provided by the city of Fort Collins for short/long-term lot rental and fee-based charging of electric vehicles, RVs and tiny homes in support of local tourism by providing an Overland Trail alternative to U.S. 287 through Fort Collins. The existing field could also be preserved and rented as a soccer field for both men and women at the collegiate/olympic/professional levels by installing metal bleachers after the concrete bleachers are removed. The existing waste removal infrastructure could be used to support waste removal for both the soccer field and renewable energy transportation hub. Women's soccer in particular is looking for non-artificial turf to play on and the high number of days of sunshine we experience makes Colorado an ideal location. The existing stadium is an ideal location for promoting local tourism with access to both the Poudre and Big Thompson canyons via Horsetooth Reservoir. The parking could also be used by alumni and family members of CSU students for short-term rentals and to provide long-term rentals and affordable housing for CSU employees, students and the homeless. 109. I would like to see this turned into some sort of active/sport outdoor recreation area, with a mix of things like the Frisbee golf course; running and biking circuits (like the Valmont Bike Park in Boulder); maybe a fitness park or open-use courts for yoga, tai chi, and other meet ups/classes; and most of all, fitness stairs that go up the hills (Like the Lyon Steps in San Francisco or the Baldwin Hills Overlook in L.A.). This all would act as both a popular tourist destination and a spot for locals to enjoy the outdoors. You could even zone in some commercial pads to allow cafes, outdoorsy shops, bike repair shops, food trucks, etc. to serve the type of people frequenting this area. Lyon Steps: https://urbanhikersf.blogspot.com/2013/05/wordless-wednesday-lyon-street- steps.html Baldwin Hills: https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-the-baldwin-hills-scenic-overlook/ Valmont Bike Park: https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/valmont-bike-park Outdoor fitness court: https://nationalfitnesscampaign.com/the-fitness-court1/ HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 23 | 33 110. I'm a homeowner who lives at XXX Ross Drive Unit XXX, which is directly across from Hughes Stadium. As a homeowner who has lived across from the stadium for four years, I am very interested in seeing the land be used for open space/recreation. I believe using the land for open space/recreation is the most consistent with its current context. Maxwell, directly to the west of the stadium, is used by walkers and hikers. The disc golf field is utilized by the community. And, the grounds of the stadium are home to hundreds of dog walkers like myself. My two beagles and I walk the area at least a few times each week. Further, dozens of families with children use the area for sledding in the winter. These are only a few examples, but they illustrate that the area is already being utilized recreationally on a daily basis by multiple different groups within our local community. Developing the area for commercial or residential use would be a loss for walkers and hikers, disc golfers, those with dogs, and families with children, among others. 111. Big mistake to build the new stadium. Hughes could have been renovated at a much lower cost, but that wasn't good enough for the bigwigs running CSU. 112. Ask CSU to annex land back to the city then let city turn the land into a beautiful golf course. 113. Of course this Stadium needs to be torn down and become open space to preserve for future generations! Look at the map, it is surrounded by natural areas, lakes, the reservoir, trails, the historic A on the hillside. Think of the legacy we will be leaving here. Do we as a community want to pass down a strip mall with a 20-year life, or open space and trails for people to enjoy for many decades to come? ICON may not like this idea because they are builders and they don't make money from this, but those who came before us had the foresight to save land as open space rather than sprawl and pave in every direction, and we are grateful, let us show our gratitude by doing the same. Fort Collins resident for 18 years! 114. Hello, I'm writing to provide feedback on the Hughes Stadium property, as I could not attend the Neighborhood Listening Session that was held on the 20th. As a home-owner/resident in the immediate surrounding area to the Hughes property (and as a multiple small business owner here in Fort Collins), my hope is that the property will end up being used for some type of recreation; such as a park, an open space with trails for walking/hiking or especially as a place for athletes to train such as an athletic park or even a cycling velodrome. At the very least, whether the property is leased or sold, I hope that whatever company takes over its use keeps that area's wide-open landscape and will be mindful of the environment, as it already seems very wasteful to be tearing down the stadium (which, based on my understanding, will be part of the eventual plan) as opposed to re-purposing it as some type of outdoor athletic/training facility, for example. As Fort Collins is already becoming drastically overly congested and housing developments HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 24 | 33 (apartment buildings, etc.) are being squeezed into what feels like every inch of space that we have left, having something that is open and natural would be great to keep Fort Collins a destination for people who want to get out and explore. I talk to more and more people over the years that think about leaving Fort Collins (including myself and my family) due to the increased congestion, constant roadwork and construction...which is unfortunate. So I think something that keeps the beauty of the natural area on that property would go a long way in terms of sustainability for the community. I'm not sure what ideas or proposals might already have been shared at the listening session, but thanks very much for your time and consideration. 115. I am a 46 year Fort Collins resident, CSU Alumni and a graduate of the College of Natural Resources and believe that if CSU is truly the “Green University” they should turn the site into open space. I intend to fight any other option. 116. I agree with the idea of using the NE corner of the property for CSU employee housing, as it would expand the residential housing directly north (Sumac St). I am much more passionate about maintaining the remaining land as open space, natural habitat and keeping the CSU disc golf course. I would support a community garden on the site, perhaps near future housing. I am in favor of demo and removal of Hughes Stadium. I am very passionate about no other development on the entire site, including turning any of it into a park or adding additional landscaping. I would like to find out if the dirt parking lots could be re-planted with prairie grasses after removing the noxious weeds. The beauty of this area and a few other open spaces is not due to resources and amenities on the ground, but in the unobstructed views of the big sky. 117. The VAST majority of the LOCAL COMMUNITY does NOT want the land to be developed into even more homes and/or condos. Part of the reason we bought our first home in this neighborhood is because it backs up into open space. Huge numbers of citizens currently use the area as a recreation area/open space not to mention it is a major gateway to Horsetooth. CSU is supposed to be pro green but they aren’t. If CSU sells this land to developers, I will officially be disgusted to be a graduate. I will never donate money to the school and my children will not attend. I know countless people in the area who feel the exact same way. CSU does not have the best interest of the citizens of Fort Collins in mind. They’ve turned into a greedy institution. They should think a little bit harder about the long term effects of this decision and not just the financial gains. Hopefully the decision hasn’t already been made and you aren’t just taking input from actual citizens as a formality. I will say that most people sadly think this to be the case. All eyes are on you, CSU. Don’t blow it. 118. Please no retail or homes. The traffic is already going to be increased with the new homes going in on Drake and Overland. I really wish someone from CSU lived over in our quiet neck of the woods and realized how awful it will be to add thousands of more cars to this area. There really is no respect from CSU regarding the quality of life in this town. Listen to the neighbors that will have to live next to this development. I would suggest keeping it an open space or a concert venue. The temporary use as a concert venue would be far less hideous than housing. It wouldn't be a concert HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 25 | 33 venue nightly so dealing with extra cars would be the occasional thing instead of daily (like a development). 119. I'm a professor emeritus at CSU. We live very near to the Hughes Stadium area. Very broadly, my recommendation is to create most of the area around Hughes into a friendly and usable open space. There might well be some spaces for small but needed housing projects. But fundamentally, I urge that the area become a public park. A generous park for future residents of Larimer Country would be precious and broadly appreciated. To me, a smaller public Children's Park might also be considered. Altogether, instead of aiming at strictly practical goals to please us now, we should think of a gift for the next generations to our remarkable community. 120. PLEASE - NO housing at the Hughes property!!! I am a local resident of the area and the consensus is that we DON'T want more housing, more traffic and more property development! The traffic has greatly increased on Overland Trail road, as well as W Mulberry and W Drake that connect to Overland. Many are concerned about additional pressure on the land, water resources and air quality. So, CSU - NO housing, please! 121. I am aware that FoCo needs more low-income / affordable housing, and hope that will be included in the re-development. The Drake & Overland Trail intersection is already very busy and dangerous. It will need to be improved when the Hughes stadium property is redeveloped. What is the plan for this? Will traffic lights be installed? Also, I am concerned about traffic on Drake and Overland Trail. Will additional bus lines be provided to reduce traffic? I believe they are needed. Will there be any efforts to mitigate the traffic noise from Drake and Overland? 122. I have read the feedback thus far and requesting the property be kept as open space is overwhelming. I hope CSU is listening this time. 123. Why doesn’t the university designate the land for preservation of natural grasses and wildlife? That would go a long way to make peace with the town and might make it easier to work with them later on! 124. I'd love to see the area become a natural area. There is already too much new development in front of Horsetooth, so it'd be nice to have some natural space preserved there. 125. The Hughes stadium property is very special in that it is next to existing open space, and a tremendous opportunity to expand our outdoor recreation opportunities. As FTC grows, the existing trails are becoming overcrowded. Selling this land to a developer is the wrong long-term decision. Please make it into open space. 126. The overall property could showcase two of the most compelling and historic areas of study at CSU: Sustainability & Agriculture. The entire property can become a mix of housing surrounding a central gathering place located where the existing field is today. This central gathering place can be a mixed-use space, activated as a pedestrian village lane, greenspace, and/or farmer's market facility. The existing stands on both sides can be re-purposed into LIHTC affordable apartments as HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 26 | 33 well as market-rate condos that incorporate the unique concrete support arches on the west side. There are several examples of this adaptive reuse in Europe, using old soccer stadiums. Surrounding the village that was formerly the stadium, community gardens as well as CSU experimental gardens could exist side-by-side, sharing infrastructure. Additionally, value-added agriculture ventures could be incubated, such as a hop farm, commercial kitchen incubation, finished retail products, etc. Finally, a mix of housing types is essential (including tiny home village), and LMN zoning would seem to be appropriate here. Ultimately, the former Hughes Stadium property could become an agricultural village, designed and developed with advanced sustainability techniques. 127. Hi - I live within a mile of Hughes, and would love to see it preserved as open space. If not, please please please be sure that the light pollution from whatever is developed does not shut down the Drive-In Theater. The owners have said before that if Hughes is developed, that the lights would be the end of the theater. Let's keep this piece of history alive and plan any development as dark-sky approved. 128. Please keep it as open space or turn it into an amphitheater to preserve the Colorado beauty and heritage. Thank you! 129. The open space backing up to foothills is unique and of high value to the entire Fort Collins community... some combination of gardens and open space for mountain biking, hiking, dog park, etc. 130. Please preserve the area as an outdoor recreational multipurpose area. We moved here 10 years ago and were impressed by the open fields throughout the town, the great parks and the ease of driving in Fort Collins. I was so inspired by what I thought was one of the most stunning settings for a stadium. Now every vacant lot is either filled in or has a yellow sign to redevelop. The growth here is exponential as is the traffic. The town is getting over run with cheap LEGO block apartments and housing developments at the expense of green areas. There is very little to be excited about here. The town is getting uglier by the day. In addition, the city is already one of the most polluted cities in the country and west Fort Collins has the worst air quality in the city limits. The brown cloud and the diesel smell is getting worse, let’s not add even more cars and houses. There are so many great recreational ideas for this area. I would like to see the city put in a cross country track in the winter. I ski at my local park and would love to have a groomed path. We could use more winter sports here. Please don’t pave over this gem of an area. Thank you. Please keep this gem of an area natural. 131. A considerable sized music venue would be a great fit. It would also help bring revenue to the city since anytime a major act is in the state we have to travel to Denver area. There is no decent venue in northern Colorado or within the Wyoming area. The location also has enough space to support parking for a large venue as well. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 27 | 33 132. I feel the powers that be should be thinking outside the box. The suggestions people have provided so far are typical. Housing in Fort Collins is not and never will be affordable for most people. Open space. We have enough. Fort Collins certainly needs much more than it has to make it an appealing place to live, in reality, rather than in hype. In any case, my idea for that space is a bit unusual and maybe not practical, but would hopefully appeal to many people. I suggest that the space be turned primarily into a bicycle velodrome. This might appeal to Olympic hopefuls. Also, I imagine there would be space enough for an outdoor roller skating venue (ice skating is too common) and also a skateboard park. Maybe you could throw in a full size running track. There is a sad lack of activities here for young people and a skateboard park might be something kids would really use plus give them physical activity. 133. I’d love to see a music venue replace Hughes stadium ... it’s a perfect location. 134. I am a long time resident with a family in Fort Collins. I believe Hughes stadium should remain as recreational/event type facility. The open space on all sides of the stadium are an integral and priceless commodity for the City of Fort Collins. The trails have become a major recreational area for the town and is getting more traffic each year. I am afraid if this property is developed into housing that the trail system will be overcrowded and will lose its appeal to many people. Not to mention the traffic on Overland. I believe the city should purchase this property for a once in a lifetime chance and provide a park/open space connecting a continuous area of open space to the north and south. If it is developed into housing, then they should be mandated to upgrade and enhance the entire trail system to allow mountain biking and hiking on separate trails since it will surely become overcrowded. This is the gateway to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, please don't develop it into housing and ruin this area of town? Go east or north for more housing, there is plenty of open space. By the way, there is a dam just above the property, do we want houses below it? I hope profit hungry developers don't get their way with this property, if so, this will be a big hit to the City of Fort Collins way of life. Thank you. 135. I think this is the perfect opportunity to move the basketball games offsite; Moby should be moved to the Hughes site. Think of how much better access there will be, and far fewer parking issues. This would be a great opportunity to showcase our foothills to returning Alumni. There is no good reason to keep Moby on campus; it should be torn down in favor of a parking garage for the football games. 136. I very much liked (and copied) this entry in the Coloradoan on 11/30/17. Thanks for asking! A mixed-use, walkable/bikeable neighborhood, not just residential, with a grid of narrow streets (with) bike lanes, easy transit to ... main attractions of CSU and Old Town, buildings close to the sidewalks like they are in Old Town, pedestrian-scale infrastructure like lighting and bike racks rather than gigantic wide open parking lots, and almost everything a community would need within walking/biking distance, including an elementary school, restaurants, houses of worship and a local market. With the huge size of this location, if density is done properly, it could serve tens of HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 28 | 33 thousands of people and allow Fort Collins to grow wisely instead of sprawling all the way toward Wellington. 137. I would love to see this area developed into an amphitheater as a venue for music and other entertainment. It is in a beautiful location nestled against the foothills. The music scene in Fort Collins has always been big. Being a college town with a diverse population, it is a natural fit. I think it would also be a great venue for events like New West Fest, the 4th of July Fireworks show, Craft Shows for local artisans during the warm months. Possibly a Colorado Winter Wonderland 2-3 day event with local shops having booths selling Xmas gifts and showing off what their shops sell in their Old Town stores and restaurants. Maybe even have a skating rink for the event. Very quaint, very Colorado. Stuff like this makes people feel good, puts a smile on your face. So, it could be used as a multi-use venue with lots of local events mixed in with some small - medium sized concerts featuring nationally known artists. I am envisioning a multi-use amphitheater venue that offers a variety of music concerts with special local events throughout the year. There will ALWAYS be a need for more affordable housing. Please, let's use this this area for something special. 138. Starting as a freshman at CSU 23 years ago, I have enjoyed the open space around Hughes Stadium for walks, sports and a quiet place to read a book. Now as a resident of Quail Hollow, just across Drake, I would be heartbroken to lose that open space. Please help protect our wildlife, dark night sky, quiet atmosphere, and decent traffic flow by keeping the old Hughes an open area. I am in favor of selling to our Department of Natural Resources and other proposals that keep the area as natural and wild as possible. 139. Many residents in this area's highest priority is natural features, trails, wildlife, and open space. Please fully explore a sale to the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department so that it can be preserved as open space. The department has a large conservation fund and can pay fair market value. I am a neighbor, and the reason I chose this area is the access to the outdoors. Please don't pave paradise! This area, on the East side of Overland is already low-income, high density housing. Fort Collins doesn't need more housing, it needs open space preserved for future and current generations. 140. If Hughes will not be used for a music venue, as the plan is already to demolish it no matter the cost, then please let the land be incorporated into Maxwell Natural Area to provide more space for wildlife, natural resources, hiking trails, and the beauty of what most of us moved to this area for. As the City of Fort Collins continues to sprawl and become overly developed, the last thing we need is more housing to cram an overabundance of people in our idyllic town. Please think about the impacts on the natural environment here before adding more concrete and asphalt to our already warming globe. 141. Please preserve the open space and nature that is present today. Housing, commercial development, and traffic will not preserve what is disappearing in our landscape. Taking down the stadium will allow for continued use of the area for low impact recreation in a natural park setting. The area is a part of the foothills which continues to be encroached upon. Preserving this landscape will allow individuals and families to enjoy the reason why we will allow choose Colorado to be our HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 29 | 33 home. Please consider what our future holds. We can travel to Denver to see developed landscapes. Let us keep something natural and beautiful. 142. Not housing. Not housing. Not housing. Not housing. Not housing. How is it that the stadium location is too far from campus to host football games 6 times a year, but ideal for housing? Tear it down and put in a park and open space. As it has been used by west side residents for 299 days a year. 143. I applaud CSU and the City opening an idea forum for citizens. Wish they would have done same for the on campus stadium. That blemish and personal failings by CSU to do the right thing put a damper on our home team spirits. Since 1978, we have enjoyed going to games at Hughes Stadium. More than the lure of watching the home team was the experience of that great scenic location and the chance to connect with friends at the tailgating area. I doubt very much that we will ever go to the new stadium. I appreciated the suggestions by the people who live close to that area and many wanted to retain the natural beauty as augmented by trails and maybe a pond or park, or nature center, bike trails so it feeds into the pride of Fort Collins, which is its parks and trail system. I also think the idea of some quadrant allocated to employee housing or low income housing would be a nice marriage of creating a place for low income people that anyone would be proud to enjoy. I know of a small group in Fort Collins wanting to design a community for an underserved market. I love Fort Collins and as a long time strategic thinker for HP and for other large organizations, I see opportunities for Fort Collins to create examples that other states follow. Stuff like closing the gap between industry and education, diversity appreciation, strengthening business and market ecosystems are just a few examples of the scope of my involvements. I'd love to see the land around Hughes Stadium used to increase the value of living here by allocating a large portion to something natural. 144. My family and I have lived our entire life in Fort Collins and we love this city. We are supportive of CSU as a key component of the Fort Collins community. The city needs to manage growth and part of that is the continuing encroachment into our foothills. We would prefer to see the area become open space to also support our wildlife. Please consider our environment by using the land for open space. Thank you. 145. I live in the Ponds Neighborhood and I moved there because of the easy access to the sledding hills at Hughes Stadium and the bike paths and running paths. I am hopeful that whatever plans will keep some of that resource for the community. I know my sons will love the Frisbee golf as they grow older. I wanted to make a suggestion of gardens and perhaps a hops field for your brewery classes and degree. I read in a magazine a few weeks ago about a small college in Texas that turned their football field into a vegetable and spices garden. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/one- college-turns-football-field-farm-sees-students-transform The school now makes most of the vegetables that the school uses for its student meal plan (which HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 30 | 33 saved on costs to the school) as well as allow the students to sell the left over vegetables at a farmers market. The students loved it because it was a peaceful place to connect with the earth and the out of state recruitment went through the roof as students really identified with that type of atmosphere. You also have significant land and you might be able to grow your own hops or grain for the beer classes and you might also start to be a leader in developing new hops in this field. I think that would fit in with the Fort Collins community and you might even be able to get sponsorship from the local breweries to assist in this process and in keeping up with the land. It would be another good partnership that you have with the community and the business community. 146. I think it would be great to keep a portion of the stadium as a music venue. This would create a unique venue and would also preserve part of the history of the site (being a stadium). Being a unique venue with a scenic view, this would be a draw for people to come watch a show. People would also be able to recall their times spent at the stadium. Additionally, parkland surrounding the stadium could act as a sound buffer and provide recreational opportunities. 147. Public bike park similar to Valmont bike park in Boulder. Funding could be raised publicly through donations/grants and maintained through city employee structure and volunteers. In addition to bike trails and obstacles, a playground and skate park could also be integrated to appeal to more recreationalists. There is plenty of space and enough interest from the Fort Collins bike community to make this a reality. The worst thing would be a high density housing development. Look at what Boulder had been able to accomplish with Valmont...while keeping it public. 148. Instead of selling the land to a developer at a discount for affordable housing, why not sell it at fair market value to the city and keep it as a natural area or open space? Use the additional money from the sale to raise the pay of your employees. $10 per hour is pathetic in this day and age. My college work study job paid more than that 20 years ago. CSU should be ashamed if their pay is that low. 149. I do not agree with the idea of building housing on the Hughes Stadium property. I don't think that Overland Trail can handle the traffic increase that would happen as a result. At best, I think the space could be reserved as a natural area. I know that the city can afford to purchase and maintain the space. Most people I know who live on the west side of town enjoy hiking the trail behind the stadium that is part of the Maxwell Natural Area. If the stadium must be demolished, perhaps it could be replaced with a live music/events venue. Fort Collins is in need of a larger venue that would attract more diverse acts than theaters such as the Aggie and Lincoln Center. As the population continues to increase, acts that attract larger audiences will be interested in making a stop in Fort Collins. So I believe the ideal use of this land would be a mixed use live music/events venue surrounded by a natural area complete with a disc golf course, gardens, a play area, a dog park (which is greatly needed in this area) and scenic paths winding throughout. The paths could be open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The gardens could include community vegetable gardens as well as a home for HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 31 | 33 native flowers and plants such as are in other parks in town. Some of the space could be left open for public use such as exists in City Park. Of course in the summer it could be utilized as an outdoor event space. Having a music venue on the property could help fund the Parks department if operated by the city. As someone who lives near Hughes Stadium I have seen the deer, coyotes and other wildlife who frequent the area. I shudder to think that they would never be seen in this area again if it became built up like the east side of town. Please respect all of what makes Fort Collins great: the nature, the wildlife and most of all its residents. Keep Fort Collins the unique place that it is by refraining from building housing and paving over one of its most scenic and enjoyable pieces of property. 150. I have lived by the stadium for 16 years and would like to see a plan that is best for our property values and traffic situation. 151. Open space, no homes at all. And please no homes or housing. Make it like Spring Creek. 152. Open space, bike and walking paths like Spring Creek Park down the road. A large fishing pond, playgrounds, mountain bike paths, outdoor concert venue, Frisbee golf course, 9 hole chipping and putting golf course. No more homes or student housing please. 153. In favor of expanding CSU equine program or a large community garden, maybe a bike trail as well. NO HOUSING WHATSOEVER. 154. Please do not consider high density housing! Natural areas, horse trails, biking, hiking should be explored! We do not need more high density housing. Consider mixed use natural areas and park areas to be used by the public. 155. I believe that CSU should follow the example of Indiana University and use the site of the stadium for an arboretum. Of course the site of their former stadium was on campus. 156. First, thanks for soliciting feedback on this process, and making it easy to do so online. I live about a half a mile from the entrance to Hughes Stadium. This area is a gorgeous natural space; as other have mentioned, that's what made Hughes Stadium such a wonderful venue. It's a unique, often-photographed part of the FoCo foothills that make FoCo (and CSU) a wonderful place. With that I mind, I ask that you prioritize protecting the natural character, and unique ecosystem, of this area. The sale to the City of Fort Collins as a natural space would be the best option. I think a park emphasizing trails could mesh nicely with the area as well. 157. The land Hughes is a special place, a scarce resource in this town. It's still mostly open, and right by the foothills and other wonderful open spaces. It's one of the little things that makes Fort Collins, the city that CSU calls home, a great place to live. The trails, meadows, and running access have given the public a place to recreate and enjoy nature. HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 32 | 33 Keeping this property open to the community in some fashion- an amphitheater, an open space, a garden, so on and so forth- keeps this special spot in town part of the vibrant community that makes CSU a great place to study. Developing new housing that shuts out the public & nature, reverses that. I'm not opposed to housing development. But there are many other places to build housing around town, on land that is not quite so special. Please consider how this property can be kept a part of the community, rather than a development of ritzy housing that cordons off ever more of the foothills for the enjoyment of a few. 158. I know CSU does not want the property, but for years they held there cross country meets there. I think it should stays as it is, minus Hughes Stadium, for cross country meets for CSU and for the local high schools. CU in Boulder has a nice piece of open undeveloped land that they use for cross country meets. 159. My suggestion for the property is to do an exchange with the Gardens on Spring Creek for their property. Build your housing at the Gardens property as that area is already tuned in for additional traffic with the new stadium. Set up the Gardens at Hughes location with more room for the Gardens and build an amphitheater as part of the Gardens there. The Gardens has been fighting to put a music venue in anyway. 160. In considering options for the Hughes Stadium property, my priorities are: 1. Open space. Close-in open space and wildlife habitat is critical to a quality community. Ideally the entire site would be set aside in perpetuity, administered by City of Fort Collins Natural Areas or Larimer County Open Lands program, with restoration efforts to jumpstart natural processes on disturbed portions of the property. If not the whole acreage, let's set aside the bulk of the property and consider the following priority on a small portion . . . 2. Cluster development. If some sort of housing and/or commercial development is deemed part of the property's future, smart design must allow it to be clustered on a small portion of the property, ideally adjacent to existing development and roads, so that priority 1 above can also be accomplished. Clustering can reduce infrastructure costs, making development more affordable. I'll hold up my own neighborhood as an example of what's possible. Greyrock Commons, in NW Fort Collins, is a 16-acre site. Zoning would allow 30 houses to be built on 1/2-acre lots, fragmenting the entire site. However we chose to cluster the 30 houses on about 4 acres so that 75% of the property could be preserved as open space. Over 20+ years, we have worked to restore native vegetation and have seen extremely positive results in terms of diverse habitat and wildlife. The approach we took benefits residents, neighbors and the environment. 161. Open space, open space, open space! Once we develop that land and that view we will never get it back. But why are you asking for our feedback? Tom Milligan, VP of External Affairs was already quoted as saying that the space would definitely be "monetized", which means that leaving the land open and natural really isn't an option to CSU because it doesn't generate income. His HUGHES ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM COMMENTS: Aug. 28-Dec. 21, 2017 H u g h e s R e d e v e l o p m e n t O n l i n e F e e d b a c k P a g e 33 | 33 quote in last Thursday's Coloradoan ("We are going above and beyond what is traditionally done in terms of gathering input.") indicates to me that they are more interested in saying 'See, we went out of our way to ask for input.' than 'We will take your input seriously. 162. I am a 24-year resident of west Fort Collins not far from Hughes Stadium. For 22 1/2 of those years I was also employed as a Research Associate at CSU. As for the fate of the stadium property, I think the last thing most residents want to see is more development. Keeping most of the property as open space and/or park land would provide the greatest benefit to the citizens of Fort Collins. However, I am acutely aware of the high cost of housing in this region and the difficulty many CSU employees have affording a place to live. Therefore, perhaps 25% or so of the property could be developed as affordable housing for the CSU workforce. I sincerely hope the University will take the community's input to heart, rather than completely ignoring it as they did when the decision to build the new stadium was made. 163. Do not build housing! Build housing out east or north of Wellington. Our traffic situation is a huge problem already. Either leave it open space or a multiuse recreation park. Field space for athletics is hard to find and at a premium. So an athletic park w multiple fields for soccer, lacrosse, football, etc. would be nice. Hope CSU does not decide to get greedy and develop into housing. I am a CSU alumni and am supporting the new stadium and all the other new upgrades to the University. But sometimes it feels like they want everybody to buy in to their projects but don’t really give back or share their facilities. 164. This is an opportunity for CSU and Fort Collins to do the right thing and not blindly follow the developers($). This area is far too important to the community to just throw up more condensed housing to the detriment of all else. We as West Fort Collins residents would appreciate a truly respectful community and nature oriented approach! Hughes Redevelopment Traffic Open Space View Housing Density Affordable Housing Retail Other concerned about traffic on West Drake What percentage of the development will be open space? Is frisbee golf course included in the percentage? What penance offered to future generations for this destruction of the view and environment? This area has the potential for mixed build of houses, small boutique businesses like Jessup Farm development and open space like Spring Creek park. Involve the community and listen. We don't need 700 homes in that space. Strongly suggest that the City requires the developer to offer Affordable Housing given the housing issues in the City, this is an opportunity! Mixed, market rate housing is not affordable. Planned Retail Will schools be built to accommodate more students? Traffic on Drake and Overland The City will need to add a second trail from Maxwell to Horsetooth Reservoir. Open to all trail users - hikers, bikers, horses. It is already crowded with trail conflicts. The Ft Collins biking community is gravely concerned that we will be harmed by this development. This can be avoided and the biking community would like to help. Please keep our view to mountains open! No 2 story!!! I have many other concerns and would like to be heard! Thank you! Variety of housing styles, types, density is most important. Small houses 800sf and smaller, duplex units, apartments, ideally with different builders for mixture/variety. Single family ranch style with small attached apartments. Are you considering such? Who will the target residents be if affordable housing? If senior, will it be teeny, tiny and cramped? Reasonably priced and pleasant? Lack of shopping for new residents/grocery stores Will there be some sort of community center for our side of town included w/development? There are no city pools or anything like that near this development. It would be nice to not have to cross College to take kids to Epic or Mulberry (which are always busy). Indoor center w/a basketball court would be good too. How do you intend to handle traffic using only Drake and Prospect as main arteries to access the property. Also, what about Overland Trail? At earlier meetings, the majority of citizen comments favored leaving this area as an open space (or at least not high density housing). It seems as though this is now not being considered as part of the plan - why? How does acreage of retail affect housing density? At least there should be open space with affordable housing. Will there be retail/business located in the development, and if so what type? If there is a community park - please consider dedicated pickle ball courts instead of tennis courts How will traffic on Prospect from Overland to 4 lanes at Overland/bus route/intersection at Drake and Overland I am mostly concerned about the natural space being ruined and the wildlife as well as quality of life being affected. This will create more traffic and CO2 emissions. Animals will not have free open space to roam. There will be no view of the foothills for the homes in this area. Are we leaning towards keeping 9 holes at Hughes? If we want to make it shorter, I'd love to help find the baskets a new area to go in. I helped with the CO open space grant. Fort Collins Fun Disco Golf. If there will be housing permitted in this area, please only allow single family housing. Drake Road is a race track as it is! Are there any requirements on this developer to dedicate a certain percentage of the space for OPEN SPACE? What discussions, thoughts have been considered for increase in city services, i.e., more police and fire personnel, medical facility, etc? Concerned about road improvements required on all main streets leading to Overland and on Overland itself. I am very opposed to intersection developments and very much want roundabouts to be used on its entire length. Connected to that is a fierce protection of cyclists - commuter and recreation. I run on the Maxwell trails and Dixon trails and I am concerned about the impact of development on trail use and all of the wildlife. Why no input BEFORE decisions made - can this be stopped (HA!)? Overland Trail and Drake is dangerous now, so hopefully that will be addressed. Biking is especially difficult Why can't this be kept as Open Space? Just want more info as to the plans. Why are you so enamored with roundabouts? They don't work! Overland Trail is difficult to access and exit now how can it be expanded with minimal space? Why wasn't CSU present during their requirements and their purchase agreement? What balance will be offered for wild/open space lost? Landscaping is a concern. I've seen newer neighborhoods in the area install landscape plans that just done make sense. I hope you'll integrate existing trees and build a plan that involves sustainable native plants. I would recommend using local resources like Spring Creek Gardens and CSU. Are the roads to be upgraded to accommodate major increase in volume? Are traffic lights going to go in to allow other neighborhoods to get out to the main road (Overland Trail) How do citizens get the city to require applicant to mitigate for increased trail usage? Or - what kinds of requirements can the city make of applicant? Can we see TIS docs, maps? Overland is currently a major bicycle route, but with the increasing amount of development there is more traffic and cycling becomes much more dangerous - also this is a huge inconvenience for neighbors - how 1) Traffic: I live near Overland/West Elizabeth and would be in favor of a roundabout if you can slow down speeds with possible speed bumps or other method. Drivers in general go too fast through roundabouts in F.C. and sometimes don't yield to those already in the roundabout. 2) preserve bike lanes on Overland/West Elizabeth. 3) City of Fort Collins strategic plan includes equity and inclusion. Please involve equity and inclusion coordinator/social sustainability in discussions at the beginning of process to avoid unintended negative consequences on certain populations. A NW park could impact the ponds even more than it already does. We now have many non neighborhood citizens occupying street parking. We all know that water/droughts are a major concern. Instead of so much grass in new developments (this is a big one), why not require that the builder landscape responsibly, i.e. xeriscape INSTEAD of water sucking grass? Thank you. Roads - Drake? Traffic/how will this affect flooding? What is the proposed "green" space dimension? It looks like it is very narrow, basically 10 feet or less all around. Will there be some sort of community center for our side of town included w/development? There are no city pools or anything like that near this development. It would be nice to not have to cross College to take kids to Epic or Mulberry (which are always Overland is a unique street in that it's a gateway road to beginner cyclists due to the reduced traffic. How will the developer and City work to make cycling safe along the corridor since there will be an obvious increase in vehicular traffic? Also, what mass transit plans are being considered to reduce the vehicle traffic? How many acres of total will remain undeveloped? What plans to have adequate fire safety set in place for the increased density/increase fire danger? Is this going to be a gated area? Traffic lights - additional - where located? Widening of Overland Trail? Park fees? Zoning? Effects on property values? Any senior housing? Existing trees? Biking and hiking trail improvements? Public space seems limited compared to the historic use at this site. Lacking for a social gathering space, a space where noise is not an issue and parking is not an issue. An area for the community. A visual corridor to the hughes park is not captured in the concept plan. The park concept looks interesting but would be blocked by homes and the trees that were torn down to build the new stadium Why was CSU not present? What accomodations for traffic on Drake? City bus needs to be extended to Overland Please leave this area open for walking/running and dogs. It is so healing and important place. Houses and retail will only congest a more quiet side of town. Open space/park along north fence line next o existing homes. Fort Collins is a special place with space to breathe. Once it's gone it's too late to go Traffic circles vs traffic lights Rezoning should consider the impact of the extensive development on wildlife/environmental movement and mitigation - miles to the north and south. How is this addressed? Employees at CSU have already mentioned that this site has already been "slated" for a 600-700 home sites. If this is true, what is the purpose of this meeting? With children who need to cross Drake, Prospect and Taft, I am concerned about the increased traffic and resulting noise. What is the money the City would need to buy this make it green space? West Fort Collins monitor shows high ozone days in the summer. What will developers of City do to mitigate and monitor the impact of increase in traffic, housing etc. on Fort Collins air quality? How will existing infrastructure (roads, traffic lights, etc) be modified for this project? Will there be public parking at the northwest park? Or transit to the park? If the developer is allowed to establish a metro district for the Hughes Stadium project, will they commit NOW to following the Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready home standard for energy efficiency, as Montava has done? How will existing infrastructure (roads, traffic lights, etc) be modified for this project? Will applicant be required to meet with recreation/user groups to plan/design the proposed park so that our needs & desires are actually used and implemented? What tax incentives is Lennar due to receive? How will traffic be managed with the influx of 1500 or more cars added to the already congested western part of our city? Please respect and honor the recreation culture of Fort Collins. It is an economic driver and presents a real opportunity to create a very unique and special development that is befitting of Fort Collins. Eco friendly utilities addressing climate change example:routing water for gree areas and solar Wants to stay informed on what's going on - traffic is an issue. Will water wise/zeroscaping be used to conserve water? Trees provide shade and cooling of homes and landscape. Will trees be planted to adequately cool area and provide screening and beauty? Traffic is already impossible at times during the day specifically at Elizabeth and Overland. How will that be handled? Please address Lennar's rating on BBB. 459 complaints within the last years, 1 star rating. Will the traffic study include Prospect between Taft Hill and Overland Trail? Will the development be required to bring arterials up to current standards if the development increases traffic along W Prospect, Elizabeth and Mulberry? If the area is covered with impervious pavement and homes - where will the monsoon run-off go? In light The traffic currently on Drake and Overland are becoming more congested, how will this development handle traffic? 600 - 700 homes is a concern to me for adding huge amounts of volume to an area already growing exponentially with traffic. Assuming this development begins I hope to see the development be 300-400 homes. Heavy traffic on Drake! With all this development. Prospect (or Mulberry) must be widened to 4+ lanes. We do not have to wait for a developer to widen one of these roads. There is prescedent when they widen intersections of Drake and Taft Hill. There is already tons of road congestion and NOISE from Drake. Also, lowering the speed limit on Drake between Taft Hill and Overland to 35mph or less. There has been so much development and new neighborhoods on the west side, need another 4 lane road going that direction! Will development include widening of Prospect and Mulberry (west end)? Concerned about increase of traffic on Drake past our neighborhood (Quail Hollow). When is traffic study to be conducted? Our town changes considerably during the course of this year - students, outdoor recreation/cyclists, etc. Please consider this when timing this. We already have a huge problem with traffic! What is the planned/unplanned impact on Overland, Mulberry and Prospect? To help mitigate expected increase in traffic volume, will the City and developer work together to provide adequate connecting bus service by expanding TransFort routes and service? Consider using roundabouts Traffic coordination with Overland Trail and the Holiday Twin (drive-in theater) and intersection of County Road. Will we be able to meet for coordination? We are land locked! The only way people will be able to disperse out of this development is by heading EAST. We're talking about possibly 2000- 3500 cars driving through our neighborhood. The people who live on Stuart Street have their front door FACING THE STREET!!! Some of our front doors are less than 20 feet from the street. What will you do to avoid having this affect our quality of life and loss in property value? What road improvements for West Prospect and Overland/Drake? FAQ July 10, 2019 Natural Areas and the Hughes Stadium Site Question: How will the Maxwell Natural Areas be preserved if the Hughes Stadium redevelopment proposal is approved? Will more parking be created for access to the Maxwell Trail? Are more trails planned in the area to accommodate the extra expected foot traffic? Residents of this development will increase the number of visitors to Maxwell Natural Area as well as Pineridge Natural Area. The Natural Areas Department also anticipates an increase in visitor use due to population growth in general. Additional use of these areas currently is under consideration as a part of the Foothills Natural Areas Management Plan update. The Plan is scheduled to be completed by fall 2019. Several options are under consideration at Maxwell Natural Area, including: • A new trail that separates hikers and horseback riders from mountain bikers. This option would spread out visitors and provide additional access, however the habitat at Maxwell would be further fragmented and damaged. • Maintenance of the current trails as they are with some improvement over current conditions. A management system was under consideration that would have alternated the days that the trail is open to mountain bikers and hikers/equestrians. This tactic has been successfully implemented by other land management agencies. However, it is no longer being considered due to a lack of public support and also current user data that demonstrates a high level of visitor satisfaction. Question: Can the City purchase the Hughes Stadium site and preserve it as a natural area and did the City try to purchase the property? Colorado State University owns the site. CSU has been clear that it wishes to monetize the site and its focus has been the recruitment of a residential development firm. The property currently is under contract to Lennar Homes. The City did not attempt to purchase the site. From the perspective of Natural Areas staff, there would be significant opportunity costs associated with a purchase. For example, funds directed to the Hughes site would not be available for conservation in northeast Fort Collins which has no natural area sites. The Hughes site, on the other hand, has nearby natural areas of over 1,000 acres with nearly 10 miles of trail as well as a large community park. Question: What are the criteria for acquisition of a site for designation as a Natural Area? The Natural Areas Department (Department) considers numerous criteria when prioritizing a site for acquisition as a natural area. The Department may only acquire land from a willing seller. The following criteria are considered: current and potential wildlife habitat values; access to nature for the community; value as buffer or addition to an existing natural area; existing condition of property and the cost to restore; other conservation values such as scenic, community separator, agriculture, cultural resources; alignment with City Plan goals and the Natural Areas Master Plan; and, education opportunities. 1 ATTACHMENT TO COMPLAINT Complainant: Nicolas Frey Respondent: Kristin Stephens Complainant Nicolas Frey submits the following statement in connection with the complaint against the above-named Respondent, which complaint is being submitted to the Independent Ethics Commission (the “Commission”). INTRODUCTION A city councilmember “should follow [1] Colorado statutes pertaining to conflicts of interest and [2] constitutional requirements pertaining to the appearance of impropriety.” Comm’n Advisory Op. 16-05, at 4. Here, Respondent has violated both the statutory standards and the constitutional standards that have been established for the conduct of elected officials. Kristin Stephens is a Councilmember on the City Council for the City of Fort Collins. She is also employed by Colorado State University (the “University”). Notwithstanding her employment with the University, Ms. Stephens voted and participated as a councilmember in the decisionmaking process pertaining to the permitted development of a parcel of land owned by the University, the result of which, once finally approved, will be to directly and substantially benefit the University. (The required “second” vote on the issue has not taken place but is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2020.) By participating and voting on the resolution affecting the development of the Property, Ms. Stephens acted under an impermissible conflict of interest, breached 2 the public trust and her fiduciary duty, and violated constitutional standards governing the conduct of elected officials. STATEMENT OF FACTS 1. Kristen Stephens is a Councilmember on the City Council for the City of Fort Collins. The City Council is comprised of seven members. 2. Ms. Stephens is currently employed by the University as the Graduate Coordinator and the Program Assistant in the Department of Statistics. 3. The University owns a parcel of land located at the northwest quadrant at the intersection of South Overland Trail and Dixon Canyon Road (the “Property”). The Property is the former site of Hughes Stadium. 4. The University has entered into an agreement with a developer, Lennar Homes (the “Purchaser”), for the purchase and sale of the Property (the “Purchase Agreement”). 5. The Purchase Agreement provides for an “Additional Purchase Price” for each additional housing unit developed and sold on the Property, thus creating an incentive for the University to seek to obtain the highest zoning density allowable in order to gain the highest purchase price for the Property. 6. The Purchase Agreement also includes a “Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation” whereby the Purchaser is permitted to withdraw from the Purchase Agreement if less than 600 lots are approved by the City Council for development. 7. On October 1, 2019, Ms. Stephens participated and voted in favor of a resolution relating to the development of the Property, which resolution, once adopted 3 (i.e., after a required second vote), will, in effect, allow the high-density development of the Property, to the substantial benefit of the University. 8. The resolution passed by a vote of 4-3. In so voting, the City Council rejected the recommendation of the City’s Planning and Zoning Board. The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended a lower-density zone—residential foothills, or “RF”—for the entire site. 9. The required second vote on the resolution is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2020. ARGUMENT I. Ms. Stephens acted with an impermissible conflict of interest and thus violated her fiduciary duty and the public trust. Certain statutory standards govern the conduct of elected officials. “The holding of public office . . . is a public trust.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-18-103(1). Therefore, elected officials are under a mandate to carry out their duties “for the benefit of the people of the state.” Id. § 24-18-103(1). A breach of the public trust constitutes a breach of the official’s fiduciary duty. See id.; Gessler v. Smith, 419 P.3d 964, 972 (Colo. 2018). This is the statutory standard: A “local government official . . . shall not . . . [p]erform an official act directly and substantially affecting to its economic benefit a business or other undertaking in which he [or she] either has a substantial financial interest or is engaged as . . . representative . . . or agent.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-18- 109(2)(b). A violation of this prohibition “is proof that the actor has breached his [or her] fiduciary duty and the public trust.” Gessler v. Smith, 419 P.3d 964, 972 (Colo. 4 2018). Ms. Stephens violated the public trust and her fiduciary duty because the vote she cast in favor of the development of the Property will directly and substantially benefit her employer. As an elected member of the City Council, Ms. Stephens qualifies as a “local government official.” See Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-18-102(6) (“local government official” means “an elected or appointed official of a local government”). Ms. Stephens’ vote constitutes an “official act” under the statute. See id. § 24- 18-102(7) (“official act” means “any vote, decision, recommendation, approval, disapproval, or other action, including inaction, which involves the use of discretionary authority”). The University qualifies as a “business” under the statute. See id. § 24-18- 102(1) (“business” means “any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, trust or foundation, or other individual or organization carrying on a business, whether or not operated for profit”). As discussed above, the vote pertaining to the development of the Property will “directly and substantially” benefit the University in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement. See id. § 24-18-109(2)(b). Ms. Stephens has a “substantial financial interest” in the University, as that phrase is defined by the statute, because she is employed by the University. The statute defines “financial interest” to mean “a substantial interest held by an individual which is,” among other things, “[a]n employment.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24- 5 18-102(4). The vote Ms. Stephens cast in favor of the development of the Property will directly and substantially benefit her employer. By so doing, she violated the public trust and breached her fiduciary duty. II. Ms. Stephens violated the constitutional mandate that elected officials abstain from the appearance of impropriety. In addition to the statutory provisions cited above, the Colorado Constitution requires an even higher standard. Under the Constitution, covered individuals must “avoid conduct that is in violation of their public trust or that creates a justifiable impression among members of the public that such trust is being violated.” Colo. Const. Art. XXIX, sec. 1(c) (emphasis added). Ms. Stephens’ vote in relation to the development of the Property created “a justifiable impression” among members of the public that her vote was not cast for the benefit of the citizenry generally but, rather, for the benefit of her employer. As the Commission has observed, “[a]ppearances of impropriety are generally referred to as ‘perception issues’ or ‘violating the smell test,’” and such appearances “can weaken public confidence in government and create a perception of dishonesty, even among government officials who are in technical compliance with the law.” Comm’n Advisory Op. 16-05, at 4. “In order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, local government officials should avoid voting on or debating questions in a manner that may lead the public to perceive that the local government official is . . . placing his or her own private business interests in a position of competitive advantage . . . .” Comm’n Advisory Op. 6 16-05, at 4. Here, by casting a vote that will directly and substantially benefit her employer, Ms. Stephens violated the constitutional prohibition against the appearance of impropriety. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Complainant Nicolas Frey respectfully requests that the Independent Ethics Commission conduct an investigation into the circumstances alleged herein and take all appropriate action in relation thereto. Dated this 18th day of May, 2020. Respectfully submitted, CAMBRIDGE LAW LLC Reid J. Allred, Atty. No. 37534 Jared M. Haynie, Atty. No. 41751 4610 S. Ulster Street, Suite 150 Denver, Colorado 80237 (303) 488-3338 reid@cambridgelawcolorado.com jared@cambridgelawcolorado.com Attorneys for Complainant 1 ATTACHMENT TO COMPLAINT Complainant: Nicolas Frey Respondent: Wade Troxell Complainant Nicolas Frey submits the following statement in connection with the complaint against the above-named Respondent, which complaint is being submitted to the Independent Ethics Commission (the “Commission”). INTRODUCTION A city councilmember “should follow [1] Colorado statutes pertaining to conflicts of interest and [2] constitutional requirements pertaining to the appearance of impropriety.” Comm’n Advisory Op. 16-05, at 4. Here, Respondent has violated both the statutory standards and the constitutional standards that have been established for the conduct of elected officials. Wade Troxell is the Mayor of Fort Collins and also serves as a Councilmember on the Fort Collins City Council. He is also employed by Colorado State University (the “University”). Notwithstanding his employment with the University, Mr. Troxell voted and participated as a councilmember in the decisionmaking process pertaining to the permitted development of a parcel of land owned by the University, the result of which, once finally approved, will be to directly and substantially benefit the University. (The required “second” vote on the issue has not taken place but is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2020.) By participating and voting on the resolution affecting the development of the Property, Mr. Troxell acted under an impermissible conflict of interest, breached the 2 public trust and his fiduciary duty, and violated constitutional standards governing the conduct of elected officials. STATEMENT OF FACTS 1. Wade Troxell is the Mayor of Fort Collins. He also serves as a Councilmember on the Fort Collins City Council. The City Council is comprised of seven members. 2. Mr. Troxell is currently employed by the University as an Associate Professor. 3. The University owns a parcel of land located at the northwest quadrant at the intersection of South Overland Trail and Dixon Canyon Road (the “Property”). The Property is the former site of Hughes Stadium. 4. The University has entered into an agreement with a developer, Lennar Homes (the “Purchaser”), for the purchase and sale of the Property (the “Purchase Agreement”). 5. The Purchase Agreement provides for an “Additional Purchase Price” for each additional housing unit developed and sold on the Property, thus creating an incentive for the University to seek to obtain the highest zoning density allowable in order to gain the highest purchase price for the Property. 6. The Purchase Agreement also includes a “Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation” whereby the Purchaser is permitted to withdraw from the Purchase Agreement if less than 600 lots are approved by the City Council for development. 7. On October 1, 2019, Mr. Troxell participated and voted in favor of a 3 resolution relating to the development of the Property, which resolution, once adopted (i.e., after a required second vote), will, in effect, allow the high-density development of the Property, to the substantial benefit of the University. 8. The resolution passed by a vote of 4-3. In so voting, the City Council rejected the recommendation of the City’s Planning and Zoning Board. The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended a lower-density zone—residential foothills, or “RF”—for the entire site. 9. The required second vote on the resolution is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2020. ARGUMENT I. Mr. Troxell acted with an impermissible conflict of interest and thus violated his fiduciary duty and the public trust. Certain statutory standards govern the conduct of elected officials. “The holding of public office . . . is a public trust.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-18-103(1). Therefore, elected officials are under a mandate to carry out their duties “for the benefit of the people of the state.” Id. § 24-18-103(1). A breach of the public trust constitutes a breach of the official’s fiduciary duty. See id.; Gessler v. Smith, 419 P.3d 964, 972 (Colo. 2018). This is the statutory standard: A “local government official . . . shall not . . . [p]erform an official act directly and substantially affecting to its economic benefit a business or other undertaking in which he [or she] either has a substantial financial interest or is engaged as . . . representative . . . or agent.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-18- 109(2)(b). A violation of this prohibition “is proof that the actor has breached his [or 4 her] fiduciary duty and the public trust.” Gessler v. Smith, 419 P.3d 964, 972 (Colo. 2018). Mr. Troxell violated the public trust and his fiduciary duty because the vote he cast in favor of the development of the Property will directly and substantially benefit his employer. As Mayor and as a member of the City Council, Mr. Troxell qualifies as a “local government official.” See Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-18-102(6) (“local government official” means “an elected or appointed official of a local government”). Mr. Troxell’s vote constitutes an “official act” under the statute. See id. § 24- 18-102(7) (“official act” means “any vote, decision, recommendation, approval, disapproval, or other action, including inaction, which involves the use of discretionary authority”). The University qualifies as a “business” under the statute. See id. § 24-18- 102(1) (“business” means “any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, trust or foundation, or other individual or organization carrying on a business, whether or not operated for profit”). As discussed above, the vote pertaining to the development of the Property will “directly and substantially” benefit the University in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement. See id. § 24-18-109(2)(b). Mr. Troxell has a “substantial financial interest” in the University, as that phrase is defined by the statute, because he is employed by the University. The statute defines “financial interest” to mean “a substantial interest held by an 5 individual which is,” among other things, “[a]n employment.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24- 18-102(4). The vote Mr. Troxell cast in favor of the development of the Property will directly and substantially benefit his employer. By so doing, he violated the public trust and breached his fiduciary duty. II. Mr. Troxell violated the constitutional mandate that elected officials abstain from the appearance of impropriety. In addition to the statutory provisions cited above, the Colorado Constitution requires an even higher standard. Under the Constitution, covered individuals must “avoid conduct that is in violation of their public trust or that creates a justifiable impression among members of the public that such trust is being violated.” Colo. Const. Art. XXIX, sec. 1(c) (emphasis added). Mr. Troxell’s vote in relation to the development of the Property created “a justifiable impression” among members of the public that his vote was not cast for the benefit of the citizenry generally but, rather, for the benefit of his employer. As the Commission has observed, “[a]ppearances of impropriety are generally referred to as ‘perception issues’ or ‘violating the smell test,’” and such appearances “can weaken public confidence in government and create a perception of dishonesty, even among government officials who are in technical compliance with the law.” Comm’n Advisory Op. 16-05, at 4. “In order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, local government officials should avoid voting on or debating questions in a manner that may lead the public to perceive that the local government official is . . . placing his or her own private 6 business interests in a position of competitive advantage . . . .” Comm’n Advisory Op. 16-05, at 4. Here, by casting a vote that will directly and substantially benefit his employer, Mr. Troxell violated the constitutional prohibition against the appearance of impropriety. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Complainant Nicolas Frey respectfully requests that the Independent Ethics Commission conduct an investigation into the circumstances alleged herein and take all appropriate action in relation thereto. Dated this 18th day of May, 2020. Respectfully submitted, CAMBRIDGE LAW LLC Reid J. Allred, Atty. No. 37534 Jared M. Haynie, Atty. No. 41751 4610 S. Ulster Street, Suite 150 Denver, Colorado 80237 (303) 488-3338 reid@cambridgelawcolorado.com jared@cambridgelawcolorado.com Attorneys for Complainant PURCHASE AND SALE 8GREEMENT [Hughes Stadium Redevelopment) THIS PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), the Effective Date of which is January 31 , 2019, is entered into by the STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE OF COLORADO, now known as the BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ("Seller") and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ("Buyer"). Buyer and Seller will sometimes be referred to herein individually as a "Party" or together as "Parties"). RECITALS A. Seller is the owner of that certain real property located at 201 1 South Overland Trail, Fort Collins, Colorado, which was formerly the location of Hughes Stadium (the "Property"). B. Seller wishes to sell to Buyer the Property and Buyer wishes to purchase from Seller the Property, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, which form a substantive part of this Agreement, and Of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreement of the Parties set forth in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged. Buyer and Seller do hereby agree as follows: 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms that are not defined when first used in this Agreement have the meanings set forth below. (a) Additional Purchase Price: As defined in Section 15(a). (b) Additional Title Matter: As defined in Section 6(g). (c) Affiliate: As defined in Section 18(d). (d) Authorities: All federal, state and local governmental and quasigovernmental agencies, bodies, entities, boards and authorities that have jurisdiction over the Property, the furnishing of utilities or other services to the Property, or the subdivision, improvement, development, occupancy, sale or use of the Property. (e) None. (D Buyer's Entitlement Costs: As defined in Section 3(d). (g) Buyer's Entitlement Work Product: As defined in Section 4(d). City of Fort Collins. 2 1857N5.2 (i) Closing: The act of settlement of the purchase and sale of the Lots at which Seller conveys title to Buyer by delivery of a deed and Buyer delivers the Purchase Price to Seller. The Parties contemplate that there will be one Closing. O) Closing Date: As defined in Section 5(a). (k) As defined in Section 6(a). Confidentipl Information: As defined in Section 17(a). (m) CORA: As defined in Section 17(c). (n) Deposit: Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), as more particularly specified in Section 3(a). (o) Disclosing Partv: As defined in Section 7(a). (p) Pistrict•. As defined in Section 4(g). (q) Documents; As defined in Section 4(c). (r) Effective Date: The date on which both Parties have delivered to the other a fully executed original of this Agreement. The Effective Date shall be filled in above upon establishment of the Effective Date. (s) Escrow Agent or Title Company: Fidelity National Title Company, 3500 John F. Kennedy Pkwy., Ste. 100, Fort Collins, co 80525. Existing Survey: As defined in Section 6(e). (u) Period: The period beginning on the Effective Date and expiring on 5:00 p.m. MDT, on the ninetieth (90th) day after the Effective Date. (v) Financial Records: As defined in Section 15(d). (w) Final Plat: As defined in Section 4(e). (x) Home: The home types that Buyer intends to build on the Lots. (y) Indemnified Partv: As defined in Section 4(c). (z) Initial Concept Plan: Buyer's initial concept plan for development of the Hughes Subdivision as set forth in the Response to Hughes Stadium Master Developer RFP dated June 8, 2018. (aa) Initial Title Materi*.• As defined in Section 6(a). 3 (bb) Legal Requirements: The rules, regulations, laws, ordinances, standards, approved plans and other requirements of the Authorities. (cc) loetter or Credit: As defined in Section 3(a). (dd) LgE: A proposed number Of six hundred twenty-five (625) lots, which may be increased or decreased pursuant to the Final Plat as described herein, to be developed as townhomes, paired homes and detached single family residences. (ee) Material Event Termination Notice: As defined in Section 7. Mqximqm Seller Liability: As defined in Section 14(b) (gg) As defined in Section 15(b). Outside Closine pate: 5:00 p.m. MDT, October 30, 2020, at which time this Agreement shall automatically terminate if Closing has not been consummated before such time. Upon such termination, the Parties shall have such rights and responsibilities as are otherwise set forth in this Agreement. (ii) Permitted Exceptions: As defined in Section 6(h). Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation: As defined in Section (kk) Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation Deadline: As defined in Section 4(d). (11) Preliminary Entitlement Reimbursement: As defined in Section 4(d). (mm) Proiect Approvals: As defined in Section 4(e). (nn) EssLAppægLE.Æ.iQd: As defined in Section 40. (00) Project Documents: As defined in Section 4(e). (pp) Property: The parcel of real property currently containing approximately one hundred sixty-one (161) acres located at 201 1 South Overland Trail, City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado, as more particularly described and depicted on Exhibit attached hereto, including Seller's interest, if any, in all mineral, oil, gas, gravel, geothermal, and ground water rights appurtenant t 857W63.2 4 thereto; together with all contracts and contract rights, studies, materials and plans, including architectural, landscaping, grading, and other plans, specifications and reports applicable to the Lots; all easements, rights of way, permits. approvals, privileges and entitlements appurtenant thereto and all right, title and interest in and to all streets and water courses adjacent to, abutting or serving the real property. (qq) The proposed development of the Property into a desired number Of six hundred twenty-five (625) Lots, to be developed into single family detached, paired, and townhome Homes, with plans for low maintenance Homes and "Next Gen" Homes, together with planned significant trail systems, parks and open space tracts, with a central civic park to memorialize the former Hughes Stadium, and associated retail uses, to be known as the "Hughes Subdivision". (rr) Purchase Pcie•. The amount to be paid to Seller as provided in Section 3(b). (SS) Representative* As defined in Section 17(a). (tt) ReciDieng: As defined in Section 17(a). (uu) Retail Closing: The closing between Buyer or its successor and a third-party homebuyer of a Lot with a completed Home thereon. (vv) Sales Price(s): The purchase price for a Home(s) paid by a third party homebuyer at a Retail Closing, based upon the closing settlement statement (formerly known as a "HUD-I (ww) Suitabilitv Notice: As defined in Section 4(b). (xx) Title Review Period: As defined in Section 6(c). (yy) Updated Survey; As defined in Section 6(e). (zz) Warrant! Expiration Date: As defined in Section 14(b). 2. Purchase and Sple. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Seller agrees to sell to Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase from Seller, the Property in fee simple. 3. Depositi Purchase Price. (a) Delivery of Deposit. Within five (5) business days after the Effective Date, Buyer shall deliver to Escrow Agent the Deposit by wire transfer, or at Buyer's election, shall deliver to Escrow Agent the Deposit in the form of a letter of credit issued by 5 18570965.2 1 or the benefit of Seller in the form attached hereto as X It (t e tter re It t uyer fails to deliver the Suitability Notice as provided in Section 4(b), prior to the end of the Feasibility Period, then this Agreement shall automatically terminate as of the end of the Feasibility Period and Escrow Agent shall immediately return the Deposit to Buyer at such time. After delivery of the Suitability Notice. the Deposit shall be nonrefundable to Buyer except as expressly provided in Sections 6(g)(ii), 7, 8, 9, I I(b) and I I(d) of this Agreement. The Deposit shall be held by Escrow Agent in escrow, with any cash portion held in a separate, federally-insured interest bearing account(s), and the interest shall be considered pan of the Deposit. The Deposit shall not be credited against the Purchase Price, unless during the term Of this Agreement the Letter Of Credit is substituted or replaced with a cash deposit, and then only in the amount held by the Escrow Agent and applied at Closing. If this Agreement is terminated by Buyer pursuant to Sections 4(b), 4(d), 4(e), 6(g)(ii), 7, 8, 9, I(b) and I I(d), the Deposit then held by Escrow Agent shall be returned to Buyer by Escrow Agent, and, except as otherwise provided herein, thereafter, all further rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall terminate. (b) Eurcbase Price. The Purchase Price for the Property payable at Closing shall be Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) ("Purchase Price"). and shall be adjusted prior to Closing as follows: (i) based upon the number of Lots contained in the Final Plat, if fewer than sixty hundred twenty-five (625) Lots are approved in the Final Plat, then the Purchase Price would be reduced on a pro rata basis in the amount of Sixteen Thousand Dollars (S 16,000.00) per Lot less than sixty hundred twenty-five (625) Lots, up to a maximum reduction equivalent to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00); (ii) if more than sixty hundred twenty-five (625) Lots are approved in the Final Plat then the Purchase Price would be increased by the amount of Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00) per Lot more than sixty hundred twenty-five (625) Lots; and (iii) if the City allows a reduction of the amount of drainage areas in the Project from those currently shown on Buyer's Initial Concept Plan, then the Purchase Price would be increased by Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) for each such additional Lot more than sixty hundred twenty-five (625) Lots caused as a result of the reduction of the drainage areas in the Project; and (ii) Buyer's Entitlement Costs up to a maximum of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) shall be applied as a credit against the Purchase Price, provided that Buyer shall deliver to Seller paid invoices with reasonable backup documentation. (c) Additional Price. In addition to the Purchase Price, from and after Closing, Buyer shall pay Seller the Additional Purchase Price specified in Section 15 below. (d) Entitlement and matting Costs. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Purchase Price is based upon the Final Plat pursuant to the Project Documents receiving 6 final, unappealable approval by the applicable Authorities, together with recordation thereof, on or before Closing for a minimum of six hundred twenty five (625) Lots, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3(b) (or if appeal is taken, such appeal has been resolved to the commercially reasonable satisfaction of Buyer). Buyer shall be responsible for all costs of 1857*5.2 preparation and submittal of the Final Plat and Project Documents, and to pay any fees imposed by the Authorities as a condition to final approval of Final Plat and Project Documents and the costs charged by the County Clerk and Recorder for recordation of the Final Plat, and any park and school dedication fees imposed by the Authorities at or before recordation Of the Final Plat to the extent not satisfied by open space and school dedications in the Final Plat, and any traffic impact fees or other fees or charges imposed by the Authorities at recordation of the Final Plat, expressly including any raw water requirements and City-required water resource or water capital fees. Buyer agrees to be solely responsible for such costs of rezoning, platting and engineering costs Of preparation and submittal Of the Final Plat and Project Documents incurred by Buyer (collectively, "Buyer's Entitlement Costs"). During the Feasibility Period, Buyer will present Buyer's Initial Concept Plan to the City for preliminary review and feedback. 4. Preliminary Magers. (a) Feasibilitv Study. Buyer shall have the right during the Feasibility Period, to investigate title and to make such investigations, studies and tests with respect to the Property as Buyer deems necessary or appropriate to determine the feasibility of purchasing the Property. Buyer acknowledges and Seller hereby agrees that Buyer will, during the Feasibility Period and prior to Closing, have the opportunity to make "Investigations, Tests and Surveys", as hereinafter defined, on the Property, to satisfy itself that the Property is satisfactory for Buyer's intended use. "Investigations, Tests and Surveys" means, without limitation, the following: (i) inspecting, surveying, making engineering, environmental and architectural studies, testing the soil and otherwise determining the condition of the Property; (ii) reviewing all Documents received from Seller under Section 4(c), all subdivision. zoning, and building code ordinances, rules and regulations of the City and applicable Authorities and the State of Colorado; (iii) determining that utilities, including, but without limitation, water, gas, electricity, telephone and cable television services, can be made available to adequately serve the improvements which are intended to be constructed on the Property; (iv) determining that there is or shall be adequate access to serve the Homes and retail spaces that Buyer intends to construct on the Property; (v) determining the nature, magnitude, and times due Of atl taxes, fees, charges, system development fees, tap fees, and Other costs which are or may be imposed upon the Property or Buyer by any utility company or government or quasi-government agency; (vi) determining the adequacy of water and sewer taps for the Property and service of same; (vii) determining the number, size and location of the Lots and retail spaces by submittal of a land plan to the City; and (viii) determining all other matters regarding the Property and the development thereof which Buyer deems appropriate. However, Buyer shall not engage in any physically invasive testing or inspections without Seller's prior written consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Seller wilt permit Buyer's consultants to contact the applicable Authorities in order to investigate the Property. Buyer will be fully responsible for payment of Buyer's consultant fees, costs and charges with respect to any such investigation. Buyer's obligation to purchase the Property is specifically contingent and conditional 7 upon Buyer being satisfied in its sole and subjective discretion that the Property can be developed for the Project and that there are no impediments to the development of the Property for the Project, which would make it unprofitable, impracticable or infeasible to purchase and develop the Property for Buyer's intended use. 1857W65.2 8 (b) Feasibility Period. Buyer shall have until expiration of the Feasibility Period to satisfy itself, in its sole and subjective discretion, with respect to the conditions set forth in this Section 4. It shall be conclusively presumed that Buyer is dissatisfied with the conditions set forth in this Section 4, and the Agreement shall automatically terminate and Buyer's Deposit shall be returned by Escrow Agent unless Buyer gives written notice to Seller Of its waiver of the conditions set forth in this Section 4 (the 'Suitability Notice") prior to expiration of the Feasibility Period. In addition, at any time prior to expiration of the Feasibility Period, Buyer may, in its sole discretion, for any reason or for no reason. terminate this Agreement by written notice to Seller. Upon any such termination of this Agreement, Buyer's Deposit shall be immediately returned to Buyer, and thereafter no Party hereto shall have any further obligation or liability to the other with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except for Buyer's obligations pursuant to Sections 4(c) and 12 hereof, which shall survive termination of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, no examination of the Property will be deemed to constitute a waiver or relinquishment on Buyer's part of its rights to rely on the express covenants, representations, warranties and agreements of Seller in this Agreement. (c) Righ$ of Entry. During the Feasibility Period and thereafter until this Agreement is terminated, Seller shall permit Buyer, its employees, agents, contractors and subcontractors (after giving Seller reasonable prior notice identifying the purpose of Buyer's entry) to enter upon the Property and while thereon make surveys, take measurements, perform soil test borings or other tests of surface and subsurface conditions, make engineering, environmental and other studies and inspect the Property. However, Buyer shall not engage in any physically invasive testing or inspections without Seller's prior written consent. Seller has made available to Buyer all material reports, surveys, tests, studies, assessments and other information regarding the Property that are in Seller's possession or control to facilitate Buyer's due diligence review of the Property (the "Documents"). Buyer shall (i) keep the Property free of any liens or third party claims resulting therefrom; (ii) defend, indemnify and hold harmless Seller and each of Seller's employees and agents, and Seller's affiliates' employees and agents (each an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all claims, causes of action, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees), losses, liability, or awards of any kind or nature incurred by Seller and/or an Indemnified Party caused by Buyer's entry into the Property, excluding negligent acts of Seller and pre-existing conditions in the Property not otherwise exacerbated by Buyer's entry, (iii) restore as nearly as practicable such portion of the Property damaged by Buyer's entry to substantially its condition immediately before such exercise, and (iv) maintain general liability insurance from the date hereof naming Seller as an additional insured, covering Buyer's activities on the Property in the minimum amount of $2,000,000 combined single limit for death, bodily injury and property damage, with companies and in a form reasonably satisfactory to Seller. The terms of subjections 4(c)(i) to 4(c)(iii) for the benefit of Seller shall survive the Closing or earlier termination of this Agreement. (d) Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation. During the Feasibility Period, Buyer shall use commercially reasonable, diligent and good faith efforts to satisfy itself, in Buyer's reasonable detennination, that the City will approve the final Project Approvals (as defined below) for a minimum of six hundred (600) Lots (the "Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation"). Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation shall include preliminary approval at a public hearing, and 9 18570965.2 support by City Council or the Planning and Zoning Board at a preapplication hearing. Buyer shall use commercially reasonable, good faith efforts to notify Seller in advance of any meetings or telephone conferences with City representatives that in any way pertain to its pursuit of the Preliminary Entitlement Confirrnation, and shall afford Seller the opportunity to have a representative present. If, despite commercially reasonable, diligent and good faith efforts, Buyer is unable to obtain a Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation or before ninety (90) days after expiration of the Feasibility Period (the "Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation Deadline"), and elects to terminate this Agreement by written notice to Seller on or before the Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation Deadline, as a result thereof, Buyer's Deposit shall be immediately returned to Buyer and Seller shall reimburse Buyer for Buyer's actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with its efforts to obtain the Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation (and not for other Feasibility Period matters) in an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00), as evidenced by paid invoices with reasonable backup documentation (the "Preliminary Entitlement Reimbursement"). Within ten (10) business days after payment by Seller of the Preliminary Entitlement Reimbursement to Buyer, Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies Of all of Buyer's Entitlement Work Product (as hereinafter defined). For purposes of this Section 4(d), "Buyer's Entitlement Work Product" means all site planning, development, platting and public improvement plans prepared by Buyer related to the Project, including any application materials related to the Preliminary Entitlement Confirmation or the Project Approvals, but not including Buyer's proprietary, privileged, or confidential information or Home plans. Buyer shall (a) take such actions and pay any legitimate outstanding sums as may be necessary to preclude any claim against Seller or the Property for any sums owing for the preparation of Buyer's Work Product, and (b) use reasonable efforts to obtain within ten (10) business days after Seller gives Buyer its written request, such consents as may be reasonably necessary to enable Seiler to utilize Buyer's Work Product; provided, that Buyer shall not be responsible for any party or consultant's refusal to provide any such consent. Buyer's Work Product shall otherwise be assigned "as is," without any representation or warranty by Buyer with respect to the accuracy or completeness of its contents. To the extent Buyer's Work Product can be assigned, Buyer's Work Product shall be deemed assigned to Seller upon the termination of this Agreement under this Section without the execution of any additional documents. The foregoing terms for the benefit of Seller shall survive the termination of this Agreement. (e) Project Approvqls. From and after the Effective Date, Buyer, at its sole cost and expense, shall use commercially reasonable, diligent and good faith efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the City and all other applicable Authorities on or before that date which is twelve (12) months after the Effective Date (the "Project Approval Period") for the following: (i) a PUD, with applicable zoning overlay: (ii) a Subdivision Improvement Agreement for the Project; (iii) a Final Development Plan for the Property; (iv) a final plat or plats for the Property in connection with Buyer's development of the Project to be recorded in the Clerk and Recorder's Office of the County of Larimer; and (v) engineering and construction drawings and plans related thereto (collectively, the "Final Plat") (all of which will be referred to collectively as the "Project Documents"). The approval by applicable Authorities of the Project Documents, shall be referTed to herein as the ' 'Project Approvals." If required by the City, the Project Documents will be submitted to the Authorities under Seller's name as owner of the Property. The Parties acknowledge that Ray 10 Baker will represent Seller on behalf of the Project and shall support, cooperate and assist Buyer in obtaining the Project Approvals, at no out-of-pocket cost to Seller; provided, however, that Buyer will be the "front" spokesperson for the Project with the City and will liaison with the City on behalf Of the Project. Buyer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep Seller reasonably informed of the status of its efforts to obtain the Project Approvals. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Closing shall be conditioned on Buyer's ability to obtain the Project Approvals on or before the expiration of the Project Approval Period. In the event Buyer is unable to obtain approval of the Project Documents, despite using diligent efforts, prior to the expiration of the Project Approval Period for reasons beyond Buyer's reasonable control, Buyer may elect to either (i) terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Seller prior to the expiration of the Project Approval Period and thereafter the Parties shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder. except for those which expressly survive termination, or (ii) waive its contingency in writing prior to the expiration Of the Project Approval Period to obtain the Project Approvals and proceed to Closing, and this Agreement remains in full force and effect, or (iii) request in writing within twenty (20) days before the expiration of the Project Approval Period a one-time extension of the Project Approval Period and the Closing Date for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer will not be obligated to fund or continue with the entitlement and platting process if, in Buyer's sole but reasonable discretion, Buyer determines during the Project Approvals Period that the City will not approve the Final Plat in conformance with Buyer's Initial Concept Plan. (f) Seller Review. A draft of the Project Documents shall be submitted by Buyer to Ray Baker, at rbaker9217@gmail.com, on behalf of Seller, for Seller's approval, not to be unreasonably withheld before submitting the same to the City. A courtesy copy of the Project Documents shall be sent concurrently to general.counsel@coloradostate.edu. Seller shall have ten (10) business days after each such submittal to provide written notice Of any objections to same, and if Seller does not provide a written objection within such 10 business day period, then it shall be deemed that Seller has approved such submittal. After such approval or deemed approval by Seller, Buyer shall not revise the form of the Project Documents in a material way without obtaining Seller's prior approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Upon approval by Seller, Buyer shall submit the draft Project Documents to the City. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Buyer shall be solely responsible for the timely payment of all fees assessed by the City relating to the Project Documents and any other development of the Project as required pursuant to the Project Documents, including, without limitation, all application and permit fees, site planning, engineering costs, and recording costs and any and all school fees assessed at Final Plat, land dedication fees, district fees, cash-in-lieu payments, City financial assurances and any other fee related thereto; it being expressly agreed to by the Parties that Seller shall not be responsible for the payment of any such fees or for any penalties resulting from Buyer's failure to timely pay any such fees. (g) District. Seller hereby acknowledges and agrees that Buyer may elect, and hereby retains the right, at its sole and absolute discretion any time after Buyer has delivered its Suitability Notice to create a new metropolitan district controlled initially by Buyer or its Affiliates, to which the Project will not be subject until after Closing for the PUQOse of funding 11 18570965.2 public improvements and/or provide covenant enforcement and maintenance services for the Project as approved by the City (the "District"). Upon the inclusion of the Property within the boundaries of such District after Closing, the Project shall be subject to any and all levies and facilities fees assessed against the Project from such District. Any agreements or documents 12 18570965.2 carrying out the intent of this Section may be recorded against the Project at Closing, but not prior to Closing. Subject to the terms Of this Section, Seller will not Object or otherwise challenge inclusion of the Property now or in the future into the District. However, Seller will not actively participate in Buyer's efforts to obtain approval of the District by the City. The Parties further acknowledge and agree that the Closing shall not be conditioned on Buyer's ability to obtain approval of the District by the City. (h) Siens: Sales Trailer: Storage of Equipment. After the end of the Feasibility Period. for so long as Buyer has not terrninated this Agreement, Buyer shall have the right to place signs and a sales trailer on the Property and to conduct marketing activities thereon solely in relation to development Of the Project, all in accordance with the applicable Legal Requirements, and approved by Seller, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Seller shall also provide, at no cost to Buyer, adequate space on the Property for storage of construction equipment and materials that Buyer and its contractors and their subcontractors may from time to time require solely in relation to development of the Project. Such space shall be located in an area mutually acceptable to Buyer and Seller. In connection with Buyer's exercise of its rights hereunder, Buyer shall comply with all requirements as set forth in Section 4(c)(i) to (iv). (i) Attainable Housing. During the Feasibility Period, Buyer and Seller shall use commercially reasonable, good faith effons to reach agreement regarding an allocation of a portion of thc Property for the development of attainable housing. S. (a) Closing shall take place within ten ( 10) business days after the final, unappealable approval by the applicable Authorities of the Project Documents (or if appeal is taken, such appeal has been resolved to the commercially reasonable satisfaction of the Buyer) and recordation of the Final Plat, but in no event later than the Outside Closing Date (the "Closing Date"). Closing shall occur through an escrow with Escrow Agent, whereby Seller. Buyer and their attomeys need not be physically present at the Closing and may deliver documents by overnight air courier or other means. The Parties acknowledge that Buyer requires five (5) business days to wire the Purchase Price after approval of the Closing settlement statement. (b) Subject to the adjustments provided for herein, any credit of the cash portion of the Deposit at Closing as provided in Section 3(a) and a credit at Closing of Buyer's Entitlement Costs in accordance with Section 3(b)(ii), Buyer shall pay at Closing the Purchase Price by cashier's or title company check or wired funds. (c) Upon delivery of the Purchase Price, the Parties shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver the Closing documents set forth on Exhibit D. (d) Each Party shall execute, acknowledge, enseal and deliver, after the Effective Date, including at or after Closing, such further reasonable and customary assurances, 13 18570965.2 instruments and documents as the Escrow Agent may reasonably request in order to fulfill the intent of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. (e) All real estate taxes, and all other public or governmental charges and public or private assessments against the Property which are or may be payable on an annual basis (including metropolitan district, sanitary commission, benefit charges, liens or encumbrances for sewer, water, drainage or other public improvements whether completed or commenced on or prior to the Effective Date or subsequent thereto), shall be adjusted and prorated between the Parties as of the day prior to Closing and paid by Seller at Closing (as a credit to Buyer) and shall from and after Closing be assumed and paid by Buyer, whether or not assessments have been levied as of the date of Closing. Any tax proration based on an estimate shall be final. The obligation to adjust shall survive Closing. (f) The cost of documentary stamps, transfer taxes and recording fees shall be paid by Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller shall pay at Closing, without any contribution from Buyer, (i) any agricultural land, recapture, or roll-back tax due in connection with the conveyance or deed under any Authority's law, regulation or ordinance (or any similar tax or assessment), and (ii) the cost of preparing release documents, if any, and the recording thereof for any lien releases required to be obtained by Seller in order to convey title to the Property in accordance with Section 6. 7. Title and Survey. (a) Commitment. Within ten (10) days following the Effective Date, Escrow Agent shall, at Seller's cost, deliver to Buyer, with a copy to Buyer's counsel, a title insurance commitment, with best available copies of all exceptions evidencing title to the Property (collectively, the "Commitment") by the Title Company. The original Commitment and any Existing Survey (as defined below), are refeffed to as the "Initial Title Materials". The list of Permitted Exceptions shall be attached hereto as Exhibit E prior to expiration of thc Feasibility Period as provided in Section 6(h). (b) Form of Commitment. The Commitment shall be in the amount of the Purchase Price and shall be updated as provided in Section 6(d), and shall be for an ALTA Form 2006 extended coverage owner's title policy with all standard pre-printed exceptions deleted, provided that Buyer shall be responsible for any updates to the Existing Survey required by the Title Company to delete the so-called "standard title exceptions." (c) Title Review. Buyer shall have until the date that is thirty (30) days after receipt by Buyer of the Initial Title Materials to review the Commitment and any Survey (the 'Title Review Period"). If Buyer determines that there are title exceptions or matters shown on the Survey other than those deemed to be acceptable to Buyer, Buyer shall notify Seller, in writing, of such title defects during the Title Review Period (the "Buyer's Title Objection Notice") and Seller shall have the right, within ten (10) days after receiving such notice, to elect: (i) to cure the title defect at Seller's cost and expense, or (ii) not to cure such defect (the "Seller's Title Response 14 18570965.2 Notice"). Seller's failure to notify Buyer in writing within the stated time frame shall be deemed Seller's election not to cure. If Seller elects to cure, Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to do so prior to Closing, and provide Buyer with an update to the Commitment demonstrating that the title defects have been cured. If Seller fails to timely cure or elects not to cure, then Buyer shall be entitled to elect to terminate this Agreement or waive such defect by delivery of written notice to Seller on or before the date that is ten (10) days after the date on which Seller's Title Response Notice was due, and if Buyer elects to terminate, Buyer shall be entitled to the return of the Deposit. If Buyer fails to timely deliver its written waiver pursuant to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be deemed terminated and Buyer shall be entitled to the prompt return Of its Deposit. Buyer shall not be required to object to mechanics liens, mortgages, or deeds of trust caused by Seller, and the Parties agree that such items will be released at Seller's expense as of Closing. (d) (Jpdpqed Commitment. The Commitment shall be updated, together with legible copies of any additional matters identified therein, and shall be delivered to Buyer no less than ten (10) days before the Closing Date, unless there are no additional matters listed as Schedule B-2 exceptions in which case the update may be delivered at the Closing. Unless caused by Buyer or its employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors, if any updated Commitment discloses any new requirement, defect, encumbrances or other adverse matter that is not a Permitted Exception, then Buyer shall notify Seller in writing of the new title defects on or before Closing. The procedures set forth in Section 6(c) shall be applicable to any such new title defect, and if necessary, the Closing Date shall be extended accordingly. (e) Survey. Within five (5) days following the Effective Date, Seller shall deliver the most recent ALTANSPS survey of the Property ("Existing Survey") to Buyer. Buyer shall have the right, but not the obligation, at Buyer's sole cost and expense, to obtain an update to the Existing Survey ("Updated Survey" and together with the Existing Survey, the 'Survey"), which such update, if obtained, shall be certified to Buyer, Seller and the Title Company, and otherwise in form sufficient to insure deletion of the standard preprinted exceptions on the title policy. (f) Survev Review. In the event the Survey reflects easements, encroachments, rights-of-way, roads, lack of access, deficiencies, overlaps, gaps or gores between any parcels included within the Property or between the Property and any adjoining streets or roads, or other defects not contained in the Permitted Exceptions to title or other matters which preclude the use of the Property for the purposes set forth in this Agreement, then Buyer shall notify Seller, in writing, of such survey defects during the Title Review Period (the "Survey Objections"). Survey Objections shall be considered as defects in title and Seller shall have the same rights and duties relating to the remedy of such survey defects as are provided in Section 6(c) pertaining to the remedy of title defects. The procedures relating to the raising and curing of Survey Objections shall be the same procedures as are provided in Section 6(c) pertaining to title defects. (g) Additional Title Matters. For the purposes of this Agreement, an 15 18570965.2 "Additional Title Matter" is any encumbrance on. or defect in, title to the Property that is not a Permitted Exception and that was not disclosed in the Initial Title Materials (including, without limitation, matters shown on any Survey), which was not caused by Buyer or its employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors; and the "Interim Period" refers to the period of time that is between: (A) the expiration of the Feasibility Period, and (B) Closing Date. If at any time during the Interim Period, Buyer obtains knowledge (through an update to the Commitment or the Survey, the closing Commitment or otherwise) of any Additional Title Matter which is objectionable to Buyer, Buyer shall give Seller written notice (an 'Objection Notice") of its objection to the Additional Title Matter no later than five (5) business days after the date on which Buyer receives written notice of such Additional Title Matter. Any such Additional Title Matter for which Buyer does not deliver a timely Objection Notice, shall be deemed to have been accepted by Buyer and shall be a Permitted Exception. Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, within five (5) business days after receipt of an Objection Notice for an Additional Title Matter caused by Seller, its employees, agents or contractors (the "Title Cure Period"), to take reasonable actions to remove or cure or, with Buyer's consent, to obtain title insurance over the Additional Title Matter subject to such Objection Notice. In the event that Closing is scheduled to occur during the Title Cure Period, the date of Closing shall, at Seller's option, be extended to a date that is not more than thirty (30) days after the delivery of the Objection Notice to enable Seller to take any such cure actions. If Seller is unable to remove or cure using commercially reasonable efforts or, with Buyer's consent, to obtain title insurance over all such Additional Title Matters prior to the end of the Title Cure Period, Buyer may, by written notice (the "Election Notice") given to Seller within fivc (5) business days after the end of the Title Cure Period, elect only one of the following options: (i) accept the Property with such defects, and waive any uncured Additional Title Matters for which Buyer has delivered an Objection Notice; or (ii) to terminate this Agreement, and upon such termination the Deposit shall be returned by Escrow Agent to Buyer, and the Parties will have no further rights, obligations and liabilities hereunder, except those rights, obligations and liabilities that expressly survive termination; provided however, if such Additional Title Matter is caused by an act of Seller after the date hereof and is not otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, or is a matter which Seller agreed in writing, or was obligated, to cure, then Seller shall be in default hereunder and Buyer shall have Buyer's rights and remedies under Section I I (b) hereof. If Seller does not receive an Election Notice within such 5-busincss day period, Buyer shall be deemed to have elected option (i) above, in this Section 6(g). (h) Permitted Exceptions. If this Agreement is not terminated pursuant to Section 4(b), the term "Permitted Exceptions" shall mean (i) taxes and assessments for the year of Closing and subsequent years, a lien not due and payable, (ii) any matter that is disclosed in the Initial Title Materials or any Additional Title Matter which is disclosed in any updates or supplements to the Initial Title Materials and to which Buyer does not object in accordance with Sections 6(c) or (g) or to which Buyer so objects but subsequently waives (or is deemed to have 16 18570965.2 waived) its objection, or consents to title insurance over such matter, (iii) the Final Plat and the Project Documents, (iv) any easements to any special or metropolitan districts, utility providers, and governmental and quasi-governmental entities required in connection with the Final Plat or the Project Documents, (v) any title exceptions or encumbrances which are created by, through or under Buyer, or which are otherwise created, approved or waived by Buyer, (vi) that certain Option and Site Lease Agreement dated May I, 2002, by and between The Colorado State Board of Agriculture acting by and through Colorado State University, a state institution of higher education, and Qwest Wireless, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and (vii) that certain Lease Agreement dated July 29, 201 1, by and between Colorado State University and the City. Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of this Section 6(h), the following items shall be excluded from the definition of "Permitted Exceptions": (l) any delinquent taxes or assessments, (2) mechanics liens, mortgages, or deeds of trust caused by 17 18570965.2 Seller, (3) the standard printed exception relating to mechanics liens caused by Seller, (4) any Other standard printed exceptions which the Title Company has agreed to delete or will delete pursuant to an issued endorsement, which Seller expressly agrees to pay. 8. If, after the Effective Date and prior to Closing, a portion of the Property is taken (or threatened to be taken) under the power or threat of eminent domain that (i) has the effect of reducing the aggregate value Of the Property by more than ten percent (10%) Of the Purchase Price, or (ii) impedes proposed or current access to the Property, then, in any such event, Buyer may elect to terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to Seller of its election to terminate this Agreement (a "Material Event Termination Notice") within ten (10) days after notice of such condemnation or similar proceeding, in which case the Deposit shall be returned to Buyer, and both Seller and Buyer shall be released from further responsibility hereunder. If Buyer does not give (or has no right to give) a Material Event Termination Notice within such 10-day period, then Seller shall assign to Buyer all of Seller's right to receive condemnation proceeds after Closing payable as a result of such proceeding, and Buyer shall be entitled to an abatement Of the Purchase Price in an amount equal to any condemnation proceeds received by Seller prior to Closing. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, in no event shall any dedication of setbacks for rights- of-way and other public areas as required by the City and disclosed in the Documents be considered a taking under the power or threat of eminent domain as intended by this Section. 9. Seller's Conditions Precedent to Closing. Seller's obligation to complete Closing shall be conditioned upon the satisfaction (or Seller's written waiver thereof) of the condition precedent set forth in this Section 8. Seller shall be entitled to waive. in writing, the condition precedent set forth herein. In the event that the condition precedent to Closing has not occurred on or before the Outside Closing Date, Seller may, at Seller's option exercised by written notice to Buyer, (i) extend the Closing for an amount of time. equal to the time it takes the responsible Party, utilizing good faith, best efforts, to satisfy the condition precedent for Closing, but no later than as specified in Section I(ii), or (ii) terminate this Agreement, in which event the Deposit shall be returned by Escrow Agent to Buyer, and, unless the failure of the subject condition precedent to Closing is due to the default of Buyer, which will be subject to the provisions Of Section I I(a), neither Party shall thereafter have any liability to the other hereunder, other than those liabilities and obligations which by the express terms of this Agreement are intended to survive such termination. The condition prccedent is as follows: (a) Reproentations. Each of Buyer's representations and warranties as set forth in Section Error! Reference source not found. shall be materially true as of the date of Closing and Buyer shall so certify in writing at Closing. 10. Buyer's Conditions Precedent to Closing. Buyer's obligation to complete Closing shall be conditioned upon the satisfaction (or Buyer's written waiver thereof) of each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 9. Buyer shall be entitled to waive, in writing, each or any of the conditions precedent set forth herein. In the event that all conditions precedent to Closing have not occurred on or before the Outside Closing Date, the Parties agree that Buyer may, at Buyer's option exercised by written notice to Seller, terminate this Agreement, in which event the Deposit shall be retumed by Escrow Agent to Buyer, and, unless the failure of the subject condition precedent to Closing is due to the default of Seller, 18 1857tms-2 which will be subject to the provisions of Section I I(b), neither Party shall thereafter have any liability to the other hereunder, other than those liabilities and obligations which by the express terms of this Agreement are intended to survive such termination. The conditions precedent are as follows: (a) Title Company shall deliver to Buyer or shall be unconditionally committed to issue to Buyer after Closing an extended coverage title policy (ALTA Form 2006) insuring title to the Property, without preprinted exceptions to title as set forth in Section 6(a), subject only to the Permitted Exceptions, and subject to Buyer providing any update Of the Existing Survey as required by the Title Company. (b) MqrptorJum. There shall exist no general moratorium imposed or announced by any Authority or utility supplier that would rcsult in any Authority denying permits necessary for the development, construction, use or occupancy of the Property as a residential development or any utility supplier delaying or denying sanitary sewer, water, natural gas, electricity or telephone connections with respect to the Property. (c) Representations. Each Of Seller's representations and warranties as set forth in Section 14(a) shall be materially true as of the date of Closing and Seller shall so certify in writing at Closing. (d) Final Plat and Project Documents. The City and any other applicable Authorities shall have granted final, unappealable approval of the Final Plat and Project Documents (or if appeal is taken, such appeal has been resolved to the commercially reasonable satisfaction of Buyer), and the executed Final Plat has been recorded in the Clerk and Recorder's Office of Larimer County. Buyer shall use diligent and good faith efforts to record the Final Plat promptly upon approval and execution of the same. 11. Possession. At Closing, Seller shall deliver exclusive possession and occupancy of the Property to Buyer free and clear of any claims of any third parties to possession thereof, except as set forth in the Permitted Exceptions. 12. Default. (a) Buyer Default. If Buyer is the defaulting Party, because of the difficulty in calculating damages, the Parties agree that Seller's sole and exclusive remedy at law or in equity shall be limited to the right to terminate this Agreement, to draw completely down the Letter of Credit held by Escrow Agent, and to retain the Deposit as provided in Section 3(a) as liquidated damages, and the Deposit shall be forfeited. Other than the specific remedy expressly set forth in this Section I I(a) and except for the indemnities contained in Section 4(c), Seller hereby waives any and all right and remedy, at law or in equity, to which Seller may otherwise have been entitled by reason of Buyer's default, including any right in equity to seek specific performance of this Agreement by Buyer and any right at law to seek damages from Buyer. 19 18570965.2 (b) Seller Default. If Seller fails to consummate Closing in breach of this Agreement, the Parties agree that Buyer shall have the right to elect, as its sole and exclusive remedy at law or in equity, to (i) waive such default or breach and proceed with the purchase of the Property pursuant to the remaining terms and conditions of this Agreement without any reduction of or credit against the Purchase Price; (ii) terminate this Agreement and receive a prompt return of the Deposit and reimbursement from Seller of Buyer's out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, Buyer's Entitlement Costs, not to exceed $250,000.00; or (iii) pursue specific perfomance under this Agreement provided that such action must be commenced within ninety (90) days following Buyer's discovery of Seller's material default under this Agreement. In the event of any default by Seller, or in the event Buyer shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement. or this Agreement shall otherwise terminate in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Deposit shall be immediately returned to Buyer as provided in Section 3(a), but such payment shall not limit Buyer's rights and remedies set forth above. Other than the specific remedies expressly set forth in I I(b) and I I(d), Buyer hereby waives any and all right and remedy, at law or in equity, to which Buyer may otherwise have been entitled by reason Of Seller's default, including any right at law to seek damages from Seller, except as specified herein. IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE LIABLE TO BUYER FOR ANY PUNITIVE, SPECULATIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. EXCEIYI' AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 18(t), IN NO EVENT SHALL BUYER BE ENTITLED TO RECORD THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR (EXCEPT IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT AS NEEDED TO ENFORCE ITS RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT) AS A LIS PENDENS AGAINST THE PROPERTY. (c) Cure Period. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections I (a) and (b) above, no default by either Party hereto shall result in a termination or limitation Of any rights of such Party hereunder unless and until the other Party shall have notified the defaulting Party in writing of said default, and the defaulting Party shall have failed to cure said default within ten (10) days after the receipt of said written notice. (d) No Adeauate Remedv. As provided in Section I I (b), it is agreed that in the event Buyer is not in default under this Agreement and Seller is the defaulting party hereunder, and Buyer desires to seek specific performance of this Agreement, but that due to Seller's intentional, affirmative conveyance of all or a portion of the Property to a third party, such specific performance is no longer a remedy available to Buyer, then this Agreement shall terminate, the Deposit shall immediately be returned to Buyer as provided in Section 3(a), and Buyer shall receive a payment from Seller of $250,000.00 as liquidated damages, which the Parties acknowledge is a reasonable estimate of Buyer's damages for lost profits and lost business opportunity or consequential damages that would be extremely difficult or impractical to determine. If this Agreement terminates as a result of the foregoing, it is agreed that the provisions of this Section shall survive any such termination. 13. Any notice to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in accordance with Exhibit G. 20 14. Mutupl Representations. To induce each other to enter into this Agreement, each Party hereby represents and warrants to the other that (i) it has been duly authorized and empowered to enter into this Agreement and to perform fully its obligations 21 18570965.2 hereunder, (ii) such obligations constitute the valid and binding obligations of such Party, enforceable in accordance with their terms, (iii) that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no further consents of any other person, entity, public body or court are required in connection with this Agreement and the performance of all obligations hereunder, and (iv) it has not used the services of any real estate agent, broker or finder with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. 15. Warrenties and Representations. (a) Seller's Warranties and To induce Buyer to enter into this Agreement, Seller represents and warrants to Buyer: (i) Condemnation. Rezoning or Reclassification. There is not pending, or to Seller's Actual Knowledge, threatened, any (A) condemnation proceeding or Other litigation relating to or otherwise affecting any or all Of the Property, or (B) except as contemplated by this Agreement, reclassification of any or all of the Property for local zoning purposes. (ii) (A) There is not pending, or to Seller's Actual Knowledge, threatened, from any federal, state, county or local Authority any notice, suit or judgment relating to any violation at the Property, and (B) Seller has not received written notice from any governmental authority that there is any condition existing with respect to the Property that violates any statute. ordinance, law or code regarding zoning, building, fire, air pollution, or health law, or requiring any Smprovement, alteration, addition, correction or other work on or about the Property, whether related to the Property or to the activities of any owner or occupant thereof. (iii) Environmental Conditions. To Seller's Actual Knowledge, and except as disclosed in any environmental assessment or other environmental report or documentation included as part of the Documents, within the last twenty-four (24) months, Seller has received no written notice alleging the presence of any "Hazardous Wastes". "Hazardous Material" and/or "Hazardous Substances" as those terms are defined under any federal, state or local law in, at, about or under the Property (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") in violation of any applicable federal, state or local environmental laws ("Environmental Laws"). For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Environmental Laws" shall include, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ('CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq., as amended from time to time; and any similar federal, state and local laws and ordinances and the regulations and rules implementing such statutes, laws and ordinances. (iv) Litigation. There is no foreclosure action or litigation, arbitration or proceeding pending, or to Seller's Actual Knowledge, threatened before any court or administrative agency or any other condition that relates to or affects 22 the Property, Seller's interest therein, Seller's performance hereunder, or Buyer's intended use of the Property, or which will result in a lien, charge, encumbrance or judgment against any part of or any interest in the Property. i857W65.2 (v) Organization. Seller is validly existing under the laws of the State Of Colorado and has full power and authority to sell the Property. (vi) Title. Except as provided in the Permitted Exceptions, to Seller's Actual Knowledge, the title to the Property is subject to no tenancy or other right Of use or occupancy which will remain in effect at or after Closing. (vii) Except as disclosed in the Documents delivered to Buyer hereunder, including, without limitation, the Option and Site Lease Agreement and the City Lease, to Seller's Actual Knowledge, Seller has not entered into any unrecorded restrictions relating to the development of the Property as contemplated hereunder that would have a material, adverse impact on Buyer's intended use of the Property. (viii) No preach. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller, the execution and delivery of every other document and instrument delivered pursuant hereto by or on behalf of Seller, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (A) constitute or result in the breach of or default under any oral or written agreement to which Seller is a party or which affects the Property; (B) constitute or result in a violation of any order, decree, or injunction with respect to which Seller and/or the Property is bound; (C) cause or entitle any Party to have a right to accelerate or declare a default under any oral or written agreement to which Seller is a party or which affects the Property; and/or (D) violate any provision of any municipal, state or federal law, statutory or otherwise, to which Seller or the Property is or may be subject. (ix) NO Assessments. There are no special, general, or other assessments pending or, to Seller's Actual Knowledge, threatened against the Property. All installments of any pending assessments due and payable on or before the Closing Date will be paid by Seller on or before Closing. (x) NQ Contracts. Seller has not entered into any other contracts, agreements or understandings, verbal or written, for the sale or transfer of any portion of the Property which are in existence as of the Effective Date. Between the date of this Agreement and Closing, no part of the Property will be alienated, encumbered or transferred by Seller. 23 18570965.2 (xi) No Commitments. Except as disclosed in the Documents delivered to Buyer hereunder, Seller has not made commitments to any Authority, school board, church or other religious body, or to any other organization, group or individual relating to the Property which would impose any obligations upon Buyer to make any contributions of money or land or to install or maintain any improvements or which would interfere with Buyer's ability to use, develop or improve the Property as herein contemplated. (xii) Documents. The copies of the Documents furnished to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement are true and complete copies of the documents they purport to be. To the extent any of the Documents were not prepared by Seller, Seller is making no warranty as to the accuracy or quality of work included therein. 185709650 For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the phrase "Seller's Actual Knowledge" and words of similar import shall mean the present, actual knowledge, without additional inquiry • or investigation being taken, of Lynn Johnson (the "Representative"). The foregoing reference to the Representative is solely for the purpose of establishing the contractual standard for Seller's knowledge. The Representative is not undertaking, and does not have, any personal obligation or liability to Buyer in connection with this Agreement. (b) Survival. The representations and warranties of Seller set forth herein shall be true as of the Effective Date and the date of Closing and shall survive Closing for a period of one (I) year (the "Warranty Expiration Date"). Seller shall notify Buyer in writing immediately if any representation becomes untrue or misleading in light of information obtained by Seller after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after Closing and subject to the Warranty Expiration Date above and the terms of Section 18(e) below, except for claims based upon fraud, the maximum aggregate liability of Seller, and the maximum aggregate amount which may be awarded to the collected by Buyer under this Agreement or any documents executed pursuant hereto or in the connection herewith, will under no circumstances whatsoever exceed two percent (2%) Of the Purchase Price ("Maximum Seller Liability"). This indemnification is in addition to any remedies set forth in Section I I. (c) Buyer's Warranties and To induce Seller to enter into this Agreement, to Buyer's knowledge represents and warrants to Seller: (i) Organization. Buyer is a limited liability company, duly organized. validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado, and shall as Of Closing, have full power and authority to purchase the Property. 24 (ii) No Breach. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer. the execution and delivery of every other document and instrument delivered pursuant hereto by or on behalf of Buyer, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (A) constitute or result in the breach of or default under any oral or written agreement to which Buyer is a party; (B) constitute or result in a violation of any order, decree, or injunction with respect to which Buyer is bound', (C) cause or entitle any party to have a right to accelerate or declare a default under any oral or written agreement to which Buyer is a party; and/or (D) violate any provision of any municipal, state or federal law, statutory or otherwise, to which Seller is or may be subject. (iii) Litigation. There is no pending or threatened litigation, which would affect Buyer's ability to perform under this Agreement. (d) As-is Provision. THE PARTIES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE AS FOLLOWS: (A) BUYER rs A SOPHISTICATED BUYER THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF PROPERTY; (B) EXCEPT AS MAY BE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE DEED, AND/OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED BY, OR ON BEHALF OF, SELLER AT CLOSING (THE "EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS"), NEITHER SELLER NOR ANY OF ITS AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, BROKERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, MEMBERS, OR EMPLOYEES HAS MADE OR WILL MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, wrrH RESPECT TO THE PROPERTY, AND INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, COMPLIANCE WITH ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR REQUIREMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, MARKETABILITY, PROFITABILITY, OR SUITABILITY OF THE PROPERTY, AND SELLER DISCLAIMS ALL SUCH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; AND (C) THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD TO BUYER IN ITS PRESENT "AS-IS" CONDITION SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS. SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND THE TERMS HEREOF, BUYER WILL BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY AND ALL INSPECTIONS OF THE PROPERTY AND SUCH RELATED MATTERS AS BUYER MAY REASONABLY DESIRE. (e) Except for the representations made by Seller as expressly provided Section 14 above and in the deed delivered at Closing, effective on the Closing Date, Buyer and Buyer's successors and assigns, hereby release Seller from, and waive any and all claims against Seller resulting from the physical, environmental, economic or legal condition of the Property, whether arising or accruing before, on or after the date hereof and whether attributable to events or circumstances which have heretofore or may hereafter occur, including, without limitation, the following (i) any and all liabilities with respect to the structural, physical, or environmental condition of the Property; (ii) any and all liabilities relating to the release of or the presence, discovery or removal of any Hazardous Materials, or for, connected with or arising out of any and all claims or causes of action based upon any Environmental Laws, or any related claims or causes of action or any other federal, state or municipal based statutory or regulatory causes of action for environmental contamination at, in, about or under the Property; and (iii) any implied or 25 18570965.2 statutory warranties or guaranties of fitness, merchantability or any other statutory or implied warranty or guaranty of any kind or nature regarding or relating to any portion of the Property. IS. Additional Purchase Price. As provided in Section 3(b), from and after Closing, Buyer agrees to pay to Seller in the manner specified below the amount of the Additional Purchase Price, as follows: (iii) (v) vi 26 ix Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the Total Costs shall not include any of the foregoing expenses to the extent funded by or otherwise reimbursed by the District or any Other public financing districts including or related to the Property. (c) Payment ot Additional Purchase Price. (i) The Additional Purchase Price for each Int due Seller shall be paid at the Retail Closing with respect to each Home conveyed in the Project by Buyer to a homebuyer. Along with such payment, Buyer shall deliver to Seller an accounting in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto and incorporated herein setting forth the Additional Purchase Price due Seller with respect to each Home conveyed in the Project by Buyer during the prior year. (ii) Final Sale and Reconciliation. Within ninety (90) days after the close of escrow for the sale of the last Home in the Project (the "Final Sale"), Buyer shall complete and submit to Seller an accounting consistent with the details of the calculation Of Additional Purchase Price in this Agreement together with a check made payable to Seller in the amount of the balance of any Additional Purchase Price remaining payable for the Project. If the final accounting or any Audit (as defined below) shows any deficiency in amounts due to Seller, or any overpayment by Buyer, such deficiency shall be immediately paid by Buyer or overpayment reimbursed by Seller, as the case may be. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Parties acknowledge and agree that the Additional Purchase price is a material consideration in Seller's agreement to sell the 27 18570965.2 Property to Buyer, and Buyer agrees that it shall proceed with development of the Project and the sale of Homes with good faith and commercially reasonable efforts. (d) Financial Records and Statements of Buyer. Buyer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, accurate financial books and records for the Project in accordance with Buyer's normal accounting principles (collectively, the "Financial Records"), provided that such Financial Records must evidence the information reasonably necessary to calculate Net Profits in accordance with Section 15(b). The Financial Records shall include all supporting documentation relative to sales and cost of sales, and shall be maintained by Buyer for three (3) years after the Final Sale. Within ten (10) business days after the written request of Seller, Buyer shall provide to Seller copies of the current Financial Records. Notwithstanding the foregoing (i) Buyer shall not be required to provide Financial Records more than once per year, and (ii) upon Buyer's request, Seller shall sign and deliver a reasonable confidentiality agreement with respect to the Financial Records. (e) Audit. At the option of Seller and, except as set f01th below, at Seller's cost, exercised by written notice to Buyer, during the six (6) month period following the Final Sale, Buyer's books and records for the Project shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant licensed in the State of Colorado mutually agreeable to Seller and Buyer for the purpose of verifying the calculation of Net Profits and the Additional Purchase Price, if any, due Seller for the Project (the "Audit"). The Audit shall be binding upon the Parties. Buyer shall make available to the auditor at Buyer's business office, within ten (10) business days after notice of Audit, all Of the books and records of Buyer for the Project which such auditor deems necessary or desirable for the purpose of performing the Audit. Any deficiency in amounts due to Seller, or any overpayment by Buyer, as deterrnined by the Audit, shall be immediately paid by Buyer or reimbursed by Seller, as the case may be. If the Additional Purchase Price due to Seller, as determined by the Audit, is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the amount theretofore paid by Buyer, Buyer shall also pay to Seller the reasonable cost of the Audit 1857%5.2 (f) Early Transfer. Any sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer of all or any portion Of the Property by Buyer prior to a Retail Closing shall be deemed to be an "Early Transfer"; provided, however, an Early Transfer shall not be deemed to have occurred by reason of the fact that such portion of the Property (the "Early Transfer Property") is encumbered by a first mortgage on the Property that was funded by a lender not affiliated with Buyer to provide acquisition. development and construction financing for the Property. Buyer shall not make an Early Transfer of a portion of the Property to any patty except in accordance with the terrns hereof. At least 30 days prior to the contemplated date of an Early Transfer, Buyer shall give written notice to Seller ("Buyer's Early Transfer Notice") of the proposed Early Transfer and deliver to Seller any information reasonably requested by Seller with respect to the terms of the proposed Early Transfer and the proposed transferee. Prior to the closing Of any Early Transfer. Buyer shall record in the real property records for the Early Transfer Property in Larimer County, Colorado a covenant in form reasonably acceptable to Seller providing for the payment of the Additional Purchase Price to 28 Seller in accordance with this Section 15 upon the occurrence of a Retail Closing with respect to all or any portion of the Early Transfer Property. 16. Ancillarv Covepants. (a) Special Taxing Pistrict Disclosuce. NOTICE: In accordance with the provisions of C.R.S. 98-35.7-101(1), Seller provides the following disclosure to Buyer: SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO GENERAL OBLIGATION INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS PAID BY REVENUES PRODUCED FROM ANNUAL TAX LEVIES ON THE TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN SUCH DISTRICTS. PROPERTY OWNERS IN SUCH DISTRICTS MAY BE PLACED AT RISK FOR INCREASED MILL LEVIES AND TAX TO SUPPORT THE SERVICING OF SUCH DEBT WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE RESULTING IN THE INABILITY OF SUCH A DISTRICT TO DISCHARGE SUCH INDEBTEDNESS WITHOUT SUCH AN INCREASE IN MILL LEVIES. BUYERS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE PROPERTY LOCATED BY CONTACTING THE couNTY TREASURER, BY REVIEWING THE CERTIFICATE OF TAXES DUE FOR THE PROPERTY, AND BY OBTAINING FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER, OR THE COUNTY ASSESSOR. (b) Water Disclosure. In accordance with the provisions Of C.R.S. 98- 35.7-104, Seller provides the following disclosure to Buyer: THE SOURCE OF POTABLE WATER FOR THIS REAL ESTATE IS A WATER PROVIDER, WHICH CAN BE CONTACTED AS FOLLOWS: NAME: City of Fort Collins ADDRESS: Utilities Customer Service Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 WEBSITE; https://www.fcgov.com TELEPHONE: 970-212-2900 SOME WATER PROVIDERS RELY, TO VARYING DEGREES, ON NON RENEWABLE GROUND WATER. YOU MAY WISH TO CONTACT YOUR PROVIDER TO DETERMINE THE LONG-TERM SUFFICIENCY OF PROVIDER'S WATER SUPPLIES. (c) Disclosure o? Oil and Gas Activity. The following disclosure is included in accordance with C.R.S. 38-35.7-108: THE SURFACE ESTATE OF THE PROPERTY MAY BE OWNED SEPARATELY FROM THE UNDERLYING MINERAL ESTATE, AND TRANSFER OF THE SURFACE ESTATE MAY NOT INCLUDE TRANSFER OF THE MINERAL ESTATE. THIRD PARTIES MAY OWN OR LEASE INTERESTS IN OIL, GAS, OR OTHER MINERALS UNDER THE SURFACE, AND THEY MAY 29 18570965.2 ENTER AND USE THE SURFACE ESTATE TO ACCESS THE MINERAL ESTATE. THE USE OF THE SURFACE ESTATE TO ACCESS THE MINERAIS MAY BE GOVERNED BY A SURFACE USE AGREEMENT, A MEMORANDUM OR OTHER NOTICE OF WHICH MAY BE RECORDED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER. THE OIL AND GAS ACTIVITY THAT MAY OCCUR ON OR ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY MAY INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, SURVEYING, DRILLING, WELL COMPLETION OPERATIONS, STORAGE, OIL AND GAS, OR PRODUCTION FACILITIES, PRODUCING WELLS, REWORKING OF CURRENT WELLS, AND GAS GATHERING AND PROCESSING FACILITIES. THE BUYER IS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING OIL AND GAS ACTIVITY ON OR ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY, INCLUDING DRILLING PERMIT APPLICATIONS. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM THE COLORADO OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION. (d) Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act and Colorado Subdivision Developers Act Exemptions. It is acknowledged and agreed by the Parties that the sale of the Property will be exempt from the provisions of the Federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act under the exemption applicable to sale or lease of property to any person who acquires such property for the purpose of engaging in the business of constructing residential, commercial or industrial buildings or for the purpose of resale of such property to persons engaged in such business. Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller that it is acquiring the Property for such purposes. It is further acknowledged by the Parties that the sale of the Property will be exempt under the provisions of the Colorado Subdivision Developers Act under the exemption applicable to transfers between developers. Buyer represents and warrants to Seller that Buyer is acquiring the Property for the purpose of participating as the owner of the Property in the development, promotion and/or sale of the Property and ponions thereof. 17. Confidentiplitx. (a) Confidential Information. Each Party shall, and shall cause its employees, agents and representatives ("Representatives") to, keep confidential and refrain 1857W6S.2 from using, except in connection with this Agreement. all "Confidential Information" of the other Party. For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means, with respect to a Party ("Disclosing Party") any and all such information of a confidential or proprietary nature furnished (whether in written or oral form, electronically stored or otherwise) to the other Party (the "Recipient") or the Recipient's Representatives, whether before, on or after the date hereof, including without limitation, any analyses, notes, data, compilations, summaries, forecasts, studies or other documents and materials prepared in connection with their review of, or interest in, 30 entering into this Agreement, or their performance of any Of the services or obligations contemplated hereunder, that is identified as confidential at the time of disclosure, or the Recipient knows it is intended to remain confidential, due to its nature or the circumstance under which it is disclosed. The term "Confidential Information" will not however, include information of a Disclosing Party that (i) was or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a disclosure directly or indirectly by or on behalf of the Recipient or its Representative; (ii) was or becomes available to the Recipient on a non-confidential basis; (iii) was rightfully in the possession of the Recipient prior to disclosure by the Disclosing Party; or (iv) was developed independently without access to the Confidential Information. (b) Non-Disclosurg. Each recipient will only disclose the Confidential Information Of the Other Party to those Representatives of such recipient who have a need to know such information in connection with the execution and performance of the Parties' respective rights and obligations under this Agreement. Anyone to whom any Confidential Information is disclosed shall be (a) advised of the existence of this Section 17 of this Agreement and of such recipient's obligations hereunder, and shall agree to be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if they were parties hereto, or (b) bound under a written agreement (including a pre-existing written agreement) or other legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation to protect the Confidential Information from unauthorized use and disclosure. In any event, each Patty shall, at its sole expense, take all commercially reasonable measures to restrain its Representatives from prohibited or unauthorized disclosure, distribution or use of the Confidential Information. (c) Legally Reauired Disclosure. The Seller's obligations under this Section 17 are to the extent permitted by the Colorado Open Records Act ("CORA"). In the event a Recipient or any of its Representatives is required by law, regulation or court order to disclose any of the corresponding Disclosing Party's Confidential Information, such Recipient shall promptly notify the Disclosing Party in writing prior to any party making any such disclosure so that thc Disclosing Party, at its sole expense, might seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy from the proper authority. Each Recipient agrees to cooperate with the corresponding Disclosing Party in seeking any such order or other remedy. Each Recipient further agrees that if the corresponding Disclosing Party is not successful in precluding the requesting legal body or authority from requiring the disclosure of any Confidential Information. such Recipient or its Representatives will furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information that it is legally required to be disclosed and will exercise its reasonable best efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information in such proceeding. (d) Colorado Open Records Act. It is acknowledged that the Seller is subject to the requirements of CORA and Buyer shall assist and cooperate with the Seller (on request and at each Party's own expense) to enable the Seller to comply with the information disclosure requirements imposed by CORA. Where a Party receives a request for Confidential Information it shall notify the other Party in writing within three (3) business days Of receipt of such request for information. (i) The Parties agree and acknowledge that Seller shall be responsible for determining in its absolute and sole discretion whether the Confidential Information held by it is exempt from disclosure under CORA or is to be disclosed in response to a request for information. 31 18570965.2 (ii) If Seller determines it is obligated to disclose information in response to such request for information, it shall notify Buyer of that decision as soon as reasonably possible, and in any event, at least two (2) business days before disclosure and give due consideration to any objections, without prejudice to the Seller's rights, (iii) Notwithstanding other notification provisions in this Agreement, the notifications required by this Section may be made by any method reasonably calculated to ensure receipt, including electronic mail. (e) press Release. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, Seller and Buyer shall reasonably cooperate to draft and issue a mutually agreeable press release announcing the proposed sale of the Property following the execution of this Agreement. Seller agrees to coordinate with and afford Buyer the opportunity to participate in the press release. 18. Gengml (a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the final and entire Agreement between the Parties and they shall not be bound by any terms, covenants, conditions, representations or warranties not expressly contained herein. This Agreement may not be amended except by written instrument executed by both Parties. (b) Par*ial Invalidity. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. (c) Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of this Agreement and the performance of the terms and conditions hereof. (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective legal representatives, successors and assigns. Buyer shall not have the right to assign the Agreement without Seller's prior written consent, which consent may be given or withheld in Seller's reasonable discretion; provided that Buyer shall in no event be released from any of its obligations or liabilities hereunder as a result of any such approved assignment. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, Buyer is permitted to assign this Agreement, in whole or in part, without Seller's consent to an Affiliate of Buyer, provided that, (i) assignee assumes Buyer's obligations under 18S71Y652 this Agreement pursuant to a written agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Seller; (ii) Seller receives a copy of such assignment and assumption agreement on or before three (3) business days prior to Closing and reaffirms all of the representations and warranties Of Buyer herein and (iii) Buyer shall remain liable for, and shall not be released from the performance of, Buyer's obligations under this Agreement after such assignment. Whenever reference is made in 32 this Agreement to Seller or Buyer, such reference shall include the successors and assigns Of such party under this Agreement. For purposes Of this Section, "Affiliate" shall mean an entity that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries' controls, or is controlled by, or is under the common control with, the Buyer. (e) Governmental Immunity, No term or condition Of this Agreement shall be construed or interpreted as a waiver, express or implied, of any Of the immunities, rights, benefits, protections, or other provisions, of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, C.R.S. 24- 10-101, et seq., or the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 1346(b) and 2671 , et seq., as applicable now or hereafter amended. (D Choice or Law. Colorado law, and rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto, shall be applied in the interpretation, execution, and enforcement of this Agreement. Any provision included or incorporated herein by reference which conflicts with said laws, rules, and regulations shall be null and void. Any provision incorporated herein by reference which purports to negate this Section 18(f) in whole or in part shall not be valid or enforceable or available in any action at law. whether by way of complaint, defense, or otherwise. Any provision rendered null and void by the operation of this provision shall not invalidate the remainder of this Agreement, to the extent capable of execution. (g) Binding Arbitration Prohibited. The State of Colorado does not agree to binding arbitration by any extra-judicial body or person. Any provision to the contrary in this Agreement or incorporated herein by reference shall be null and void. (h) Emolovee Financial Interest. C.R.S. 24-18-201 and 24-50507. The signatories aver that to their knowledge, no employee of the State has any personal or beneficial interest whatsoever in the service or property described in this Agreement. (i) No Violation of Law. The signatories aver that they are familiar with C.R.S. 18-8-301, et seq. (Bribery and Corrupt Influences) and C.R.S. 18-8- 01, et seq. (Abuse of Public Office) and that no violation of such provisions is present in this Agreement. G) Use of "Colorado State University", "CSU" or "Hughes Stadium". Buyer may only state that the Property is located at the former Hughes Stadium site for the purpose of providing information as to the general location of the Property in advertisements concerning the Property or to refer to the Property as the "Hughes Subdivision". Except as hereinabove permitted, Buyer agrees that it shall not use or allow the use of the name "Colorado State University", 'CSV' or "Hughes Stadium" in any manner to name, designate, advertise, sell or develop the Property or in any manner or connection with the operations or businesses located or to be located on the Property. The restriction in this Section 18(j) shall survive Closing. (k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 33 18570965.2 (l) The headings of the Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs hereof are provided for convenience of reference only, and shall not considered in construing their contents. (m) Each writing or plat or plan referred to herein as being attached hereto as an exhibit or otherwise designated herein as an exhibit is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. The following exhibits are attached hereto: Exhibit A Legal Description of Property Exhibit B Escrow Agent's Standard Escrow Provisions Exhibit C Form Deed Exhibit D Closing Documents Exhibit E Permitted Exceptions Exhibit F Additional Obligations of Seller Exhibit G Notice Addresses Exhibit H Additional Purchase Price Schedule (n) Time Periods. Any and all references in this Agreement to time periods which are specified by reference to a certain number of days refer to calendar days, unless "business days" is otherwise expressly provided. Therefore, if (a) the last date by which Closing is permitted to occur hereunder, or (b) any date by which a Party is required to provide the other Party with notice hereunder, occurs on a Saturday or a Sunday or a banking holiday in the jurisdiction where the Property is located, then and in any of such events, such applicable dates shall be deemed to occur, for all purposes of this Agreement, on that calendarday which is the next, succeeding day, which is not a Saturday, Sunday or banking holiday. (o) No Partnership. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed in any way to create between the Parties any relationship of partnership, joint venture or association, and the Parties disclaim the existence thereof. (p) Escrow Provisions. The Escrow Agent's actions and the Parties' obligations in regard to any escrow shall be governed by Escrow Agent's standard escrow provisions attached as Exhibit B to the extent that they are not inconsistent with this Agreement. (q) Waivers. No Party shall be deemed to have waived the exercise of any right which it holds hereunder unless such waiver is made expressly and in writing (and no delay or omission by any Party hereto in exercising any such right shall be deemed a waiver of its future exercise). No such waiver made as to any instance involving the exercise of any such right shall be deemed a waiver as to any other such instance, or any other such right. (r) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SELLER AND BUYER EACH HEREBY WAIVES RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY m ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS 34 1857W65.2 35 AGREEMENT AND THE RESPECTIVE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO. (s) Facsimile and PDF Copies. Facsimile copies or PDF copies sent by email of the Agreement and any amendments hereto and any signatures thereon shall be considered for all purposes as originals. (t) Memorandum Q! Agreement. Upon delivery of the Suitability Notice by Buyer, Seller shall be obligated to record a Memorandum Of Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Memorandum") in the real property records of Larimer County, Colorado, evidencing: (i) Buyer's interest in the Property, and (ii) Buyer's and/or its successor's obligation to pay the Additional Purchase Price to Seller pursuant to Section 15 above, in a form to bc negotiated and reasonably and mutually acceptable to the Parties prior to expiration of the Feasibility Period; provided that, prior tovecording the Memorandum, Buyer will deliver a duly executed Release of the Memorandum to the Title Company to be held in escrow, and recorded by the Title Company in the event Of termination of this Agreement or default by Buyer under this Agreement. After Closing. Seller shall be obligated to release the Memorandum Of record by delivery of a quit claim deed or other evidence of termination satisfactory to the title company for any Lot subject to a Retail Closing immediately upon payment by Buyer to Seller of the Additional Purchase Price applicable to such Lot pursuant to Section 5 above. [Signatures on following page.] 36 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed under seal this Purchase and Sale Agreement as of the Effective Date. SELLER: THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Date Division of University Operations 318 Administration Building Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523-600 LEGAL REVIEW: Office of the General Counsel Colorado State University System 01 Administration Building Fort Collins, CO 80523-0006 37 185709652 BUYER: LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, a Colorado limited liabil•ty pmpany Name: Daniel J. ess Title: Vice President 38 18570965.2 39 The undersigned joins in the execution of the foregoing Agreement for the sole purpose of agreeing to hold and apply the Deposit subject to and in accordance with the terms of the foregoing Agreement. ESCROW AGENT: FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE COMPANY By: Name: Title: Date: 1857W6S.2 AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT Legal Description of the Property Beginning at the East quarter comer (E 1/4) of Section 20, Township 7 North, Range 69 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian; thence South 000 14' West, 1390.9 feet; thence South 87059' West, 1473.5 feet; thence South 78025' West, 1214.3 feet; thence North 00 028' East, 245 1.0 feet; thence North 57044' East 66.1 feet, thence on a regular curve to the left with a radius of 336.48 feet, 149.4 feet; thence North 320 17' East, 0.2 feet, thence on a regular curve to the left with a radius of 240.99 feet, 133.2 feet; thence North 00027' East, I I I .2 feet; thence on a regular curve to the right with a radius Of 236.48 feet, 99.5 feet; thence North 86023' East, 2437.4 feet; thence South 000 14' West, 1391.7 feet to the Point of Beginning, subject to existing public road rightof-way running through the Southeast corner. EXCEPT that portion conveyed to the City of Fort Collins in Deed recorded November 19, i 998 at Reception No. 98101735, described as follows: Considering the East line of the Southeast Quarter of said Section 20 as bearing SOOO 14' 18" W from a aluminum cap in monument box at the East Quarter corner of said Section 20 to a aluminum cap in a monument box at the Southeast corner of said Section 20 and with all bearings contained herein relative thereto; Commencing at the East Quarter corner of said Section 20; thence along said East line, S 000 14' 1 8" E, I, 153.43 feet to the Point of Beginning; thence continuing along said East line, S 000 14' 18" W, 237.64 feet to a point on the South line of the North half of said Southeast Quarter; thence along said South line, S 88000'04" W, 1,473.03 feet; thence N 78053'33" E, 1,501.23 feet to the Point of Beginning, County of Larimer, State of Colorado. A-I 1857W65.2 AGREEMENT QF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT F„scrqw Provisions Buyer and Seller, jointly and severally, hereby agree to indemnify the Escrow Agent and hold it harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity, or any other expense, fees or charges of any character or nature, which it may incur or with which it may be threatened by reason Of its acting as Escrow Agent under this Agreement, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and the cost of defending any actions, suit or proceeding or resisting any claim. 2. In the event of a dispute between the Parties as to the disposition of the Deposit or any other escrow monies held by the Escrow Agent or actions taken by or contemplated by the Escrow Agent, Buyer and Seller agree to settlement of such dispute by the methods more specifically contained in the Agreement of Sale. Immediately upon receipt of written notification to the Escrow Agent of an escrow funds dispute which cannot be resolved bctween the Parties, including any contract default having occurred due to failure to close, Escrow Agent agrees to notify the Parties that unless the Parties mutually select an arbitrator within five (5) business days of notification, Escrow Agent will submit the matter to AAA to settle the dispute as quickly as possible. The decision and awarding of any funds by the Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the Parties hereto. Within three (3) business days after the Arbitrator has resolved the dispute and rendered written directions, the Escrow Agent shall turn over any escrow monies together with any interest earned thereon to the appropriate party due all or part Of the funds set forth in the written directions. Alternatively, in the event of any controversy involving the Deposit or any other escrow funds, the Escrow Holder may, upon agreement by Buyer and Seller, charge one-half of its fees and costs to Seller and one-half of its fees and costs to Buyer, and then place all or portions of the Deposit or any other escrow funds in the registry of any court of competent jurisdiction, and upon payment of such funds in to the court registry, Escrow Holder shall be released from all further liability in connection with the funds delivered. 3. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any other agreement whether or not it has knowledge of the existence thereof or of its terms and conditions, and is required only to hold the Deposit as herein set forth and to make payment or other disposition thereof as hereinbefore stated. 4. Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any mistakes of fact, or errors of judgment, or for any acts or omission of any kind unless caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of Escrow Agent. 5. Escrow Agent may resign upon ten (10) days written notice to the Parties to their addresses set forth herein. If a successor escrow agent is not appointed within a fourteen (14) day period following such resignation, the Escrow Agent may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to name a successor. The costs of such action shall be paid by Seller and Buyer on an equal basis, and shall be subject to the provisions of Section I hereof. AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT C Eorm Deed UPON RECORDING RETURN TO: Rebecca W. Dow, Esq. Holland & Hart LLP P.O. Box 8749 Denver, CO 80201 SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED THIS DEED. dated . 20_. between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ("Grantor"), whose address is c/o Colorado State University Research Foundation, 2537 Research Blvd, suite 200, Ft. Collins, CO 80525; and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC. a Colorado limited liability company ("Grantee"), whose address is 9193 S. Jamaica Street, 4th Fl., Englewood. CO 80112. WITNESS, that Grantor, for and in consideration of the sum OfDollars ), the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, does hereby GRANT, SELL and CONVEY unto Grantee all of the real property described on Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, located in the County of Larimer, State Of Colorado, together with improvements and appurtenances, belonging or in any way appertaining and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title, interest. claim, and demand whatsoever of the Grantor, either in law or equity, Of, in, and to the above real property (the "Property"). Grantor does hereby covenant and agree that it shall WARRANT AND FOREVER DEFEND the title to the Property for the benefit of Grantee against all persons claiming by, through or under Grantor, subject to the matters described on Ebbjbi1_Å attached hereto, and incorporated herein by this reference. 1857096•i2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has executed this deed to be effective on the date set forth above. GRANTOR: THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Name: Its: c-2 STATE OF COLORADO ) SS. COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this day of 20—, by as the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System, acting by and through Colorado State Uni versity. WITNESS my hand and official seal. Notary Public My Commission Expires: 1 SEALI c-3 1857%5.2 Exhibit A to Special Warranty Deed Legal Description of Property [To be inserted prior to Closing] Exhibit B to Special Warranty Deed Permitted Exceptions TAXES FOR THE YEAR 20 AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS. [TO be inserted prior to Closing] c-5 18570965.2 AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT p Closing Poguments to be Delivered to Boyer (a) If required by Title Company, a certified copy of the resolution Of Seller's Board of Directors authorizing and approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein and the execution of the Agreement and the Closing documents; (b) A special warranty deed in form attached as Exhibi; C, which conveys fee simple title to the Property; (c) An assignment, without warranty, of Seller's rights, title and interest, if any, in all permits, plans, licenses, approvals, certificates, entitlements, development agreements and related items included within the Documents and, in each case, to the extent assignable; (c) A Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act ("FIRVTA") certification in conformance with the requirements of FIRYfA; (e) All consents which may be required from any third person or entity in connection with the sale of the Property; (f) The Seller's Affidavit in the form required by the Title Company and reasonably acceptable to the Seller; and (g) Such other documents or instruments as may be required by other provisions of this Agreement or reasonably required by Buyer to effectuate Closing. All of the documents and instruments to be delivered by Seller pursuant to this Exhibit shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for Buyer. Closing Documents to be Delivered to Seller (a) The Purchase Price; (b) If required by Title Company, satisfactory evidence that the person or persons executing the Closing documents on behalf of Buyer have full right, power and authority to do so; 18S7W65.2 (c) the Real Property Transfer Declaration required by applicable Colorado law; (d) All consents which may be required from any third person or entity in connection with the purchase of the Property; The Buyer's Affidavit in the form required by the Title Company and as reasonably acceptable to Buyer; (f) Such other documents or instruments as may be required by other provisions of this Agreement or reasonably required by Seller to effectuate Closing. All of the documents and instruments to be delivered by Buyer pursuant to this Exhibit shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for Seller. AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer 18570965.2 EXHIBIT E Permitted [to be inserted during Feasibility Period] TAXES FOR THE YEAR 20_ AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS. Buyer's Initials 1857(B65.2 Date Agreed: Seller's Initials AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer Additional Obligations of Seller (Insert, if any during the Feasibility Period.] AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT G Notige$ Any notice to be given to any Party hereto in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed received (a) on the date delivered if hand delivered by receipted hand delivery or by electronic transmission, and (b) two (2) days after postmark if sent postage prepaid by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices to the Parties shall be sent to their addresses set forth below. Either Party, by written notice to the other, may change its address to which notices are to be sent. The Parties shall copy Escrow Agent on all notices sent hereunder, but failure to notify Escrow Agent shall not be deemed a failure of notice to a Party to whom notice has been given. Any default notice under this Agreement sent by electronic transmission must be followed by the delivery of a hard copy. yuyer's Address: Lennar Colorado, LLC 9193 S. Jamaica Street, 4th Fl. Englewood, CO 801 12 Attn: Daniel J. Nickless, Land President Telephone: 303-486-5063 Email: daniel.nickless@lennar.com With copy to: Rebecca W. Dow, Esq. Holland & Hart LLP 555 17th Street, suite 3200 Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: 303-295-8413 Email: rdow@hollandhart.com Escrow Agent's Address: Fidelity National Title Company 3500 John F. Kennedy Pkwy., Ste. 100 Fort Collins, CO 80525 Attention-. Julie Norris Telephone: (970) 212-7750 Email: jnorris@fnLgom Seller's Address: Colorado State University c/o Colorado State Uni versity Research Foundation 2537 Research Blvd., Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80526 G-1 18570965.2 1857W65.2 With a CODV (o: Telephone: Email: Marc C. Diamant, Esq. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP 410 17th st., 22nd Floor Denver, CO 80202-4437 Telephone: 303-223-1 132 Email: mdiamant@bhfs.com AGREEMENT OF SALE by and between THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT H Additional Purchase Price Payment Schedule [See attached.] 1857W65.2 CALCULATION OF ADDITIONAL PURCHASE PRICE Lot No. Address: by and between AGREEMENT OF SALE THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, acting by and through COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, as Seller and LENNAR COLORADO, LLC, as Buyer EXHIBIT 1 Form or Leger or Credit (See attached.] 1-1 IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDrr NO. FGAC.XXXXX BENEFICIARY: 1857W65.2 APPLICANT: LC AMOUNn USDSXXXX.XX (AMOUNT IN WORDS US DOLLARS) EXPIRATION DATE: (DAIEJ AT OUR COUNTFRS RE: GENTLEMEN: WE HEREBY ESTABLISH OUR IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. FGAC.xxxxx IN YOUR FAVOR AT THE REQUEST AND FOR THE ACCOUNT OF [APPLICANT) IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE THIS LETTER OF CREDIT IS AVAILABLE BY YOUR DRAFr(S) DRAWN AT Sl DULY AND MANUALLY SIGNED AND MARKED: "DRAWN UNDER LETTER OFCREDtT NO. FOAC.XXXXX DATED MOMMI XXu zOXX•• WHEN A OF CREDIT AND ALL ORIGINAL AMENDMENTS, IF ANY. AND THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT(S); BF.NFFiCIARY•s CERTIFICATE DULY AND MANUALLY SIGNED AND DATED BY AN AUTHORIZED OFFICER SIGNING AS SUCH ON ITS LETTERHEAD READING EXACTLY AS FOLLOWS- THE AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THE DRAFT ACCOMPANYING THIS STATEMENT IS THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO BE PAID TO THE BENEFICIARY ON ACCOUNT OF THE DEFAULT OF (APPLICANTI UNDER THE IAGREEMENT NAME) DATED ON OR AROUND ( DATE). (THE "AGREEMENT') BY AND BETWEEN IBENFFICIARYI. AS AND (APPLICANT). AS 1-1; THAT (APPLICANT) HAS BEEN GIVEN WRITTEN NOTICE BY [BENEFICIARY) DESCRIBING THE EVENT OR CONDITION OF SUCH DEFAULT IN REASONABLE DETAIL BY CERTIFIED MAIL. RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED; THE DEFAULT HAS NOT BEEN CURED WITHIN THE CURE PERIOD PROVIDED THEREIN, IF ANY. AND THAT [BENEFICIARY] IS NOT IN DEFAULT UNDER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT AND AS SUCH IS ENTm.ED TO BE PAID THE PROCEEDS OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT THIS LETTER OF CREDrr SETS FORTH IN FULL THE TERMS OF OUR UNDERTAKING AND SUCH UNDERTAKING SHALL NOT IN ANY WAY BE MODIFIED, AMENDED. AMPLIFIED OR LIMITED BY REFERENCE TO ANY DOCUMENT. INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT REÆRRED TO HEREIN OR IN WHICH THIS LETTER OF CREDIT IS RFFERRED TO OR WHICH THIS LETTER OF CREDIT RELATES, AND ANY SUCH REFERENCE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO INCORR)RATE HEREIN ANY SUCH DOCUMENT. INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT. WE HEREBY ENGAGE WITH BENEFICIARY THAT ALL SIGHT DRAFTS DRAWN UNDER AND IN CONFORMITY WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT WILL BE DULY HONORED IF DRAWN AN IRED HEREIN IF PRESENTED B E TERFD OR CFRT(FIF.D MAIL. RETURN RFCEIPT REQUESTED OR BY FEDERAL EXPRESS OR ANY OTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COURIER COMPANY. THIS LETTER OF CREDff is SUBJECT TO AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FIORIDA WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAW), AND EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN. IS SUBJECT TO THE INTERNATIONAL STANDBY PRACTCES 1998. INIERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • PUBLICATION NO. 590 ("ISP98") AND IN THE EVEtcr OF ANY CONFLICT, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL CONTROL. VERY TRULY YOURS. AGREEMENT OF SALE AUTHORIZED S}GNER. TITLE 11353800_12 1-2 t CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT FINAL DRAFT NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN September 2, 2014 Photo Credits: Valley Loop Trail, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by D. Daniels); inserts (top to bottom): Cattail Chorus Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo), Master Naturalist at McMurry Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo), Great horned owl at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally). City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 iii PREFACE Conservation and Wellbeing In many regards, Fort Collins is the envy of other mid-size communities around the nation. Again and again, publications and surveys tout its high quality of life. Many factors contribute to the success of Fort Collins. The physical environment of Fort Collins, with its beautiful location on the Rocky Mountain Front Range and, in particular, the matrix of conserved natural areas in and around the City, is a fundamental part of the City’s renowned character. Additional factors include a culture of entrepreneurship, an accomplished local school system, Colorado State University, an engaged community, and in particular a devotion to the outdoors and environmental protection. The City’s network of natural areas, made possible by a series of citizen-initiated sales taxes, constitutes a strong testament to this devotion and plays a key role in making Fort Collins one of the best places to live in the country. Fort Collins’ natural areas are a leading expression of our community’s values, hopes, and aspirations. Moreover, in Fort Collins and other communities around the world, there is growing understanding and appreciation for the symbiotic relationship between local land conservation and human wellbeing. This emerging understanding will be a major driver as the Natural Areas Department pursues its core conservation mission over the next ten years. The Fort Collins model of conserving land lies squarely within a great American tradition that many historians trace to the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. During his tenure Roosevelt established numerous National Forests and Parks and protected nearly 230 million acres in the public domain. Since the turn of the last century, land conservation has become fi rmly entrenched in the culture and history of America, and the tradition of conservation continues to be one of our nation’s greatest achievements. Milky Way above Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Jeremy White; Courtesy of National Park Service) iv Preface FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Two interesting phenomena in the land conservation movement occurred in the latter part of the 20th century. The conservation land trust movement exploded and there are now over 1,700 land trusts that have helped conserve nearly 50 million acres nationally. In addition to the private, non-profi t sector, local governments launched their own conservation efforts. This has been especially true in Colorado, and Fort Collins has been a leader in the local government conservation movement. An important factor that drove the desire for land conservation in Fort Collins was the booming economy in the 1990s and early 2000s. Community members in Fort Collins recognized that unless something was done to set aside key lands, they would be lost to development. Citizen activists orchestrated a series of citizen- initiated sales tax measures that provided additional resources to acquire important lands and to restore their ecological value, as well as to provide recreation amenities, public safety, education, and outreach programs. Fort Collins can be deservedly proud of its role in the local government conservation movement. To date, the efforts of the City have resulted in the conservation of approximately 41,000 acres. The Natural Areas Department manages 35,000 acres with a full-time permanent staff of 30 and another 20 seasonal employees. In addition to the professional staff, volunteers donate thousands of hours of their time each year. On-the-ground management of the 6,000 acres that have been protected with conservation easements is conducted by the City’s community partners and private landowners. On an annual basis the City monitors the eased lands to ensure compliance with the protective terms of the easements. Of course, the numbers only scratch the surface of the underlying story. They are unable to capture the joy of a child playing at the water’s edge; the deep contentment of an afternoon spent fl y casting in the middle of town; the music of birdsong on a warm spring day; a quiet walk, or a hard run on the Foothills Trail as the sun rises. These descriptions hint at the deeper meaning and values of the City’s natural areas system- -a system that supports two fundamentally intertwined benefi ts associated with conservation at the local scale: the preservation and support of the diversity of life, and support for human wellness and health. Fort Collins is on the leading edge of a movement that is just beginning to appreciate and understand how supporting the diversity of life at the local scale can also help support the wellbeing of local residents. Human health experts are beginning to realize, through peer reviewed research, that outdoor activity can have highly benefi cial impacts on both physical and mental health. In Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv (2005) argues forcefully that children have become too disconnected from nature in our highly regimented approach to education, sports, and the pervasive use of electronic media. When the broken connection to nature is re-established, children are happier, calmer, and better at solving problems. Similar results have been shown for adults; for example, numerous outdoor programs have been established for war veterans to help them cope with trauma and re-integrate into civilian society. With over 100 miles of trails and nearly 35,000 acres of land open to the public, the City provides numerous opportunities for connecting and re-connecting with nature. "This principle holds that a reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human health, well-being, spirit, and survival." Richard Louv (2011) The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 v In addition to human wellness, biologists and city planners now understand that supporting a matrix of conserved lands at the local level can be fundamentally important to sustaining the diversity of life. For example, conservation at the local level can play a vital role in connecting biological corridors that would otherwise be disconnected by urban development. Two examples from the Fort Collins’ experience are the Cache la Poudre River corridor and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. In the case of the Poudre, biologists note that riparian corridors in Colorado are the primary reservoirs of biological diversity in the state. The City’s history of conserving land along the Poudre, and more recent efforts to reconnect the river to its fl oodplain and to modify or remove dams to facilitate fi sh passage, are intended to restore and sustain important elements of the river’s biological richness. Public ownership of over 60% of the Poudre River fl oodplain within Fort Collins has contributed to multiple community goals, strongly evidenced by the resilience of the river system to the September 2013 fl ood event. In the case of Soapstone Prairie, this 22,000-acre property provides a vital link in a series of protected lands in the 150,000-acre Mountains-to-Plains Laramie Foothills Project that connects higher elevation habitat to the prairie, a regional connection that is vanishing along the developing Front Range of Colorado. Perhaps in a way that our community was not able to anticipate 20 years ago, efforts to enhance wellbeing and social sustainability as well as efforts to conserve and restore the quality of our natural areas are symbiotically reinforcing each other. This symbiosis is likely to be one of the most important movements of the 21st century, especially as population trends place increasing pressure on the resilience of our economic, social, and environmental fabric. The City will continue to implement programs and initiatives that strongly support the movement towards local resilience, biological conservation, and human health and wellbeing. Looking forward to the next ten years, the Natural Areas Department will execute its core conservation mission by protecting land and water, providing a safe and appropriate user experience, sharing through learning opportunities, and restoring and rehabilitating land and natural systems to build ecological diversity and staying power. John Stokes Natural Areas Department Director (2003–Present) John Stokes at Two Creeks Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) vi Preface FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department thanks all the citizens who have contributed to the conservation and stewardship of our community’s natural areas. Your citizen-initiated sales tax dollars have conserved natural areas, provided visitor services, and restored habitat for generations to come. We especially thank citizen open space leaders, public offi cials, conservation partners, volunteers, and City staff who have supported the natural areas vision over the last 22 years. City Council Karen Weitkunat, Mayor Gerry Horak, Mayor Pro Tem, District 6 Bob Overbeck, District 1 Lisa Poppaw, District 2 Gino Campana, District 3 Wade Troxell, District 4 Ross Cunniff, District 5 City Management Darin Atteberry, City Manager Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager Marty Heffernan, Director of Community Services John Stokes, Natural Areas Department Director Mark Sears, Natural Areas Manager Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Trudy Haines, Chairperson Gail Dethloff Kathryn Grimes Kent Leier Kelly Ohlson Ed Reifsnyder Raymond Watts Staff, volunteers, and visitors at Gateway Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................1 Plan Fort Collins and the Natural Areas Master Plan 2 The Value of Natural Areas 2 Four Decades of Land Conservation and Stewardship 3 A Continuous Dialogue: Community Involvement in the 2014 Master Plan Update 7 Performance Metrics 12 Chapter 2 Funding and Expenditures ....................................................................................... 13 Historical Funding and Expenditures (1993–2013) 13 Future Funding and Expenditures over the Next Ten Years (2014–2023) with and without Larimer County’s “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax 14 Other Potential Funding Sources 16 Inventory of City Natural Areas and Other Protected Sites 21 Conservation Focus Areas 28 Local Focus Areas 30 Community Separators Focus Areas 31 Regional Focus Areas 32 Land Conservation Strategies 33 Chapter 4 Stewardship ........................................................................................................ 39 Staffi ng 39 Land Conservation and Stewardship Board 40 Policies, Plans, and Procedures 40 Management Zoning System 42 Education 43 Volunteer Coordination 45 Research 46 Resource Management 48 Cache la Poudre River and Other Aquatic Systems 54 Ranger and Visitor Services 59 Recreation 62 Cultural Resources 69 Agriculture 72 Energy Development and Minerals Extraction 73 Utility Easements and Rights-of-Way 74 Private Land Management Assistance 76 Facility Operations 77 Environmental Sustainability 80 viii Table of Contents FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Chapter 5 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond ............................................................ 83 Partnership Opportunities 83 Priorities 84 Challenges 88 References ....................................................................................................................... 89 Appendix A 2014 City Council Resolution to Adopt the Natural Areas Master Plan (Pending) ...................A-1 Appendix B 2011 City Plan Principles and Policies ...................................................................... B-1 Appendix C Our Lands – Our Future Results for Fort Collins ......................................................... C-1 List of Figures Figure 1. Percentage of “Very Good” or “Good” Quality Ratings of Natural Areas Department Programs and Facilities (Fort Collins Citizen Surveys 2003–2013) ....................................................................8 Figure 2. Natural Areas Revenue, 1993–2013 (Total $184,006,420) ..................................................... 14 Figure 3. Change in Distribution of Natural Areas Expenditures over Time ........................................... 15 Figure 4. Natural Areas Expenditures by Work Group, 1993–2013 (Total $170,444,314) (see page 39 for description of Work Group responsibilities; prior to 2004, “Maintenance” Work Group handled both Public Improvements and Resource Management Activities) ............................................................... 15 Figure 5. Natural Areas Estimated Expenditures by Work Group with “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251) (see page 39 for description of Work Group responsibilities) ............................................................................................................ 17 Figure 6. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue with “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251) ................................................................................. 17 Figure 7. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue without “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax Extension over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $93,878,417) ........................................................................ 17 Figure 8. Total Spending and Acres Conserved by Focus Areas (2003–2013) ......................................... 28 Figure 9. Number of Volunteer Hours per Year, 2007–2013 .............................................................. 45 Figure 10. Number of Natural Areas Open to Specifi c Recreation Types .............................................. 63 Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 ix List of Tables Table 1. Current Natural Areas Department Metrics ...................................................................... 12 Table 2. Examples of Conservation and Stewardship Partnerships over the Past Ten Years ....................... 19 Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued) ..................................................... 24 Table 4. Natural Areas Policies, Plans, and Procedures (2004–2014) ................................................... 41 Table 5. Examples of Special-Permit Research Projects on City Natural Areas over the Last Four Years. ........ 47 Table 6. Selected List of Research Topics to Help Stewardship of Natural Areas over the Next Ten Years ....... 48 List of Maps Map 1. Local Natural Areas and Community Separators ................................................................ 22 Map 2. Regional Natural Areas ............................................................................................... 23 Map 3. Land Conservation Focus Areas ..................................................................................... 29 x Table of Contents FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 1 INTRODUCTION Growing out of earlier open space efforts in the 1970s, the City of Fort Collins established a Natural Areas Program in 1992. Over the last few decades, the Program evolved into a multi-faceted department responsible for the conservation and stewardship of land and water with natural resource, agricultural, recreation, and scenic values. The Natural Areas Department is not alone in this endeavor. Other City of Fort Collins departments, neighboring cities, Larimer County, state and federal agencies, land trusts, and private landowners all partner with the Department. Above all, the support of the Fort Collins community itself has made the original vision of the 1992 Natural Areas Policy Plan a reality. The Fort Collins community has conserved over 40,000 acres and the Natural Areas Department manages 35,000 of those acres within 43 local and regional natural areas. More than 30,000 acres—roughly 75% have been conserved in just the past ten years. With over 100 miles of trails on the 40 sites open to-date, natural areas have become a beloved community asset, central to Fort Collins’ identity and quality of life. This remarkable accomplishment has presented new resource management, natural areas education, and recreation opportunities, as well as inherent challenges. City CityStatement of Fort Collins Mission Statement Exceptional service for an exceptional community. Natural NaturalMission Areas Department Mission The mission of the Natural Areas Department is to conserve and enhance lands with natural resource, agricultural, and scenic values, while providing meaningful education and appropriate recreation opportunities. 2014 2014Vision Natural Areas Master Plan Vision Through the work of the Natural Areas Department, a diverse system of conserved and restored lands will connect community members to nature. These conserved lands will protect nature and contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community. Arapaho Bend Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) 2 Introduction FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 This 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan summarizes the accomplishments of the last ten years, since adoption of the 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan. The 2014 Plan establishes the priorities for conservation and stewardship of the City’s natural areas system for the next ten years based on ballot measure language, the values and functions of the natural areas system as a whole, community input, and emerging trends and needs. The Master Plan will also serve as a foundation for future site-specifi c management plans. PLAN FORT COLLINS AND THE NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN In 2011, the City adopted its updated comprehensive plan. City Plan Fort Collins (2011a) provides strong direction for the Natural Areas Department, with numerous policies and principles devoted to environmental health, including a section entitled “Open Lands” that largely refl ects the mission of the Department. Moreover, a central tenet of Plan Fort Collins is natural resource and natural area conservation. Relevant principles and policies of Plan Fort Collins for economic sustainability, land conservation, and stewardship of natural areas are included in Appendix B. While the Department’s main focus is on natural areas, community separators and agricultural lands are also conserved when they meet the Department’s mission. THE VALUE OF NATURAL AREAS The Fort Collins landscape is endowed with prairie grasslands, streams and forested river corridors, and an iconic foothills backdrop of mountain mahogany shrublands and ponderosa pine forests that support a high diversity of natural systems throughout the year. Human- made reservoirs, gravel ponds, detention ponds, drainage channels and irrigation ditches contribute to the diversity of habitats within our urban, built environment. Pockets of naturalized vegetation within stormwater drainage features, parks, and agricultural lands also provide valuable wildlife habitat. Fort Collins natural areas offer ecosystem goods and services, such as fi ltering the water and air, providing pollination of crops, stormwater detention, and fl ood protection. Our natural areas support unique native plant populations, including 36 species listed as rare or sensitive; two of which are federally threatened species. Our natural areas provide habitat for 18 species of animals on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Species of Concern List, including seven in the threatened or endangered category. More bird species have been recorded from our natural areas than from such iconic national parks as Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, or even the Everglades. Unique archaeological, historical, paleontological, and geological features can be found on many of City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 3 What is a Natural Area? “Area of land or water that contains or supports the continued existence of geological, paleontological, ecological, or other natural features that are: classifi ed as endangered or threatened, sensitive to the impact from human activity, or otherwise in need of protection; important to the conservation of natural resources that provide environmental protection, recreational, educational, scientifi c, aesthetic, or economic benefi ts; or unique or rare examples of our natural heritage.” (City Plan 2011) What is a Community Separator? “Community separators defi ne the area between more intensely developed urban areas of one municipality and the same of another. They provide visual and physical separation between communities by providing transitions from urban level development using rural/open lands (including agricultural uses and clustered residential development) and lower densities.” (City Plan 2011) What is Agricultural Land? “Land in use for agricultural purposes such as pasturage, farming, dairying, horticulture, animal husbandry, and related activities.” (City Plan 2011) Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) Sustainability is a core philosophy of the City of Fort Collins, one that underpins every City effort, from the smallest of daily tasks to the largest multi-year initiatives. The central premise of any sustainable operation is that it considers the three legs of the sustainability stool: human (social) capital, economic activity, and environmental quality in decision-making and management. This approach to decision making is commonly known as a “triple bottom line” (TBL) analysis. The Natural Areas Master Plan project team conducted a TBL analysis in September 2013 to help incorporate social, economic, and environmental considerations into this planning process. FOUR DECADES OF LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP THE OPEN SPACE PLAN (1974) Offi cial City recognition of the value of natural areas fi rst occurred 40 years ago in 1974 when City Council adopted The Open Space Plan. This plan addressed a wide variety of community needs and led to the establishment of an open space acquisition and management program. The plan identifi ed priority areas within and adjacent to Fort Collins to be included in the City’s Open Space system. The importance of the area for fi sh and wildlife habitat was among the criteria used to identify priority 4 Introduction FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Awards AwardsDepartment to the Natural Areas Department The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department has been recognized as an outstanding organization over the last ten years, including these achievements: • Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Award for Best Governmental Educational Program, 2014 • Friend of Preservation Award, for restoration of historic outbuildings on Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, 2013 • Colorado Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety and the Colorado Stone, Sand and Gravel Association - Jack Starner Reclamation Award, for restoration at Running Deer Natural Area, 2011 • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals Gold Award, for interpretive signage at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, 2010 • Blue Grama Award, Colorado Open Space Alliance, 2007 • Millions of dollars in grants from competitive grant processes such as Great Outdoors Colorado, History Colorado, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Poudre Heritage Alliance Natural areas are key to Fort Collins’ high quality of life, as recognized by these prestigious awards: • Most Satisfi ed (94.9%) with their City in Nation: Time Magazine, 2014 • 3rd Highest Community (along with Loveland) in Well-being Index for Nation: Gallup and Healthways Survey, 2014 • Best Towns in America: Outside Magazine, 2013 • 4th Healthiest Mid-Size City in the U.S.: Gallup-Healthways Survey, 2012 • Top Ten Places to Retire: CBS Money Watch, 2012 • One of the Top 15 Best Places for triathletes to live and train: Triathlete Magazine, 2011 • One of the Top Ten Places to Retire in the Nation: Charles Schwab’s On Investing, 2011 • One of the Top 25 Best Places to Retire: CNNMoney.com, 2010 • One of the Top 10 Best College Towns: Small-Sized Cities Category, USA Today, 2010 • 6th Best Place to Live in the Nation: Money Magazine, 2010 • One of the Greatest Places to Live in the West: American Cowboy Magazine, 2010 • One of Top 20 Places to Thrive: Best Boomer Towns, 2009 • One of the Best Places to Raise Your Kids: Business Week, 2008 • 2nd Best Place to Live: Money Magazine, 2008 • Top 10 College Towns for Grown-Ups: Kiplinger’s Magazine, 2007 • #1 Best Place to Live in the Nation: Money Magazine, 2006 • Fort Collins is one of the 50 Best Places to Live (ranked 34th): Kiplinger’s Magazine, 2006 • American Dream Town. Fort Collins rated as one of the Best Towns in the U.S.: Outside Magazine, 2005 City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 5 sites. Specifi c areas identifi ed as priorities included the Poudre River corridor, portions of Spring Creek, and the foothills west of the City. Initial funding for the new Open Space Program was through a referendum passed in 1973 by the citizens of Fort Collins for a seven-year 1-cent Capital Improvement sales tax; a portion of which went for the purchase of open spaces. Through other funding, the Parks and Recreation Department was responsible for acquiring and managing natural areas preserved as open space, with the primary goal of providing recreational areas. The Parks Department also acquired areas that were left in a natural state in conjunction with some of their developed parks. One of the largest of these was a portion of Lee Martinez Community Park along the Poudre River. By the end of the 1980s, a little over 1,000 acres of signifi cant foothills and riparian habitat had been protected through the City’s Open Space Program. These lands helped maintain corridors for recreational trails, wildlife movement, and visual serenity. NATURAL AREAS POLICY PLAN (1992) As development pressures on wildlife habitat in and around Fort Collins continued to increase due to expanding residential and commercial development, the City recognized the need to step- up land conservation efforts. In 1992, the Natural Resources Division presented to City Council the Natural Areas Policy Plan, which focused land conservation on the protection and enhancement of natural areas—a change in direction from the previous efforts to acquire open spaces focused on providing recreational opportunities. The policy plan also set forth strategies to protect habitat through land development regulations, partnerships with other departments and agencies, encouraging enhancement of habitat on privately owned land, and providing education and interpretive programs to help ensure future conservation efforts. Soon after adoption of the Natural Areas Policy Plan, Fort Collins voters passed the fi rst citizens- initiated ¼-cent sales tax entirely dedicated to implementing the plan through 1997. The Natural Areas Program within the Natural Resources Division was established and the Parks’ “open spaces” became known as “natural areas.” As more land was acquired, site maintenance duties were transferred from Parks to Natural Areas and a Ranger Program was established in 1997. The need for a maintenance facility became critical to the Natural Areas Program’s success. In Red fox kits at Gustav Swanson Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) 6 Introduction FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 ACREAGE CONSERVED 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 0 FUNDING AND PLANNING LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATION Prospect Ponds (1974) Reservoir Ridge, Salyer (1985) Red Fox Meadows (1992) Gustav Swanson (1988) Ross (1978) Riverbend Ponds, Fischer (1977) Maxwell, Pineridge (1976) Springer, Williams (1990) Redwing Marsh, Cathy Fromme Prairie (1993) Coyote Ridge, River’s Edge, Prairie Dog Meadow, Udall (1994) Fossil Creek Wetlands, Magpie Meander, Arapaho Bend (1995) The Coterie (2000) Soapstone Prairie Additions (2009) Wellington and Timnath Community Separators (2005) Roberts Ranch CE, Soapstone Prairie (2004) Gateway, Picnic Rock (2007) North Shields Ponds (1962) Open Space Plan adopted (1974) 1-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax referendum passed (1973) Additional 1/2-cent Capital Funds tax approved (1984) Natural Areas Policy Plan adopted (1992) First citizen-initiated 1/4-cent sales tax entirely dedicated to NAPP implementation (1992) Larimer County Open Lands established, citizens initiate 1/4-cent sales tax for acquisition, maintenance (1995) Voters extend a portion of the 1/4-cent sales tax for natural areas for eight years (1997) Citizen-initiated Help Preserve Open Space funded (1999) Open Space Yes! Citizen initiative extends fully- restored City’s 1/4-cent sales tax to 2030 (2002) Natural Areas Program becomes a Department (2011) Land Conservation & Stewardship Plan adopted (2004) Nix Farm Facility completed, 1st Controlled Burn (2002) Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures Manual (2008) Natural Resources Division established (1986) Land Conservation & Stewardship City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 7 2002, the Nix Farm Facility on Hoffman Mill Road was completed to house most offi ce staff and all fi eld crews and rangers. At the end of 2003, the City had conserved about 11,500 acres of natural areas and had begun to acquire regional natural areas, including Bobcat Ridge, and to purchase conservation easements to conserve agricultural and viewshed values within community separators. LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP MASTER PLAN (2004) In response to requests by City Council and the public to look at more land conservation opportunities beyond the borders of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program staff developed the Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, which was adopted in 2004. This plan focused on identifying and protecting natural areas within three major focus areas: (1) Local (Fort Collins Growth Management Area west to Horsetooth Reservoir and Bellvue); (2) Community Separators (Wellington, Timnath, Lower Poudre and Windsor, Fort Collins-Loveland); and (3) Regional focus area (high value Larimer County foothills west of Horsetooth, Rist Canyon, Upper Poudre to County Road 27, Owl Canyon, Dry Creek, Laramie Foothills to Plains area). In 2011, the Natural Areas Program became a department within the City of Fort Collins government. The last ten years have been a period of signifi cant growth as the Department has tripled the amount of acreage under its management. The largest site, Soapstone Prairie, is over 22,000 acres alone. Today, with annual expenditures over $10 million, the Department has expanded its efforts to restore degraded natural areas, provide educational opportunities, and develop public recreational amenities, including over 100 miles of natural surface trails. Volunteers provide over 10,000 hours of labor to the Department each year to support various programs. A CONTINUOUS DIALOGUE: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE 2014 MASTER PLAN UPDATE The 2002 City of Fort Collins “Open Space Yes!” ballot language describes and directs the City’s efforts in fulfi lling the community’s conservation vision. It emphasizes ongoing community dialog and input on natural areas plans and policies as well as implementation. Over the past decade, the City has used a variety of means to listen to and incorporate ideas from the community. The 2014 Full Moon setting over Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) 8 Introduction FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan builds upon a number of previous and ongoing outreach efforts and partnerships in order to continuously understand stakeholders and act in a responsive manner to public preferences regarding land conservation, stewardship, and recreation efforts. Three specifi c efforts that directly infl uenced the Master Plan are highlighted below: the Fort Collins Citizen Surveys, Our Lands – Our Future surveys, and 2014 Master Plan outreach. CITIZEN SURVEYS Numerous quality of life surveys, along with specifi c land conservation and recreation surveys, have demonstrated that Fort Collins citizens remain enthusiastic about land conservation and outdoor recreation—a fi nding that mirrors statewide trends. In 2013, 2,000 randomly selected Fort Collins households were asked to rate the quality of life in the City and their satisfaction with community amenities and local government, including satisfaction with City natural areas. Key fi ndings included the following: • When asked to rate the quality of 19 recreational and cultural programs and facilities offered by the City of Fort Collins, respondents rated natural areas and open space (95% “very good” or “good”), recreational trails (96%), and parks (96%) as the most favorable. • About 98% of residents indicated that the same effort (65%) or more effort (33%) should be devoted to environmental protection and land conservation. • Respondents also indicated satisfaction with Natural Areas Rangers (81% very good or good) and perceptions of safety in natural areas (88% always or usually safe). OUR LANDS – OUR FUTURE SURVEY RESULTS From 2012 through 2013, the City of Fort Collins joined with Larimer County and all of its municipalities to analyze the challenges, opportunities, and possible gaps in their collective land conservation, stewardship, and outdoor Figure 1. Percentage of “Very Good” or “Good” Quality Ratings of Natural Areas Department Programs and Facilities (Fort Collins Citizen Surveys 2003–2013) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 2003 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 CITIZENS' RATINGS OF NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, 2003-2013 "Very Good" or "Good" Quality City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 9 recreation programs and portfolios. From this precedent-setting countywide study, called Our Lands – Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern Colorado (Larimer County 2013), came a statistical analysis of the conservation values and outdoor recreational preferences of Larimer County and Fort Collins residents. Between June 2012 and June 2013, over 4,200 citizens offered their feedback through statistically valid surveys, regional events, interactive online geographic information system (GIS) scenarios, participation of all open space advisory boards across the county, and over 45 local presentations. Many of the events occurred in Fort Collins, and over 50% of survey respondents were Fort Collins residents. Key fi ndings included the following: • The top activities for Fort Collins residents, children in their household, and the household overall are walking/hiking/ running on natural surfaces (53%) and paved surfaces (46%), as well as biking on paved trails (52%). These activities are closely followed by camping (44%), biking on roads (37%), and fi shing (34%). Overall, Fort Collins residents reported greater satisfaction with nearly all activities offered than other county residents. • Respondents identifi ed that more land or facilities are needed for walking/hiking/ running on natural and paved surfaces, biking on paved trails, camping, fi shing, recreating with dogs, and watching wildlife/birding. • All types of land conservation are important, with “Lands that provide regional trail corridors to connect to cities and towns” and “Ecologically sensitive lands” rated as the most important, while “Working farms and ranches” were rated as relatively less important. In order to understand community attitudes toward land conservation in greater detail, respondents identifi ed their single most important priority. “Ecologically sensitive lands” are considered the highest priority by Fort Collins residents (26%), followed by “lands within our communities near neighborhoods and schools” (20%), and “lands that provide regional trail corridors” (16%). On the whole, Fort Collins residents favor an equal balance between natural resource preservation and outdoor recreation. • There is signifi cant support from respondents for allocating revenues toward a broad set of purposes, from land acquisition to ecological restoration to investing in current facilities. The regional visioning process also helped further defi ne the Department’s unique role in implementing the Our Lands – Our Future vision. See Appendix C for more information on the City 10 Introduction FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 OPEN HOUSE #1 The fi rst open house was held on January 30, 2014. The Natural Areas Department presented a review of Our Lands – Our Future, described current work, and highlighted changes being considered in the Master Plan. Participants were asked to comment on the current level of service and priorities in recreation, resource management, education, and land conservation. Specifi c input was sought on the Department’s role in local food production, hunting at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, camping at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, interpreting and conserving cultural resources, and conserving and restoring the Cache la Poudre River. In addition, reactions to an updated mission statement were also sought. An opportunity for open-ended input was provided. Eighty-fi ve people attended the open house, and 59 written comments were received. During the online comment period (January 30– March 3, 2014), 67 online feedback forms were completed for a total of 126 written comments. The comments received represented the diversity of the community that the City serves; a variety of viewpoints on each topic were expressed. But in general, the current level of service was positively viewed in most areas including recreation, public amenities, visitor and ranger services, restoration, education, and cultural and historic preservation. The feedback was more mixed on land conservation, with a positive reaction to proposed priorities and some requests for additional recreational opportunities or more of an emphasis on a different focus area. Most citizens suggested that the Natural Areas Department be a leader in Poudre River conservation, with many supporting the current role. The question about hunting pronghorn at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area generated lively discussion; hunting was generally supported, but some participants expressed concern. Limited backcountry camping at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area received strong support. A slight majority of the participants supported the Natural Areas Department’s role in local food production. A simplifi ed mission statement was supported by most. The open-ended comment section had a variety of responses—several gave the Natural Areas Department kudos, some reiterated support for hunting, and some expressed a desire to have Reservoir Ridge Natural Area stay open later in the evening. OPEN HOUSE #2 The second open house was on June 19, 2014. The Natural Areas Department presented the priorities for the Master Plan at its offi ces at Nix Farm. Participants were asked to comment on the priorities; 80 people attended. Twenty-one comment forms were submitted either on paper at City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 11 concern about lack of regional focus, too much agricultural land conservation, or not enough conservation easements. Work on the Cache la Poudre River was supported with some concerns about lack of family-friendly access, potential reservoir projects, and proposed water park. Education and Outreach was supported with some concern about the concept of reaching 1 in 10 people annually. Resource Management comments were positive with interest in reintroductions of species and some concern about hunting. Views on local food and agriculture were mixed. Support was expressed by some while others were concerned about grazing as a restoration activity, government involvement in a private sector activity, and overly ambitious plans. Comments on Ranger/ Visitor Services included concerns about limited horse trail availability, dogs-off-leash problems, or not enough dog-off-leash areas. Recreation, Public Improvements, and Facility Operations generated several longer comments about hunting (both pro and con), a request for more emphasis on trails, and concerns about camping and about remodeling the little house at Nix. Cultural resources were important to several participants with others concerned that this is not the Natural Areas Department’s role or budget priority. Mineral development was a concern for several participants as well as more trails at Maxwell Natural Area. The “follow-up from Open House #1” and open-ended comments were quite varied with mixed support for hunting, dogs- off-leash, and concerns with trail maintenance, lack of twitter for trail conditions, and mineral development. Several ended their input with positive or encouraging comments. Outreach to Citizen Boards, City Departments, and Other Agencies City and County citizen advisory boards provided feedback to staff during the Master Plan process: • Land Conservation and Stewardship Board—2013-14: monthly updates and feedback opportunities; draft plan discussion in July; recommendation to City Council in September • Natural Resources Advisory Board, April 2014 • Parks and Recreation Board, April 2014 • Planning and Zoning Board, June 2014 • Water Board, June 2014 • Larimer County Open Lands Advisory Board, May 2014 On June 12th, a draft plan was sent to various City departments and external agencies for review and comment: • Park Planning & Development • Parks and Recreation • Offi ce of Sustainability 12 Introduction FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 PERFORMANCE METRICS The ongoing dialogues with the community and recent City-wide efforts to systematically measure and communicate how effectively citizens’ tax dollars are being spent have led to a series of performance metrics. Each work group within the Natural Areas Department typically keeps track of various measures for its own management objectives. Now a set of measures is reported to City managers and the public through an interactive website and through the budgeting process and report. Table 1 lists the current measures being used and proposed by the Natural Areas Department. Some of the data are collected and managed directly by Department staff. Other data are collected via the City-wide Citizen Survey conducted every two years. Some of the Citizen Survey data is directly related to natural areas and included in the measures listed in Table 1. Over the next ten years these metrics could change as the Department and the City improve efforts to measure progress. Table 1. Current Natural Areas Department Metrics Budgeting for Outcomes Offer Target/Goal Land and Resource Management Metric ENV8 Percent of urban natural area acres in greater than 75% native condition 50% by 2030 New Metric Poudre River restoration—linear extent of river channel or riverbank restored per year Yet to be determined New Metric Poudre River restoration—acres of river fl oodplain restored per year Yet to be determined Public Improvements, Education and Outreach, Rangers and Visitor Services, Facility Operations Metric ENV98 Percent citizens responding very good/good quality of natural areas and open space, determined by Citizen Survey Above 80% Metric CR66 Trail condition 85% of trails in good condition Metric CR6 Cumulative program participation per capita Reach 8%–10% of Fort Collins population each year Metric SAFE36 Percent of citizens responding always safe/usually safe in natural areas/ open space, determined by Citizen Survey 85% or higher Metric SAFE51 Percent of citizens responding very good/good quality Natural Area Ranger service, determined by Citizen Survey 80% or higher Land and Water Conservation, Program Management Metric ENV15 Cumulative land conservation Upward trend annually New Metric Poudre River in-stream fl ow—number of days where City has positively impacted river fl ows through any given reach To increase duration and magnitude of fl ows New Metric Poudre River in-stream fl ow—additional acre-feet added to river as a direct result of City management action To increase duration and magnitude of fl ows City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 13 FUNDING AND EXPENDITURES The Natural Areas Department is fortunate to have funding from both the County - Help Preserve Open Space ¼-cent Sales Tax and the City - Open Space Yes! ¼-cent Sales tax; both were citizen-initiated. The anticipated revenue for 2014 from each of these taxes is $3.8 million and $6.6 million, respectively, for a total $10.4 million. This level of funding allows the City the ability to manage 35,000 acres of land on 43 natural areas and maintain over 100 miles of trails, while still conserving land. Over the next ten years, the Natural Areas Department anticipates spending 60% of its revenues on stewardship (the operation and maintenance of already conserved land and developed public improvements) and 40% on land conservation. HISTORICAL FUNDING AND EXPENDITURES (1993–2013) The primary funding for the Natural Areas Department has come from the following ballot measures: Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (Photo by Matt Allen) 1992—City ¼-Cent Sales Tax for Natural Areas The initial funding for the Natural Areas Program began with 53% voter approval of this citizen-initiated 5-year ¼-cent sales tax, which expired in 1997. 1995—Larimer County Help Preserve Open Space (HPOS) Sales Tax A citizen-initiative approved by 65% of voters in 1995. This sales tax was collected from 1996 through 2003. 1997—Building Community Choices (BBC) – City ¼-Cent Sales Tax with a portion going to Natural Areas 69% of Fort Collins voters approved this seven- year sales tax, which expired in 2005. This tax also funded the following capital projects: Community Horticulture Center (Gardens on Spring Creek), Fossil Creek Community Park, Community Park Improvements, and Regional Paved Trails. 1999—Larimer County Help Preserve Open Space (HPOS) Sales Tax 60% of the voters approved this citizen initiative for a 15-year extension of this sales tax. This sales tax will provide funding for the City’s Natural Areas Department from 2004 through 2018. 2002—Open Space Yes! – City ¼-Cent Sales Tax for Natural Areas 65% of Fort Collins voters approved this citizen- initiated 25-year sales tax extension at the fully restored 1992 ¼-cent level. This sales tax will be collected through 2030. Eighty percent or more of these revenues must be spent on land conservation or land restoration, while 20% or less of these revenues can be spent on operations and maintenance. 14 Funding and Expenditures FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 About 18% of the Natural Areas Department revenue from 1993-2013 came from sources other than the ballot measures (Figure 2). In 2004, at the time of the Bobcat Ridge and Soapstone Prairie natural areas purchases, funds for land conservation were depleted. Yet, there were still incredible opportunities for land conservation, and land values were on the rise. City Council decided to use Certifi cates of Participation (COPS), a funding mechanism available to local governments, to create a $15,000,000 reservoir for additional land conservation (Figure 2). The Department will complete its payments for the certifi cates in 2019. In 1993, when the Natural Areas Program assumed the costs of managing the already conserved open space lands from the Parks Department, the focus was primarily on land conservation with only minimal focus on stewardship (operations and maintenance) and capital site improvements of the existing 1,203 acres of natural areas and the few miles of natural surface trails. As the amount of conserved land and interest in recreation increased, so did the need for capital site improvements to open sites to the public. Over time, costs associated with site improvements and stewardship (which includes restoration, long-term operations, and maintenance) have required a greater proportion of the Natural Areas Department funding (Figure 3). In 2003 the Department spent about 77% of its revenues on land conservation, while in 2013 it spent about 41% (Figure 3). Over the entire 21 years, 60% of the revenues were spent on land conservation (Figure 4). As more land is conserved and more sites are developed for public use, the costs to operate and maintain those lands and public improvements will continue to grow; thus, amount of funding available for land conservation will continue to decrease, unless additional funding is provided. The Natural Areas Department will continue to leverage existing land conservation funding through partnerships and grants to maximize the City’s land conservation efforts. FUTURE FUNDING AND EXPENDITURES OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS (2014–2023) WITH AND WITHOUT LARIMER COUNTY’S “HELP PRESERVE OPEN SPACE” SALES TAX The two primary funding sources for the Natural Areas Department over the next ten years (2014-2023; the life of this Master Plan) are the “Fort Collins Open Space Yes!” ¼-cent sales tax, which expires in 2030, and Larimer County’s “Help Preserve Open Space” ¼-cent sales tax, which expires in 2018 (unless renewed by the voters). The potential expiration of the County tax represents a signifi cant challenge to the Department because the tax supports a majority of its operating and stewardship expenses. Figure 2. Natural Areas Revenue, 1993–2013 (Total $184,006,420) $55,582,659 30% $45,522,156 25% $30,113,441 17% $18,869,473 10% $15,391,407 8% $15,034,874 8% $2,288,382 1% $1,204,028 1% 1996-2013 HPOS County 1/4 Cent 2006-2013 Open Space Yes! City 1/4 Cent City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 15 Figure 4. Natural Areas Expenditures by Work Group, 1993–2013 (Total $170,444,314) (see page 39 for description of Work Group responsibilities; prior to 2004, “Maintenance” Work Group handled both Public Improvements and Resource Management Activities) Figure 3. Change in Distribution of Natural Areas Expenditures over Time $102,324,293 60% $26,475,560 16% $14,069,728 8% $8,194,450 5% $5,987,769 3% $5,329,896 3% $4,722,457 3% $3,340,161 2% Land Conservation Public Improvements and Maintenance 2004-2013 Resource Management Department Management 1998-2013 Rangers Education 2002-2013 Facility Operations 2005-2013 Land Management 16 Funding and Expenditures FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Larimer County Commissioners have placed an extension of HPOS on the November 2014 ballot. With the assumed revenues from extending the “Help Preserve Open Space” sales tax, potential expenditures by the Natural Areas Department over the next 10 years are shown in Figure 5. Please note that these are projected expenditures and it is likely that spending would vary at least slightly from these projections. Assuming that the Larimer County “Help Preserve Open Space” sales tax is extended, estimated revenues over the next 10 years (the life of this Master Plan) would be as shown in Figure 6. If the Larimer County “Help Preserve Open Space” sales tax is not extended, it would be diffi cult for the Department to provide stewardship of conserved lands and recreation amenities. Activities such as maintenance of natural surface trails, restrooms, parking lots, weed control, and programmatic efforts such as educational programs, ranger services, and planning would need to be signifi cantly reduced or eliminated. Addition of new or improved trails or other recreation amenities would be severely limited. Revenues from 2014 to 2023 would be greatly reduced, as shown in Figure 7. The potential reduction in revenues is made more diffi cult because the City ¼-cent sales tax ballot language requires that 80% or more of the funds be spent on land conservation and restoration and that 20% or less be spent on operations and maintenance. In order to meet these requirements without the County ¼-cent sales tax, public maintenance and recreation improvements would need to be signifi cantly reduced or the requirement for the 80/20 split would need to be changed by voters. Even if the City sales tax 80/20 split were removed by voters, there would still be no County sales tax; the City would only have the resources to maintain existing natural areas at current service levels—funds for land conservation, restoration, and capital projects such as new trails would be very limited. As directed by City Council in 2003, the Department has a contingency plan to continue operating at current service levels from 2018 to 2021 if the County tax is not renewed. However, land conservation, restoration, and capital projects would be greatly reduced during this period. OTHER POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES While it would be diffi cult to predict with any certainty, the Department anticipates fi nding other sources of revenues to enhance its ability to conserve and steward land, although backfi lling for a potential loss of $3.5 million/year if the “Help Preserve Open Space” sales tax fails to be renewed is unlikely. With that said, the Department will continue to apply for grants and engage in partnerships to leverage and extend funding. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 17 Figure 6. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue with “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251) Figure 5. Natural Areas Estimated Expenditures by Work Group with “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251) (see page 39 for description of Work Group responsibilities) Figure 7. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue without “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax Extension over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $93,878,417) $76,633,944 65% $39,402,784 34% $1,581,523 1% $72,310,597 77% $19,986,297 21% $1,581,523 2% 2014-2023 Open Space Yes! City 1/4 Cent 2014-2018 HPOS County 1/4 Cent (Not Extended) Miscellaneous $47,344,926 40% $19,736,937 17% $15,504,463 13% $9,910,483 9% $8,459,966 7% $7,353,634 6% $5,709,098 5% $3,598,744 3% Land Conservation Resource Management Public Improvements Department Management Rangers Land Management Education Facility Operations 2014-2023 Open Space Yes! City 1/4 Cent 2014-2023 HPOS County 1/4 Cent (Extended) Miscellaneous 18 Funding and Expenditures FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 PARTNERSHIPS The Natural Areas Department has had the benefi t of many partners throughout the program’s history. Partnerships offer each partner the ability to leverage resources, share expertise, build synergy, and collaborate to implement innovative community projects. The Department’s most signifi cant fi nancial partners have been, and will likely continue to be, City Departments (particularly Parks, Stormwater, and Water), Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, and Great Outdoors Colorado. Both the County Open Space and GOCO programs go before the voters for renewed funding during the time horizon of this plan. In the last ten years alone, more than 25 partnerships have provided multiple benefi ts to the conservation and stewardship of City of Fort Collins natural areas (Table 2). USER FEES The Natural Areas Department operates under the informal philosophy that citizens are paying taxes for public natural areas and should not be charged again for the privilege of visiting the sites. The exception to this guideline is Gateway Natural Area, which was supported by an entrance fee and a shelter reservation fee when it was previously managed by the City Parks Department. The Natural Areas Department has kept these fees due to the higher costs of maintaining the “park- like” portion of the natural area. The only other fee-based operation is the Primrose Studio meeting room at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. These rental fees cover the upkeep of the meeting room and the salary of the part-time attendant for the building. In the future, there may be situations that would call for utilizing fees to support the Natural Areas Department; however, at this time the intention is to continue the philosophy of leaving the vast majority of natural areas free to users. Gateway Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 19 Table 2. Examples of Conservation and Stewardship Partnerships over the Past Ten Years Project (Years) Natural Areas Benefi ts Partners Multiple Agency Partnerships Fort Collins – Loveland Community Separator (2004-present) Land Conservation Larimer County; Loveland; Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (2004–present) Land Conservation; Resource Management; Recreation; Ranger and Visitor Services; Education Larimer County; North Poudre Irrigation Company; GOCO Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains (2004-present) Land Conservation Larimer County; The Nature Conservancy; GOCO; Legacy Land Trust; Private Landowners Poudre River Regional Trail (2012-present) Trail Connections Larimer County; Timnath; Windsor, Greeley; GOCO Our Lands – Our Future: Regional Land Study (2012-2013) Planning; Research Larimer County; All County Municipalities; GOCO Multiple City Departments Riverbend Ponds Flood Control Project (2006–2007) Restoration Stormwater; Transportation Prospect Road Widening (2006-2007) Trail Connections; Restoration Transportation; Stormwater Red Fox Meadows Stormwater Improvements (2007–2012) Restoration; Resource Management; Recreation Stormwater Udall Water Quality and Stormwater Improvements (2004-2005) Land Conservation; Resource Management; Recreation Stormwater Multipurpose Land Use Study – Trail, Wildlife, and Drainage Corridors (2012-2013) Wildlife Corridors; Neighborhood Natural Areas; Trail Connections Utilities; Parks North Shields Bridge Improvements (2013–Present) Recreation; Resource Management Larimer County; Parks; Stormwater West Vine Outfall (2013–Present) Land Conservation; Wildlife Corridor; Trail Connection Stormwater; Parks Non-Profi t Partners Neotropical Bird Surveys (2007–present) and Screech Owl Survey (2013) Resource Management; Research Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Corporate Partners West Main Natural Gas Pipeline Replacement 20 Funding and Expenditures FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 21 LAND CONSERVATION The Fort Collins community is fortunate to have a wealth of wildlife habitat and native plant communities at its doorstep. Over the past few decades, the City has worked to protect special lands both within and outside city limits. From shortgrass prairies to cottonwood forests and farm fi elds, the portfolio has grown from a handful of properties to encompass more than 40,000 acres conserved through fee-simple acquisitions, conservation easements, and donations. Working closely with willing property owners, a number of key acquisitions have involved partnerships with the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, Great Outdoors Colorado, the City of Loveland, Legacy Land Trust, and other conservation organizations. To date, the City of Fort Collins has acquired nearly 34,800 acres of natural areas for public use and protected another 5,800 acres in conservation easements. The recreational rights are leased on 900 acres of reservoirs to help protect key wildlife habitat. INVENTORY OF CITY NATURAL AREAS AND OTHER PROTECTED SITES As a result of following the 2002 Open Space Yes! ballot language, City Council direction, and the 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, the Natural Areas Department has conserved over 30,000 acres with willing landowners in the last ten years alone (Table 3). The Department now manages 43 natural areas ranging in size from one acre to 22,258 acres (Table 3; Maps 1 and 2). A wide diversity of native plant communities have been protected, including mature cottonwood forests, foothills shrublands, wet meadows, emergent marshes, and shortgrass prairies. These areas provide critical habitat for a suite of native wildlife species. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Mario Miguel Echevarria) Mallard on the Poudre at Riverbend Ponds Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) 22 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Map 1. Local Natural Areas and Community Separators !"`$ ³I ÕZYXW Wellington Fort Collins Loveland Local Natural Areas and Community Separators Public Conserved Lands City of Fort Collins Natural Area Other Public Open Space State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Easements City of Fort Collins City of Fort Collins shared with others Others 01234 Miles City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 23 Map 2. Regional Natural Areas Bobcat Ridge Natural Area Regional Natural Areas Public Conserved Lands City of Fort Collins Natural Area Other Public Open Space State Parks and Wildlife Federal Land Conservation Easements City of Fort Collins City of Fort Collins shared with others Others 01234 Miles ÕZYXW Gateway Natural Area Picnic Rock Natural Area Meadow Springs Ranch (City of Fort Collins Utilities) Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Red Mountain Open Space WYOMING COLORADO LARIMER Fort Collins Loveland WYOMING COLORADO 24 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued) Site Purchase History Acres Conserved by City1 Acres Conserved by Natural Areas since 2004 Local Focus Areas Core Natural Areas Fischer Natural Area2 Donated 1977 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 12 Mallard’s Nest Natural Area2 Acquired3 1985-2002 by Parks, Utilities, and Natural Areas; Natural Areas and Utilities manage. 7 Red Fox Meadows Natural Area2 Acquired3 1986-2000 by Utilities, Parks, and Natural Areas; Natural Areas and Utilities manage. 9 Redwing Marsh Natural Area2 Acquired 1993-1995 by Natural Areas and Utilities; Natural Areas and Utilities manage. 16 Ross Natural Area2 Acquired 1978 by Parks and Utilities; transferred to Natural Areas; Natural Areas and Utilities manage. 27 The Coterie Natural Area2 Acquired 2000 by Natural Areas. 5 #13IS1 (Forney Property) Acquired 2013 by Stormwater Utility and Natural Areas (41%); currently managed by Stormwater; no public access yet. 37 15 Dry Creek Stormwater Wetland Acquired 1999 by Natural Areas and Utilities; managed by Stormwater Utility; no public access. 7 Horticulture Center (buffer portion) Acquired 2001 by Natural Areas for Spring Creek buffer and native plant demonstration area; managed by Parks. 5 Focus Area Subtotal: 157 15 Poudre River Corridor Arapaho Bend Natural Area2 Acquired3 1995-2011 by Natural Areas. 302 24 Butterfl y Woods Natural Area2 Acquired 1996 by Natural Areas and Parks. 24 Cattail Chorus Natural Area2 Acquired 1997 by Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant. 102 Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area2 Acquired 1995-1998 by Natural Areas. 93 Gustav Swanson Natural Area2 Acquired3 1955-2002 by City of Fort Collins and Natural Areas. 12 Kingfi sher Point Natural Area2 Acquired3 1979-2013 by Parks and Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant. 157 17 Magpie Meander Natural Area2 Acquired 1995-2013 by Natural Areas. 21 10 McMurry Natural Area2 Acquired3 1998-2003 by Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant. 45 North Shields Ponds Natural City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 25 Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued) Site Purchase History Acres Conserved by City1 Acres Conserved by Natural Areas since 2004 #14PR1 (Woodward Property) Natural Area2 Donated 1990-2014 to Parks and Natural Areas. 37 34 #14PR2 [Shields Pit Property] Natural Area Acquired 2014 by Natural Areas; not yet open to the public. 50 50 Arnett Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2013 by Natural Areas; landowner manages; will have trail easement in future. 25 25 Focus Area Subtotal: 1,540 223 Fossil Creek Corridor Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area2 Acquired3 1993-2002 by Natural Areas and Larimer County Open Lands (7%); received GOCO Grants. Total site acreage=1,083 954 Colina Mariposa Natural Area2 Acquired3 1998 by Natural Areas. 192 Eagle View Natural Area Acquired 2002 by Natural Areas; not yet open to the public. 90 Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area2 Acquired3 1998-2010 by Natural Areas and Larimer County (17%); 810 acres leased from North Poudre Irrigation Company; Natural Areas started managing in 2010. Total site acreage = 1,399. 1,164 95 Fossil Creek Wetlands Natural Area2 Acquired 1995 by Natural Areas. 229 Hazaleus Natural Area Acquired3 1999 by Natural Areas; not yet open to the public. 168 Pelican Marsh Natural Area2 Acquired 2002 by Natural Areas. 156 Prairie Dog Meadow2 Acquired3 1994–2003 by Natural Areas. 84 Redtail Grove Natural Area2 Acquired3 1996-2010 by Natural Areas. 51 8 Two Creeks Natural Area2 Acquired3 1999 by Natural Areas. 30 Coventry Hidden Cattails Conservation Easement Dedicated 1994 to Natural Areas; sold to Coventry with Conservation Easement 2005. 3 Swift Farm Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2003 by Natural Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public. 82 Focus Area Subtotal: 3,203 103 Foothills Corridor Coyote Ridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 1994–2007 by Natural Areas and Larimer County Open Lands (11%); a portion of site is also in Fort Collins– Loveland Separator. Total site acreage = 2,242 2,005 151 26 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued) Site Purchase History Acres Conserved by City1 Acres Conserved by Natural Areas since 2004 Community Separator Focus Areas Wellington Separator Bee Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2004 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (50%); landowner manages; not open to the public. Total site acreage = 139. 70 70 Kerbel Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2002 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (50%); landowner manages; not open to the public. Total site acreage = 84. 42 Kraft Farm II Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2011 by Natural Areas; received Farm and Ranch Protection Program (FRPP); landowner manages; not open to the public. 156 156 Lockman Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2011 by Natural Areas; received FRPP Grant; landowner manages; not open to the public. 121 121 Maxwell Farm Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2013 by Natural Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public. 136 136 Phytogen Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2011 by Natural Areas; received FRPP Grant; landowner manages; not open to the public. 66 66 Sod Farm Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2005 by Natural Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public. 453 453 Weber Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2004 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (50%); landowner manages; not open to the public. Total site acreage = 70. 35 35 Focus Area Subtotal: 1,079 1,037 Fort Collins–Loveland Separator Prairie Ridge Natural Area Acquired 2000 by City of Loveland Larimer County, and Natural Areas (25%); received GOCO Grant; City of Loveland manages; not open to the public yet. Total site acreage = 785. 196 City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 27 Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued) Site Purchase History Acres Conserved by City1 Acres Conserved by Natural Areas since 2004 Regional Focus Areas Foothills/Buckhorn/Redstone Bobcat Ridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 2003 by Natural Areas. 2,604 Culver Open Space Acquired 2004 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (13%); County manages; site not open to the public; City holds Conservation Easement. Total site acreage = 288. 38 38 Devil’s Backbone Open Space (Indian Creek Property) Acquired 2003–2004 by Natural Areas (75%) and Larimer County; received GOCO Grant; Larimer County manages; open to the public. Total site acreage = 1,545 (Indian Creek only). 1,159 1,159 Rimrock Open Space Acquired 2002 by Larimer County Open Lands and Natural Areas (10%); Larimer County manages; open to the public. Total site acreage = 437 acres. 43 Focus Area Subtotal: 3,844 1,197 Upper Poudre Gateway Natural Area2 Acquired 1930 by City of Fort Collins; management transferred to Parks in 2002 and then to Natural Areas in 2007. 170 170 Picnic Rock Natural Area2 Acquired 1986–2008 by City of Fort Collins and Natural Areas; management of 1986 acreage transferred to Natural Areas in 2007. 323 323 Focus Area Subtotal: 493 493 Meadow Springs Soapstone Prairie Natural Area2 Acquired 2004–2011 by Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant; Larimer County holds conservation easement on a portion of the property. 22,258 22,258 Red Mountain Open Space (Gallegos Property) Acquired 2007 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (24%); received GOCO Grant; Natural Areas holds conservation easement on the property; open to the public. Total site acreage = 1,480 (Gallegos Property only). 361 361 Wire Draw Ranch Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2007; by Natural Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public. 1,150 1,150 Focus Area Subtotal: 23,769 23,769 Laramie Foothills Roberts Ranch Conservation Easement 28 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Figure 8. Total Spending and Acres Conserved by Focus Areas (2003–2013) CONSERVATION FOCUS AREAS Land conservation efforts from 1993 to 2003 primarily were focused within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area and the Fort Collins–Loveland Community Separator Area. In 2002, City Council directed the Natural Areas Department to develop a land conservation plan that also included a regional focus. The resulting 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan outlined a number of high-priority land conservation (“focus”) areas that were grouped into three categories: local, community separators, and regional (Map 3). That ten- year master plan provided guidance that land conservation funds were to be equally divided between the three focus area categories. However, more land conservation opportunities arose regionally (in particular, the Soapstone Prairie/Red Mountain acquisitions), and therefore spending in the Regional Focus Area category outweighed that of the Community Separator and Local areas categories. Total spending from 1993 to 2013, however, is almost equally balanced between the three focus area categories (Figure 8). Nevertheless, the acreages conserved are not balanced due to the differences in land conservation costs in each of the focus areas. As shown in Figure 8, conservation of local focus area lands cost more per acre than separator lands, and regional land conservation is much less expensive. In June 2012, local governments within Larimer County, including the City of Fort Collins, embarked on an effort, Our Lands – Our Future, to analyze the future challenges and opportunities for land conservation. By defi ning common open space goals and using the best available geographic information system (GIS) datasets, the partners developed maps highlighting agricultural, natural resource, and regional and local conservation opportunities. The outcomes of that effort and other public outreach activities have helped provide the framework for the next decade’s conservation vision—one that is shared by Larimer County and its municipalities. As the City looks to the next ten years, the Natural Areas Master Plan’s focus areas remain the same, but the priorities for land conservation within and between the focus areas have been further refi ned by the outcomes of the Our Lands – Our Future project and the subsequent public process. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 29 Map 3. Land Conservation Focus Areas !"`$ yI ³I ³I ÕZYXW ÕZYXW Wellington Fort Collins Loveland Foothills/Buckhorn/Redstone Fort Collins-Loveland Separator Lower Poudre and Windsor Separator Meadow Springs Laramie Foothills Owl Canyon Dry Upper Creek Poudre Wellington Separator Rist Canyon Timnath Separator Fossil Creek Corridor Poudre Corridor Foothills Corridor Bellvue Core Natural Areas WELD COUNTY LARIMER COUNTY WYOMING COLORADO Land Conservation Focus Areas Local Community Separators Regional Public Conserved Lands City of Fort Collins Natural Area Larimer County Open Space Other Public Open Space State Parks and Wildlife Federal Land Conservation Easements City of Fort Collins City of Fort Collins shared with others 30 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 LOCAL FOCUS AREAS Local focus areas encompass stream corridors, foothills habitat, and pockets of open land within and near Fort Collins city limits that provide opportunities for a variety of land protection goals, including wildlife habitat, recreation, agriculture, and viewsheds. Land in the local focus areas tends to have higher costs for acquisition as a result of development potential. Stewardship costs are also typically higher due to greater recreation pressure and restoration needs due to impacts from past land use and urbanization. Over the next ten years, the local focus areas discussed below will be the primary focus for conservation efforts. This focus is aligned with public feedback received through the Our Lands – Our Future Project, Master Plan open houses, and the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board. Other City initiatives, such as Nature in the City (which the Department participates in) and the Multi-purpose Lands effort (which the Department is the lead) may provide opportunities to conserve natural areas in partnership with other City departments. BELLVUE Bellvue, a small agricultural community northwest of Fort Collins, lies in Pleasant Valley. The narrow valley at the mouth of Rist Canyon stretches between the Dakota Hogback ridge and the foothills. Resource values are plentiful: wildlife habitat, agricultural production, scenic viewsheds, community separator, and the Poudre River fl oodplain. Key elements for protection include rare species habitat and important wetlands, especially along the Poudre River fl oodplain and adjacent riparian community. The Fort Collins community is interested in conservation opportunities that would preserve ecosystem connectivity from the shortgrass prairie to the foothills forest and linkages to Horsetooth Mountain Open Space and Lory State Park. Conservation in the Bellvue area will help maintain the agricultural heritage and rural character of Bellvue and Laporte. To date, the City has not completed any conservation projects within this focus area. POUDRE RIVER CORRIDOR The Poudre River, often considered the life blood of the Fort Collins community, is not only a critical water source for irrigation, drinking, and industry, but also a haven for wildlife and recreationists. Resource values include wildlife habitat, fl oodplain, and watershed protection. The City has a strong desire to protect and enhance the natural state of the river by expanding its current inventory of natural areas from the canyon mouth to I-25. Continued protection along the river will ensure fl oodplain protection, habitat, and migration/travel corridors for both wildlife and people. As previously discussed, the Poudre River corridor has been an important focus area for the community for decades. More than 1,500 acres City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 31 CORE (NEIGHBORHOOD) NATURAL AREAS Conservation of nature in an urban environment has many benefi ts, including aesthetic values, nearby recreational opportunities, and protection of islands of habitat that promote biodiversity and provide a home for species that otherwise would not be able to exist in an urban environment. In light of the data gleaned from Our Lands – Our Future, Plug In To Nature (Design Workshop 2012), and Nature in the City (City of Fort Collins Planning Department) studies, the Department is committed to acquiring properties that would provide enhanced access to nature within the City’s Growth Management Area and better reach underserved areas, such as the city’s northeast quadrant (see Map 1 for current location of natural areas). Approximately 157 acres have been protected within this focus area to-date, and 15 acres since 2004. FOSSIL CREEK CORRIDOR While the City has made great strides in protecting the ecologically sensitive Fossil Creek area since 2004, some opportunities remain. Land conservation will help protect rare species and riparian/wetland areas by expanding upon the existing Fossil Creek natural areas, will provide recreation opportunities, and will extend the Fossil Creek Trail. Additional land protection in this area contributes to community separation between Fort Collins and Loveland/Windsor and preserves views to the foothills and mountains along the I-25 corridor. Within this focus area, more than 3,000 acres have been protected, which mostly consists of two larger properties, Fossil Creek Reservoir and Cathy Fromme Prairie natural areas. Just over 100 of these acres have been acquired since 2004. FOOTHILLS CORRIDOR Land conservation in the foothills will not only preserve the City’s mountain viewshed, but will also help conserve unique plant communities, important wildlife habitat and travel corridors, and the unique geology of the hogback ridges. There are opportunities to improve the ecological connections between the shortgrass prairie and the foothills, as well as connections to other protected lands to the west. The Foothills Corridor is extremely popular for recreationists, particularly cyclists and trail runners. Land conserved in the southern portion of this area also functions as a community separator between Fort Collins and Loveland. Nearly 4,000 acres have been protected by the City within this focus area, more than 700 of which have been acquired since 2004. COMMUNITY SEPARATORS FOCUS AREAS Community separators are parcels of undeveloped or minimally developed land that create a buffer between municipal jurisdictions and preserve the individual identity of communities. Separators often consist of undeveloped farmland, low- 32 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 community separator focus areas, particularly those discussed below, is the second highest conservation priority over the next ten years, due in part to rising land values and greater development pressure than lands within the Regional Focus Areas face. WELLINGTON SEPARATOR The City has conserved more than 1,000 acres in this separator, with more than 80% of the acreage protected since 2003. The Natural Areas Department will continue to reach out to landowners, particularly on the west side of I-25. Lands in the Wellington Separator Focus Area provide prime soils for agriculture, an important viewshed to the foothills and mountains, and a signifi cant number of irrigated farmlands that are a staple of the local economy. Partnerships with the State of Colorado and City of Thornton in this focus area are warranted, given that each entity has large landownership positions in this area. LOWER POUDRE AND WINDSOR SEPARATOR This separator area, located southeast of Fort Collins, contains opportunities to protect rare species habitat, wetland and riparian communities, and agricultural values along the Poudre River. The City has successfully helped to protect 338 acres along the Lower Poudre, which in combination with Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (nearly 1,400 acres) creates community separation between Fort Collins and Windsor. The Natural Areas Department will continue to collaborate on conservation efforts with the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, as well as with the Towns of Windsor and Timnath, including efforts to acquire key parcels for Poudre River Trail System connections. FORT COLLINS–LOVELAND SEPARATOR The majority of the Fort Collins–Loveland Separator has already been conserved. In addition to the 1,264 acres within Long View Farm Open Space (managed by Larimer County) and Prairie Ridge Natural Area (managed by the City of Loveland), the 2,242-acre Coyote Ridge and 1,399-acre Fossil Creek Reservoir natural areas, considered as local focus areas, contribute greatly to this community separator. These shortgrass prairies and farmlands preserve scenic views, wildlife habitat and travel corridors, and agricultural land. The open character between Loveland and Fort Collins along the north-south main arterials helps give each community its own sense of character. The City will continue to work with Loveland to protect additional parcels appropriate for conservation and regional trail connections. REGIONAL FOCUS AREAS The City has conserved nearly 31,000 acres in the regional focus areas, most of which are located in the Laramie Foothills and Meadow Springs focus areas. The regional focus areas, in comparison City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 33 FOOTHILLS: BUCKHORN, REDSTONE, AND RIST CANYON Land conservation projects in these areas preserve important wildlife habitat in the foothills transition zone, while providing ecosystem connectivity and possible future trail connections to Horsetooth Mountain Park, Lory State Park, and Coyote Ridge Natural Area. In addition, conservation efforts will focus on protection of high-diversity wetland and riparian areas and maintaining natural viewsheds and rural/open character in the foothills. To date, the City has conserved 3,844 acres in this focus area. UPPER POUDRE The City will consider partnership opportunities to conserve lands along the Upper Poudre River and Poudre Canyon that will enhance habitat protection and ecosystem connectivity for migrating wildlife within the canyon corridor. Land protection projects in this area will also help maintain a healthy watershed to ensure a clean and natural river water supply and provide buffers that help mitigate property damage from fl oods and fi res. A total of 493 acres has been acquired by the City for public use within this focus area. LARAMIE FOOTHILLS–MEADOW SPRINGS The City will seek to conserve additional lands in the Laramie Foothills–Meadow Springs focus areas to further enhance the conservation of this landscape-scale wildlife corridor and wildlife area. Land conservation projects in this area support opportunities for larger-scale prairie conservation, including protection of prime pronghorn habitat, protection of the Foothills-to- Plains wildlife corridor, reintroduction of native shortgrass prairie species such as the black-footed ferret and the American bison, and protection of historical and archaeological resources. It also sustains preservation of the I-25 viewshed to the west with its uninterrupted views of the foothills and mountains. The Natural Areas Department has protected 26,600 acres within this focus area. LAND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES The City uses three primary strategies to conserve land: fee ownership, conservation easements, and land development regulations. The fi rst two mechanisms can be tailored to specifi c opportunities in partnership with willing landowners, other agencies, and nonprofi ts. FEE OWNERSHIP Purchase of Fee Interest in Land Acquiring the fee interest, that is, obtaining full ownership, nearly always includes eventual public access to at least a portion of the site. Land costs to obtain fee ownership is generally two to three times more than purchase of a conservation easement, which in contrast allows continued use of the land by the private landowner. In addition, owning a property creates a long-term maintenance 34 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 It should also be noted that fee acquisition does not always mean full control of the property. For example, many parcels the Natural Areas Department has acquired are considered “split estate,” or have had some rights (usually mineral rights) severed from the property. In practice, this means that the City must either seek out and purchase the mineral rights from the owner or must negotiate with the rights owner if it wants to exercise the mineral rights on the property. Over the last ten years, the Natural Areas Department has purchased the fee interest on over 25,000 acres in both local and regional focus areas. Donation of Fee Interest When a landowner donates a portion or all of the fee interest to a property, the landowner may be eligible for a tax deduction (considered a charitable contribution). Donations have contributed to land conservation of several natural areas over the last ten years. Bargain Sale A bargain sale is merely a purchase in which a landowner sells property to the City at a price below the fair market value. The purchase can be either fee interest or a conservation easement. Usually the landowner can take a tax deduction or credit (treated like a charitable contribution) for the difference between the fair market value, as determined by a certifi ed appraisal, and the sale price. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS Where public ownership of the land itself is not essential to the public interest, or when the property owner is not interested in selling their property, the City may conserve the property by acquiring a perpetual conservation easement (also called the purchase of development rights) from willing landowners. A conservation easement limits development rights and places restrictions on certain activities to achieve desired land uses and protect important conservation values of a property. Each conservation easement is tailored to the specifi c property, runs with the land in perpetuity, leaves the land in private ownership, and usually does not permit public access. Conservation easements are far less expensive initially and over the long term than full ownership; however, the City has perpetual stewardship and enforcement responsibility to ensure that the properties are managed consistently with the terms of the easements. Once a conservation easement is placed on a property, the Natural Areas Department begins the task of ongoing monitoring of the perpetual Swift Farm Conservation Easement adjacent to Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 35 easement to ensure that the deed restrictions placed on the property are honored. Monitoring also ensures that the land use on the property is consistent with the conservation values described in the easement deed and that any violations are corrected. Staff conducts annual site visits to each easement property, takes photos of the property, and fi les reports. In 2011 the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies began administering regulatory oversight of conservation easements in Colorado to comply with a series of laws passed by the Colorado legislature. This oversight included a certifi cation process for holders of conservation easements, tax credit caps and rules, and reporting regulations. The City of Fort Collins was certifi ed as a qualifi ed entity to hold conservation easements in 2011 and annually seeks recertifi cation. OTHER LAND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES Other conservation mechanisms include leases, intergovernmental cooperation, and partnerships with nonprofi t groups. Leases The City leases surface rights from two irrigation companies to enhance the wildlife habitat on and surrounding the reservoirs and to provide recreation opportunities. Fossil Creek Reservoir’s recreational rights are leased from North Poudre Irrigation Company; recreational rights for Dixon Reservoir (on Pineridge Natural Area) are also leased. Intergovernmental Cooperation The Natural Areas Department works cooperatively and in partnership with other City departments, Larimer County, and other municipalities on open space conservation. Many of these efforts have resulted in joint purchases of natural areas, open space, or conservation easements. The City has also worked with other local governments to develop area plans that have helped guide future land conservation efforts to protect natural resources and agricultural land. Multipurpose Lands Within the City’s Growth Management Area, the Natural Areas Department continues to seek out properties that provide opportunities for partnerships with the Parks and/or Stormwater departments. Red Fox Meadows Natural Area is a current example of “multipurpose land” that serves as both a neighborhood natural area and an important stormwater detention site. The City will continue to work toward connecting open lands with protected corridors, which could serve as wildlife, trail, or drainage corridors and sometimes all three. Multipurpose lands meet two or more of the following objectives: increased local fl ood protection, prevention of stormwater pollution, improved water quality in streams and groundwater, enhanced wildlife habitat/corridors, 36 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Partnerships with Government and Nonprofi t Conservation Organizations The City has a strong track record of successful collaborations in land conservation with both government and nonprofi t organizations in all three major focus areas (see Table 3), including Larimer County, City of Loveland, and The Nature Conservancy. The City will continue to look for new and innovative conservation strategies and partnerships to conserve sustainable ecosystems and working farms, including efforts to analyze the challenges, opportunities, and possible gaps in their collective land conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation programs and portfolios. Working together will encourage positive changes for biodiversity and natural habitats and agricultural land conservation. PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION As the fi rst municipality in the country to be designated as an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary (1987), the City of Fort Collins has long valued the role of nature within our urban environment. While the Natural Areas Policy Plan (City of Fort Collins 1992) placed a strong emphasis on the acquisition and stewardship of public lands, the plan also highlighted the many opportunities to partner with private landowners to achieve the Natural Areas Department’s mission. The City has been involved in developing and refi ning a number of tools to ensure natural resources are protected on private lands. These tools have included development regulations, the Certifi ed Natural Areas Program, and specifi c subarea plans such as the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan. Development Regulations Initially established in 1997, the Land Use Code contains an entire section dedicated to the protection of natural habitats and features. A senior environmental planner in the Planning Services Department now administers this code section from the initial conceptual design submittal through post-construction monitoring to ensure resources are protected as designed. The Land Use Code requires that every site be analyzed by an environmental professional prior to the submittal of a development proposal. The regulations also require that resources be protected (or mitigated if impacted) and that protected resources be buffered from the developed portion of the site to ensure they are not only physically protected but also functionally protected. Since these regulations were adopted in 1997, over 30 natural habitats and features have been protected through the regulatory process, with approximately 250 acres of resources and buffer zones provided. Certifi ed Natural Areas In 1994, City established the Certifi ed Natural City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 37 staff provides assistance in the planning of this management. The Natural Areas Department provides monetary assistance in implementation of management plans through the Natural Areas Enhancement Fund (see page 77). Landowners can feel proud that they are contributing to the Fort Collins community’s goal of resource protection. Not only are they providing higher-quality habitat for the wildlife that the landowners enjoy seeing, but they also are contributing to the protection and enhancement of the quality of life for all of Fort Collins citizens. As of 2013, 56 sites and a total of 505 acres have been certifi ed by the City as a natural area. Area Plans In City Plan, the comprehensive plan for the City of Fort Collins, specifi c area plans are developed to focus on a particular subarea of the community. Each area plan builds on City-wide vision and policies, while establishing a more specifi c level of detail and focus within a subarea. Plans are established or revisited when there are emerging issues that could affect development patterns. The Natural Areas Department is involved in these area plans to a greater or lesser extent given the need to protect resource values. One of the key area plans that helped preserve local natural areas values was the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan, jointly adopted by the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County in 1998. The Fossil Creek Reservoir ecosystem is unique and provides habitat for over 180 species of birds, including winter roost sites for bald eagles and has been recognized as an Important Birding Area by the Audubon Society. Since adoption of the area plan, the City and Larimer County have dedicated more than $12 million for land protection along the reservoir’s shores to protect wildlife habitat and develop an outstanding regional bird watching area through public land ownership, leasing and managing reservoir recreational rights, and conservation easements on neighboring working farms. At far less cost, the City also used development regulations to protect the ¼-mile buffer (established via the area plan) around Fossil Creek Reservoir. In 2014, one of the last remaining large parcels of land to be developed within the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan, Kechter Farm, was approved and included over 120 acres of land managed for wildlife protection and enhancement. These efforts to implement buffer regulations paid off when bald eagles successfully nested on the reservoir in 2014 for the fi rst time in at least three decades. Current Planning Department Efforts While private land conservation tools have served Fort Collins well over the past 20 years, the city’s development patterns are shifting from greenfi eld (i.e., land that has never been used for development, such as agricultural land) to infi ll 38 Land Conservation FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 under way to ensure our private lands are contributing to this overall conservation goal: • Development Regulations. City Planning staff will continue to implement the Land Use Code standards for protecting natural resources on private lands. To ensure compliance with these requirements and that the resources are adequately buffered from the development, Planning Services staff is crafting guidelines to illustrate how to protect and enhance the site’s ecological value through proper plant selection, minimizing construction impacts, and ongoing maintenance requirements. • Nature in the City. Initially contemplated in the 1992 Natural Areas Policy Plan, City Planning staff is currently developing a Nature in the City Strategic Plan to evaluate and plan for the incorporation of nature into an increasingly urban environment. This strategic plan will further expand upon community conservation efforts by looking at how access to everyday nature can be provided within the urban environment. This strategic plan is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2015. Widow skimmer dragonfl y at Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area (Photo by Dave Leatherman) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 39 STEWARDSHIP The City’s Natural Areas Program has been the major catalyst conserving the fi nest examples of native ecosystems and valuable wildlife habitats within and near Fort Collins. Partners, such as Larimer County, and willing property owners have helped expand the acreage of habitat conserved beyond the City’s Growth Management Area boundary. Collectively, these diverse landscapes connect our community to our natural heritage and are emblematic of our active outdoor lifestyle and our commitment to land conservation. The careful and responsible management or “stewardship” of these lands is entrusted to the Natural Areas Department by the citizens of Fort Collins and Larimer County. STAFFING From its small beginnings in 1992 of three Natural Resources Division staff and three Parks maintenance staff, Natural Areas Department staffi ng has grown along with the acreage and complexity of lands the department manages. Today, it takes a team of 50 professionals to manage the Natural Areas Department and its properties. The Department is divided into eight work groups: Arapaho Bend Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) • Department Management (fi nance, budgeting, strategic planning, policy plan development, landscape level river issues, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board support, clerical support) • Land Conservation (land, water, and conservation easement acquisitions) • Education (outreach, community relations, interpretation, Master Naturalist Program supervision, volunteer coordination) • Resource Management (restoration, weed control, wildlife management, research) • Land Management (water rights management, post-gravel mining land restoration, cultural resources, agriculture and local food production issues, property leases, energy development and minerals extraction, utility easements and right- of-ways on natural areas, conservation easement stewardship, night sky monitoring) • Rangers (patrol, visitor contacts, enforcement) • Public Improvements (recreation amenities, including trails and trail head parking) • Facility Operations (maintenance of offi ces, shops, storage buildings, ranger/caretaker residences, and Primrose Studio; recycling; sustainability; pollution prevention) 40 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Stewardship management responsibilities fall across all department work groups. Members of multiple work groups work as a team on planning and implementing various projects throughout the year. LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP BOARD The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board advises staff and City Council on matters pertaining to the management and conservation of natural areas. This nine-member citizen board is the community’s advocate for natural areas enhancement and conservation within Fort Collins and regionally. Specifi cally, the duties and functions of the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board are: 1. To advise City Council regarding policy and budgetary matters pertaining to the Natural Areas Department, including but not limited to the expenditure of Open Space, Yes! and Larimer County Help Preserve Open Space dedicated sales tax revenues. 2. To advise Natural Areas Department staff and the City Council in connection with the proposed acquisition or disposition of land, interests in land, interests in water, and other interests in real property for the Natural Areas Department. 3. To advise Natural Areas Department staff regarding the development of management plans and public improvements for Natural Areas Department properties. 4. Upon request of the City Manager or at the direction of the City Council, to advise City Council regarding any positive or negative impacts that particular plans or projects of the City or of other public or private entities may have on Natural Areas Department properties or properties that may be of interest to the Natural Areas Department. This provision shall not apply to development projects for which applications have been submitted to the City for approval under the Land Use Code. 5. Upon request of the City Manager or at the direction of the City Council, to advise City Council in connection with the proposed acquisition or disposition of land, interests in land, interests in water and other interests in real property for City programs other than the Natural Areas Department. POLICIES, PLANS, AND PROCEDURES Various policies, plans, and procedures guide the Natural Areas Department in its daily operations and management of natural areas. The overarching policies come from the City Council-adopted City Plan (see Appendix B). Various other policies, plans, and procedures are established for specifi c sites or purposes and approved at different levels within City government. Management plans and guidelines are meant to be somewhat fl exible City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 41 Table 4. Natural Areas Policies, Plans, and Procedures (2004–2014) Document Category Document Name Resolutions (Adopted by City Council) • Natural Areas and Open Lands Easement Policy (2012) • Council Involvement in Acquisitions for the Natural Areas Program (2005) Regulations (Adopted by City Council) • Naming of City Properties and Facilities Ordinance (2011) • Revisions to Natural Areas Regulations Ordinances (City Code; 2004–2012) Policies and Procedures (Adopted by City Manager) • Use Policy for Primrose Studio at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (2012) • Conservation Easement Amendment Policy and Procedure (2011) • Conservation Easement Monitoring and Enforcement Policy and Procedure (2011) • Conservation Easement Phasing Policy and Procedure (2011) • Land Conservation Due Diligence Procedure (2011) • Land Conservation Approval Policy and Procedure (2011) Policies (Adopted by Service Area Director) • Community Services—Use of Motorized Mobility Devices on Parks and Natural Areas Policy (2012; revised 2014) • Utilities Services—Poudre River Annual Debris and Downed Tree Removal Policy (2011) Policies and Position Statement (Adopted by Natural Areas Director) • Volunteer Policies and Procedures and Procedures (2013) • Natural Areas Encroachment Policy (2011) • Natural Areas Agriculture Position Statement (2011) • Natural Areas Commercial Use Policy (2010) • Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures Manual (2008) (also adopted by Police Services) Management Plans (Adopted by Natural Areas Director) • Cache la Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Update (2011) • Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan (2007) • Foothills Natural Areas Management Plan (2007) • Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space Habitat Improvement Plan (2006) • Bobcat Ridge Natural Area Management Plan (2005) • Fossil Creek Natural Areas Management Plan (2005) • Resource Management and Implementation Plan for Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space (2003) Management Guidelines (Adopted by Natural Areas Director) • Wildlife Management Guidelines (2007) • Vegetation Management Guidelines (2007) Guidelines • User Guidelines for Gateway Natural Area Large Group/Event Permit (2011) • Policy Regarding Public Use of City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Photos (2006) • Natural Areas Permit Conditions (2002) • Natural Areas Department Identity Standards and Guidelines (2013) Plans and Manuals • Nix Emergency Action Plan (2014) • General Resource Protection Standards for Easements or Rights of Way (2013) • Emergency Preparedness Plan for Fairport Dam, Robert Benson Lake (Pelican Marsh Natural Area) (2012) • Fire Management Plan (2012) • Vegetation Management Field Guide (2011) • Bobcat Ridge Operations Manual (2011) 42 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Over the next ten years, new policies, plans, and procedures will undoubtedly be developed as the need arises and brought forward for adoption at the appropriate level. Master Plan Priorities (Chapter 5) include stewardship policy and procedural needs identifi ed at this time. MANAGEMENT ZONING SYSTEM In 2011, the Natural Areas Department developed a new system of management zoning to more effectively manage natural resource protection and human use within natural areas along the Poudre River (City of Fort Collins 2011b). This system will also be used for other natural areas as new management plans are developed or updated. The Management Zoning System consists of fi ve zones (0 to 4) ranging from areas closed to public use to “focal areas” prescribed for intensive public use. A modifi er is added to the zoning designation to describe whether on-trail-only or off-trail use will be permitted: TRAIL MODIFIERS (REGULATORY ZONING): • A – On-trail only • B – Off-trail use allowed • C – Closed, no trails available (Zone 1) MANAGEMENT ZONES: • Zone 0 – Closed Natural Area: The entire natural area is not open for public access. The natural area is either not intended for public use or is not yet open due to lack of public amenities (e.g., trails, parking lots), which require construction prior to opening. • Zone 1 – Closed Zones: Portions of a natural area that are not open to the public due to one or more reasons specifi ed below. In closed zones, trails and other public amenities either do not exist or are intended for maintenance purposes only. All Zone 1 – Closed Zones are modifi ed as “C – no trails available.” Reasons for closures may include: - Areas closed for conservation or wildlife refuge - Areas where no formal access is provided - Areas closed due to public safety concerns - Areas under long-term restoration (typically 10 years or more) - Areas closed due to the presence of cultural artifacts - Areas closed on leased land because public access is not allowed by the terms of the lease • Zone 2 – Resource Protection Zones: Portions of a natural area where conservation and resource protection are the highest priorities. Visitor access is generally limited to on- trail or trailside activities. Public amenities are limited or nonexistent. Temporary or seasonal closures may be enacted for resource protection, restoration, or other reasons. • Zone 3 – Natural Experience Zones: Portions City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 43 • Zone 4 – Focal Recreation Zones: Portions of a natural area that provide intense and directed recreation. These are developed areas intended to provide defi ned recreation or access to recreation. Focal areas generally include parking lots, picnic areas, boating or fi shing access points, designated rock climbing areas, etc. Temporary or seasonal closures may be enacted for resource protection, restoration, or other reasons. EDUCATION Natural areas are treasured by the community and individuals for many reasons, including education, recreation, scientifi c, economic, cultural, ecological, and spiritual values. The mission of the Education Staff Work Group is to increase citizens’ awareness of natural areas, promote understanding of natural systems, and foster each individual’s realization of the importance and meaning natural places add to our lives. The goals of the Education Staff Work Group are to: • Increase recognition, awareness, and support of natural areas, natural areas values, and the Natural Areas Department’s vision and mission. • Provide a diversity of meaningful experiences for residents of every age, toddler to seniors, to facilitate their connections to nature. • Directly reach a portion of the Fort Collins community (current goal is 8%–10% annually) while ensuring participant demographics match the demographics of the community. • Strive to meet these goals through community programs, school programs, special events, media, community involvement, and service learning through volunteer opportunities. The programs are regularly evaluated to determine the most effective way to reach the public. MASTER NATURALISTS The volunteer Master Naturalist Program began in 1994 and has become the mainstay of the Natural Areas Education Program. Each certifi ed Master Naturalist completes over 50 hours of hands- on training focused on local natural history and public speaking. In 2013, 164 Master Naturalists and their volunteer assistants helped the City reach out to the community, donating thousands of hours. Because of their dedication, the Natural Areas Department is able to provide nearly 300 educational activities and events each year, currently reaching approximately 11,000 people annually. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS The Natural Areas Department arranges community programs on a variety of topics each year. Programs are offered through the Tracks & Trails publication, or listed in monthly press releases and the natural areas electronic newsletter. Community programs 44 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS Field trips to natural areas for students, grades pre K-12, are available free of charge to local schools. Lessons are taught by Master Naturalist volunteers and staff using unique, standards-based, interactive activities developed by the Natural Areas Department. Limited transportation funding is available by request. School fi eld trips are offered in the spring and fall. The Natural Areas Department sponsors events and participates in local festivals by providing a staffed booth with interactive activities. Special events include the NoCo Nature Festival, Wade the River, Picnic on the Poudre, Cinco de Mayo, and National Get Outdoors Day celebrations. These are effective events in reaching new audiences and a large number of people. The Department attends or sponsors an average of two events a month. MEDIA The Natural Areas Department uses a comprehensive communications strategy to support community access and enjoyment of natural areas: • Interpretive features are installed on the most visited natural areas. Currently, 23 sites contain interpretive signage. Signage (free-standing or on kiosks) has been installed on 13 of these sites since 2004. These products explain the natural features of the natural areas, increase visitor enjoyment, and contribute to visitor management. • The Department funded a lobby visitor center and interactive exhibits at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, which opened in 2012. The highlight of the free natural areas visitor center is the live black-footed ferret display, which focuses on the values of the native shortgrass prairie. An interactive map and brochures help to orient the public to the wealth of natural areas available for their use in the community. Master Naturalist volunteers staff the exhibit at peak times. • Technology is part of connecting people to natural areas, so the Department has an extensive website and employs social media as important communication strategies. • Printed materials, such as maps and brochures, complement online resources and provide material that is accessible for fi eld experiences. Maps and brochures are provided City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 45 Figure 9. Number of Volunteer Hours per Year, 2007–2013 (Note: The drop in 2013 resulted from 6 weeks of program cancelations due to the September fl ood event) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Everyone in the community is invited to participate in developing the plans and policies of the Natural Areas Department through frequently offered feedback and input opportunities, and by communicating concerns, ideas, and compliments to staff at any time. The Education Work Group is responsible for planning and coordinating community involvement processes in collaboration with staff leading the plan/policy effort. PARTNERSHIPS The Natural Areas Department is involved in the Fort Collins community and regional environmental education efforts through partnerships and collaborations. Education staff works with relevant professional associations at the state and national level, related organizations and agencies, and other City departments on mutually benefi cial work and projects. BALANCING FUTURE NEEDS Currently, most natural areas educational activities and events are fi lled to capacity. While the Education staff is now able to meet the current goal of reaching 8%–10% of the community, with population growth this may become more diffi cult to achieve. Several approaches could be considered to address this issue including decreasing the level of service, increasing volunteer recruitment and volunteer management capacity, increasing staff, increasing funding, or revisiting the model of volunteers providing most of the Department’s education offerings in order to provide more reliable staffi ng. Keeping up with a changing media landscape and technology is an issue for all professionals involved in education. While many new communications strategies have been introduced in the last 10 years, the older methods are still necessary, making communications a more complex endeavor. The City will continue to seek out new opportunities for using technology to connect people to the natural world. VOLUNTEER COORDINATION Citizens support natural areas in many ways from voting for ballot measures that fund the conservation of these special lands to volunteering to participate in stewardship activities. In 2011, a seasonal educator was hired to introduce service learning into volunteering. Service learning volunteer events include an educational component 46 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Volunteer opportunities for residents to get more deeply involved in natural areas vary from a single half-day project to projects spanning over a year or more. Short-term projects of a half or full day typically are service-learning stewardship projects, such as trail building/maintenance, plantings, weed pulling, and site cleanups. Over 1,000 people participated in service-learning projects in 2013. Volunteer projects with a longer time commitment include Master Naturalists, Master Naturalist Assistants, Volunteer Ranger Assistants, Adopt-a- Trail, Adopt-a-Natural Area, and Citizen Scientists. Although the Master Naturalists and the Adopt-a- Natural Area Program were in existence since the mid-1990s, the other volunteer programs have been established in just the last 10 years. The Master Naturalist Assistant Program was established in 2009 to help educate and inspire stewardship by assisting the Certifi ed Master Naturalists in community and school programs. The Volunteer Ranger Assistants Program was established jointly with Larimer County in 2007. The 143 Ranger Assistants greet visitors, promote outdoor safety, and monitor natural areas, logging over 2,200 hours in 2013 alone. Adopt-a-Trail volunteers, established in 2012, are groups that commit to trail maintenance three times a year or more. Since 2008, Citizen Scientists have collected data about natural areas, including occurrence of plants and wildlife (e.g., monitoring motion-activated wildlife cameras at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area). RESEARCH The City has both supported and benefi ted from many research projects conducted on natural areas even before the Natural Areas Program was established in 1992. Natural areas provide an excellent opportunity for scientists to conduct local research across a variety of disciplines and conditions including habitat types, land uses, and the urban to rural spectrum. Research conducted on natural areas include (1) projects initiated internally or collaboratively to help the City manage natural resources or (2) research proposed by others through Special Use Permits to allow external organizations access to ecosystems on City natural areas and access to species specifi c to their research needs. Checking wildlife cameras at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Volunteers planting shrubs on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area next to Nix Farm Facility (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 47 Natural areas serve as valuable resources for local scientists and managers. On average, 27 Special Use Permits are now approved each year to allow access and use of Fort Collins natural areas for research. Additionally, each year the Natural Areas Department initiates, or is collaboratively involved with, a handful of research projects directly tied to immediate management questions. For example, archaeological research efforts are underway on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, which includes the Lindenmeier Site, a National Historic Site that is the largest Paleo-Indian Folsom-era campsite known in the world. Research studies that have taken place on City natural areas have addressed various components of local ecosystems that demonstrate value, use, application, and relevance of natural area-based research to contemporary ecosystem management issues (Table 5). Projects may be very narrow or local in scope, or even help to answer population- or landscape-level questions. Research has included innovative methods for restoration, integrated pest management, disease management, and other resource management topics valuable for future management of natural areas. Table 5. Examples of Special-Permit Research Projects on City Natural Areas over the Last Four Years. Research Category Examples Plants Rare plant mapping, vegetation recovery following fi re and urban disturbances, population and demography studies, fl oristic inventories Insects Rare insects, grasshopper research, collections and species lists, disease vectors (West Nile virus, plague) Fishes and Amphibians Boreal chorus frog interactions with greenback cutthroat trout, citizen science amphibian survey Wildlife Predator prey relationships with prairie dogs (raptors and potential for ferret reintroduction), mountain lion and bear behavior and movement patterns in the urban Front Range, breeding bird studies, wildlife movement on fragmented sites, bat research, wildlife behavior research, mark and recapture study on deer Atmosphere and Skies Night-sky light pollution, weather-monitoring stations Restoration and Integrated Pest Management Innovative restoration methods under challenging conditions (prairie dog colonies, weeds), effi cacy of riparian exclosures Disease management Oral plague vaccine research for prairie dogs, chronic wasting disease prevalence and movement research for deer Recreational Impacts Noise impacts on prairie dogs, wildlife camera studies observing wildlife movement with recreational activity and urban development. Archaeology Survey and documentation of archeological sites on natural areas Cache la Poudre River Modeling future river conditions Educational Research Long term datasets collected by middle and high school students, groundwater wells and watershed education, undergraduate term projects (wildlife cameras, various mini research projects), habitat evaluations, testing and teaching protocols for large scale public agency research (such as wetland inventories) 48 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS Natural Areas Department staff has identifi ed a number of research topics that would aid in stewardship of natural areas over the next 10 years (Table 6). This working list will help direct local researchers, both student and professional, toward meeting some of the needs for site surveys and management. The City will continue to provide opportunities for children, students, and the community to become involved in natural areas research and management. Table 6. Selected List of Research Topics to Help Stewardship of Natural Areas over the Next Ten Years Research Category Research Topic Monitoring • Climate change • Night skies (continue) Site Inventories • Invertebrates, including aquatic insects and crustaceans • Herptiles • Mammals (large and small) • Fish (especially small streams and ponds) Management Techniques • River woody debris management • Urban prairie dog management/conservation • Growing native plant species in greenhouses • Relationship between soil disturbance, native plant establishment, and mycorrhizal fungi • Other integrated pest management methods besides herbicide treatments to control cheatgrass, annual ryegrass, bindweed, and Japanese brome. • Methods to eliminate smooth brome while causing the least amount of disturbance • Connections between wildlife populations and vegetation species and structure (creating a link between what works and what doesn’t so that restoration efforts are more successful) Values • Ecosystem goods and service values • Ecological value of really small sites for wildlife species—what can you reasonably attract with little effort (Nature in the City) Recreational Use • Creel survey at Pond Sites (and River) in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Black-tailed prairie dogs on Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Steve Nelson) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT The Resource Management Program focuses on stewardship of native plant communities and the wildlife those habitats support. Activities over the last ten years have included managing nonnative and invasive plants, restoring native plant communities (primarily grasslands), rehabilitating river stream banks, and conducting sustainable wildlife management. Resource Management staff oversees the implementation of projects that meet natural resource objectives outlined in site-specifi c natural areas management plans. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 49 As the City’s inventory of natural areas has increased, so too has the human population of Fort Collins and the Front Range. With more people and development, land stewardship has become more complex in response to the challenges of habitat fragmentation, increased recreational needs, threats to habitat integrity from nonnative plants and animals, increased demands for water, and the reality of a changing climate. Although resource management in an urban environment poses many challenges, opportunities abound as well. With careful thought, planning, and adaptive approaches to management our natural areas can provide a visitor experience that even for a brief period, transcends the hustle and bustle of life in the city. The aspiration to provide visitors with high quality experiences and habitat opportunities for wildlife beyond the typical generalist urban species has been termed “wilderness in the city” by the Natural Areas Department. Wilderness, when used in the federal land management context has specifi c meaning centered in the concept that lands exist “untrammeled or unchanged by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” (1964 Wilderness Act). The aspiration of the Department, however, is to create a very high-quality experience in nature even though it occurs within an urban environment. The Department will seek to return landscape level natural disturbances, such a fi re, grazing, and expansion of riparian areas where appropriate given public safety and urban infrastructure needs. Where opportunities exist, staff will design restoration projects to provide habitat for native species that may be uncommon to this area, but are known to thrive here if certain habitat elements exist. High quality habitat and the associated experience, or feeling, of being in a “wild” environment dovetails with the Department’s objectives to restore ecologic function, and to provide exceptional educational and recreation experiences. WEED MANAGEMENT Local natural areas typically host nonnative plant communities due to historic land uses such as poor farming practices, livestock overgrazing, gravel mining, and poor land management practices. Those land uses had the unintended consequences of creating soils defi cient in nutrients and organic matter and creating conditions conducive to weed species. For much of the past ten years Resource Management staff has worked to control nonnative and invasive plant species under a typical integrated weed management paradigm. Signifi cant accomplishments during this time include the near elimination of Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and salt-cedar (Tamarix chinensis) within Poudre River natural areas, and 50 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 nonnative vegetation. The evolution of this approach has manifested in a grassland health– based approach, which includes the use of fi re through controlled burns to invigorate native vegetation and the control of prairie dogs to promote sustainable native grasslands. VEGETATION MONITORING Staff monitors vegetation management to improve long-term success and determine best methods. Repeat ground photography (“photo points”) and weed mapping provide extremely useful data on the effectiveness of various treatments through time. In 2005, the Natural Areas Department developed the Resource Management Information System (RMIS), which is a GIS-based planning and tracking software that records management and monitoring activities on a management unit (geographic) basis. This system permits the easy retrieval of management actions that affect the vegetation on properties in the natural areas system. RMIS can generate summary data for year-end reporting and other data inquiries, as needed. A key contribution to resource management has been the implementation of a system-wide rare plant survey on City natural areas. Only ten rare plant species were known to occur throughout the natural areas system in 2004. Over the last ten years, using a GIS model to focus rare plant surveys and a dedicated corps of volunteers, Resource Management staff located 26 additional species of plants rare to Colorado and, in some cases, even globally rare. City of Fort Collins natural areas are the only known locations in Colorado for some of these rare plant species. Knowledge of rare plant occurrence on natural areas is critical to management planning and stewardship. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION In addition to signifi cant efforts at managing weeds, the City is taking a proactive approach to restoring degraded lands back to native plant communities. Restoration efforts have been initiated and are progressing well in degraded grasslands of southwest Fort Collins on lands previously in winter wheat. A more challenging grassland restoration has been the restoration of lime waste pits along the Poudre River that began in 2003. Few thought that these severely degraded lands would ever support native vegetation, but today wildlife thrive in a native grassland mix established on both sides of Timberline Road south of the Poudre River. Several natural areas, under joint ownership and management with Stormwater Utility, have undergone extensive wetland restoration as part of fl ood protection and water quality improvement projects. With funding support primarily provided by Stormwater Utility, the Natural Areas Department staff provides expertise throughout the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 51 The major focus of restoration for the Natural Areas Department since 2011 has been the fl oodplains and cottonwood forests of the Poudre River Corridor. In 2011 the fi rst phase of the McMurry Ponds Restoration Project was accomplished on the west pond where four acres of new wetland habitat were created and three acres of new fl oodplain cottonwood habitat were initiated. Likewise in 2013, a major effort began at North Shields Ponds Natural Area where fi ve acres of new wetland habitat were created in an old gravel pond and eight acres of new fl oodplain cottonwood habitat were created. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment was the removal of the Josh Ames Ditch diversion structure at North Shields Ponds Natural Area. The structure, no longer needed for water diversion, was essentially a small dam in the Poudre River that prohibited fi sh passage. Over the past ten years, a total of 867 acres of natural areas within the local focus areas of Fort Collins has been restored to a composition of greater than 75% native plant species. One important component of these restoration efforts is the annual monitoring and adaptive management necessary to ensure that the goals of each restoration effort are met. Over the next decade, the Department will continue to focus on restoration in the Poudre River corridor in addition to completing the large grassland restoration projects on the southwest side of the city on Coyote Ridge Natural Area. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT For decades, conserving land that supports black-tailed prairie dogs has been a conservation priority. However, prairie dog management can be very controversial. Unlike the natural expansion, movement, and contraction of prairie dog colonies throughout the Great Plains of the 1800s and prior, colonies within the Fort Collins region are restricted from this natural movement due to confl icts with urban development and agriculture. The lack of movement possibilities outside of the conserved natural area produces a situation where intensive prairie dog grazing degrades the health of the grassland to a point where topsoil becomes exposed and can be easily eroded by frequent wind events and vegetation composition becomes dominated by undesirable nonnative plants. Cyclical periods of drought exacerbate these conditions. In the past decade, the City has experimented with a suite of management efforts ranging from a “hands-off”/no-lethal-control approach to signifi cant lethal control. Adoption of the Wildlife Management Guidelines in 2007 created a hybrid approach that seeks to balance the conservation of prairie dog colonies with maintaining grassland structure benefi cial to a variety of grassland wildlife species. This approach manages colony acreages 52 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Other wildlife management efforts in the past ten years have included the routine monitoring and protection of raptors and the initiation of breeding bird surveys along the Poudre River corridor and foothill properties. The information gathered from these surveys guide restoration, recreation, and management operations on natural areas. Over the next decade, the Department anticipates examining how beavers could be managed harmoniously within the urban environment. Similarly, the department is seeking to promote healthy aquatic wildlife (including sport and native fi sheries) in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. To date, wildlife management has not included harvesting of game animals. As regional properties are added into the natural areas portfolio, opportunities may exist to add hunting as both a recreation and wildlife management tool. As an example, pronghorn hunting for wildlife management and recreation will be considered for Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in the next ten years. As with any hunting program, the Department will work closely with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to establish season and harvest objectives. Implementation of a hunting program must minimize or avoid confl icts with other recreation users, be controlled in terms of location and number of permits issued, and be offered to the public through a random draw or similar selection approach. WILDLIFE REINTRODUCTIONS The City is working with several federal and state agencies to reintroduce rare and endangered wildlife species to natural areas through cooperative species conservation projects. American Bison The Natural Areas Department is pursuing the reintroduction of the American bison to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in support of a larger effort to conserve the plains bison as a wildlife species. Staff is working with Colorado State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and others to bring bison with a genetic background of the Yellowstone herd to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Black-Footed Ferrets The City submitted an allocation request to release black-footed ferrets onto Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and the adjacent Meadow Springs Ranch (owned and managed by Utilities for the deposition of dry bio-solids). The Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan (City of Fort Collins 2007b) identifi ed the black-tailed prairie dog community as a conservation priority within the shortgrass Great horned owls on Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area (Photo by Aran Meyer) Black-footed ferret (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 53 prairie system. In May 2014, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed HB14-1267 authorizing city and counties to have the ability to reintroduce experimental populations of black-footed ferrets to their property. The fi rst release of ferrets occurred this September. Rare Native Fishes The City is working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce and monitor the status of rare fi shes on several sites. Within Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Meadow Springs Ranch, the Natural Areas Department is working to manage native northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos) and brassy minnow (Hybognathus hankinsoni) populations, state endangered and state threatened species, respectively. The Department is also partnering with CPW and the Colorado Water Conservation Board to protect water fl ow in four stream stretches on these two sites to support rare native fi sh and amphibians, including the northern leopard frog (a state species of special concern). The Natural Areas Department is also working with CPW to create habitat for native rare fi shes within Fort Collins at a recently acquired gravel mining pit west of Arapaho Bend between Strauss Cabin and Ziegler roads. The pit is a typical sand and gravel lake constructed with steep sides and supporting little to no wetland or shallow water habitat. The restoration project will convert the 22-acre deepwater lake to a mix of shallow wetlands and deeper, open water. Once complete, the site will serve as a refugium for several species of rare native fi shes within the Cache la Poudre watershed. URBAN CHALLENGES OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Urban natural areas in Fort Collins pose many challenges for ongoing resource management and restoration. Among the challenges is the predominance of highly successful weedy species, limited ability to use fi re or grazing to manage larger grasslands, inadequate nonlethal methods for controlling prairie dogs, threats from invasive tree insect pests, and obtaining funding to cover the high costs of river and fl oodplain restoration. Nonnative, invasive grasses pose a particular problem for Resource Management, especially in areas where control is diffi cult due to terrain or habitat (e.g., the understory of cottonwood forests; steep foothills mountain mahogany shrublands). The threat of invasive grass species in all of the City’s natural areas cannot be ignored. Species such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica), quackgrass (Elymus repens), exotic strains of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and cereal rye (Secale cereale) are among the many grasses that continue to establish on sites. These grasses 54 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 an urban context where natural colony movement and expansion cannot take place due to land use and ownership limitations. Since the mid-2000s the mountain pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak has moved from the west onto the foothills of the northern Front Range. At Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, resource managers have aggressively treated a relict stand of ponderosa pine on the west edge of the property that is home to trees that date back to the early 1500s. Protecting this small stand preserved a unique plant community and the local climate history locked within the trees’ annual rings. At this time, the Natural Areas Department does not have any plans to treat larger stands of ponderosa pines, such as those on the City’s foothills natural areas. Much of the subcanopy of the cottonwood forests along the Poudre River and its drainages are in green ash trees. The invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is expected to be present in the Fort Collins area within the next few years. Its arrival is likely to greatly reduce the amount of subcanopy trees in the cottonwood forests and modify the existing fl oristic composition of the Poudre River and other stream drainages in the city. The high cost annual chemical treatment necessary to save green ashes has secondary and nontarget impacts that likely are signifi cant enough to outweigh the value of saving the trees. Therefore, staff will focus efforts on planning for re-vegetation or replacement of ash’s ecological niche rather than treatment of extant stands. River and fl oodplain restoration, while highly desirable by many in the community for ecological, social, and economical reasons, can be expensive. For example, the 2013–2014 project to restore the Poudre River fl oodplain and remove the Josh Ames Ditch diversion dam on North Shields Ponds Natural Area cost nearly $1 million dollars. CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER AND OTHER AQUATIC SYSTEMS The Fort Collins community recognized the need to protect the Cache la Poudre River long before the existence of the Natural Areas Department. In fact, threats to this valuable resource, primarily from expanding development, helped drive the adoption of the City’s Natural Areas Policy Plan in 1992. Along with the Poudre River and its tributary streams, open water habitat such as ponds and lakes, as well as the wetlands throughout Fort Collins play a critical role in supporting the broad spectrum of wildlife that inhabit our natural areas in this semiarid region. The river and other aquatic systems also provide excellent recreation and educational opportunities highly valued by the Fort Collins community such as fi shing, experiential and environmental education, transportation corridors, wildlife viewing, and City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 55 function and scenic beauty of these conserved properties require a multifaceted management approach. The Natural Areas Department will continue to play numerous roles in managing for a healthy river system. Land Acquisition Recognized as critical for natural areas conservation, the Poudre River Corridor will continue to be a high priority for land acquisitions. Over the last ten years, the Natural Areas Department has acquired nearly 200 acres along the river, adding acreage to North Shields Ponds, Magpie Meander, Kingfi sher Point, Running Deer, and Arapaho Bend natural areas. Site Management and Habitat Restoration In 2011, the Natural Areas Department completed the Cache la Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Update (City of Fort Collins 2011b). This comprehensive plan documented our understanding of the physical, ecological, and human dimensions pertinent to management of Poudre River natural areas. It also included a refi ned set of management goals for each site. Ongoing stewardship of these fl oodplain properties is a high priority for the Department. Successes include efforts to eliminate nonnative Russian olives, protection of native cottonwood trees with a sandy paint that deters beavers, restoration of grasslands within the fl oodplain, cataloging of rare aquatic plants, establishing a management zoning system, and developing trail systems, fi shing piers, and other public amenities that help direct visitor use away from more sensitive habitats in need of protection. Restoration in the Poudre River Corridor over the last ten years has included reconnecting the river to its fl oodplain by lowering river banks, cleaning up and revegetating banks, expanding shallow water and emergent habitats along ponds, and creating a diversity of underwater habitats to support sport and native fi shes. Collectively, these restoration efforts improve and extend quality habitats to provide a valued urban refuge for the benefi t of both wildlife and people. Collaboration with City Departments The Natural Areas Department is collaboratively engaged in several City projects to enhance overall visitor experience, safety, and access to the river. Effective collaboration with Stormwater, Water Resources, Parks and Recreation, and Planning has been imperative to the success of complex projects such as the stormwater improvements at Riverbend Ponds (L-Path; 2006-07), river restoration at Woodward Inc. (2013–2014), and the development of the Poudre River Downtown Master Plan (2014). The Department is engaged in many smaller, but equally important, dialogs on projects such as the ongoing management of wood debris in the fl oodplain, and balancing community safety (fl ood prevention) with ecological values. Water Rights and Instream Flows 56 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 The Natural Areas Department collaborates with other City departments, irrigation companies, and conservation organizations in efforts to provide instream fl ows to support aquatic habitat through the urban stretch of Fort Collins. One approach underway is to identify and defi ne an instream fl ow segment and to quantify the fl ows necessary to both protect and enhance the natural environment. From this information, the Natural Areas Department can better understand the timing, duration, and volume of fl ows needed to sustain a healthy river. However, the Department’s relatively small water portfolio will be a limiting factor in providing adequate environmental fl ows. The City is actively working to expand water- sharing opportunities and is in the process of completing a Poudre River Operations Study. The purpose of this study is to better understand (1) the administration of water rights, particularly in relation to river fl ow through the urban reach; (2) the low-fl ow and “dry up” locations; and (3) extreme short-term fl uctuations in water levels. This information will help to identify water sharing and management opportunities that will lead to environmental benefi ts for the river. This study will also help to identify locations where measuring devices and bypass structures will aid in the distribution of water for the health of the river and will aid in fi sh passage at diversion structures. This water sharing approach does not change ownership of water or permanently encumber the water in any way; it simply encourages willing parties to enter into agreements to utilize agriculture or municipal water in ways to provide ecological benefi ts to rivers and streams while not injuring other water users. In addition, the Natural Areas Department currently owns and manages several wetlands and ponds and continues to expand ownership of this important habitat type. Acquisition of wetlands and ponds may create augmentation requirements to replace out of priority depletions caused by evaporative loss from exposed groundwater. The Department is currently developing an augmentation plan for several wetlands and ponds owned as of the date of this document. As the Department continues to acquire new wetlands and ponds, there will be a need to secure additional water to meet the additional augmentation requirements. Meeting these needs may also involve the appropriation of new water rights and/or appropriative rights of exchange, develop water storage, and construct various facilities related to water management. The Department plans to use all of the tools available under Colorado water law to acquire, develop, and manage water rights and water resources to meet its goals and objectives. The Natural Areas Department plans to use its City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 57 TRIBUTARIES The main tributaries that drain into the Poudre River through Fort Collins include Spring Creek, Fossil Creek, Boxelder Creek, Cooper Slough, and Dry Creek. These urban tributaries run across a diverse set of land uses and ownership such as Fort Collins Utilities, Natural Areas, and Parks and Recreation departments and many private parcels, including open lands managed by homeowners’ associations. Thus, the Natural Areas Department has limited direct infl uence on the overall tributary system. In spite of that constraint, the Department’s goal is to support stream projects that help sustain local aquatic life, restore native vegetation, and improve connections to the Poudre River. The Stormwater Utility has begun a long-term Stream Rehabilitation Program to restore urban creeks within Fort Collins. The Natural Areas Department is engaged in a supportive role and the planning process has identifi ed some exciting projects and opportunities. Key objectives include restoring reaches with dangerous and unsustainable erosion resulting from unnatural fl ow patterns, increasing connectivity of aquatic habitats, and improving stream habitat through grade control and revegetation. Several regional natural areas include streams with extremely important conservation values. For example, the federally threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) occurs in habitat along an intermittent foothills stream on Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. On Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, prairie streams support rare native fi shes and amphibians. Closer to the heart of Fort Collins, 15 rare plants occur in riparian areas along streams within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area. DITCHES AND CANALS Fort Collins has numerous ditches and canals that function to direct irrigation and storm water above ground through the city. Many ditches and canals serve as wildlife corridors and some even resemble an intermittent stream with thick riparian wooded habitat. Although typically not managed by the City, ditches and canals offer opportunities for working with irrigation companies to enhance wildlife habitat or provide trail corridors. PONDS AND WETLANDS In the urban reach through Fort Collins, the Poudre River and its associated tributaries is a highly altered stream system with few side channels, fl oodplain wetlands, or oxbows remaining. One of the most signifi cant changes to the fl oodplain that has occurred over the last 50 years or more has been the establishment of many ponds as the consequence of past sand and gravel mining operations. Ponds range from those resembling natural wetlands and side channels to ponds that are steep sided and uniform depths. The 58 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 lost due to development. Wildlife management, in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, will focus on native fi sh reintroduction, native amphibian management, and creating a functional self-sustaining wetland system. Many of the deeper ponds function as excellent sport fi sheries and will continue to be managed to provide recreational opportunities for the public. A portion of the shorelines may be managed to create shallow wetlands, while still providing fi shing access. Fisheries management (including stocking) will be in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The least common but still very important categories of aquatic system are wetlands not dependent on the river or its tributaries. Examples include seeps, bogs, salt fl ats, and marshes. On the edges of the Poudre fl oodplain, a handful of seeps exist on steep hillsides where groundwater surfaces. Often these seeps host unique native plant communities, provide year-round habitat for amphibians, and provide a winter water supply for birds and other wildlife. Fens, salt fl ats, wet meadows, and marshes are found on some natural areas. Management approaches to protect these unique habitats may include limiting public access and protection during cleanup and improvement projects. AN INTEGRATED WATERSHED APPROACH Attention to the Poudre River has grown recently under pressures of future water depletions and recent extreme climactic events, including the forest fi res of 2012 and the fl oods of 2013. Regional outreach and collaborations will be necessary to achieve the City’s overarching objective of a sustainable and healthy river through Fort Collins. In particular, it will be important to cultivate awareness of the infl uence of inputs to the urban river from the upper watershed as well as landscape scale issues such forestry and ex-urban development. An integrated watershed perspective will help the community understand and manage the Poudre River ecosystem and associated ecological values. To that end, the Natural Areas Department is building a long-term effort to work with partners to address the challenges presented by continued development pressures on the river, coupled with the potential for more frequent extreme climate- driven events in the coming years. The Department will continue to engage in collaborative initiatives that build partnerships and infl uence positive outcomes that collectively benefi t the river on a landscape scale. Some possible tangible actions that could help maintain a healthy upper watershed include targeted fee acquisitions or conservation easements at key locations, use of best management procedures (BMPs) on stream segments through City properties, support of key studies contributing to understanding the health City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 59 threats to, and anticipated conditions of, indicator biota within the Cache la Poudre River System. The ERM for the Fort Collins reach of the river uses a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the river system. The model will foster a more informed dialog with a broad audience of stakeholders as to the current and anticipated use and condition of the Poudre River. Moreover, it will inform management and investment decisions. Built by a team of expert river scientists, the ERM is based on a wealth of accumulated knowledge of river science combined with local data. The model is based on the overarching theory that fl ows are the master variable of the ecosystem. Additionally, the project incorporated the interaction of other important variables such as the physical setting, aquatic life, and riverside vegetation to provide a better understanding of this ever-changing river ecosystem. Preliminary results of the ERM indicate that the Cache la Poudre River system in Fort Collins has been changing for some time. Current fl ows, which refl ect existing withdrawals for municipal and agricultural uses, are approaching the low end of fl ow thresholds that are needed for scouring of algae, aquatic habitat, and channel maintenance. The modeling process has also shed light on other factors critical for the City to pay attention to, such as the poor functionality of hardened (e.g., riprap, concrete structures) riparian habitats, water quality concerns related to contemporary land uses, and the lack of aquatic habitat connectivity (Ecological Response Model 2014). RANGER AND VISITOR SERVICES The natural areas rangers are charged with providing a safe, peaceful, and enjoyable environment for all natural area visitors and trail users while ensuring the protection of natural and cultural resources. Rangers are responsible for patrolling all natural areas and trails. Two seasonal gate attendants help provide visitor services at Gateway and Soapstone Prairie natural areas. Over the last ten years, natural areas rangers have experienced a signifi cant evolution and increased professionalization of duties. Focus has moved from primarily enforcement work to a full suite of visitor engagement, resource protection, and regional natural area management. During this time, ranger staff has adapted to emerging needs within the expanding natural areas system to include emergency medical care, wildland fi re support, and on-site ranger-managed regional sites at Bobcat Ridge and Gateway. However, natural areas patrol and visitor engagement remains the program’s primary responsibility. PATROL AND VISITOR ENGAGEMENT Natural areas rangers provide dawn-to-dusk coverage seven days a week. Patrol activities include enforcement of City Municipal Code, providing visitor education, and protecting natural 60 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Typically, the Natural Areas Department rangers cite 800–1,000 municipal code violations per year. Through the years, the rangers’ enforcement efforts have resulted in a signifi cant reduction in the numbers of animals off leash in the natural areas system. In part, this may have resulted from a two-year period (2004–2005) when a zero- tolerance policy for animals off leash was enacted. This effort seems to have turned the tide in gaining compliance for the leash ordinance in natural areas. A recent observation/trail count survey to support the 2013 Paved Recreational Trail Master Plan showed that 95% of dogs (965 observed) on paved trails were leashed. Rangers are on the front-line of natural areas customer service. Daily interactions, including friendly and educational contacts, phone inquiries, agency assists, and more are accomplished by rangers. Rangers logged over 6,800 visitor contacts in 2013 and recognize that understanding customers’ needs is critical to providing outstanding service. Rangers handled over 800 phone inquiries in 2013 from natural area users via the on-duty ranger phone line, affording visitors the opportunity to speak with a live person in real time. Rangers use smartphones to promptly update trail conditions on the webpage. Quick Response codes on closed trail signs and kiosks allow visitors to tap into the current status on conditions. Ongoing challenges to patrol activities are primarily related to alcohol possession and illegal camping in natural areas. Illegal camping is dominated by Fort Collins’ homeless population who utilize natural areas, parks, and road underpasses to camp overnight in the absence of, or in spite of, available charitable services. Data collected over a fi ve-year period (2009–2013) show an increasing trend of illegal homeless camping. In 2009, 6% of all natural areas, parks, and trails violations cited by rangers were for illegal camping. In 2010 and 2011, camping violations increased to 9%. In 2012, violations increased to 16%, and in 2013 nearly one-quarter (22%) of all violations cited by rangers were for illegal, homeless camping. Moreover, illegal possession and consumption of alcohol by homeless comprised almost 50% of all ranger-issued alcohol violations from 2009–2013. Looking forward, Fort Collins’ effort to eliminate homelessness by 2020 may require a signifi cant commitment from Natural Areas staff to support a holistic community response to a growing homeless population. As part of the rangers’ effort to engage the Fort Collins community and provide stewardship opportunities for the public, a Volunteer Ranger Assistant Program, in partnership with Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, was created in 2007. In 2013, over 130 trained citizens City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 61 RANGER STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS In addition to ongoing patrol responsibilities and enforcement of the City’s Municipal Code on natural areas, Rangers have embarked on a number of signifi cant projects that support the day- to-day operations of the natural areas system. In 2005, Ranger staff completed a project to identify, formalize, and sign every legal trail entrance into natural area properties. Similarly, another effort was undertaken to inventory, mark, and record all gates and administrative access points in the natural areas system. In the mid-2000s, Ranger staff began marking property boundaries of natural areas. This effort was followed in 2010 with the creation of a property boundary encroachment policy and monitoring effort designed to correct property encroachments occurring on nearly one-third of natural area boundaries shared with neighborhoods. Violations continue to decline, from the high of 100 in 2011 to only 18 in 2013, indicating that neighbors of natural areas understand that encroaching on City property is illegal. The project ensures the proper stewardship of property boundaries while promoting neighbor awareness. In 2012, rangers participated in the Park Planning and Development Department’s project to develop a long-range plan for the paved recreational trail system. The Paved Recreational Trail Master Plan, adopted by City Council in 2013, covers paved trails managed by Parks and Recreation and Streets departments, many of which provide access to, or through, natural areas. RANGER MANAGEMENT OF REGIONAL PROPERTIES The City’s fi rst regional natural area, Bobcat Ridge, opened in 2006. During the management planning for this 2,000-acre site near Masonville, it became apparent that a resident ranger would be needed to provide on-site security, visitor assistance beyond normal working hours, and day-to-day maintenance. Thus, a full-time ranger was assigned and housed at Bobcat Ridge. Likewise, in 2007 when Gateway Park was transferred from the City’s Parks Department to the Natural Areas Department, a full-time resident ranger was hired to provide site security, operations, maintenance, and to collect fees. Gateway Natural Area was established by the Parks Department as a fee-based site due to its remoteness and need for on-site staff, and remains the only fee-based natural area due to the higher level of park-like maintenance needed for the site. The Gateway Natural Area ranger is also responsible for patrol and management of the Picnic Rock Natural Area at the entrance of the Poudre Canyon. The opening of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in 2009 marked the creation of the fi rst seasonal Visitor Services staff who operates the entrance gate during peak visitation days to orient visitors, 62 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 RECREATION The City recognizes the enthusiastic culture and affi nity that citizens have for spending time in nature. Recreation in natural areas provides wellness opportunities, improves quality of life, and provides settings for visitor experiences ranging from urban to semi-primitive. Activities in natural areas include walking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, fi shing, non-motorized boating, photography, artwork, wildlife viewing, and relaxing, among others. The numerous positive impacts outdoor recreation has on an individual’s physical, mental, and social health are widely documented. According to the 2011 Fort Collins Resident Survey Report, 70% of respondents believed that natural areas contribute to a “great extent” to the communities overall wellness, while 79% of respondents believed natural areas contribute to the recreational opportunities available to the community to a “great extent.” In a study conducted by Kay-Linn Enterprises (2013), Northern Front Range survey respondents strongly agreed that trails (1) promote a high quality of life and healthy lifestyle (95.7%), (2) are central to recreation (83.4%), and (3) connect people with nature (85.7%). Although the Natural Areas Department’s primary land acquisition focus has been the protection of the natural habitats and features for their conservation values, these acquisitions have subsequently created diverse public recreational opportunities. Over the last ten years, the Department has opened a dozen new natural areas to the public, including Bobcat Ridge and Soapstone Prairie—both with an extensive trail system. Of the 43 natural areas managed by the Department, 40 currently are open for some type of recreation. Eventually, all 43 sites will be opened. Overarching recreation goals are to: • Provide diverse opportunities for enjoyable public use of sites, while minimizing user confl icts and disturbance to sensitive wildlife and plant communities • Provide a variety of nature-based recreation opportunities, while enhancing user experience and enjoyment • Provide access to visitors of all ages and abilities • Recognize that City natural areas are an important bridge to provide a connection to solitude and peacefulness in an outdoor setting • Provide recreation infrastructure that is modest, adequate, safe, and accessible • Place trails to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive habitat, to increase trail sustainability, and to reduce maintenance and need for weather-related trail closures Providing public recreation has been a key element City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 63 Figure 10. Number of Natural Areas Open to Specifi c Recreation Types 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 NATURAL AREAS OPEN TO RECREATION Birdwatching at Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area (Photo by Sue Kenney) off-trail exploration, biking, horseback riding, nonmotorized boating, fi shing, picnicking, sledding, rock climbing. Most of the City’s natural areas are at least partially accessible to people with disabilities via the Parks or Natural Areas paved trail system and designated parking areas. The Natural Areas Department will be pursuing offering limited hunting of pronghorn on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in cooperation with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) over the next ten years. CPW has indicated a need to harvest pronghorn in the Soapstone area when animal densities reach thresholds that cause increased disease issues, impacts to habitat, and surrounding landowner agricultural damage. The Department does not foresee pursuing backcountry camping over the next ten years due to the limited number of people it would serve, abundance of other regional opportunities, and the high cost of this service. Dogs off-leash areas are also not being considered because of their incompatibility with the Department’s conservation mission. Parks does provide three off-leash dog- parks in Fort Collins. A larger, off-leash area may also be compatible with the City’s Parks System. Properties managed by the Natural Areas Department for recreation can be categorized as urban, foothills, or regional properties. These varying property types offer the public a diverse selection of aesthetic experiences and recreation opportunities depending on the location. 64 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Urban Most urban natural areas are located along the Cache la Poudre River and its tributaries. Currently, 18 natural areas are open to the public along the Poudre River offering a wide range of land- and water-based recreation. More than 30 of the urban natural areas can be accessed via 36 miles of paved trails managed by Parks, including the 10.1-mile Poudre Trail, 6.9-mile Spring Creek Trail, 5.9-mile Fossil Creek Trail, 3.9-mile Power Trail, and the 3.5-mile Mason Trail. Foothills Natural areas within the 3,800 acres of protected local foothills habitat support over 20 miles of natural surface trails in ecosystems dominated by ponderosa pine forests, foothill shrublands, and native grasslands. These properties consist of Coyote Ridge, Pineridge, Maxwell, and Reservoir Ridge natural areas. Year after year, the foothills natural areas are consistently some of the most actively used areas by recreationalists, especially hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The popular 9.6-mile Foothills Trail offers great trail connectivity along the western foothills as it crosses City, county, state, and federal lands. This trail currently links together Pineridge, Maxwell, and Reservoir Ridge natural areas, and connects to the Fossil Creek and Spring Creek bike trails at Spring Canyon Community Park. Regional Regional natural areas offer the public some of the most diverse landscape topography, wildlife viewing, and recreational opportunities. The four regional natural areas are Bobcat Ridge, Gateway, Picnic Rock, and Soapstone Prairie. Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, located just outside the town of Masonville, offers recreationalists over 2,600 acres of diverse topography for all visitor groups’ capability levels, from expert mountain biking terrain to accessible trails for people with disabilities. This property’s scenic trails take visitors along grassy fl at valley fl oors, over rolling terrain, up through rocky drainages, to scenic mountain vista views. The historic structures and features throughout the property also offer users an educational aspect to their experience as they tour the property’s rich pioneering, ranching, and American Indian cultural infl uences. Gateway Natural Area is located in the Cache la Poudre Canyon at the confl uence of the Cache la Poudre River and its North Fork Tributary. This 170-acre natural area is located adjacent to thousands of acres of land and water managed by the City of Greeley (Seaman Reservoir), U.S. Forest Service (Roosevelt National Forest), and State Land Board (leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife). Gateway has continuously proven to be popular for recreationalists due to its river access, boat launch (i.e., kayaks, canoes, tubes, rafts), City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 65 Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) Picnic Rock Natural Area is located downstream from Gateway in a beautiful section of the Poudre Canyon. The site has been a very popular picnic, wading, and tubing area for families and students for many years. The Natural Areas Department took over management of the site in 2007. The site presents various management challenges that will need to be addressed in the future. The City owns very little land (1.5 acres) in the area heavily frequented by visitors. Most of the surrounding land is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the City operates under the terms of Memorandum of Understanding with CPW. The City is able to provide minimal services to the site (trash pick-up, bathroom cleaning, etc.); however, the City’s jurisdiction is limited. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, located on the Colorado/Wyoming border, offers recreationalists over 20,000 acres of unique trails, wildlife viewing, and interpretive features that focus on world-renowned cultural resources. This area offers over 40 miles of natural surface trails open to hiking, mountain biking, and equestrians, that wrap around rolling prairie terrain, with wide open vistas and mountain views, and trail connectivity options that lead to Big Hole Open Space (City of Cheyenne) and Red Mountain Open Space (Larimer County). VISITATION SUMMARIES To assess current visitor use and for future recreation planning, the Natural Areas Department collected data from on-site visitor counts and surveys in 2006 and 2010. The Fort Collins Resident Survey (National Research Center 2011) and the Our Lands – Our Future survey (Larimer County 2013) also help to identify visitor satisfaction and expectation of future recreation needs. General fi ndings from these surveys indicated: • Nearly 47,000 unique visitors enter City natural areas annually with high repeat visitations resulting in over 2 million annual visits • The annual number of visits per year per natural areas visitor ranges from 20 to 80 • 60% of visitors arrive by car • 26% of visitors arrive by bike • 75% of those surveyed spend 1–2 hours in a natural area per visit • Hiking/walking and biking are the most popular activities pursued in natural areas In relation to the experience of visitors, 93% of visitors reported that crowding is slight or not at all (National Research Center 2011). Crowding was not perceived as a negative impact in 90% of responses and of the remaining percentage of those who reported a negative experience in a natural area within the last year the incident was related to dogs or other animals. 66 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Managing recreation over the next ten years will continue to involve adapting to increased visitor use due to expected increase in human populations (Colorado Conservation Trust 2012) and balancing natural resources protection with increased recreational demands. Opportunities for additional land acquisition over the next ten years are unknown at this time; however, the Natural Areas Department will continue to expand its portfolio of properties to provide more trails and recreation. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS Public improvements are the built recreational amenities that enhance visitor use of a natural area. They serve two important functions: (1) help the public to more safely use and enjoy natural areas and (2) help protect natural resource values. Natural areas accommodate visitors through trails, parking lots, restrooms, kiosks, benches, signage, and observation structures. The need for public improvements varies from site to site and not all of these improvements are needed at each site open to the public. Fencing may be needed regardless of whether a site is open to the public or not. Although all 43 natural areas will eventually be open to the public, not all areas within a particular natural area are accessible to the public. Public improvements have potential impacts on wildlife and native plant communities. Natural Areas Department staff evaluates potential impacts from trails, parking lots, and other public improvements during planning, design, and construction phases. Trails and other public improvements may be restricted or even absent in a particular area of a site to protect sensitive wildlife species, rare plant communities, archeological resources, historical structures, or fragile geologic features. Public improvements are planned in accordance with individual site management plans, site restoration plans, or determined among natural areas work groups for smaller projects. Trails Trails on natural areas provide directed routes for recreation, reducing the impact to other portions of the sites and, thus, the overall impacts to wildlife populations and native plant communities. Proper trail placement helps avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive habitats and features, while increasing trail sustainability and reducing maintenance and need for weather-related trail closures. The Natural Areas Department provides “natural surface” trails comprised primarily of native material found on the site. Sometimes, gravel, recycled asphalt, dirt, or crusher fi nes are imported into the site to provide a more sustainable surface. Wooden (or recycled plastic lumber) footbridges and boardwalks are built where necessary to alleviate drainage issues. Over 100 miles of natural surface trails have been built on City natural areas and an additional 3.5 miles of concrete trails in areas where use levels City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 67 Parking Lots Parking lots at natural areas are primarily constructed for the convenience of the public, but they also help to reduce site impacts. Parking lots are designed to meet the specifi c needs of each site and to minimize the physical and visual impact to the site. Currently, the Natural Areas Department maintains 29 parking lots, varying in size from fi ve-car to 50-car lots. Only a few of the urban lots are paved (asphalt). Most lots are gravel for permeability of water and to blend-in with the natural landscape. Amenities at the newer parking lots typically include vault toilets, informational kiosks, bike racks, and concrete handicapped spaces. Some smaller, older lots do not have all these amenities. Vault toilets cannot be constructed in the 100-year fl oodplain, which has restricted their installation on some sites along the Poudre River. Kiosks help orient the visitor to the site, provide educational information, provide a place to post City notices related to natural areas, display regulatory information, and provide additional information as needed. Picnic Tables and Benches Over the last ten years, picnic amenities have increased within the natural areas system. As of 2014, ten natural areas have picnic shelters and/ or picnic tables. Only one site—Gateway Natural Area—has shelters that can be reserved, with a fee, for site-compatible events. Benches provide a comfortable viewing and resting spot for visitors and help to limit off-trail impacts. Older benches, constructed from lumber or recycled plastic lumber, are being gradually replaced by stone benches. The stone benches last longer and are more resistant to graffi ti. Fishing and Wildlife Observation Structures Fishing and wildlife observation structures help to reduce impacts to natural areas by providing a convenient, practical place to fi sh or watch wildlife. These structures often provide access for site visitors who are less mobile, including those who use wheelchairs. Fishing piers are especially useful in reducing bank erosion around popular fi shing ponds. Restoration work on old gravel ponds along the Poudre River provide good opportunities for the creation of gravel fi shing “pods” along the bank. Signage Signs on natural areas identify sites, mark boundaries, inform the public of restricted use and regulations, mark trails, and provide user safety information. Staff is conscious of the need to limit signage because it can be a source of “visual pollution,” impacting the users’ experience in nature. Fencing Fencing the perimeter of natural areas is often needed to prevent illegal access by vehicles, 68 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 and wintering corridor for bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, and other raptors. Whenever feasible, wire fencing is removed and replaced with wood fencing where illegal access problems create a need for fencing. Previously, the signature fencing style in natural areas was the buck-and-rail style, popular for its “western” look. However, over the last ten years, the Natural Areas Department has shifted toward using single-rail fencing, which is less obtrusive on the landscape. Single-rail fences are now used as the standard parking lot fence. Maintenance Ongoing maintenance of public improvements is essential for preserving wildlife habitat and native plant communities, as well as providing site visitors a high-quality, safe outdoor experience. Although some maintenance activities increase when sites are opened to the public (e.g., cleaning restrooms, regrading parking lots, and trail maintenance), other activities (e.g., site cleanup, fence repair) remain the same. Vandalism repair, such as graffi ti removal, can occur on sites open or closed to the public, but is more prevalent when public improvement structures and interpretive features are present. With over 100 miles of trail, keeping up with trail maintenance can be diffi cult. Volunteers help crews maintain the trails from spring through fall. In addition, Public Improvements Crews now include a dedicated seasonal trails crew for the summer months. In 2013, the Natural Areas Department actively maintained or improved 25% of the trail system. About 80% of the trails were in good condition by the end of the year and only 1% in poor condition. Our goal during the next ten years is to continue to improve maintenance so that 85% of the trails are in good condition and 0% in poor condition at the end of each year. Whether trails, parking lots, kiosks, fences, or another type of public improvement, repairs can be quite unexpected due to a weather event or vandalism. A major weather event, such as fl ooding that occurred in September 2013, puts additional and unexpected strains on material and labor budgets for the Public Improvements Work Group. With global climate change, extreme weather events will likely increase and could impact the Natural Areas Department’s ability to accommodate the public’s desire for well- maintained recreational amenities. Future Improvements While most new improvements over the next ten years will be associated with future acquisitions, the City does have plans for improving access on several existing natural areas. New parking lots and associated amenities are expected to be built at: • Arapaho Bend (replaces smaller lot) • North Shields Bridge (new lot to provide City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 69 In addition, concrete trails constructed by Park Planning and Development in the next few years are expected to be built on: • Redtail Grove (west to Fossil Creek Drive) • Arapaho Bend (east to I-25; north to Horsetooth) • Fossil Creek Wetlands (south of Trilby and west of railroad tracks) • Hazaleus (south to Trilby) • Colina Mariposa (Trilby to Long View Farm Open Space) CULTURAL RESOURCES Northern Colorado has a rich history of human occupation and use of the landscape. As such, many natural areas conserved by the City contain evidence of Paleo-Indian artifacts, remnants of pioneer homesteading, historic buildings from ranching and farming operations, and remnants of signifi cant industries from the early 1900s. The Natural Areas Department’s primary mission is to conserve natural resource values. However, the Department recognizes the value of cultural and historic resources and the connection between people and landscapes. As such, the Department strives to protect these nonreplaceable resources for future generations to learn from and enjoy. Furthermore, the Department will continue to focus education and outreach efforts around the human connection to landscapes and the critical connection between healthy natural systems and healthy communities. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES Archaeological resources are found throughout the natural areas system and are generally described as material remains of human activities that are at least 100 years of age and capable of providing understandings of past human behavior and cultural adaptation. Generally, remains are physical evidence of human habitation, use, or activity. Survey efforts have revealed archaeological sites on many of the City natural areas, both urban and regional. The best known site is the Lindenmeier Site, a National Historic Landmark located within Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. The Lindenmeier Site is the largest Folsom-era campsite known in the world. All sites, from single points or tools to larger campsites, are protected by City Code and state law. Removal of artifacts is unlawful unless done so under permit by the Colorado State Historical Society and by a qualifi ed professional. When archaeological artifacts are discovered, the Natural Areas Department’s preferred approach is to leave the item in place. The Department consults with Colorado State University and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery to document the site and make the fi nal determination if the artifact is to remain in place. In general, known sites will not be excavated unless damage to the site is expected 70 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Museum of Discovery and other professional archaeologists to understand the merits of the requests. As a natural resource conservation organization, the continued conservation and interpretation of cultural resources is the primary focus of management efforts and can often be done so without any additional excavation. Surveys are required when surface disturbance will occur and excavation may be necessary to remove artifacts. In all cases, artifacts removed from City property will be housed at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Public interest in archaeological resources is high and few opportunities exist for the public to volunteer or participate in resource survey efforts. The Department will continue to partner with Colorado State University’s Center for Mountain to Plains Archaeology to identify outreach and volunteer opportunities. Possible projects include: • Volunteer participation in site surveys. • Volunteer participation in excavations. • Establishment of a “permanent” excavation at a select site and use for public education. The project would be in partnership with other entities and protected with a building or similar structure to prevent access. HISTORIC RESOURCES Historic resources on natural areas are generally structures and buildings related to farming, ranching, or industry. The City’s Historic Preservation Department is consulted on a regular basis for newly acquired sites with buildings. The offi ce is also contacted when any potentially signifi cant structure is encountered during site maintenance activities. The Department will focus its historic restoration efforts on a few select building sites and features that provide an opportunity for public access and education and that represent signifi cant historic value to the City. Sites to date include the Nix Farm Facility and Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Both sites represent well-preserved and fairly complete farm and ranch facilities. Future sites for restoration activities may include F.E. Warren Ranch headquarters on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. The Great Western Sugar Beet Factory Flume on Kingfi sher Point, currently being considered for National Register of Historic Places designation, may possibly also have a future reuse as a pedestrian bridge if the design can adequately preserve the historic character of the structure. The “A” on the hillside of Maxwell Natural Area, another National Register historic feature, is maintained by Colorado State University as stipulated in the easement established before City ownership of the land. Additional sites will be considered based on criteria and funding. Typically, funding for these efforts will use outside sources, such as State Historic Grant funds, in combination with Natural City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 71 to avoid impacts associated with maintenance activities and public use, but over time, features will eventually degrade and blend into the landscape. An example of this includes the remains of the brick factory operations, which date from the early 1900s to late 1940s, on Redtail Grove and Cathy Fromme Prairie natural areas. Another example is the Strauss Cabin located within Arapaho Bend Natural Area. However, interpretation for both sites is planned for the future. On occasion, a historic structure will be reused for another purpose such as the White Pine Fire Lookout cab on Running Deer Natural Area. The fi re lookout tower was in service until 1967 on West White Pine Mountain, about 35 miles west of Fort Collins. In 1978, the U.S. Forest Service had the fi re lookout cab moved by helicopter to Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins. In the mid- 1990s, it was moved to Colorado State University’s Environmental Learning Center, and fi nally, in 2011 it was moved again to Running Deer Natural Area where Natural Areas Department staff and volunteers refurbished the cab for use as a viewing structure. While quite a bit of historic integrity was lost when the cab was moved off the original site, interpretation of the structure’s history provides a visitor amenity on Running Deer Natural Area. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES Since 1995, the Natural Areas Department has been required to incorporate art into capital construction projects over $250,000 on natural areas. The Department has also been the recipient of art projects required for adjacent capital road improvements. The City of Fort Collins has successfully worked with artists to incorporate natural and cultural history into natural areas facilities. Art can be an asset to a natural area in a variety of ways, including providing unique opportunities for site interpretation and reducing future maintenance costs of structures. Currently, a dozen art-in-public places projects are located on natural areas and four projects grace the Nix Farm and Primrose Studio facilities. Art can help to “soften” concrete structures on natural areas and can help prevent graffi ti. Graffi ti artists seem to respect other artists, as evidence of the widespread utility box art within Fort Collins. Modern art is particularly useful in interpretation or simply highlighting the cultural history of a natural area. For example, both historic and prehistoric people are showcased through several of the art pieces incorporated into structures for modern recreational and educational use on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Art-in-Public Places Artist Joe McGrane’s “Ghost Kitchen” on Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) White Pine Fire Lookout Cab on Running Deer Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) 72 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 AGRICULTURE The protection of agricultural land became more of a priority for the City in its 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan. Agricultural lands worth conserving were identifi ed in all three focus areas: local, community separators, and regional. In 2011, the Natural Areas Department adopted an Agriculture Position and Policy Statement. The intent of this document was to clarify the value of agriculture to the Department; to articulate the role of the Department in acquiring, operating, and maintaining valued agricultural lands; and to defi ne policies with respect to appropriate agricultural production and uses on natural areas managed by the Department. In the past few years, the City as a whole has started looking at more ways to support urban agriculture and local food production for sustainability and human health. Agricultural production on appropriate natural areas can be a benefi cial use for the community when conducted in a sustainable manner. Agriculture can benefi t the community when utilized as a vegetation management tool (e.g., grazing, haying) as well as a land use (e.g., traditional farm, urban farm, pasture). As a management tool, agricultural practices can help managers achieve desired resource goals such as controlling invasive plants or helping manage habitat for grassland wildlife species. As a land use, agriculture serves to provide a local food base, contributes to the local economy, helps minimize urban sprawl, and provides a community connection to the rural culture. In addition, agriculture is an important historical land use and is an integral component to the local history of Fort Collins and Larimer County. Preservation and interpretation of this important and declining land use is a benefi t to the community from a historical context. Whether as a land management tool or a land use, agriculture can provide both ecological benefi ts and community benefi ts. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS Several options for operation of properties that have agricultural values and that are owned in fee simple by the City may be used independently or in conjunction with each other. Restore Land in Agricultural Crop Production to Native Vegetation Communities Enhancing lands with existing or potential natural features typically involves restoring these lands to native vegetation, which may then benefi t from agricultural practices (e.g., grazing or haying). Prescription Grazing Prescriptive grazing techniques can be used to mimic natural ecological processes. Situated on the western edge of the shortgrass prairie and deep within the rain-shadow effects of the Rocky Mountains, the open lands around Fort Collins City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 73 to cause signifi cant negative effects, including vegetation loss or vegetation community change; soil compaction and erosion; riparian area overuse and degradation, including bank destabilization and woody vegetation loss; and destruction of biological soil crusts. Thus, it is extremely important to properly manage grazing. Mowing and Haying Mowing and haying grasslands mimic the grazing process, thus removing plant biomass and stimulating grassland vigor. This plant material often needs to be removed by raking and burning so that litter does not accumulate. Although these techniques cannot provide all of the ecological benefi ts associated with carefully managed grazing, mowing and haying can replicate some of the aspects of vegetation removal and may be more logistically feasible than grazing on some properties. Partner with a Third Party to Perform Agricultural Activities The City recognizes the potential benefi ts from agricultural practices and uses, but it is not the Department’s intent to solely bear the fi nancial burden of agricultural infrastructure (specialized farm equipment, livestock costs, etc.). The Department can, under certain circumstances, benefi t fi nancially and/or gain ecological benefi ts from partnering with third-party producers (lessees) to provide food and/or fi ber for the community. These partnerships can also accomplish social goals such as local employment. Examples include haying or grazing as a vegetation management tool, growing local produce that benefi ts the local food bank, or other mutually benefi cial activities. In all partnerships, the City will ensure that agricultural activities incorporate best management practices and demonstrate ecologically centered agricultural practices. ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND MINERALS EXTRACTION The Natural Areas Department owns and manages roughly 35,000 acres in Larimer County. In addition, the Department is responsible for monitoring the stewardship on another 17,000 acres of conservation easements. All of the properties are subject to impacts from a variety of energy development including oil and gas exploration, wind and solar development and associated electric transmission lines, and sand and gravel mining. While gravel mining has occurred on natural areas since the beginning of the program, renewable energy development and oil and gas exploration and production are relatively new issues that have emerged in the last ten years. They are likely to continue into the foreseeable future. RENEWABLE ENERGY The City supports the exploration and 74 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 MINERAL RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT The majority of lands owned by the Natural Areas Department are considered “split estate,” meaning that the surface estate is owned by the City and underlying minerals are owned by separate entities. Current state law allows mineral owners access to their mineral estate. How access is granted is a negotiated agreement between the surface owner and mineral owner. In 2010, the City was approached by mineral owners interested in developing the mineral estate underlying portions of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. In response, the City worked with the mineral owners to better understand and address this possibility and ultimately these efforts lead to the Mountains to Plains Energy by Design (EBD) planning process between the City; Larimer County; The Nature Conservancy; and the Colorado State Land Board, which is the owner of a signifi cant mineral estate underlying Soapstone Prairie (The Nature Conservancy 2013). Essentially, the EBD process is designed to bring together all of the parties-in-interest, including surface owners, mineral rights owners and lessees, and local experts and stakeholders in order to develop a common understanding of natural, cultural, scenic, agricultural, and recreational resources. Once those resources have been carefully identifi ed and understood, the participants design an approach to minerals exploration and production activities intended to direct surface activities away from critical resources (such as wetlands, rare species, nesting bird habitat, viewshed corridors, and cultural sites). Additionally, the approach entails a “no net loss” strategy that requires the mining companies to protect habitat of equal value or restore habitat to equal value. This can be accomplished through on-site or off-site mitigation (including land and water conservation). If energy development is to occur within City natural areas or other conserved properties, a process similar to EBD will occur to understand how to best avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts on natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational values of the site. The Natural Areas Department does own the mineral estate underlying some properties. Requests for leasing the minerals for development will be denied in most cases. However, the Department may use the opportunity to explore pooling agreements to access the mineral estate from inevitable off-site development to generate income. Second, the Department will work to leverage the value of the mineral estate to avoid, minimize, and mitigate resource impacts from the off-site development. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area represents a unique situation where the Department is working with City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 75 In 2001, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas and Open Lands Easement Policy was adopted to establish the practices and procedures used to grant requests for utility easements or rights-of-way on City natural areas and other open lands managed by the Natural Areas Department. This policy served as the guidance document for negotiating and granting easements and rights-of-way until 2013, when an update to the policy was adopted by City Council to include more contemporary issues and evolve a compensation model to include impacts to ecosystems by construction projects. The policy applies to requests for new easements or rights-of-way and to projects within existing easements, as appropriate, which provide for a wide variety of purposes, including streets, water, sewer, drainage, fl ood control, electric power, wind generation, solar generation, pipelines, telecommunications facilities, and oil, gas, and minerals exploration. The policy applies to projects of the City and to those proposed by other public entities, such as special Utility Districts, and private parties. The policy does not apply to trails, parking lots, interpretive features, or other facilities that are proposed as part of the management of public natural areas. APPLICABILITY The Natural Areas Department administers existing and new requests for easements or rights-of-way on owned and/or managed properties, as well properties where the City holds a conservation easement. Because these lands were acquired by the City for the specifi c purpose of protecting natural areas and other conserved lands, the general policy regarding easements and rights- of-way on natural areas properties is that any application should be considered in that context and approval should only be given if impacts are minimized or eliminated, and the project cannot reasonably be relocated to another property (City of Fort Collins 2012). ALTERNATIVES AND REGULATORY CONSISTENCY Applicants for easements or rights-of-way are typically required to conduct an alternative route analysis to seek out other alignments besides crossing a natural area, and must demonstrate why it is not economically or structurally feasibly to do so. A summary of the alternative analysis is presented to the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board and City Council as part of the approval process. Additionally, applicants must show that their project is consistent with applicable regulatory guidance, City Plan Fort Collins (City of Fort Collins 2011a), site-specifi c natural areas management plans, and the Natural Areas Master Plan. Applicants must also show that they have coordinated with other utility providers with 76 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 RESOURCE PROTECTION, COMPENSATION, AND MITIGATION Applicants are required to adhere to a comprehensive list of Resource Protection Standards to help ensure that the project will be completed in a high- quality manner and ensure that impacts to wildlife, vegetation, water courses, and other sensitive natural systems are kept to a minimum. The City is compensated for the value of the easement or right-of-way across the property, typically in cash compensation, but in-kind compensation can be mutually advantageous as well. The applicant is billed for the City staff time spent working on their request, and a mitigation value is also calculated to offset impacts of the project to natural systems, which can also be in cash or in-kind. Mitigation requirements are calculated using a model created for the Trust for Public Land that values different types of land cover types based on the natural goods and services they provide to the ecosystem (Sargent-Michaud 2010). For example, wetlands are excellent at fi ltering pollutants in stormwater, which saves the costs of treating that water in a treatment plant. In this model, a per acre value is placed on each major land cover type. Staff calculate the impact to the respective land cover types for the period of time before the system is completely restored, typically ten years. The applicant must then create an on- or off-site mitigation plan (at staff’s discretion) to help offset project impacts. Restoration of the affected land to its original condition is also required for release of the project. REVIEW PROCESS Applicants requesting an easement on a City- owned natural area or conserved land are required to arrange for a public meeting at which information regarding the proposed easement and related project will be provided, and at which questions regarding the easement and related project will be taken. The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board then review the easement proposal and makes a recommendation in its advisory role to the City Council. Finally, since an easement or right-of-way conveys a property right, Council must approve the easement by ordinance. Once a utility easement or right-of-way is approved, Natural Areas Department staff monitor the construction, restoration, and mitigation of the project and work with the easement or right-of-way holder to ensure that all project requirements and restrictions are adhered to before a release of the project is approved. The Natural Areas Department will continue to use GIS technology to map easements and rights-of-way on its properties, try to vacate abandoned easements and rights-of-way, and work with existing easement and right-of-way owners to update agreements when opportunities arise to include more contemporary easement City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 77 conservation easements or the Certifi ed Natural Areas Program. CONSERVATION EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP A perennial issue that arises in the ongoing stewardship of conservation easement properties is that of landowners being willing, but unable, to enhance the conservation values of the site. For example, while not required by the conservation easement deed, replacing an existing stretch of fi ve-strand barbed wire fencing with wildlife friendly fencing would allow better movement of wildlife through an important travel corridor. The landowner may be willing to make the change, but might not be able to afford efforts like this not directly tied to the economic viability of their operation. In the past, City staff would recommend the changes but not be able to partner on making improvements. Recognizing that the City has a vested and perpetual interest in the best management of these easement properties, moving forward the Natural Areas Department will consider establishing a competitive grant process to work more pro-actively with landowners on enhancement projects. Such projects could include wildlife friendly fencing, native grass and shrub plantings, and noxious weed management resources. These grants, funded by the City, would provide the landowner with cost sharing, planning resources, facilitation of other grant funding sources, and other resources needed to complete the enhancement project. NATURAL AREAS ENHANCEMENT FUND The Natural Areas Department encourages site management practices that focus on protecting, restoring, and enhancing native animal and plant communities on private lands certifi ed by the City as a natural area. City staff provides assistance in the planning of site management through the certifi cation process. The Natural Areas Enhancement Fund was created to provide monetary assistance in the implementation of management plans on private properties. Typically, fi ve to nine applicants receive funding from the $15,000 available each year to plant native plants, restore native grasslands, or remove exotic shrubs. Since its inception in 1994, the Fund has provided over $262,000 for enhancement of 65 sites. Thirty- two homeowner associations, fi ve neighborhood groups, seven private landowners, eleven schools from elementary to college, and two businesses have been among the recipients over the last 19 years. FACILITY OPERATIONS The Natural Areas Facility Operations staff is responsible for the maintenance of buildings that support the Department’s staff and programs. Natural Areas Department building needs are met through natural areas dedicated tax revenues and are not funded by the City’s General Funds through 78 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 renovated 1920s-era home provides offi ces and meeting space, while the early 1900s-era barn and loafi ng sheds provide room for equipment and materials storage. The maintenance shop, constructed in 2002, provides crew work space and secure equipment, tool, and vehicle storage. Also on the property is small late-1800s-era house, currently used for educational materials storage and has not been remodeled yet. Nix Farm Facility provides a central location for Natural Areas Department staff and operations, conveniently located near major roads that provide effi cient access to local natural areas. The Nix Farm is adjacent to over 1,000 acres of protected natural areas along the Poudre River. Designated as a local Historic District by the Fort Collins Landmark Preservation Commission in 2001, both the historic barn and small house have received State of Colorado Historic Preservation Funds to stabilize and protect the structures. Unfortunately, the renovated historic home was not large enough to accommodate offi ces for all Natural Areas Department staff, even in 2002. Thus, a second offi ce building at Nix Farm was constructed in early 2014. Management staff from 215 North Mason moved to the new building, as well as Education staff from the overcrowded historic Nix Farm house. The Department may need to add another offi ce building at some time in the future. However, enlarging the shop and improvements to the interior of the small house will likely be higher priorities for the next ten years. PRIMROSE STUDIO In 2001, the late Rob and Dorothy Udall, advocates for conservation and social work, donated their home, art studio, and about 26 acres of surrounding land to the Natural Areas Department. The Udall’s wish was that the land be conserved as part of the adjacent Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and that the studio be available for groups to use, in particular nonprofi t groups. The remodeled Primrose Studio opened for public rental in November 2007. The studio’s unique design is inspired by the spectacular setting and Dorothy Udall’s art, some of which is displayed at Primrose Studio. Artist Barb McKee of Surface Strategies, Inc., painted images of native grasses from Dorothy’s compositions on the face of several doors and cabinets as part of the City’s Art in Public Places Program. A building attendant for the Primrose Studio rents the Udall’s former home on the property. The attendant orients each rental group and is available should an issue arise during the rental. Over the last fi ve years, the studio has been rented for up to 140 days per year with May and August being the most heavily rented months. Nonprofi t and government rates are reduced by half compared City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 79 River Canyon land surrounding the site for water resources. The historic water treatment facility on the site dates back to 1903 when the fi rst sediment removal basins were constructed. The site was opened for public recreational use in the late 1930s but then closed by the late 1970s. The City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Department opened the Gateway Mountain Park site again to the public in 2002. In 2007, the Natural Areas Department took over management of Gateway Mountain Park and renamed it Gateway Natural Area. Two homes on the property, built in the 1970s, were retained for on-site ranger use. One is rented to the ranger as a residence, and the other is used for the ranger offi ce and shop. In the last few years, a room in the offi ce building has also been rented to a seasonal employee who helps the ranger manage the site. Although the Gateway Facility buildings have required routine maintenance and minor improvements (e.g., energy conservation features) over the last six years, no extensive new improvements or additions are expected to be needed over the next ten years. The Water Utility owns and manages the historic water treatment building, which is not open to the public. BOBCAT RIDGE ON-SITE RANGER In 2003, the City purchased the fi rst parcel of Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, which now encompasses 2,600 acres west of Masonville. The site was opened to the public in 2006. Shortly after opening, the Department began remodeling the historic (late 1890s) portion of the ranch home into a ranger offi ce and removed the late-1940s addition to accommodate the addition of a ranger residence. A new garage and small attached shop was also built. A 1940s calving shed, hay pole barn, and corrals were retained for their historic value. No extensive new improvements or additions are expected over the next ten years. Four historic structures to the east of the ranch house are being restored with funds provided by the History Colorado – Colorado Historic Fund and the D.R. Pulliam Family Charitable Trust (former owners of the property). Restoration of the 1888 chicken house and pioneer barn was completed in 2013. Restoration of the cinder block turkey house and metal equipment shed will start in 2014. Only the equipment shed is currently being used for storage. FOSSIL CREEK RESERVOIR FACILITY Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space was opened to the public in 2004 by the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources. The site, jointly acquired and developed by the City and Larimer County, includes a small building with public restrooms, ranger offi ces, and a single- bay maintenance garage. In 2010, the City started managing the site, in accordance with the terms of 80 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 garage may be for a satellite City Ranger Offi ce or perhaps a small education center. SOAPSTONE PRAIRIE FACILITY The Soapstone Prairie Facility consists of an older 1960s-era cabin in usable condition for a fi eld offi ce and a newer (2012) pole barn garage/ maintenance shop. These two buildings support the Natural Areas technician and seasonal staff assigned to the 22,000-plus acres of Soapstone Prairie from March through November each year. No additional structures are expected to be added to the facility over the next ten years; however, solar power may be added to the garage, which currently relies on a gas generator. A 1960s-era house and several older outbuildings exist on the eastern boundary of the property and are currently used to house a ranch manager employed by the current grazing tenant. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY The Natural Areas Department is committed to environmental sustainability through pollution prevention practices, recycling, waste management, energy and water conservation, and the implementation of best management practices. Protection of natural habitats and features is at the core of the Natural Areas Department mission; however, improving all aspects of environmental performance is a core value of the City organization. Although the Department currently has no certifi ed environmental management system in place, pollution prevention practices, along with environmental management processes and standards have been established. The Department’s commitment to reducing its negative impacts on the environment is bolstered by the City of Fort Collins overarching position on sustainability. In 2004, City staff developed the visionary Action Plan for Sustainability (City of Fort Collins 2004a). This plan provides recommended policy, goals, and targets for advancing sustainability within City operations with a unifi ed, cross-departmental approach. The following policy statement was developed from the Action Plan: The City of Fort Collins will serve as a community leader in sustainability by conducting daily operations and through balanced stewardship of human, fi nancial, and environmental resources for present and future generations. The Natural Areas Department will continue to embrace the City’s overall environmental policies by reducing our operational environmental impacts. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES The Natural Areas Department pursues the implementation of best management practices that act to reduce the impact of operations on the environment. These practices include pollution prevention, solid waste diversion and recycling, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 81 to improvements with fuel storage, chemical management, and recycling efforts. Every year new opportunities are identifi ed and implemented. These assessments are meant to review facility and fi eld processes and determine if any of those processes require additional management or if there are additional opportunities for improvement. Waste Management and Recycling The Natural Areas Department strongly emphasizes the practice of recycling and waste management. As the City of Fort Collins moves toward reducing its overall waste, the Department continues to be an early adopter of efforts to recycle offi ce materials (cardboard, paper, electronics, green waste, plastics, and organics), as well as metal and harder-to-recycle materials such as pesticide containers. In 2013, the Natural Areas Department recycled the following: • 27,588 pounds of metal • 64 cubic yards of comingled papers, plastics, and cardboard • 107 signs and 52 pieces of Telespar signposts • 139.6 tons of old concrete and pavers • 832.5 cubic yards of organic material (branches, grass, chipped trees, tree stumps) • Additional items such herbicide containers and electronics, batteries, furniture, and tires abandoned on natural areas Energy Conservation In 2012, the Natural Areas Department installed solar panels atop the Nix Farm Maintenance Shop in an ongoing effort to reduce the carbon emissions associated with coal-derived power. The solar panels have resulted in a 25% reduction in electrical use from the power grid. The Natural Areas Department has tracked fuel consumption since 2011. The Department is committed to reducing its fuel use through an informal program of communicating fuel use (a year-to-date comparison), the presentation of fuel reduction driving techniques, and an emphasis on making responsible vehicle choices. For example, predefi ned routes are used in order to reduce fuel use associated with refuse collection and restroom cleaning on natural areas. Water Conservation The Natural Areas Department has long been a proponent of water-wise landscaping, using native plant materials to reduce the requirements for irrigation on natural areas and at facilities. Rain sensors were installed at Nix Farm, Bobcat Ridge, and Fossil Creek Reservoir to reduce the quantity of water used for landscape irrigation, resulting in an annual water reduction of 25%–50% per site. Pesticide Use Natural areas fi eld technician training for use of pesticides exceeds state and federal standards. Additionally, the Natural Areas Department 82 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 The Department recognizes the risks associated with the application of herbicides for weed control; thus, it uses an integrated pest management approach that emphasizes competitive plantings, prescribed fi re, and biological controls, where appropriate. Staff tries to mitigate neighbor confl icts with prairie dogs through public education; early intervention; and, when necessary, the use of rodenticides that cause the least possible environmental impact. NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION The Natural Areas Department has just completed a new offi ce building at the Nix Farm Facility, adjacent to the existing offi ce building and operations shop. The building was constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Standards; however, the building was not actually certifi ed, partly because its size is under the City’s 5,000-square-foot threshold. The building is heated and cooled by heat pumps using geothermal energy from four 500-foot-deep geothermal wells; the building envelope is extremely air tight and well insulated; windows are designed for passive solar heat gain in the winter and shading in the summer; and photovoltaic solar panels provide a portion of the electrical needs for the building. Solar tubes have been installed on the second fl oor to use natural lighting throughout the year. FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT While the full benefi ts of implementing a formal environmental management system are understood by the Natural Areas Department, the current operations of the Department do not require implementation of a certifi ed system at this time. Certain standards of certifi ed systems, such as the new LEED-standard building, might be adopted or used as examples for future building improvements. Native prickly poppy on Pineridge Natural Area (Photo by Zoë Whyman) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 83 LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND Over the last ten years, the City of Fort Collins has tripled the acreage of conserved land, substantially increased education and volunteer efforts, tackled monumental river and grassland restoration projects, plunged into efforts to improve river health, expanded ranger and visitor services to meet community needs, opened up a dozen new natural areas to the public, doubled the miles of natural surface trails, protected regional and even globally important cultural resources, raised the awareness of the need to protect local agricultural lands, stepped up environmental sustainability efforts, and greatly improved numerous other aspects of land stewardship. Looking ahead, while the City will continue to make land conservation a high priority, a greater amount of revenues now needs to be placed on land stewardship simply because there is so much more land to care for. At this time, the Natural Areas Department spends about 60% of its overall revenues on stewardship activities and 40% on land and water conservation. As even before the beginning of the Natural Areas Program over 20 years ago, the Cache la Poudre River will remain a high priority for the City, with more emphasis on protecting and restoring the ecological functions to help ensure that this working river continues to provide outstanding wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and fl ood protection for the Fort Collins community. While the Natural Areas Department, along with other Front Range conservation agencies, will likely face some major challenges over the next decade and beyond, the Department looks forward to the many outstanding opportunities to advance conservation for the Fort Collins community. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The tremendous progress toward conservation and stewardship of natural areas in Fort Collins could not have been made without the support of the community and numerous partners within and outside of City government, as noted throughout this Master Plan. Moving forward, these partnerships will continue to be extremely important over the next ten years to meet future City priorities. A few examples of key opportunities for the Natural Areas Department include: Geese in migration (Photo by Norm Keally) 84 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 FUNDING • Partner with other City departments, government agencies, nonprofi t organizations, and private individuals and companies to leverage fi nancial resources. • Seek grants from agencies such as Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency, History Colorado, Colorado Water Conservation Board, among others to supplement revenues. STEWARDSHIP • Implement habitat management activities in partnership with fee owners of conserved lands and/or other public lands to increase regional biological diversity and species richness. • Collaborate with other City departments, water users, and nonprofi t organizations on broad watershed issues to help protect and improve water quality, water quantity, and overall health of the Poudre River ecosystem. RESEARCH • Pursue opportunities with college students and professionals to conduct research on important topics, including climate change, site inventories, management techniques, ecological values, and recreational use, which will benefi t future management of natural areas. PRIORITIES The Natural Areas Department looks forward to the next ten years with enthusiasm for continuing land conservation and stewardship efforts to meet the needs of the Fort Collins community. Priorities emerging out of this Master Plan portray the dedication to not only natural resource protection, but efforts to restore ecosystem functions, enhance recreational experiences, expand community outreach, and maintain visitor safety. Agriculture lands, cultural resources, and environmental sustainability are recognized as valuable components of the natural areas system. In all, the Department has established 35 priorities for the next ten years: LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION A fundamental guiding principle of this Master Plan is to maintain the Natural Areas Department’s core focus on biologically signifi cant lands, or lands that have the potential to contribute to biological integrity and richness. An additional principle is to acquire water in order to enhance and sustain habitat; to link it to appropriate lands (such as productive farmland); and, to satisfy Continuing the Natural Areas Success Story The Natural Areas Department will continue to: • Aspire to its vision: Through the work of the Natural Areas Department, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 85 water rights administrative obligations. Based on these principles and the focus areas and in order of priority the Department will conserve: • Lands within the local focus areas particularly the Poudre River, the Bellvue area, and adjoining foothills. • Agricultural land in the Wellington Separator. • Regional lands as opportunities and funding permit. THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER • Help convene, and collaborate with, City departments, water users, and nonprofi t organizations on broad watershed issues to further protect and improve water quality, water quantity, and overall health of the Poudre River ecosystem. • Work to sustain and improve water fl ows to boost ecologic function of the Poudre and other important streams. • Implement restoration projects that connect the river to its fl oodplain, create abundant wildlife habitat, improve aesthetics, and provide recreational opportunities. • Develop and implement comprehensive water augmentation and water supply plans to address water administration needs for consumptive and non-consumptive water use. EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATION • Use diverse and creative strategies to connect people to nature. • Ensure offerings engage and refl ect the demographics and diversity of the entire community. • Meet the community’s expectation to give back to the places they love by expanding opportunities for service learning and other volunteer involvement. Gateway Natural Play Area (Photo by Jen Shanahan) Poudre River (Photo by Norm Keally) Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) 86 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • Substantially complete grassland restoration in southwest Fort Collins and foothills natural areas. • Reintroduce endangered or threatened native wildlife into suitable landscapes including the black-footed ferret and bison to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. • Aspire to create “Wilderness in the City” – places that feel wild and remote and exceed traditional expectations for urban natural areas. RANGER AND VISITOR SERVICES • Maintain high quality customer service, as measured by Citizen Survey reports. • Conduct daily patrols of natural areas and trails to provide visitor safety, assistance and education while protecting natural and cultural resource values. • Collaborate with Social Sustainability Department and Police Services to resolve homeless issues. • Monitor visitor use and capacity and seek out techniques to resolve multiuse confl icts. RECREATION, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, FACILITIES • Construct improvements to open sites in the natural areas network not yet open to the public and collaborate with other agencies and City departments to improve access to the Poudre River. • Use innovative design and management techniques to adapt to changing environmental and recreational conditions while not exceeding visitor use carrying capacity of each site. • Maintain a natural surface trail system that supports a variety of recreational experiences, while minimizing user confl icts and negative impacts on conservation values, and improve trail sustainability and connectivity. • Expand the spectrum of recreational opportunities compatible with the Natural Areas Department mission, such as sport and family-friendly fi shing, areas for solitude, off- trail nature exploration, natural play areas for children, and limited hunting opportunities. • Proactively maintain all staff facilities to reduce future repair costs, expand Nix Farm Facility shop and remodel small historic house to meet anticipated operational needs, and make energy and safety improvements to all facilities. Anheuser-Busch volunteers planting shrubs on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Snapping turtle on Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 87 CULTURAL RESOURCES • Seek to utilize non-departmental resources, including grants, to conserve and restore cultural resources. • Develop policies to guide the Department in funding and managing cultural resources. • Pursue state or federal historic designation for noteworthy structures, such as the Warren Ranch buildings on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. LOCAL AGRICULTURE • Conserve working agricultural lands with prime soils and water, including lands that can be used for local food production, typically through conservation easement acquisitions. • Pursue both resource conservation and agricultural activities on conserved working farms and ranches. • Utilize appropriate agriculture-based management activities such as haying and grazing as a tool to aid in restoration and to help replace lost or impacted ecological processes. MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY • Prepare or update management plans and agreements for all natural area sites. • Document mineral ownership and develop a minerals extraction policy that helps to avoid, minimize, or mitigate negative impacts on natural areas from energy development. Investigate opportunities for mineral purchase or lease arrangements that benefi t the Department’s conservation. • Infl uence utility easements and rights-of- way projects on natural areas to minimize impacts and maximize mitigation efforts to achieve Department goals, update agreements to contemporary standards, and vacate abandoned rights-of-ways. • Support the City’s Planning Department’s efforts to protect natural resources through the development review process. • Support the City Planning Department’s Nature in the City effort, a long-range planning program to ensure all residents have access to nature close to where they live and work. • Manage the perpetual stewardship responsibilities for City-held conservation easements using best management practices (BMPs) and establish an enhancement grant program for conservation easement landowners. • Expand internal Facility Operations Pollution Prevention Team and set targets for ongoing environmental sustainability improvements. Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Cribari II Conservation Easement (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) 88 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 CHALLENGES Although it is impossible to predict all the challenges that the Natural Areas Department will face over the next decade, the top three challenges that emerge throughout this Master Plan are: 1. Financial—if Larimer County’s “Help Preserve Open Space” ¼–cent sales tax would not be extended beyond the 2018 sunset. This sales tax provides approximately one-third of the Department’s revenues. Larimer County Commissioners have placed an extension of HPOS on the November 2014 ballot. 2. Visitor Carrying Capacity—if the number of people recreating in natural areas increases to the point of negatively impacting resources and visitor experience beyond acceptable levels. Population estimates for Colorado are projected to nearly double to between 8.6 and 10 million people by 2050 (State of Colorado 2011), with Larimer County having one of the highest populations in the State. Fort Collins alone is projected to add nearly 100,000 people by 2040 (North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization 2014). 3. Climate Change—if global climate warming and/or occurrence of extreme weather events continue to increase. A recent study conducted on behalf of Fort Collins found that by 2050 average annual temperatures are likely to increase from about 2.5 to 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit (Rocky Mountain Climate Organization 2014). The impacts of higher heat on natural resources are likely to be profound, including shifts in fl oral and faunal communities, increased fi re events, and alteration in the Cache la Poudre water temperature, fl ows, and water quality and quantity. Land conservation and restoration could play a role in mitigating some of the effects of local climate change. Clearly, Fort Collins’ natural areas will be affected by these regional and global trends of increased human populations and climate change, but with the support of the community, including the voters of Larimer County, the Natural Areas Department will continue to play an important role in meeting these challenges over the next decade and beyond. "The portion of the planet characterized as urban is on track to triple from 2000 to 2030—that is, we are already almost halfway there. Meanwhile, 17 percent of the 800 or so North American bird species are in decline, and all 20 species on the Audubon Society's list of 'common birds in decline' have lost at least half their population since 1970." Richard Conniff Urban Nature: How to Foster Biodiversity in World's Cities City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 89 REFERENCES City of Fort Collins. 2014. Poudre River Downtown Master Plan. City of Fort Collins, Park Planning, Utilities, and Natural Areas, Fort Collins, Colo. [XX pp.]. [Not fi nal yet]. http://www.fcgov.com/ poudre-downtown/. City of Fort Collins. 2013. Paved Recreational Trail Master Plan. City of Fort Collins, Park Planning and Development, Fort Collins, Colo. 19 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins. 2012. Natural Areas and Conserved Lands Easement Policy. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Department, Fort Collins, Colo. 7 pp. City of Fort Collins. 2011a. City Plan Fort Collins. City of Fort Collins, Planning Department, Fort Collins, Colo. 165 pp. + appendices City of Fort Collins. 2011b. Cache la Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Update. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 147 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins. 2010. Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Field Training Offi cer Handbook. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 46 pp. City of Fort Collins. 2008. Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures Manual. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 51 pp. City of Fort Collins. 2007a. Wildlife Management Guidelines. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 96 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins. 2007b. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 101 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins. 2004a. Action Plan for Sustainability: Policy and Recommended Strategies. City of Fort Collins, Fort Collins, Colo. 20 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins. 2004b. Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 46 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins. 1998. Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan. City of Fort Collins, Planning Department, Fort Collins, Colo. 42 pp.+ appendices. City of Fort Collins. 1992. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Policy Plan. City of Fort Collins, Natural Resources Division, Fort Collins, Colo. 98 pp. + 5 Technical Memoranda. City of Fort Collins. 1974. The Open Space Plan: An Element in the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Fort Collins. City of Fort Collins, Planning Division, Fort Collins, Colo. 27 pp. 90 References FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Colorado Conservation Trust. 2012. Colorado’s Rapidly Increasing Population: Impacts on Our Land and Water. Presentation, Spring 2012. Design Workshop. 2012. Plug in to Nature: Finding Connections to the Outdoors for Youth and Families in Larimer County. Larimer County Open Lands, Loveland, Colo. 91 pp. Ecological Response Model Team. 2014. Ecological Response Model for the Cache la Poudre River. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department, Fort Collins, Colo. [XX pp.]. [Not fi nal yet]. Kay-Linn Enterprises. 2013. Overland Mountain Bike Club Trail Vision Plan. Overland Mountain Bike Club, Fort Collins, Colo. 14 pp. Larimer County. 2013. Our Lands – Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern Colorado. Larimer County Open Lands, Loveland, Colo. 95 pp. Louv, R. 2011. The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Defi cit Disorder. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 352 pp. Louv, R. 2005. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Defi cit Disorder. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 336 pp. National Research Center. 2011. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Resident Survey Report of Results. National Research Center, Inc., Boulder, Colo. 20 pp. + appendices. North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization. 2014. Socio-Economic Forecast. [XX pp.]. [Not fi nal yet]. http://nfrmpo.org/Projects/SocioEconomic.aspx. Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. 2014. Fort Collins Extreme Heat. The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, Louisville, Colo. 14 pp. + appendices. Sargent-Michaud, J. 2010. A Return on Investment: The Economic Value of Colorado’s Conservation Easements. The Trust for Public Land, Washington D.C. 9 pp. State of Colorado. 2011. Colorado’s Water Supply Future: Colorado Water Conservation Board Statewide Water Supply Initiative 2010. Final Report. Colorado Water Conservation Board, Denver, Colo. 240 pp. The Nature Conservancy. 2013. Mountains to Plains Energy by Design Report to the Colorado State Land Board. The Nature Conservancy, Fort Collins, Colo. 53 pp. + appendices. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 A-1 APPENDIX A 2014 CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN (PENDING) Place holder for now A-2 Appendix A FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 B-1 APPENDIX B 2011 CITY PLAN PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES The following are relevant principles and policies of City Plan Fort Collins (City of Fort Collins Planning Department 2011) for economic sustainability, land conservation, and stewardship of City natural areas. PRINCIPLE ENV 2 Open lands and natural areas within Fort Collins, the Growth Management Area, and the region will be conserved, preserved, and protected to provide habitat essential to the conservation of plants, animals, and their associated ecosystems, and to benefi t the citizens of Fort Collins by providing opportunities for education, scientifi c research, nature interpretation, fi shing, wildlife observation, hiking, and other appropriate recreation activities, and protecting view-sheds. POLICY ENV 2.1 – MAINTAIN SYSTEM OF OPEN LANDS Maintain a system of publicly-owned open lands to protect the integrity of wildlife habitat and conservation sites, protect corridors between natural areas, conserve outstanding examples of Fort Collins’ diverse natural heritage, and provide a broad range of opportunities for educational, interpretive, and recreational programs to meet community needs. POLICY ENV 2.2 – OUTREACH TO THE PUBLIC Promote understanding and enjoyment of local and regional open lands through appropriate recreational activities, formal and non-formal education, and interpretive programs. POLICY ENV 2.3 – PARTNER, COLLABORATE, AND COORDINATE ON OPEN LANDS Develop effective local and regional partnerships, and collaborate and coordinate within the City, and with other public and private agencies for the protection and conservation of locally and regionally valued open lands. Also, seek the cooperation and assistance of citizens, businesses, community groups, conservation organizations, and governmental agencies in the development and implementation of programs to protect and conserve local and regional open lands. B-2 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 POLICY ENV 2.4 – INVENTORY OPEN LANDS Develop and maintain a data inventory on local and regional open lands to aid the City and the public in decisions about these areas, including management of publicly owned lands. POLICY ENV 2.5 – PROVIDE LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP Acquire, manage, maintain, and enhance public open lands and natural areas in accordance with the 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan (including the plan’s Conservation Focus Areas Map) to ensure the ongoing conservation of plants and animals in need of protection and their associated ecosystems, to support biodiversity, to control the invasion and spread of undesirable non-native plants, to improve aesthetics, and to provide opportunities for appropriate public use. POLICY ENV 2.6 – MANAGE CONFLICTS Manage confl icts between people and public open lands through site design, public information and education, habitat manipulation, and plant and animal population management techniques. POLICY ENV 2.7 – INVOLVE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC Involve citizens in planning the management of public open lands, and collect, maintain, and distribute up-to-date information about publicly owned open lands including maps, reports on the conservation values and current resource conditions, and reports on the management needs of local and regional open lands. POLICY ENV 2.8 – SEEK SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING SOURCES Seek supplemental funding sources to further implement open lands policies and programs including private, State, and Federal grants and donations of money, property, and in-kind services. POLICY ENV 2.9 – PROVIDE ACCESS Design trail routes in open lands to minimize ecological impacts, while enhancing access and recreation. Determination of type of trail or suitability for access will be made through an analysis of potential ecological impacts and recreation needs. Special attention will be given to environmentally sensitive trail design, location, and construction. PRINCIPLE ENV 3 Open lands will benefi t the City by providing a well-defi ned edge, establishing community separators, directing development, and conserving rural character. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 B-3 POLICY ENV 3.1 – UTILIZE CONSERVATION TOOLS Purchase open lands and conservation easements, and use other tools such as development regulations, transfer of development rights, and Growth Management Area planning for the purposes of defi ning and protecting community edges and establishing community separators. POLICY ENV 3.2 – PLAN FOR COMMUNITY SEPARATORS Identify strategic open lands that serve as community separators outside the Growth Management Area for either public ownership or other land conservation measures. POLICY ENV 3.3 – COORDINATE TO CREATE COMMUNITY SEPARATORS Actively work with local, regional, State, and Federal agencies, as well as private entities, to acquire open lands and conservation easements to create community separators. PRINCIPLE ENV 4 The City will pursue new opportunities to provide multifunctional open lands. POLICY ENV 4.1 – IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY Explore opportunities for land conservation partnerships between Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, Transportation and Natural Areas departments to provide and enhance trail corridors to connect open lands; to enhance wildlife habitat and corridors; and, to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to schools, parks, natural areas, rivers, shopping areas, and neighborhoods. POLICY ENV 4.2 – ENHANCE AND RESTORE STREAMS Explore opportunities for Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Areas departments to partner on acquiring and rehabilitating lands to enhance streams. POLICY ENV 4.3 – IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION Explore opportunities for Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Areas departments to partner on acquiring lands to incorporate stormwater systems that improve water quality and contribute to the ecologic functioning of urban watersheds. POLICY ENV 4.4 – PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD NATURAL AREAS Explore opportunities for Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Areas departments to partner on acquiring lands for neighborhood natural areas. B-4 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 POLICY ENV 4.6 – UTILIZE CORRIDORS Provide public access, promote wildlife movement, and link neighborhoods, parks, and activity centers, commercial centers, and streets through a network of open lands and trails along streams, drainageways, and irrigation ditch corridors, where compatible with natural habitats, utilizing environmentally sensitive trail design. PRINCIPLE ENV 5 To reduce net community energy use for new construction from conventional fossil fuel sources, the City will expand on current efforts and develop new strategies for increased energy effi ciency and use of renewable energy. POLICY ENV 5.1 – DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS Serve as a model to the community by building public facilities to a higher energy effi ciency standard than applies to other buildings (e.g., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certifi cation) and by using on-site renewable energy in new buildings and facilities where technically and economically practical. PRINCIPLE ENV 24 The City will support a healthy and resilient Cache la Poudre ecosystem and protect, enhance and restore the ecological values of the River POLICY ENV 24.1 – SUPPORT ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE Support a healthy river ecosystem that is resilient; i.e., a river ecosystem that has the capacity to persist and adapt over time in the face of natural and human-caused challenges. Protect or enhance opportunities for natural processes to drive ecosystem renewal. POLICY ENV 24.2 – CONSERVE NATURAL FEATURES Conserve and protect important natural areas and natural values within the Poudre River Corridor. This will include acquiring land for public natural areas and conservation easements to protect natural area values on privately owned lands, establishing appropriate cooperative agreements with adjacent landowners, developing and applying development regulations and design standards, and promoting public education and outreach programs and other appropriate techniques. POLICY ENV 24.4 – RESTORE AND ENHANCE Restore or enhance degraded or disturbed areas of the Poudre River Corridor to improve natural habitat conditions, biodiversity, and aesthetic and recreational values. Restoration and enhancement projects may be performed cooperatively with adjacent private landowners and volunteer community groups. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 B-5 POLICY ENV 24.5 – COORDINATE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INSTREAM FLOWS Work to quantify and provide adequate instream fl ows to maintain the ecological functionality, and recreational and scenic values of the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins. PRINCIPLE ENV 25 The City will provide enhanced recreation opportunities within the Poudre River Corridor, with an emphasis on scenic values, heritage education, and interpretation while avoiding or minimizing impacts to environmentally sensitive areas. POLICY ENV 25.1 – MINIMIZE IMPACTS Locate and design recreational features within the Poudre River Corridor in a way that avoids or minimizes impacts to natural areas, wildlife habitat, water quality, and other environmental values. PRINCIPLE ENV 27 Historic landmarks, cultural landscapes, and scenic and aesthetic qualities will be protected within the Poudre River Corridor. POLICY ENV 27.1 – PROTECT HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPES Protect historic landmarks and signifi cant cultural landscapes within the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, which extends for 45 miles and includes the lands within the River’s 100-year fl oodplain. Protection of the historic and cultural resources will be accomplished using land acquisition, local landmark designation, conservation easements, land use policies, and development and design standards. POLICY ENV 27.4 – RESTORE AND ENHANCE Restore or enhance degraded or disturbed areas of the Poudre River Corridor to improve ecological conditions, aesthetics, and recreation access. Restoration and enhancement projects may be performed cooperatively with private landowners and volunteer community groups. PRINCIPLE ENV 28 The City will encourage learning and community awareness of the Poudre River’s historic, cultural, and natural heritage through education and interpretation. POLICY ENV 28.1 – SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Support and provide historical, cultural, and environmental learning opportunities in the Poudre River Corridor. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area was formed to provide for the interpretation of the unique and signifi cant contributions of cultural and historic lands, waterways, and structures to B-6 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 our national heritage. Integrate education with interpretation, which may include interpretive trails and educational facilities as well as outdoor laboratories for lessons on wildlife habitat, gravel extraction and reclamation, fl oodplain management, rural heritage, farming, pollution prevention, and conservation/ reconstruction of historic sites and structures. PRINCIPLE ENV 29 The City will collaborate with gravel mining interests to ensure that mining operations are conducted to meet community values and restore ecological function. POLICY ENV 29.1 – GRAVEL MINED LAND PURCHASES Evaluate areas along the Poudre River that have been mined for gravel for acquisition for public open lands purposes. PRINCIPLE LIV 42 Rural lands and agricultural land uses will be a valuable component of Fort Collins’ economy, culture, and heritage, and be used to create an edge to the community. POLICY LIV 42.1 – PROTECT RURAL LANDS Work with Larimer County to protect rural lands, including agricultural and low intensity residential areas that form part of a community separator. Work with the County on the planning of new residential development adjacent to the Growth Management Area, encouraging clustered development to protect rural lands. POLICY LIV 42.2 – ENCOURAGE AGRICULTURAL USES Encourage sustainable agricultural uses that are compatible with watershed qualities and wildlife habitats. POLICY LIV 42.3 – COLLABORATE ON RURAL LANDS DEVELOPMENT Develop and maintain effective partnerships with Larimer County, other governmental organizations and jurisdictions, and the private sector for the protection of rural landscapes and the continuance of regional agricultural activities. PRINCIPLE SW 2 The City will provide opportunities for residents to lead healthy and active lifestyles. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 B-7 POLICY SW 2.1 – PLAN AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES Provide opportunities for engagement, activity, and recreation through the ongoing maintenance of existing facilities and planning for new recreational and cultural facilities, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, parks, trails, and natural areas in accordance with the Parks and Recreation Policy Plan, Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, and Cultural Plan. PRINCIPLE HI 1 Encourage and celebrate volunteerism and philanthropy throughout the community. POLICY HI 1.3 – WELCOME AND SUPPORT VOLUNTEERISM IN THE CITY ORGANIZATION Provide a range of opportunities for citizens to volunteer for and learn about the City of Fort Collins organization (e.g., Citizens Police Academy, City Works 101, Natural Areas, Parks and Recreation, and other opportunities). B-8 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-1 APPENDIX C OUR LANDS – OUR FUTURE RESULTS FOR FORT COLLINS INTRODUCTION TO OUR LANDS – OUR FUTURE With the recognition that change will inevitably occur and that unprotected open land is a diminishing resource in the urbanizing Front Range, Larimer County and all of its municipalities joined together in 2012 to analyze the challenges, opportunities, and possible gaps in their collective land conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation programs and portfolios. All of the local government programs in Larimer County are motivated by a desire for coordinated, science-based planning to conserve land-based resources and meet public recreation needs and desires. The local governments assembled a county- wide Partners Team and Advisory Board consisting of individuals intended to represent the diversity of Larimer County. The Partners Team and Advisory Board guided a precedent-setting, county-wide study and comprehensive program of public engagement to document the conservation values and outdoor recreational preferences of Larimer County residents, and develop a grassroots vision for the future of the county’s critical landscapes (Larimer County 2013). Between June 2012 and June 2013, over 4,200 citizens offered their feedback through statistically valid surveys, regional events, interactive online geographic information system (GIS) scenarios, participation of all open space advisory boards across the county, and over 45 local presentations. PUBLIC INPUT RECEIVED APART FROM OUR LANDS – OUR FUTURE The Our Lands – Our Future study built upon a number of previous and ongoing outreach efforts and partnerships in an effort to continuously understand stakeholders and be responsive to public preferences regarding land conservation, stewardship, and recreation efforts. Numerous quality of life surveys, along with specifi c land conservation and recreation surveys, have demonstrated that Larimer County and Fort Collins citizens remain enthusiastic about land conservation and passive outdoor recreation, with high program performance ratings in all surveys – a fi nding that mirrors statewide trends. For example, when asked to rate a list of programs offered by the City of Fort Collins, the most favorable quality ratings in 2012 were often natural areas and open space (94% “very good” or “good”), recreational trails (93%), and parks (93%). While residents felt that less effort and funding is needed for parks and recreation, more effort is needed for environmental protection and land conservation (National Research Center 2012). A separate survey in 2013 asked County residents to list “the top three to fi ve things Larimer C-2 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 County should focus on in the future.” Protection of open spaces was seen as the single most important concern (Gilliland 2013). SURVEY METHODS Our Lands – Our Future study conducted two surveys through the survey fi rm RRC Associates of Boulder, Colorado: one in 2012 and a follow-up survey in 2013. The survey program was designed to probe usage characteristics of parks, trails, and other facilities; community values with respect to natural areas; satisfaction with current facilities; the importance of various natural area features; views on natural area and trail management; and communication. This feedback and subsequent analysis were designed to assist the partner agencies in future planning and policy formulation efforts. Findings were organized around the following subject areas: About Individuals and Their Household • Outlines respondent demographics, such as the location of residence and years spent living in Larimer County, and size and makeup of the household. Use of Natural Areas/Nature-Based Facilities • Explores the frequency of visits to countywide natural areas, the location of these visits, and reasons that inhibit use of natural areas. This section also provides an in-depth look at the activities commonly participated in by respondents, children in the household, and the household overall. Values Placed on Natural Areas • Investigates attitudes regarding conservation/acquisition and recreation. Respondents were asked about funding allocation and preferred sources of funding. Communication • Presents results on current and preferred methods of receiving information about natural areas. Respondents’ familiarity with natural areas and natured-based opportunities in the county is also examined. Then and Now • Compares similarities and differences between respondents’ preferences reported in these 2012/2013 surveys and those reported in a similar survey conducted in 2001. Suggestions and Comments (Open-Ended Responses) • Respondents had many opportunities to express opinions, including elaborating on “other” items not listed within survey questions, voicing additional comments or suggestions regarding methods to obtain additional funding, commenting on land conservation priorities, and other considerations related to natural areas important to them. Open-ended responses totaled over 153 pages. The methods and major fi ndings with particular relevance to the Natural Areas Master Plan are summarized below. Fort Collins results (in red) are isolated from all other Larimer County responses (in blue), which include other cities, towns, and unincorporated areas, for questions where more than a 5% difference exists. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-3 2012 SURVEY METHODS The fi rst survey in 2012 was conducted using three methods: (1) a mail-back survey, (2) an online invitation-only survey to further stimulate response from those residents already within the defi ned random sample, and (3) an open link online survey for members of the public who were not part of the random sample. A total of 7,500 surveys were mailed to a random sample of Larimer County residents in August 2012, with 7,250 being delivered after subtracting undeliverable mail. The fi nal sample size for this statistically valid survey was 922, resulting in a response rate of 12.7% and a margin of error of approximately +/-3.4% points.1 Results from the open link survey generated an additional 1,2482 responses. In total, 2,170 responses were received, of which 1,170 (54%) were Fort Collins residents. Throughout this document, the sample size used for the survey results is approximately 2,170 (both the open-link and invitation survey). 2013 FOLLOW-UP SURVEY METHODS A follow-up web survey in early 2013 gathered additional information concerning planning and funding for open lands, land conservation, and an assessment of user experiences. Surveys were mailed to participants that provided emails and expressed a willingness to participate. In addition an “open link” version of the survey was again created and publicized at public meetings. The open-link version of the survey provided an opportunity for a broad cross section of County residents to participate in the follow- up survey. It collected 324 responses from the original sample of participants (termed the Invitation respondents) and 344 from the open link respondents. The follow-up survey results present a tool for further examining local opinions and evaluating relative preferences for various options.3 Results from the resampled respondents and open-link respondents are, for the most part, similar, which indicates that there are widely held opinions on most of the topics measured through this survey. 1 For the total random sample size of 922 margin of error is +/-3.4% calculated for questions at 50% response. Note that the margin of error is different for every single question response on the survey depending on the resultant sample sizes, proportion of responses, and number of answer categories for each question. Comparison of differences in the data between various segments, therefore, should take into consideration these factors. As a general comment, it is sometimes more appropriate to focus attention on the general trends and patterns in the data rather than on the individual questions. 2 As responses to the open-link version of the questionnaire are “self-selected” and not a part of the randomly selected sample of residents, results from the open-link questionnaire differed in some cases from the results of the other two methods. However, the results of the questions presented in this section were not signifi cantly affected by the open-link survey responses. 3 Unlike the random sample of respondents to the 2012 survey, the follow-up survey was based on randomly sampled respondents who expressed a willingness to participate in the Our Lands – Our Future study. Therefore, the methods allowed for greater self-selection than the fi rst survey. As a result, the responses should be used with some caution—they were not randomly obtained nor are statistically valid—but offer one more valuable means of understanding public preferences. C-4 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 SURVEY FINDINGS Just over half of the survey respondents resided in Fort Collins (54%), which allowed for a nearly even comparison of survey results between Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County. While the sample size of Fort Collins residents was similar to that of the rest of the county, the demographics of Fort Collins respondents differed notably. The majority of respondents from Fort Collins were in the age groups of 35–49 or under, with the 18–24 age student group most represented. At the same time, the older age group was also overrepresented, with both City respondents above age 65 (13%) and County respondents (23%) exceeding the census profi le for Fort Collins (9%) and Larimer County (13%). This generally refl ects the actual demographics in the region, as the median age in Fort Collins is 29, and that of Larimer County as a whole is 35 (U.S. Census Bureau 2010). Part of the difference in age profi les for Fort Collins compared to the rest of the county can be explained by the large presence of college students in Fort Collins. Twenty percent of Fort Collins respondents were students, compared to only 6% of the other Larimer County respondents. As such, both age and student status should be considered when reviewing the survey results. Survey Question: Which of the following areas best describes the location of your home in the county? 54% 15% 4% 2% 2% 4% 1% 2% 13% 3% Which of the following areas best describes the location of your home in the County? City of Fort Collins City of Loveland Town of Estes Park Town of Berthoud Town of Wellington Town of Windsor Town of Johnstown Town of Timnath Unincorporated Larimer County Other City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-5 Survey Question: Age of respondent. Survey Question: Are you currently a student? Walking, hiking, running, and biking on either pavement or natural surfaces are the most common activities engaged in by respondents, children in their household, and the household overall for both Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County. Overall, Fort Collins residents reported greater satisfaction with nearly all activities offered than other county residents, though satisfaction with these activities is generally high for the county as a whole. Fort Collins Larimer County Fort Collins Larimer County 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 18 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 49 50 - 64 65 or older 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Yes No C-6 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Frequent walking, hiking, running, and biking activity emerges in other parts of the survey as well. Respondents plan to increase their participation in these activities within the next year, and would like to see more land or facilities provided for walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces and pavement, and biking on paved trails. Similar to the rest of Larimer County, the top activities Fort Collins residents identifi ed were walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces (53%) and paved surfaces (46%), as well as biking on paved trails (52%). For Fort Collins residents, these activities were closely followed by camping (44%), biking on roads (37%), and fi shing (34%). The top ten activities with an anticipated increase in participation were generally similar for both Fort Collins and the rest of the county, though the order of activities varied slightly. On the whole, more Fort Collins residents plan to increase their participation in nearly all activities than other county residents, with the exception of motorized boating and wildlife watching/birding. Related to increased activity participation, respondents also identifi ed up to three activities for which they would like to see more land or facilities provided. Seven of the top ten activities differed only slightly between Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County—walking/hiking/running on both natural and paved surfaces, biking on paved trails, camping, fi shing, recreating with dogs, and watching wildlife/birding. In comparing Fort Collins to the greater region, there was greater demand from the city’s residents for shooting/archery, road biking, and backpacking/backcountry camping. From both sets of responses, there is very high demand for new trails (both natural and paved surface), additional on-street bike facilities, and moderate demand for added shooting/archery, fi shing, recreating with dogs, and camping opportunities to serve Fort Collins residents, so increasing opportunities to engage in these activities may be worthwhile. Despite high participation rates and considerable demand for an array of recreational activities, there are still barriers that prevent Fort Collins and Larimer County residents from using natural areas and nature-based facilities to the extent they would prefer. In Fort Collins, a lack of awareness and/or time is most likely to prevent someone from using natural areas or nature-based facilities. Interesting, cost was also a factor despite the fact that no user fees are charged at Fort Collins natural areas, with the exception of Gateway. In the rest of the county, the preference for federal lands or other parks outside the county is a much greater barrier. This indicates that Fort Collins resident would prefer to recreate within Larimer County and closer to home, but are more constrained by time and cost factors than other county residents. The results also suggest a need for more targeted communication efforts regarding the free, nature-based recreation opportunities available in Fort Collins. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-7 Survey Question: Identify which activities your household plans to increase participation in over the next 12 months. Fort Collins Larimer County 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Large group picknicking (10+ people) Other Snowmobiling Geocaching Community gardening Education programming (nature/history) Rock climbing/bouldering Hunting Horseback riding Boating, motorized Watching wildlife/birding Boating, non-motorized (canoe/kayak) Photography/drawing/painting Shooting/archery Biking on unpaved trails Camping - backpacking or backcountry Picknicking Recreating with dog(s) Winter activities (snow/ice) Fishing Biking on roads Camping Walking/hiking/running - pavement Biking on paved trails Walking/hiking/running - natural surfaces C-8 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Survey Question: For which activities would you most like to see more land or facilities provided? Fort Collins Larimer County 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Geocaching Large group picnicking (10 people or more) Snowmobiling Other Photography/drawing/painting Rock climbing/bouldering Horseback riding Education programming (learning about nature and history) Picnicking Boating, motorized Hunting Boating, non-motorized (canoe, kayak, etc ) Biking on unpaved trails Winter activities (snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, etc) Community gardening Watching wildlife/birding Camping - backpacking or backcountry Recreating with dog(s) Camping Walking/hiking/running on pavement: roads or trails Biking on roads Fishing Shooting/archery Walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces: roads or trails Biking on paved trails City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-9 Survey Question: If you don’t use natural areas or nature-based facilities in Larimer County, what are the reasons? To elicit feedback on priorities for future expenditures, one survey question asked, “If you had $100 in public funds to spend on natural areas, agricultural land, and/or construction of nature‐based recreation facilities, how would you allocate those funds?” Respondents were given the option of allocating funds toward fi fteen categories of “buy” and “invest” expenditures, broken into various types of new land acquisitions (“buying”) and maintenance improvements (“investing”). The responses provide an overall prioritization of investments for both Fort Collins residents and other county residents. Most respondents demonstrated broad support for a variety of goals related to land conservation/ acquisition over investing in current management or infrastructure. Respondents generally favored buying land or acquiring rights over investing in existing lands. However, all categories received some degree of fi nancial support. Fort Collins residents would spend slightly more on management and maintenance of existing natural areas and facilities, as well as buying land or acquiring rights for greenways or trail corridor connections, than other county residents. For each category/choice, no more than 2% of respondents opted to allocate the full $100 to that particular choice, and a strong majority of respondents spread the $100 over a large number of choices. This indicates signifi cant support from respondents for allocating dollars to a broad set of purposes, and in a related question the vast majority of respondents supported the use of public funds for land conservation activities. In general, preferences for allocating public funds were similar for Fort Collins and the rest of the county. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Unsuitable condition of natural areas & facilities/amenities Feels unsafe Not enough parking No way to get there Don't have the programs or facilities I want Too far from home No interest Prefer other parks/locations such as RMNP or outside county Other Regulations are too restrictive Too many people Too expensive/fees are too high No time Not aware of natural areas or facilities Fort Collins Larimer County C-10 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Survey Question: How would you allocate $100 in public funds? The survey measured community priorities regarding land acquisition and conservation for six different categories of lands found throughout Larimer County. Respondents answered using a 5-point scale: 1 = “Not at all important” and 5 = “Very important.” As shown in the graph, “Ecologically sensitive lands” and “Lands that provide regional trail corridors to connect to cities and towns” were rated as the most important, while working farms and ranches were rated as relatively less important. However, in all categories approximately half of respondents or more called the land preservation choice either a “4” or “5” on the 5 point scale. Also, it should be noted that the statistical margin of error is ±3.4 percent. In other words, there are relatively slight differences placed on the top fi ve categories of land preservation. Fort Collins Larimer County $0 $5 $10 $15 $20 Invest in renovation of historic structures that allow for public benefit Other Buy land or acquire rights to preserve historic and archaeological sites in natural areas Invest in restoration and rehabilitation, such as weed management, or grassland habitat enhancement Buy land or acquire rights to protect scenic views Buy land or acquire rights to protect in-stream water flows Invest in additional/upgraded trailheads, parking, restrooms, shelters and signs Invest in more natural surface trails (usually 2-4 feet wide, dirt- surface trails) Invest in more paved trails (usually 10 feet wide and concrete) Buy land or acquire rights to preserve working farms and ranches Buy land or acquire rights for more outdoor recreation opportunities Invest in management and maintenance of current natural areas and facilities Buy land or acquire rights to create greenways or trail corridors that connect communities and parks Buy land or acquire rights to protect wildlife habitat and rare species Buy land or acquire rights to protect lakes, rivers, streams, and preserve water quality City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-11 Respondents were asked to consider which of the same categories represented their single most important priority, in order to understand community attitudes in greater detail. Fort Collins residents ranked “ecologically sensitive lands” as the single highest priority (26%), while other Larimer County residents ranked community separators as the single most important priority (29%). Perhaps not surprisingly, Fort Collins residents considered “lands within our communities near neighborhoods and schools” more important, while others in the county considered regional trail corridors a higher priority. While Fort Collins residents have a strong preference for the protection of ecologically sensitive lands, respondents valued both outdoor recreation and natural resource preservation. In response to a question that asked respondents to place themselves on a scale where “strong emphasis on resource conservation and protection” was at one end, and “strong emphasis on outdoor recreation” was at the other end, more than 40% of respondents from both Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County favored an equal balance. However, in both cases the responses did not fi t a perfect bell curve from one extreme to another, but rather indicated a greater emphasis on outdoor recreation, overall. This is an interesting fi nding when compared to the results of the previous question, and could refl ect a desire for both protection of ecologically sensitive areas and recreational access to those areas. Survey Question: How important should each of the following be in prioritizing land acquisition or conservation throughout the county? Fort Collins Larimer County 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 Working farms and ranches Regional lands (greater than two square miles) generally located within 30 minutes from cities and towns Community separators, or open lands between our cities and towns Lands within our communities near neighborhoods and schools Lands that provide regional trail corridors to connect cities and towns Ecologically sensitive lands (significant wildlife habitat, wetlands, rare plants) C-12 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 Survey Question: Which do you consider to be the single most important priority to acquire/conserve? Survey Question: Please indicate what emphasis you would like to see Larimer County and our cities and towns pursue. Fort Collins Larimer County Fort Collins Larimer County 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Community separators, or open lands between our cities/towns Working farms and ranches Regional lands located within 30 min. of towns/cities Lands that provide regional trail corridors Lands within our communities near neighborhoods and schools Ecologically sensitive lands 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1=Strong Emphasis (Natural resource preservation/protection) 2=Slight Emphasis (Natural resource preservation/protection) 3=Equal Balance 4=Slight Emphasis (Outdoor recreation in natural setting) 5=Strong Emphasis (Outdoor recreation in natural setting) City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 C-13 In the 2013 follow-up survey, respondents were asked to rank the importance of conserving four types of natural areas and open space. Respondents ranked regional open space and trails as the most important, followed by natural resource and wildlife areas. However, Fort Collins respondents indicated greater support for the conservation of urban open space and trails and less support for conservation easements on working farms and ranches than did other county respondents. These results do not suggest that there is weak support for the lower-rated categories. Rather, the ratings are relative to one another and show that on average certain categories rank higher than others. Survey Question: Two most important conserved land types. In conclusion, the Our Lands – Our Future study and the subsequent 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan are greatly informed by public and stakeholder input. The above survey results are one important perspective on community values, satisfaction levels, needs, and priorities for the Master Plan, and will be combined with feedback from public meetings and other outreach methods. It is clear that protection and proper management of natural areas is strongly supported and one of the most important concern facing Fort Collins’ future as a world-class community. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Working Farms & Ranches - Conservation Easements Urban Open Space & Trails Natural Resource & Wildlife Areas Regional Open Space & Trails Fort Collins Larimer County C-14 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 2, 2014 APPENDIX C REFERENCES Gilliland, D. L. 2013. Larimer County Citizen Survey 2013 Analysis. Larimer County, Fort Collins, Colo. 43 pp. Larimer County. 2013. Our Lands – Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern Colorado. Larimer County, Colo. 104 pp. + appendices. National Research Center. 2012. City of Fort Collins Citizen Survey Results. National Research Center, Inc., Boulder, Colo. 36 pp. + appendices. U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. American Community Survey, 2010. Demographic Profi le Data for Larimer County, Colorado, and Fort Collins, Colorado. American FactFinder. http://factfi nder2.census. gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml (accessed in 2012). This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA This unofficial copy was downloaded on May-11-2020 from the City of Fort Collins Public Records Website: http://citydocs.fcgov.com For additional information or an official copy, please contact City Clerk's Office City Hall West 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA Dear City Council RE: Hughes Parcel Rezoning. Once again, some members of city council will ignore the wishes of their constituents and vote instead to align themselves with special interests. In this case, Colorado State University, in order to do the bidding of Chancellor Tony Frank. There is really nothing new here accept that this time those in charge are gambling away something that once gone, cannot be replaced. Those voting yes, will be again rubber-stamping another large subdivision with all the increased traffic, pollution, crime over-crowded schools, and increased taxes to pay for infrastructure to go along with it. I say “rubber stamped” because the last time I spoke with Parks and Rec or Traffic Operations, no feasibility studies for that area had been completed. Isn’t that like putting the proverbial flower-cart before the donkey. The fact that you are insisting on voting on this during our governors’ orders or risk the health of our community is proof to me that you are in violation of the open meeting law/Sunshine law and are attempting to circumvent further input on this contentious subject. All of you should be fully aware of your constituents’ opinions on how this property should be zoned. At least two of you, Ms Stephen, and Mr Troxell, should recuse yourselves from voting due to being employed by the sellers of this property. Ms Stephen’s you’ve looked exhausted and have said that this matter, i.e, the rezoning of Hughes has been difficult for you, or at least some of the comments from others have caused concern; recusing yourself would be the smart choice to avoid the appearance of taking the side of your employer. Mr. Troxell, your constituents aren’t dumb. I believe it was you that said “this is nothing more than a vote to rezone property…and “what’s the big deal”. Ms Gorgol, insists that her yes vote is to ostensibly provide more “affordable housing” in the Fort Collins area, despite being shown that NONE of these homes will be considered “affordable”. Or, the argument goes that your constituents really want 700-1000 homes crammed up against the last bastion of open space along the foothills of Fort Collins. This is NOT another cornfield but rather a legacy of beauty, indeed a gem of a parcel, that some of our city council members would sell off to the highest bidder: Lennar homes has one of the worst reputations in the industry today for a myriad of reasons. This property was deeded to the citizens of Colorado for the purpose of promoting higher education (not funding the failing financial debacle of an on-campus stadium). The community is asking that the property be zoned in accordance with the Planning and Zoning commission recommendation of Residential Foothills which is in keeping with the density of the area. Sincerely, Melodie Nicholas, District 4 May 19, 2020 Fort Collins City Council 300 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80521 Dear Mayor Troxell, Mayor Pro Tem Stephens, and Council Members Gutowsky, Pignataro, Summers, Cunniff and Gorgol: On November 5, 2019 this council adopted on first reading ordinance 138, 2019 which supports the city planning staff recommendation to realize the unique opportunity offered by the former Hughes stadium site to create both attainable and affordable workforce housing in Fort Collins. In the discussion at first reading it was established that: 1. Of the zones being considered LMN affords the greatest opportunity for attainable housing to include single-family detached, duplexes, triplexes and townhomes. 2. Staff’s recommended zoning better supports city plans for transit. 3. Staff’s recommended zoning better supports City Plan itself which states: “City Plan promotes strategies, new programs and incentives to encourage the construction of workforce and affordable housing throughout the community.” The Chamber asks that council stay true to its decision on first reading and adopt tonight on second reading Ordinance 138, 2019. Sincerely, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce David L. May President & CEO cc: Darin Atteberry Yale Environment 360, January 6, 2014 Storm over the Poudre River at North Shields Ponds Natural Area (Photo by Michael Van Beber) Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) a diverse system of conserved and restored lands will connect community members to nature. These conserved lands will protect nature and contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community. • Stick to its core mission: The mission of the Natural Areas Department is to conserve and enhance lands with natural resource, agricultural, and scenic values, while providing meaningful education and appropriate recreation opportunities. The Natural Areas Department will act to: • Conserve land, water, wildlife corridors, and trail connections. • Restore habitat. • Provide visitor and recreation services. • Provide education, interpretation, and volunteer opportunities. • Contribute to the character and culture conducts an annual review of the pesticide-related toxicity literature to reevaluate the risk associated with applications and to seek out effective, less toxic pesticides. Installation of solar panels on Nix Farm Maintenance Shop (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) energy and water conservation, and pesticide impact reduction. The Department will continue to seek additional best management practices by maintaining a forward thinking approach to fi eld and facility operations. Pollution Prevention Since 2009, the Natural Areas Department has performed annual pollution prevention (P2) assessments at the Nix Farm Facility and every few years at Bobcat Ridge, Primrose Studio, Gateway, Fossil Creek Reservoir, and Soapstone Prairie facilities. The P2 assessments are intended to identify potential pollution mitigation improvements, risks, and mitigation actions. The systematic inspections require a continual improvement approach to pollution prevention, including, but not limited to pesticide usage, recycling, inventory control, housekeeping, and training. P2 assessments have continually led an interagency agreement that provided for transfer once the site was incorporated into the City of Fort Collins Growth Management Area. In 2014, the site was renamed Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area and joined with over 930 acres of adjacent parcels managed by the City. However, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources rangers continue to occupy the offi ce and use the garage in exchange for site patrol and light maintenance. Repairs and any improvements to the facility are the responsibility of the Natural Areas Department. Larimer County rangers will move out of the facility once their new ranger offi ce facility is built, possibly within the next ten years. At that time, the best use for the offi ce and Fossil Creek Reservoir Facility (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) to private groups. Other than routine maintenance and minor improvements, no extensive new improvements or additions are expected to be needed over the next ten years for either the studio or building attendant’s residence. GATEWAY ON-SITE RANGER Gateway Natural Area is owned by the City of Fort Collins Water Utility, which still manages Poudre Primrose Studio (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) the Facility Operations Service Area. In the past ten years, the number of facilities increased from one to six, primarily due to the expansion of the Department’s conservation efforts to include regional properties. NIX FARM The historic Nix Farm has been the Natural Areas Department’s main facility since 2002. The Conservation Easement and Certifi ed Natural Area in southwest Fort Collins (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) language and resource protection standards. PRIVATE LAND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE Although Natural Areas Department staff are always willing to provide any landowner information or advice on protecting and enhancing land for natural areas values, the two primary means of assisting private landowners are through Surveying in monitoring wells at site along the river (Photo by Dave Myers) infrastructure in the area to ensure that they do not object or want to partner on a project to minimize construction impacts. Finally, applicants must adhere to the rights of existing easements or rights- of-way on the property. Powerline on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) the State Land Board to lease the State’s underlying mineral estate. The intent is to keep the minerals in a nondevelopment status for a period of time. However, given the checkerboard pattern of mineral ownership, it is conceivable that an adjoining private mineral owner will desire to develop their mineral estate underlying an adjacent section. The Department will use the EBD approach and work with all interested parties toward an outcome that avoids or minimizes impacts to the highest resource values, and mitigates the impacts using a “no net loss” strategy. UTILITY EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY As with any property, when a natural area is acquired by the City all of the easements granted by former landowners “run with the land,” or are conveyed with the property to the next landowner. These easements include utility easements and road rights-of way. Properly managing existing and new easements and rights-of-way is an ongoing and important component of protecting important resources on natural areas. development of renewable energy such as wind and solar generation. However, impacts on natural and cultural resources can and do occur from commercial-scale development. Current policy is to not allow commercial-scale wind or solar development to occur within natural areas owned fee simple. Additionally, the City will continue to work to provide siting and other recommendations for wind farms that occur within viewsheds of conserved lands. The Natural Areas Department does typically allow small-scale energy development on lands protected with conservation easements. The intent is to allow renewable energy to be developed for meeting the needs of the conserved property, not for commercial venture. Natural Areas Department staff works with the owners of the property to locate the infrastructure to avoid or minimize impacts on natural resource values. are dominated by grassland ecosystems that have evolved with a diversity of native grazing animals. Native grazers now generally exist in numbers too few to provide the same ecological benefi ts. As such, managed grazing systems using domestic livestock are often used in an attempt to mimic the natural ecological process. However, poorly managed grazing does have the potential Cattle on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Areas Department dollars. More commonly, historic structures found on natural areas properties are well beyond repair or represent a modest opportunity for restoration and outreach. However, management activities will include a survey and inventory of the site to record the historic value. The site will be managed Great Western Sugar Company Beet Effl uent Bridge on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) to occur from a planned activity. If approached with requests for excavations, the Natural Areas Department will consult with the Fort Collins Lindenmeir Site on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) parking for river access) • Kingfi sher Point (north side of the Poudre River, will include a natural surface trail) • Eagle View (will include a natural surface trail) Trail improvement on Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Todd Juhasz) people, and/or livestock from adjacent properties. Barbed-wire and electric fencing is prohibited within the city limits. Barbed-, electric-, and smooth-wire fencing can be potentially hazardous to wildlife when poorly designed and/or located. For example, raptors can be severely injured or killed when their wings hit the wire upon swooping down or up when hunting prey under the fence. Fort Collins is within a major migratory Magpie Meander Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) or accessibility needs are greater. Parks and Recreation designs, constructs, and maintains the concrete trails that form the Fort Collins Paved Trail System; eight miles of the paved trails run through natural areas. The paved trail system is accessible to persons in wheelchairs. Funding for the paved trails comes from the Parks and Recreation Department, the Natural Areas Department, the Conservation Trust Fund, and Great Outdoors Colorado grants. Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Crystal Strouse) To decrease negative experiences of overcrowding, which also can result in resource degradation, Natural Areas Department staff use professional experience, input from other land management agencies with similar resources, research into accessibility from neighborhoods and commuters, and design standards to create visitor use limits on natural areas properties so that site visitor use capacity (sometimes referred to as carrying capacity) is not exceeded. New recreational features, such as trails, are designed to minimize impacts to natural resources and to be more sustainable over time. picnic shelters, natural playground, and natural surface trails, among others. Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Poudre River fi sherman (Photo by Norm Keally) in the success of the Natural Areas Department over the last 20 years. In just the last ten years, the Natural Areas Trail System has doubled to over 100 miles and acres open to the public have tripled to 35,000 acres. Adding regional properties to the already impressive portfolio has allowed the City to expand recreational experiences even more for visitors. TYPES OF RECREATION OFFERED Walking, hiking, running, and biking on natural surface trails or pavement are the most common outdoor activities of Larimer County residents surveyed in the 2013 Our Lands – Our Future survey (Larimer County 2013); these activities are also the most frequently available on City natural areas (Figure 10). Within the City’s natural areas, the visitor experience may range from solitude and quiet refl ection to moderately high visitor encounters with high energy physical challenges. Natural areas support a wide range of recreation, including walking, hiking, trail running, wildlife viewing, on-leash dog walking, provide educational materials, and be the “eyes and ears” of the Rangers staff at this remote natural area. The site does not house a resident ranger; however, a ranch manager resides on the site year- round. The manager is employed by the grazing association that leases land for cattle grazing on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Volunteer Ranger Assistant at Gateway Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) participated in monitoring natural areas and working with ranger staff to ensure visitors remain safe and enjoy the natural area experience, logging over 2,500 service hours and making nearly 4,000 contacts with the recreating public. Ranger on patrol at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) and cultural resources. In 2008, the City’s Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures Manual was adopted by Police Services and the Natural Areas Department to outline the scope of the ranger’s duties and set protocols for visitor safety and resource protection. The City’s Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Field Training Offi cer Handbook (adopted in 2010) outlines standardized training for all newly assigned rangers in the practical application of learned information and provides clear standards for rating and evaluation. Ranger assisting visitor on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (Photo by Kristin Powell) of the urban reach, and participation in regional collaborative communication platforms such as the Poudre River Forum hosted by Colorado Water Institute in February 2014. On the landscape scale, and using science as a guide, the Natural Areas Department initiated the Ecosystem Response Model (ERM) study in 2012 to help expand our understanding of the drivers, Gateway Natural Area (Photo by Richard Ernst) Department also owns Robert Benson Reservoir at Pelican Marsh Natural Area and leases the recreation rights to Dixon and Fossil Creek reservoirs. Future management objectives for some of the ponds will focus on creating shallow water conditions to mimic much of the fl oodplain wetland functions Butterfl y Woods Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) current and future water portfolio in conjunction with the water sharing approach to build strong conservation partnerships with other City departments, irrigation companies, agriculture interests, and conservation organizations and to focus on collaborative projects designed to: • Protect and enhance stream fl ows through agreements that provide multiple use and benefi ts of water, avoid injury or confl icts with other users, and avoid the costly need to permanently encumber water rights; • Enhance permanently conserved lands and habitats adjacent to rivers and streams; • Emphasize concepts and recommendations identifi ed in Colorado’s Statewide Water Supply Initiative (State of Colorado 2011) and appropriate Basin Roundtables; • Provide funding to offset transaction costs in terms of conveyance loss or similar costs to the project; and • Provide funding for the design and construction of bypass structures (for both water and aquatic species) and measuring devices necessary for water administration as it relates to the water sharing agreements. The Natural Areas Department owns a small water- rights portfolio acquired during the purchase of properties in and around Fort Collins. Over the last ten years, acquisition efforts were focused on conserving natural lands, riparian areas, and agricultural properties, and not water rights. However, the Department has now begun to focus more effort on the purchase of water rights and managing water rights to improve stream health and habitat restoration. The Department continues to pursue opportunities to conserve environmental fl ows (i.e., fl ows necessary to sustain an ecologically functioning river system) and will work to pursue partnerships, as needed, to accomplish this goal. Mink plunging into the Poudre River (Photo by Norm Keally) places for families and children to explore. MANAGING A HEALTHY RIVER SYSTEM The City of Fort Collins is situated along more than ten miles of the Cache la Poudre River, and through efforts by the Natural Areas Department and other City departments such as Parks, Stormwater, and Water Utility, the City has conserved more than 60% of the fl oodplain. Natural areas adjacent to the Poudre River help protect and conserve unique natural features. However, the long-term ecological Poudre River spring fl ooding, 2011, on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) are more diffi cult to control than typical weeds because of their resistance to herbicides, extensive root systems, and hardiness. Invasive grasses also pose more of a wildfi re threat compared to broadleaf weeds. Periodic burning, mowing, or grazing of restored grasslands is necessary to mimic natural disturbance regimes that maintain native grasslands. Prescribed burns and livestock grazing on smaller properties within Fort Collins can be operationally diffi cult in the urban environment. Unfortunately, prairie dogs, a native grazer, can cause considerable damage to native grasslands in Assessing prevalence of weeds on Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) below system “maximums” observed from 2004 to 2006 toward overall improvement of grassland health. Looking forward, the Natural Areas Department will continue to carefully monitor and manage prairie dog colonies while exploring innovative techniques that promote prairie dog communities in harmony with grassland health. Removal of the Josh Ames Ditch diversion structure at North Shields Ponds Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) planning and implementation process. The largest project, to date, has been the Canal Importation and Ponds Outfall Project that included a major portion of the Red Fox Meadows Natural Area. Between 2008 and 2011, the Department and Stormwater Utility restored over 26 acres of this natural area to wetlands and native upland vegetation through an award-winning project that improved water quality, reduced neighborhood fl ooding, and enhanced wildlife habitat. Prescribed burn at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) the substantial reduction in acreage of problematic weeds such as leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), Dalmatian toadfl ax (Linaria dalmatica ssp. dalmatica), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), fi eld bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), kochia (Bassia scoparia), and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) throughout the natural areas system. Likewise, major gains have been made to reduce residual agricultural grasses, including crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and cereal ryegrass (Secale cereale). Weed management actions are based on the integrated pest management (IPM) philosophy: a combination of chemical, mechanical, cultural, and biological treatments. Herbicides are selected for use based on lowest environmental toxicity, selectivity to the target species, and effectiveness. By using the most effective chemical in combination with other treatments, the Natural Areas Department is seeing improved control lasting multiple years and promoting a competitive advantage for native plants. More recently, management actions have focused on promoting the health of native vegetation in contrast to a sole focus on management against taught by education staff or another professional in the natural areas fi eld. Through these efforts to provide more volunteer opportunities, the Natural Areas Department now receives more than 10,000 hours of volunteer support each year (Figure 9). at most trailhead kiosks. The Natural Areas Map is the most popular brochure; it is printed and updated as needed. New in 2010 was the popular Tracks & Trails, the Department’s guide to free education-sponsored activities, May–October. Site brochures are provided for the most visited sites such as Soapstone Prairie, Bobcat Ridge, Gateway, and Coyote Ridge. An annual report is produced to report on the Department’s revenues, expenditures, and accomplishments. The School Program Guide is created annually to promote free student fi eld trips sponsored by the Department. Other publications highlight wildlife, native plants, current projects, trails, and cultural resources. • Communications and marketing focus on sharing information about Natural Areas Department events, activities, and public input opportunities. These include a monthly e-newsletter (available by free subscription), social media postings, targeted emails, newspaper columns, paid advertising, direct mail, and press releases. Master Naturalist at Wade the River 2013 (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) can also be requested by groups for a mutually agreed upon topic or date. Master Naturalist at McMurry Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) of a natural area that are intended to provide visitors with a place to connect with nature and enjoy site-appropriate recreation. Off- trail use is generally allowed and public amenities may exist, although, not to the scale or frequency of a focal area. Temporary or seasonal closures may be enacted for resource protection, restoration, or other reasons. Osprey at Riverbend Ponds Natural Area (Photo by Jack Hicks) • Gateway Natural Area Operations and Maintenance Manual (2011) • Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Field Training Offi cer Handbook (2010) • Natural Areas Sign Manual (2005) given the reality that changes occur during the life of these plans that were not anticipated when initially written. Since the 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department has created more than 35 documents to help guide its daily operations (Table 4). Poudre River Projects Open House, June 2013 (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) and redevelopment. As these patterns shift, private land conservation priorities are also shifting from protecting individual natural resources to ensuring that natural systems in developed or informal natural areas are conserved and that everyone in our community has access to nature. To ensure that nature is protected within the urban fabric of our community, the following efforts, led by the Planning Services Department, are currently Bald eagles at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (Photo by Dawn Wilson) Areas Program for private landowners and non-City public landowners to encourage the protection of lands with existing natural areas values as well as lands that could be restored or enhanced to provide those values. Land certifi ed as a natural area is managed by the landowner so that native animal and plant communities are enhanced, restored, and protected. City Fossil Creek Meadows Certifi ed Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) and increased recreational (e.g., trail connections) and educational opportunities. Wire Draw Ranch Conservation Easement adjacent to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) obligation. Fee acquisition is most appropriate when public access and recreation, high natural resource values, large restoration or management demands, or other issues are present that make full ownership of a property more advantageous. Mule deer on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Daylan Figgs) to the other two focus categories, have lower acquisition costs due to lower development pressure and lower stewardship costs due to lower recreational pressure and higher quality habitat. Opportunities exist to conserve a wide range of conservation values, including wildlife habitat, scenery, agricultural, watershed protection, and recreation. Sod Farm Conservation Easement in the Wellington Separator (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) density rural developments, fl oodplains, or other areas that may or may not be desirable for residential or commercial development. A separator can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, including conservation easements, fee purchase of land for natural areas or other open space uses, or zoning restrictions. Separators are often implemented along major roadways connecting municipalities in order to preserve the open viewshed that provides a natural boundary between two communities. Land within the The Plug in to Nature study found that while 87% of survey respondents reported their child’s connections with nature as very high, 79% of respondents wanted their children to spend more time in nature than they currently do. Time, location, and cost were the three greatest barriers to increasing access to nature, highlighting the need for more nature closer to home (Design Workshop 2012). have been protected adjacent to the river, of which 223 acres have been protected since 2004. Riverbend Ponds Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally) Others 02468 Miles The intent of the focus areas is to identify properties within these areas that may be considered for conservation when willing landowners desire to sell or donate their land or conservation easements. Properties outside of the focus areas may also be considered, depending on opportunities and conservation values of the site. As described in Chapter 2 (Funding), the Department’s ability to achieve the community’s future land-conservation aspirations hinges on the extension of Larimer County’s Help Preserve Open Space! sales tax. $25,597,953 $25,531,992 $27,513,765 33,656 55,764 331,129 $0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 Local Separators Regional Costs in $1,000s LAND COSTS FOR LAND CONSERVATION BY FOCUS AREAS Land Costs Acres Protected Conservation Easement acquired 2004; by Nature Conservancy, Larimer County, and Natural Areas (60%); received GOCO Grant; landowner manages; not open to the public. Total CE acreage = 4,557. 2,734 2,734 Stonewall Creek Ranch Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2005 by Larimer County; Natural Areas contributed (71%) to purchase, but does not hold easement. Total CE acreage = 136 acres. 97 97 Focus Area Subtotal: 2,831 2,831 Total Acres Conserved by City: 41,550 Acres Acquired for Public Use: 34,842 Conservation Easements: 5,815 Leased: 893 Total Acres Conserved by Natural Areas since 2004: 30,844 Table Notes: 1Current acres may not correspond to 2004 document due to change in names of sites or combining sites together. 2These sites are open to the public and managed by the Natural Areas Department. 3Includes partial donation, dedication, and/or reduced purchase price. Long View Farm Open Space Acquired 1997 by Larimer County Open Lands and Natural Areas (33%); received GOCO Grant; Larimer County manages; not open to the public. Total site acreage = 479. 159 Focus Area Subtotal: 355 Lower Poudre and Windsor Separator Three Bell I & II Conservation Easements Conservation Easements acquired 2010 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (28%); landowner manages; not open to the public yet. Total site acreage = 338. 169 169 Focus Area Subtotal: 169 169 Timnath Separator Cribari I & II Conservation Easements Conservation Easements acquired 2005 by Natural Areas; landowners manage; not open to the public. 73 73 Hansen I & II Conservation Easements Conservation Easements acquired 2004-2012 by Natural Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public 82 82 Person I & II Conservation Easements Conservation Easements acquired 2005-2013 by Natural Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public. 141 141 Focus Area Subtotal: 296 296 Maxwell Natural Area2 Acquired3 1976–1996 by Parks and Natural Areas. 290 Pineridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 1976–2007 by Parks and Natural Areas; 83-acre Dixon Reservoir leased. 744 83 Reservoir Ridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 1985–2008 by Parks and Natural Areas. 764 297 Hazelhurst Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired4 2005; landowner manages; not open to the public. 35 35 MacEwen Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired4 2005; landowner manages; not open to the public. 45 45 Million Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2011; landowner manages; not open to the public. 100 100 Focus Area Subtotal: 3,983 711 Area2 Acquired3 1962-2014 by City of Fort Collins and Natural Areas. 54 44 Prospect Ponds Natural Area2 Acquired 1974 by Utilities; Natural Areas manages. 25 River’s Edge Natural Area2 Acquired 1994-2001 by Natural Areas. 8 Riverbend Ponds Natural Area2 Acquired31977-1999 by Parks and Natural Areas. 220 Running Deer Natural Area2 Acquired 1998-2011 by Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant. 294 19 Salyer Natural Area2 Donated 1985 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 24 Springer Natural Area2 Donated 1990 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 21 Udall Natural Area2 Acquired3 1994 by Natural Areas and Utilities; Natural Areas and Utilities manage. 25 Williams Natural Area2 Donated 1990 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 1 Project (2012–Present) Land Conservation; Restoration; Recreation Xcel Energy Woodward Development Project (2013–Present) Land Conservation; Resource Management; Recreation Woodward, Inc. Rigden Water Storage Reservoir (2013–Present) Land Conservation; Wetland and Pond Conservation Flatiron Company; Fort Collins Water Utility Nature Tracker Software (2012-2013) Enhanced Customer Service; Volunteer Coordination Squarei, Technologies, Inc. State and Federal Partners Nix Farm Historic Barn Restoration (2005) Cultural Resources History Colorado Bobcat Ridge Historic Outbuilding Restorations (2011–Present) Cultural Resources; Education History Colorado; Pulliam Charitable Trust Shields Pit Restoration (2013-present) Wetland Restoration Colorado Parks and Wildlife Museum of Discovery Displays (2011-2012) Education U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Soapstone Prairie Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction (2013-present) Resource Management; Education U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bobcat Ridge Trail Easement (2007) Recreation U.S. Forest Service In addition, the Department will participate in the City’s budget process to compete for “Keep Fort Collins Great” discretionary sales tax funds or general funds that are administered by City Council. The Department may also benefi t from renewal of the existing ¼-cent capital projects sales tax. Canada geese in fl ight (Photo by Norm Keally) 1998-2005 BCC City 1/4 Cent 1993-1997 Choices 95 City 1/4 Cent 2004 COPS Grants and Donations Miscellaneous 1993-2003 General Fund • Planning Department • City of Loveland Natural Areas Program • Larimer County Department of Natural Resources • Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife • The Nature Conservancy • Legacy Land Trust Taken as a whole, public feedback made it clear that protection and proper management of natural areas is strongly supported and is vital to ensuring Fort Collins’ future as a world-class community. the Open House or online in the 30 days afterwards. The vision and mission were positively viewed with a few requests for more focus on recreation and providing public access. Land conservation priorities were positively received with some January 2014 Open House for Natural Areas Master Plan (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) of Fort Collins survey results. 2014 NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN OUTREACH In addition to Citizen Surveys and the 2013 Our Lands – Our Future survey results, the Fort Collins community provided specifi c feedback on the 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan through two open houses, online comment opportunities, and relevant City citizen boards. A Coloradoan newspaper article invited the public to the open houses, and comment opportunities were promoted through press releases, email invitations to approximately 350 people and organizations, announcements in Natural Areas E-news (2,500 subscribers), communication with volunteers, and social media postings. The website devoted to the Master Plan featured open-house materials, an online comment opportunity, and related materials. The website had 1,099 page views as of July 21, 2014. Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo) Board established (2005) Wildlife and Vegetation Management Guidelines, Soapstone Prairie and Foothills Management Plans adopted (2007) Energy by Design and Our Lands - Our Future planning processes (2013) Poudre River Forum participation (2014) 1st Restoration Project completed (Gustav Swanson) (1986) 1st Interpretive Signs installed (Gustav Swanson) (1990) Adopt-a-Natural Area Program established (1993) Master Naturalist Program established (1994) Ranger Program established (1997) 1st Art-in-Public Places Project installed (1998) 1st Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic held (1999) 1st Onsite Ranger (Bobcat Ridge) (2006) Ranger Program established; Gateway transferred from Parks; Primrose Studio opens (2007) Soapstone Prairie opens to public (2009) Tracks and Trails debuts (2010) Museum of Discovery opens; Adopt-a-Trail Program established (2012) 100th mile of Natural Surface Trails opened; North Shields Ponds Floodlpain Restoration (2013) 6WDWH&HUWLÀFDWLRQIRU&RQVHUYDWLRQ(DVHPHQWV  Pineridge Open Space opens (1976) Riverbend Ponds Open Space opens (1978) Reservoir Ridge Open Space opens (1985) %XWWHUÁ\:RRGV.LQJÀVKHU3RLQW5HGWDLO*URYH  Cottonwood Hollow, Cattail Chorus (1997) Colina Mariposa, McMurry, Running Deer (1998) Hazaleus, Two Creeks (1999) Eagle View, Mallard’s Nest, Pelican Marsh (2002) Bobcat Ridge, 1st Conservation Easement (CE) (Swift Farm) (2003) 1st GOCO Grant for land conservation (1994) Poudre River ERM Study initiatied (2012) McMurry Floodplain Restoration Project (2014) Fossil Creek Reservoir (2001) Windsor Community Separator (2010) Wire Draw Ranch CE (2008) .LQJÀVKHU3RLQW$GGLWLRQV  our natural areas. The Lindenmeier Archaeological Site on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as a site of international cultural signifi cance. Natural areas provide a respite from the urban environment—a place to hike, bike, walk your dog, ride your horse, fi sh, picnic, create art, or just enjoy some quiet time outdoors. Natural areas give everyone the opportunity to connect to nature’s spiritual qualities. Each person has their own reason for caring about natural areas. Among others, Fort Collins residents value them for their ecological, recreational, educational, scientifi c, economic, cultural, and spiritual signifi cance. Conserved natural areas add economic value to the community and contribute to make Fort Collins a highly desirable place to live and work. The high quality of life provided in part by natural areas amenities helps support the City’s healthy economic climate. Nature-based recreation areas also play an important role in providing enjoyable experiences for visitors and offer active living options for residents. of engineer report that was cited during the Hughes Stadium issue - why do you think foundations will last on these new homes? Traffic is already bad on Prospect from Taft Hill to Overland - what is the plan? Has Lennar ever been denied a development permit via the City or County planning process? How much additional traffic is going to flow onto Drake daily? Will Overland Trail be punched through the park to Harmony to accommodate? It will ruin Spring Creek Park. How are you going to accommodate 1400 additional cars coming out on Drake?? 600+ housing units is too high of density for the "Gateway" to Horsetooth and open space. 125 to 150 with retail seems more reasonable along with open space parking to trails and mountains. High density is the inner circle of a plan with less density as it meets the outer boundaries of the city limits. There needs retail to bring business outside the central part of city. Need for MAX line to these areas. Infrastructure? Can this accomodate the city systems (storm, sewer, etc.)? How will traffic be handled - hundreds of people/cars With the combination of the Mountain Edge and Hughes Development there will be an additional 900 dwelling units on the west side of town. This will be a large increase in traffic on Drake Road. If you are turning south on Overland Trail at Drake, the wait can already be quite long. What plans does the city have to mitigate this problem? back. NO HOUSES NO RETAIL. Please consider using the butcher paper lists of issues/concerns expressed by community at other meetings. Lennar - nowhere on those sheets were community comments in support of a developed neighborhood. Will the occupancy ordinance apply in this area or is any variance being considered? Can the City reduce traffic congestion coming from this project? By perhaps requiring use of mass transit - limiting home owners to a single vehicle? When Ponds subdivision went in traffic and noise at my house (West Prospect) went up maybe 10 fold. This planned fiasco will make these issues impossible to deal with. Consider moving park to a central location as a neighborhood asset w/boulevards connecting. A little off topic but is there any word on the drive in future? Major concern is about increased traffic both foot/bicycle/car and the impact on the roads in that area and also on the trail system that is already existing. How will the City of Fort Collins provide hard-surface and soft-surface trail connections from the development to both CSU and the downtown area for non-motorized (bikes, walkers, hikers), as well as connecting to existing trail infrastructure? What provisions are being made for drainage into the neighborhoods to the immediate east? 1) Where will the access for the development be located? Only Overland? What are the traffic flow plans at Overland and Drake? Will traffic density remediation focus on Drake and Overland (north and leave the [spring canyon park] as is? Is the Hughes area in a flood plain? will this be addressed? The development proposal letter I received about this meeting was very misleading - it suggested that the area could remain open space, frisbee golf course, primarily recreational - but (as is reminiscent of the "building the new stadium" discussion) it appears that a decision has already been made and there is really nothing that citizens or neighbors are going to do to influence this decision. It is just disappointing. Just a comment, no question. How is 700 expensive houses "sustainable housing"? What supposed contingent of Ft Collins is this pleasing? Please work more with Ft Collins natural areas and planning to maintain/expand trails - it seems like this has not been considered very much at this time. Will the developer be providing funding to support the single track trails in the Foothills natural areas which will be HEAVILY AFFECTED by the influx of users (including building and maintaining)? Can the City require the developer to include interest groups in the process (trail user groups, wildlife, etc)? Why not strive to create a model of sustainability, innovation and efficiency with the housing/community plan? This would help preserve and honor the legacy of the area. This is still considering the mixed attainability/affordability of the proposal but has an immense potential for important ecological and human benefit. Shields be affected? We need to plan ahead when it comes to trail impact from increased usage. Wider trails are not the answer! More trails of varying difficulties are one means, so my question is…are the developer and City working together to plan ahead for this change? I am concerned about too much density with housing. Also the affordable housing I feel only pertains to a certain demographic that still make it unaffordable for many. It s a way to shed positive light on something that really won't be [affordable]. Why retail? Safeway and King Sooper's strip malls have constant vacancies. Plus, retail would add even more traffic. Since the development company has already paid CSU $10 million to develop 500-600 housing units, isn't this a done deal? Will anybody actually listen to neighborhood concerns?? Will there be bus routes from Drake to Overland and Overland to Drake? What will be done to maintain current trails with so much additional access? Why is the project designed for high density when it doesn't fit character of area? How are affordable income units being considered percentage wise? Consider neighborhood village center Please provide more specifics for all checked boxes Expand Prospect and Elizabeth to four lanes? Open space is an issue. Will you incorporate any New Urbanist principles with alley loaded garages, porches, tree lawns? Please encourage developer to NOT use the old fashioned garage dominant approach without alleys. Of the total number of units approved, what number or percentage will be affordable? Does FC have any sites identified for retail, restaurants and businesses? Need to preserve "crown jewel" of W Fort Collins How will traffic burden be evaluated for Drake and Prospect intersections? Open space is critical how will it be saved? Is there a way to assure that housing goes to folks who live and work in Fort Collins and not to out of state buyers? 600-700 units is too many. Will an affordable housing be zone for residents? There is very little retail on the west side of town, causing many people to drive and creating more traffic. Unique and appropriate retail would set the development apart and create opportunities for a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. Need to require R.F. - so I acre/lot zoning Traffic on Prospect/Drake/Taft Hill Concerned that a great opportunity for open space will be destroyed. The density is too high!!! Also, as you know the area density is even significantly more due to the development now going up at Drake and Overland [Mountain's Edge] Is the City open to allowing increased density in order to accommodate the provision of income restricted housing? Also ground source heat pumps should be considered. Could you get a discount for large orders? How will you manage the flow of traffic to safeguard cyclists and pedestrians along Overland? Where will bike lanes and sidewalks be placed? How will bus routes serve this area? I'm curious how the Natural Areas may be able to handle the influx of trail users as the new housing is built. Affordable housing - REAL affordable housing was not presented today. It needs to be! CSU should pay their employees a living wage so they can afford to live here. Will there be the addition of traffic circles/lights at Rd 38/Overland and Drake/Overland? I believe open space expansion can accommodate all users, including new and improved mountain bike trails, dog parks, and open spaces. How can we increase the housing and real estate area while AT THE SAME TIME increase open space use? As a gateway to the Foothills, CR42 is an amazing place for outdoor activities that makes Fort Collins what it is. I am concerned about all of the above (traffic, open space, view, housing density, retail, affordable housing). As a local homebuilder and native of Fort Collins the concern I have is how will this project keep FC unique and quaint that our city is! How will the intersections be upgraded to handle all of this new traffic? What access will there be to Maxwell Open Space? 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