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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/5/2022 - Memorandum From Kelly Smith Re: March 22, 2022 Work Session Summary - Oil And Gas Development 1 Community Development & Neighborhood Services 281 North College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 970.221.6750 970.224.6134 - fax fcgov.com/planning MEMORANDUM DATE: March 25, 2022 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers THRU: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager Caryn Champine, Planning, Development, and Transportation Director Paul Sizemore, Community Development and Neighborhood Services Director Rebecca Everette, Planning Manager FROM: Kelly Smith, Senior Environmental Planner SUBJECT: March 22, 2022 Work Session Summary - Oil and Gas Development Attendees Caryn Champine and Kelly Smith presented a summary of draft regulations for oil and gas development. All City Councilmembers were present. Discussion Summary Staff presented an overview regarding progress on oil and gas regulations including: Timeline and progress Overview of regulations under development Reverse setbacks Setback distances proposed in draft regulations Next steps in the process Staff asked for feedback on the general direction of draft regulations, whether existing reverse setback regulations should be amended and to what degree (which was not part of the original scope of the project), and if City Council would like staff to return for another Work Session. Topics discussed include: Discussion of project delays and time required to complete the work Implications in considering changes to reverse setbacks Concerns regarding leaks at the oil field site outside of City limits, including current violation status and City, County and State engagement in seeking resolution. Staff heard support for: Exploring amendments to current reverse setback regulations, which apply to new buildings encroaching near existing oil and gas facilities. This includes eliminating the current exemption to properties separated by roads. Opening a discussion regarding purchase of mineral rights 2 Next Steps Staff will return to Council for another Work Session in the fall to discuss draft regulations, additional public engagement and draft reverse setback regulations. This will include a geographic assessment of the cumulative impacts of proposed regulations on existing wells and available area for new wells. Staff will continue developing regulations and determine costs to administer the regulations. Costs will be provided at the next City Council Work Session. Staff will follow up with a memo or at the next City Council Work Session on cost data related to the purchase of mineral rights, and the process/requirements for operators to plug and abandon facilities. will follow up with an executive session and/or memo to address questions related to potential takings associated with reverse setbacks.