HomeMy WebLinkAbout001 CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE - 04/06/2021 - CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE REGARDING THE REZONING AND ACQUISTION OF THE HUGHES STADIUM ANNEXATION PCITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE NO. 001, 2021
WHEREAS, the citizens of Fort Collins have shown strong support to preserve and provide open
space, natural areas, community separators, wildlife habitat, and trails for today and for the future;
and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins citizens currently enjoy their open spaces and natural areas; the
recreation they provide, such as walking, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, and
fishing; the educational opportunities and programs provided to people of all ages and
backgrounds; and the beautiful landscapes and views they provide; and
WHEREAS, open space, natural areas, wildlife habitat, community separators, agricultural lands,
and trails benefit all members of the Fort Collins community; and
WHEREAS, conserved open space and natural areas help make Fort Collins a h ighly desirable
place to live, work, and visit; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins values sustainability in policies, plans, strategies and projects
that align with its Triple Bottom Line decision-making philosophy of social, economic and
environmental well-being to meet its citizens' present needs and the needs of future generations
without compromising the ecosystems upon which we all depend; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Fort Collins have provided continuous funding for open space and
natural areas acquisition and maintenance since first voting for a capital improvement sales tax in
1973 and approving extensions or new revenue sources in every election such a question has
appeared on the ballot; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins has conserved over 40,000 acres of open space and natural areas since
1973; and
WHEREAS, the property formerly home to the Colorado State University's Hughes Stadium is a
currently undeveloped 164.56-acre parcel of land that was recently annexed into the city of Fort
Collins; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins has many distinct zoning districts in its land use code; and
WHEREAS, one zoning classification in the Fort Collins land use code is "Public Open Lands,"
which currently allows for parks, recreation and open lands, and wildlife rescue and education
centers, subject to administrative or Planning and Zoning Board review; and
WHEREAS, the Hughes Stadium property is currently zoned as Transition District (T) pursuant
to Division 4.12 of its land use code, which is intended for properties for which there are no specific
and immediate plans for development; and
WHEREAS, the Hughes Stadium property occupies an area in between the current Maxwell
Natural Area and Pineridge Natural Area; and
Ordinance Approved By Voters
April 6, 2021
See Also Resolution 2020-144
WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Hughes Stadium Property and conversion into a public open
lands area would build upon the City's significant history of preserving open spaces and would
provide an invaluable social, economic, and environmental resource for current and future
generations of Fort Collins residents; and
WHEREAS, the Hughes Stadium property would represent a crown jewel acquisition for Fort
Collins open space; and
WHEREAS, absent acquisition and conservation efforts under this ordinance, the Hughes Stadium
property would forever be lost to residential and/or commercial development; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Hughes Stadium property by the City of Fort Collins should
occur using existing voter-approved open space sales tax revenue and other funds currently
available to the City, financing agreements, grants, partnerships with other local governments, or
other available fiscally responsible mechanisms; and
WHEREAS, publicly available information indicates Colorado State University values the Hughes
Stadium property at $10 million, and the City should use that figure as a starting point in its
negotiations to acquire the property at its fair market value; and
WHEREAS, the rezoning of the Hughes Stadium property into the Public Open Lands (P-O-L)
zoning district pursuant to Article l, Division 1.3 and Article 4, Division 4.13 of the land use code
would be necessary to convert the property into an area for parks, recreation and open lands, and
wildlife rescue and education.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the
recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City shall acquire the Hughes Stadium property, a 164.56-acre parcel of land
legally described in Section 3 of Fort Collins Ordinance No. 123 (2018) ("Annexing the Property
Known as the Hughes Stadium Property Annexation to the City of Fort Collins, Colorado") at its
fair market value for the purpose of using it for parks, recreation and open lands, natural areas, and
wildlife rescue and education.
Section 3. That notwithstanding any contrary designation in the April 2019 City Plan or any action
taken by the Council subsequent to its annexation of the Hughes Stadium property but before the
passage of this Ordinance, the City shall rezone the Hughes Stadium property as Public Open
Lands (P-O-L) zoning district pursuant to Division 4.13 of the City of Fort Collins land use code
immediately upon passage of this Ordinance.
Section 4. That the City shall not de-annex, cease acquisition efforts, or subsequently rezone the
Hughes Stadium property to any designation other than Public Open Lands without voter approval
of a separate initiative referred to the voters by City Council.
Section 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage by the majority of the
voters of Fort Collins during the first available regular city election, and any registered voter in
Fort Collins has legal standing to petition for injunctive and/or declaratory relief related to City
noncompliance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
Approved by the voters at the April 6, 2021 Regular Municipal Election