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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-139-12/02/2003-APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN UPDATED NATURAL AREAS POLICY AS A POLICY ELEMENT OF THE CITY COMPREHENSIVE RESOLUTION 2003-139 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN UPDATED NATURAL AREAS POLICY AS A POLICY ELEMENT OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHEREAS, on April 1, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution 2003-051, adopting an updated Natural Areas Policy as a policy element of the City's Comprehensive Plan and approving a Conservation Focus Areas Map as a general guide for the implementation of the Updated Natural Areas Policy, so as to benefit and advance the interests of the citizens of Fort Collins; and WHEREAS, as a result of discussions amongst Latimer County and the municipalities in Larimer County regarding the sharing of County Help Preserve Open Space("HPOS")tax revenues with Windsor and Johnstown, which have annexed into Latimer County since the adoption of the County tax measure, those entities have negotiated an Intergovernmental Agreement Conceming County Open Lands Sales Tax Distributions (the "IGA"); and WHEREAS, City staff has recommended that the Natural Areas Policy be updated to acknowledge and endorse the use of City HPOS tax revenues in order to further land conservation in Larimer County; and WHEREAS, in order to allow for the sharing of City HPOS tax revenues with Windsor and Johnstown, pursuant to the IGA, it is necessary for the City to modify the Natural Areas Policy to include the use of HPOS tax revenues pursuant to the IGA; and WHEREAS, although the Conservation Focus Areas Map adopted by the City Council in conjunction with the Natural Areas Policy in April does not identify land conservation of areas in the Johnstown vicinity as of interest and concern to the City, staff believes the encouragement of land conservation in the Johnstown area advances the interests of the City and will be of benefit to the citizens of Fort Collins because it will facilitate the acquisition and conservation of community separators, will assist in the protection of the I-25 corridor viewshed, and will advance other conservation values in the Fort Collins region; and WHEREAS,staff has developed the proposed amended Natural Areas Policy attached hereto as Exhibit "A" (the "Updated Natural Areas Policy") in order to accomplish the changes required in order to allow the sharing of HPOS tax revenues with Windsor and Johnstown, pursuant to the IGA; and WHEREAS,the Natural Resources Advisory Board considered the IGA and proposed policy change on November 5, 2003, and voted to recommend approval of the same; and WHEREAS,the Planning and Zoning Board considered the proposed IGA and policy change on November 20, 2003, and voted to support the IGA and related change in policy; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City and beneficial to the citizens of Fort Collins to provide for the distribution of a portion of the City's HPOS tax revenues to advance land conservation in the Windsor and Johnstown areas, and to approve the Updated Natural Areas Policy,and adopt it as an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. The Updated Natural Areas Policy as shown on Exhibit"A"attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference,is hereby approved, to be implemented together with the Conservation Focus Area Map previously approved by the City Council as a general guide for the implementation of the Updated Natural Areas Policy, so as to benefit and advance the interests of the citizens of Fort Collins. Section 2. The Updated Natural Areas Policy as shown on Exhibit"A"attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, is hereby adopted as an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan to supercede the previously adopted Natural Areas Policy. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 20 day of December, A.D. 2003. ayor ATTEST: Chief Deputy City Clerk EXHIBIT "A" Natural Areas Policy 5.0 POLICY PLAN This chapter looks to the future of natural areas in Fort Collins. Its intent is to (1) summarize pertinent facts about the conservation of local natural areas through a statement of Findings, (2) establish a community vision for natural areas in a statement of Goals and Objectives, and (3) direct future City programs to achieve that vision with specific Policies. The Goals, Objectives and Policies require adoption by the Planning and Zoning Board and approval by City Council. Once adopted, these statements form the foundation of the City's position and approach to natural areas. The Goals, Objectives, and Policies provide the official direction to the City of Fort Collins regarding natural and will be used to guide the development of master plans, work plans, City programs, budget recommendations and other implementation strategies. FINDINGS The following findings regarding local natural areas are based on an inventory of natural areas, a review of existing policies and programs, research into the value of natural areas, and the comments of citizens and organizations. 1. Fort Collins, the surrounding Growth Management Area, and the broader regional area contain remarkably diverse natural areas that (1) provide habitat for the conservation of plants, animals, and their associated ecosystems, (2) aid in the management of stormwater, (3)help clean the water, and (4) provide sites for scientific research, education, art, and recreation, among other values. 2. The citizens of Fort Collins care about local and regional natural areas and expect their City government to take appropriate action to protect and preserve sensitive natural sites and ecosystems. 3. There are many opportunities and challenges that demand a multi-faceted approach to the protection and preservation of natural areas in Fort Collins and regionally. 4. Fort Collins has begun to protect, acquire, and manage land and water resource areas to protect or enhance their natural values. 5. As a home rule city, Fort Collins has the ability to regulate activities in natural areas. The City has used this authority in the past in the areas of land use, pollution prevention, and nuisance control. 6. Land use planning is being incorporated as one of the tools used in Fort Collins to protect natural habitat and features. City Plan, the City of Fort Collins comprehensive plan, communicates our values of environmental protection and I stewardship. The regulatory arm of the City Plan is the Fort Collins Land Use Code, which provides natural habitat and features protection standards along with criteria for site planning and design. The implementation of these standards provides opportunity for better integration of natural habitats and features with planned developments. 7. Several local natural areas support populations of plants and animals that are classified as endangered, threatened, or of special concern at the State or Federal level. 8. Natural areas offer outstanding opportunities for environmental education, nature interpretation, and outdoor recreation. 9. Management and maintenance programs have an important effect on both public and private natural areas. Human use, construction of facilities, landscaping, weed control, and ongoing maintenance activity may all impact the resource values of natural areas. 10. Although few local and regional natural areas are pristine, many of these areas support a high diversity of native plants and animals. Some natural areas have more severe problems with accumulated trash or debris, soil erosion, and undesirable vegetation, and could be enhanced to increase natural resource values. 11. Several species of exotic plants have invaded local and regional natural areas and threaten to out compete native plant communities and reduce wildlife habitat values. 12. Natural areas can be sources of conflict if there are negative interactions between people and wildlife, or if areas are perceived as unattractive or neglected. Acceptable solutions can be devised by involving citizens in the development of management plans, addressing potential conflicts in site design, and combining public education, habitat management, and wildlife population control. 13. In some areas, additional information is needed to assess the status and values of local and regional natural areas, and to evaluate the results of programs to protect or enhance their values. 14. Protection and preservation of natural areas is consistent with and complements other City priorities. 15. While there is opportunity to integrate natural areas conservation into existing City programs, meeting these new needs will require a broader definition of program goals, more integrated planning, and additional resources. 16. Protection and preservation of local and regional natural areas complements the activities of a variety of other governmental entities, including, Larimer County, Poudre School District, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State University, 2 Colorado Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and others. 17. Citizens, landowners, and private organizations want to be actively involved in decisions and programs that shape the future of Fort Collins natural areas. They become involved in natural areas protection in a variety of ways: by protecting natural areas on private lands; by donating land, water, time, or expertise; and by participating in public decisionmaking. The interest and involvement of the community is a necessary resource for the protection of natural areas. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Based on the findings above, the following Goals and Objectives are recommended to capture a community vision for natural areas in Fort Collins. Goal Preserve and protect natural areas within Fort Collins, the Growth Management Area, and regionally, to provide habitat essential to the conservation of plants, animals, and their associated ecosystems and to benefit the citizens of Fort Collins by providing opportunities for education, scientific research, nature interpretation, art, fishing, wildlife observation, hiking, and other appropriate recreational activities. Obiectives 1. Establish a system of publicly-owned natural areas to protect the integrity of critical conservation sites, protect corridors between natural areas, preserve 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. 2. Integrate natural areas into the developed landscape by directing development away from sensitive areas and using innovative planning, design, and management practices. 3. Provide diverse educational, interpretive, and recreational programs to promote understanding and enjoyment of natural areas by the Fort Collins community. 4. Develop effective partnerships between the City, other governmental and non- governmental organizations, and the private sector for the protection and preservation of natural areas. 5. Develop and maintain a data inventory on local and regional natural areas to aid the City and the public in decisions about these areas, and management of publicly- owned lands. 3 POLICIES The following policy statements will guide actions by the City of Fort Collins to achieve the recommended goals and objectives for natural areas. Once adopted by the Planning and Zoning Board and approved by City Council, the policy statements are official statements of intent that set a future course of action for the City. As such, the policies give direction for land use and conservation decisions, and for the development of master plans, work plans, City programs, budget recommendations, and other implementation strategies. Due to budget limitations, City Council priorities, and other factors, not all policies will be implemented at the same time. Definition Natural areas are defined as areas of land or water that contain or support the continued existence of geological, paleontological, ecological, or other natural features that are(1) important to the conservation of natural resources that are classified as endangered or threatened, sensitive to impact from human activity, or otherwise in need of protection; (2) important to the conservation of natural resources that provide environmental protection, recreational, educational, scientific, aesthetic, or economic benefits; and (3) unique or rare examples of our natural heritage. Public Land Management PL-1 Acquire and manage land and water to preserve, protect, and enhance natural areas. PL-2 Implement a system of land conservation acquisition considerations by examining the following factors (listed in no priority order). ♦ Willingness of current property owner to sell ♦ Ecological value and importance ♦ Appropriate recreation opportunities ♦ Costs of acquisition ♦ Long-term stewardship costs ♦ Expected threat to the integrity of the natural resource values of a property (development, agricultural conversion, etc.) ♦ Geographic proximity to Fort Collins PL-3 Coordinate natural areas and other open land programs within the City and region, including coordination and partnerships with municipalities vtho participate in Larimer Countv's Help Preserve Open Space tax and who are signatories to the Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning County Open Lands Sales Tax Distribution, to maximize public benefit and explore ways of integrating natural areas protection into ongoing City programs. 4 PL-4 Manage, maintain, and enhance public natural areas to ensure the ongoing conservation of plants and animals that are in need of protection and their associated ecosystems; control the invasion and spread of undesirable nonnative plants and animals; improve aesthetics; and provide opportunities for public use. PL-5 Manage conflicts between people and natural areas through site design,public information and education, habitat manipulation, and plant and animal population management techniques. PL-6 Involve citizens in planning the management of public natural areas. Private Land Management PR-1 Use the City's regulatory powers to (1) direct growth away from sensitive natural features, (2) encourage the integration of natural areas into the developed landscape, and (3)preserve and protect the resources and values of natural areas. PR-2 Encourage and assist efforts by private landowners and organizations to integrate natural areas into new development and to protect, restore, or enhance privately-owned natural areas. Recreation, Interpretation, and Education RE-I Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, formal and informal education, and interpretive programs on local natural features to the community. Cooperation With Others CO-1 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 preserve local natural areas. Public Information PI-1 Collect, maintain, and distribute up-to-date information on the location, values, status, and management needs of local and regional natural areas. Program Funding PF-1 Seek alternative funding sources to implement natural area policies and programs, including private, State, and Federal grants, and donations of money, property, and in- kind services. Program Evaluation PE-1 Report periodically on the status of natural areas in the community. 5