HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-073-07/15/2025-SUBMITTING A CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE REQUIRING THAT THE FORMER HUGHES STADIUM PROPERTY BE DESIGNRESOLUTION 2025-073
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
SUBMITTING A CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE REQUIRING
THAT THE FORMER HUGHES STADIUM PROPERTY BE
DESIGNATED AND USED 100% AS A CITY NATURAL AREA TO
A VOTE OF THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT
THE REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025
A.Under Article X, Section 1 of the City Charter, the registered electors of the
City have the power to propose a measure to the City Council, and if the City Council fails
to adopt a measure so proposed, then to adopt or reject such ordinance or resolution at
the polls.
B.An initiative relating to the purchase by the City, zoning, and use of the
former Hughes Stadium property was approved by the registered electors of Fort Collins
at the regular City election on April 6, 2021.
C.An initiative petition amending the terms of the 2021 initiative so as to
require that the former Hughes Stadium property be designated and used 100% as City
natural area has been submitted to the City, and the City Clerk has certified said petition
as sufficient for submission of the initiated ordinance to a vote of the people at the next
regular City election on November 4, 2025.
D.The City Clerk has presented said petition to the City Council as provided
in Article X, Section 2(f) of the City Charter.
E.Under Article X, Section 3(a) of the City Charter, upon presentation of an
initiative petition certified as to sufficiency by the City Clerk, the City Council must either
adopt the citizen-initiated ordinance without alteration within 25 business days or submit
said citizen-initiated ordinance, in the form petitioned for, to the registered electors of the
City.
F.The ballot title for the measure must identify the measure as either a city-
initiated or citizen-initiated measure.
G.The submission clause must be brief, must not conflict with those selected
for any petition previously filed for the same election, and must unambiguously state the
principle of the provision sought to be added.
In light of the foregoing recitals, which the Council hereby makes and adopts as
determinations and findings, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby submitted to the registered electors of the City at the
next regular city election to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the following
proposed citizen-initiated ordinance:
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[THIS IS THE EXACT LANGUAGE OF THE INITIATED ORDINANCE AND
CANNOT BE CHANGED IN ANY WAY]
WHEREAS, a citizen-initiated ballot initiative ("ballot initiative") related to the future
of the former Hughes Stadium property appeared on the April 6,2021 City of Fort
Collins municipal election ballot; and
WHEREAS, the ballot initiative required the City of Fort Collins ("the City") to
rezone the former Hughes Stadium property as a Public Open Land, acquire the
property, and use it for "parks, recreation and open lands, natural areas, and
wildlife rescue and education"; and
WHEREAS, the ballot initiative was approved by 68.61 % of the Fort Collins citizens
who voted in the April 6, 2021 election; and
WHEREAS, Article X, Section 1 of the Fort Collins charter reserves the right of
registered electors of the City "to propose ordinances or resolutions to the Council,
and if the Council fails to adopt a measure so proposed, to adopt or reject such
ordinance or resolution at the polls," with any voter-approved initiative having the
same legal effect as an ordinance or resolution adopted by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, following the passage of the ballot initiative, the City rezoned the
former Hughes Stadium property as a Public Open Land and acquired the former
Hughes Stadium property, as directed by the voters; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of the ballot initiative and subsequent purchase of
the former Hughes Stadium property, public discussions and stakeholder
processes have occurred regarding the specific allowable future uses of the former
Hughes Stadium property; and
WHEREAS, some residents and elected officials have expressed confusion about
the ballot initiative's intent related to the future uses of the former Hughes Stadium
property during those discussions and stakeholder processes; and
WHEREAS, the City has not yet decided what future uses to allow on the former
Hughes Stadium property; and
WHEREAS, the intent of the 2021 ballot initiative was to conserve the former
Hughes Stadium property in public trust; and that the entire Hughes property would
be and remain in perpetuity a publicly-owned, operated and maintained protected
open space used for low-impact recreational activities consistent with the uses
allowed in a Natural Area; and
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WHEREAS, the 2021 ballot initiative further intended that the former Hughes
Stadium property be conserved for ecological restoration and the integrity of its
wildlife habitat consistent with the rules of a Natural Area; and
WHEREAS, the most appropriate way to reflect the intent of the 2021 ballot
initiative as codified in subsequent City ordinances and resolutions is to designate
and use the entire former Hughes Stadium property as a Natural Area as defined
and governed by Article IX, Chapter 23 of the Fort Collins municipal code; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins has preserved over 40,000 acres of Natural Areas since
1973;and
WHEREAS, Natural Areas help make Fort Collins a highly desirable place to live,
work, and visit; and
WHEREAS, the former Hughes Stadium property occupies land in between and in
close proximity to the current Maxwell and Pineridge Natural Areas, creating a
contiguous area of unique ecological value; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins residents have repeatedly affirmed the importance of
preserving ecological integrity, connecting people to nature, and conserving
Natural Areas by the City, including but not limited to a 2020 City survey of its
residents that indicated Natural Areas, wildlife habitat, and hiking trails were their
most important outdoor priorities; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins residents currently use existing Natural Areas to enjoy the
low-impact recreation opportunities Natural Areas provide, such as walking, hiking,
biking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, and fishing; the educational opportunities
and programs provided to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds; the
beautiful landscapes and views they provide; and the importance of Natural Areas
to North American indigenous peoples' ceremonies and cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, the City 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 residents' present needs and
the needs of future generations without compromising the ecosystems upon which
we all depend; and
WHEREAS, the preservation and use of the former Hughes Stadium property as
a Natural Area would provide an invaluable social, economic, and environmental
resource for current and future generations of Fort Collins residents.
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.
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Section 2. That the voter-approved Hughes Stadium Property ballot initiative
language, as reflected in the City of Fort Collins Resolution 2021-024 and the
"Proposed Citizen Initiated Ordinance" on the April 6, 2021 regular municipal
election ballot, shall be modified to clarify that the entire former Hughes Stadium
property be used only as a Natural Area as defined by and subject to the rules of
Article IX, Chapter 23 of the Fort Collins municipal c ode.
Section 3. That the Hughes Stadium property ballot initiative language, as
adopted by Fort Collins voters during the April 6, 2021 election, shall be amended
as follows:
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. A NATURAL AREA.
Section 4. That the City of Fort Collins shall make necessary conforming
amendments to its land use regulations, municipal code, previously enacted
council resolutions and ordinances, and any other relevant documents to reflect
the aforementioned clarification.
Section 5. That this ballot initiative shall take effect immediately upon passage
by the majority of the voters of Fort Collins during the first available regular
municipal election and apply to the Hughes Stadium property ballot initiative
approved by voters on April 6, 2021.
Section 6. 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 ballot initiative.
Section 2. The foregoing proposed citizen-initiated ordinance is hereby
submitted to the registered electors of the City at said regular city election in substantially
the following form:
PROPOSED CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE
An ordinance modifying the citizen-initiated ordinance approved by the registered
electors in April 2021, which required the City of Fort Collins to rezone, acquire,
and use for specified purposes the approximately 165-acre parcel of real property
formerly home to the Hughes Stadium, so as to require that the property be
designated and used 100% as a City natural area.
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