HomeMy WebLinkAboutSTRACHAN FARM ANNEXATION & ZONING ..... 4/25/94 P & Z BOARD HEARING - 18-94, A - REPORTS - CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONPOLICY
EXPLANATION/DISCUSSION
43. The City shall prepare and
43. T h i s p o l i c y d e f i n es
utilize an environmental
more specifically what type
management plan which will
of environmental policy
include the following
areas need to be addressed
measures•
in a project impact assess-
ment system. This policy
a. Conservation of exhaus-
identifies the fact that
t i b 1 e resources;
the City recognizes argi-
cultural land to be an
b. Identification of
exhaustible resource. The
environmentally scarce
City must stand ready to
and valuable lands,
use fee simple acquisition
s u c h as w i l d l i f e
at near market price with
habitats and lands of
lease back provisions as an
agricultural importance.
alternative management
technique to place agri-
c. Requiring development
cultural land into City
to mitigate negative
open spaces. An environ-
impacts on environmen-
mental management plan
tally scarce and
would include additional
valuable lands;
policies to address the
listed concerns. Indi-
d. Promoting the incorpor-
genuous plantings such as
ation of environmen-
short grass, prairie
tally scarce and
grasses, shrubs, cacti ,
valuable lands, includ-
etc., can be pleasing, low
ing lands of agricul-
maintenance, and consume
tural importance into
little water other than
open spaces or historic
natural rainfall after
preserves;
they are established. Flat
rate water fees provide no
e. Identification of the
incentive for the judicious
effects of development
use of domestic water.
on ambient air quality,
Native and drought resis-
both in the vicinity of
tant plantings can be
the site and to the
judiciously used in areas
Fort Collins air basin
of low traffic or in
as a whole;
conjunction with green
areas to reduce overall
f. Encouraging landscaping
irrigation requirements.
of open spaces with
Care must be taken to avoid
appropriate native or
detrimental effects on the
drought resistant
environment and attractive -
varieties of vegetation
ness of the community.
along with attractively
While flat rate water fees
developed green areas
provide no incentive for
to provide a balanced
the judicious use of
a n d p l e a s i n g city
domestic water, too hasty a
scope;
conversion to a metered
system may have adverse
effects on trees, lawns,
and shrubs in the community
-39-
11
1-4
■�4
DRAFT
within the City, and to foster public enjoyment of wildlife, th
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program has been very popular. Thousand.
of citizens have requested the program materials, which provid
basic guidance on ways to enhance the habitat value of smal
landscape areas. Twenty-two families have submitted individua
landscape plans for certification by the Backyard Wildlife Habita
Committee.
URBAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY DESIGNATION (1987)
Recognition of the importance of wildlife habitats and othe:
natural areas in Fort Collins was further enhanced in 1987 when the
National Institute for Urban Wildlife named the City as the firs'
municipal Urban Wildlife Sanctuary in the United States. Ii
conjunction with the designation by the Institute, City Counci:
also adopted a resolution that declared the City an urban wildlife
sanctuary. Although primarily a symbolic recognition of existin(
programs, Council action included three significant polic,
statements that had not previously been articulated. These were a:
follows:
o That recognition of Fort Collins as an urban wildlife
sanctuary is desired to formally identify Fort Collins as
a municipality that provides for the needs of urban
wildlife and recognizes the value of urban wildlife as a
component of quality of life.
o That protection of habitat is an effective way to provide
for the needs of urban wildlife in Fort Collins.
o That City Council supports existing and planned policies
and programs that provide for the needs of urban
wildlife.
WETLAND AND WILDLIFE HABITAT MAPS (1988)
Another important step toward this Natural Areas Policy Plai
was taken in 1988 when the Planning and Zoning Board endorsed thi
use of two maps of sensitive natural areas as part of the Lan(
Development Guidance System. Developed by the Natural Resource;
Division, in conjunction with a committee of knowledgeable
citizens, the maps were the (1) Wetlands Map of Fort Collins an(
the Surrounding Urban Growth Area, and (2) Wildlife Habitat Map of
Fort Collins and the Surrounding Urban Growth Area. The}
represented the first effort to identify sensitive natural areas of
a citywide basis.
When they adopted the maps, the Planning and Zoning Board mad(
two important policy statements.
2-8 Draft 4/8/91
DRAFT
statements are included in Technical Memorandum 1. Key statements
that apply most directly to the conservation of natural areas are
s.
summarized below.
?�,
Section: Impacts of Development
Goal Insure that future development will be
to the
accomplished so as to create the least degradation
.�T
environment.
!tt
Objectives.
o Encourage the development of a future land use
a
plan which deals sensitively with the
relationships between the man-made environment
and natural environments.
o Direct growth away from environmentally unique
lands which can be shown to have special
values to people -- natural resource, scenic,
recreational, historical -- unless the
negative impacts can be effectively mitigated.
o Consider the long-range ecological effects and
costs when addressing short-term and long-term
problems.
o Insure that the type, design, and location of
new development be compatible with
environmental considerations.
Goal Encourage land use planning which will protect new and
existing development from flood hazards.
Objective:
o Discourage development within the floodplain
areas of Spring Creek, Fossil Creek, Dry
Creek, and other drainage ways.
Section: open Space preservation/Acquisition
objectives:
o Give high priority to achieving the goals of
the Fort Collins Open Space Plan (1974),
insuring the completion of the continuous
Draft 4/8/91
I
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5-11
5-12
5-15
5-19
5-21
5-24
5-26
5-28
5-29
1 . 6-1
PLANS
ES)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
Anyone who has walked the trails along the banks of the Poudre
River, watched a wedge of Canada geese fly across a fall sunset,
seen a great blue heron stalk fish along the edge of a pond, or
picked a bouquet of grasses and wildflowers from the prairie next
to the foothills knows something of the richness of the natural
areas that occur in Fort Collins. They know, too, that the natural
areas that remain intermingled within the developed landscape
enhance the quality of urban life. Wetlands, waterways, riparian
forests and other natural areas provide scenic beauty, recreation,
water quality protection, opportunities for interpretation and
education, and a greater sense of spaciousness within our urban
setting. Within Fort Collins, natural areas help meet the complex
needs of people -- in combination with our homes, schools, and
businesses, natural areas provide important habitats for people.
Although most residents of Fort Collins probably understand
some of the values of local natural areas, many may not appreciate
the surprising richness of the natural resources of our community.
Wetlands, riparian forests, and native prairies are considered
threatened ecosystems by many biologists; prime examples occur
within the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. Bald eagles winter
along the Poudre River and near local reservoirs. Great horned
owls nest along the river, near the Colorado State University
campus, and downtown. White-tailed and mule deer frequent stream
drainages. A tiny rare plant, Bell's twinpod, occurs on the
hogback west of town and on only two other sites in Colorado. Two
rare butterflies find living space along short stretches of the
Poudre River and Mail Creek. Within the urban setting of Fort
Collins, natural areas provide important habitats for the
conservation of plants and animals and their associated ecosystems.
This document addresses two key needs: Habitat for
Conservation and Habitat for People. The two often conflict. But,
both needs can be met, with forethought and planning. The intent
of this plan is to set a direction for the future management of
natural areas in Fort Collins that will meet the needs of the
citizens of the City as well as the needs of the many other
creatures with whom we share the land.
Specifically, the objectives of the Natural Areas Policy Plan
are as follows:
(1) To identify and evaluate important natural areas within
the Urban Growth Area with regard to their ecological
significance, sensitivity to impact, and need for
conservation;
/91 1 1-1 Draft 4/8/91
Naturat Areas Pot,i.cy Ptan (con It. )
Fossit Creek Resource Area
"Most 06 the 6uture growth .in Fort Cot.( ins is occurring .in the southern part
o6 the City. As such, the primary ehattenge in the Fo,6.6it. Creek Naturat Reaoutce
Area is to maintain .important naturat resources as devetopment occurs. There
.ins opportunity to work eooperatZvety with tandownecs to ptan 6uture growth to
protect hey areas. A con6.i,6tent, system -wide approach to design and open space
acgwi s.iti,on woutd greatty aid the 6uture maintenance o6 naturat areas in the
Foss.i,t Creek Resource Areas. TW woutd .inctude gu.i.det.ine,6 bon setbacks and bu66er
zones, ...." p. 4-25
Land Use Ptanni.ng
"As deser.Lbed .in Chapter. 2.0, 6eveAat etements o6 the Comprehensive Han
empha,s ze the use o6 tand use planning and %egutat.i.on to protect naturat areas
and other envitonmentatty seance resources. The 1977 Goats and Objectives ate
quite 5peci6Zc., stating "DiAect growth away 6rom env.Aonmentatty unique tands which
can be shown to have spec.i.at vatues to people -- natural resource, scenic,
necKeati.onat, hi,6tor.i.cat -- unless the negative .impacts can be e66eetivety
mitigated. S.im.i,tarty, the 1979 Land Use Pot.i.cies Ptan Batted 6or an enviv onmentat
management ptan that woutd (in pant) .i.denti.6y env.inonmentatty seance and vatuabte
tands such as w.i,tdt,i.6e habitats and require devetopment to mitigate negative
.impacts on these tands." p,5-6
"One concern i,6 that not att sections o6 the Land devetopment xegu.tat.ion.6
address naturat areas...... Mod.i6.i,cat.i.ons to these sections o6 the City Code
are needed."
" ...Because many o6 the vatues o6 naturat areas depend on the way .ind.i,v.i.duat
sites 6unction .together within a system, there is a need 6or a targen geographic
6ocus to provide t,i,nkages and continuity between sdte,5."
Objective: "Use Land use ptann.i.ng and devetopment regutati.ons to conserve
naturat areas by d.ineet.ing devetopment away 6rom 6ens.iti.ve sites, integrating
naturat areas into Land use ptanz and project design, and adequately mitigating
the unaiVoidabte .impacts o6 development. p. 5-7
PLeE;im.inary dra6t o6 the Na-tuxat Aaeah Poti.cy Ptan /on the City oK Font Co tins
pubtizhed Ap,% 8, 1
Under. the 5ecti.on concerning Envitonmentat Protection
"IdeAti.6.ication o6 enuiltonmentatty scarce and vatuabte tandB, Buch as
wi dt.i.6e hab.i,tatB and tands o6 agr.i,cuttutai' .importance:
"Requ.iring deveeopment to mitigate negative .impaet6 on enviaonmentatty scarce
and vatuabte tandB; --
"PLomoting the ircorporat.ion o6 env.vconmentatty Bcarce and vatuabte tands, ... "
p. 2-4
UndeA the section concecn.ing Land Development Guidance SyBtems (7982)
"Ctitec.ion #14. 76 the Bite conta.ina an area that servu as a habitat,
na,turat Good Bounce, neSt.ing ptace, w.i-ntec-i.ng, on Bounce o6 water boa witdt.i.6e
........have Bpec.iat preeaut.ionz been .imptemented .in the ptan to prevent the
creation 06 envitonmentat dn6tuencu adverse to the preBeevation o6 these areaB?"
p. 2-5
Under the -section on Urban w.itdt.i6e Sanctuary Designation (1987)
(Bee copy)
Under Bect.ion o6 ConBecvat.ion 06 Species and Communities
Vortdw.ide, toBB o6 habitat and 6peciu extinction is one o6 the most 6ec.iou.6
enviAonmentat probtemB we 6ace today. The need to protect naturat areaB o6 Font
Cott.in,s Leaches ban beyond the need to preBeAve habitat bon tocat on even State
wi dt,i6e speciez. Font Cottir-6 .is toeated atong a major migratory 6tyway bon
watec60wt, sho4ebiids, bivdB o6 prey and 5ongbiAd-6, and prov-i.deB vatuabte
habitat bon Bpec.ies that may spend moat o6 the year .in d.id6ecent Btates on.
countt-ie,s. Some migrant songb.iAd,3 make yeaLty trekB between breeding grounds in
northern Canada and w.i.nten.i-ng gaoundB in South Amec-i,ca. ... "
p. 3-1
Under the section on Community Image
"Many 6actoLB i tertaee to create an image boa a city, .nctud.ing the
Betting, shyt,ine, Btneet pattern and teve2 o6 congest.ion, design and tandscap.ing,
and the overatt quatity o6 t.i-6e. The overact quaUty o6 ti6e .in .in6tueneed, .in
pant, Prom the respect a community has bon the env.iAonment. PLotect.ion o6
.important naturat areas haB atready had an ,in6tuenee on how Fort Cott.i.ns i/s
perceived by .itB citizens, other commun.itieB, and the wortd.
"Prev.i.ous tocat e660rts to conserve and create naturat areaB, .i.netud.ing the
Backyard w.itdt.L6e Habitat Program and the WettandB and Witd?-i6e Habitat Program,
have iesutted in Fort Cott.ins' designation as an urban wiPdtli6e sancturay by the
Nat.ionat Institute 6oL Urban w.itdli6e." p. 3-7
Under section on Ident.i.6.icat.ion 06 Na,turat Areas are t.i sted the 6ottowing:
"Support Lane or .important an,imat species and eummun.i ti.eB
"Contain high quati.ty witdt.i6e habitat
"SeAve aB a w.ildPi.Pe coLL.idor between high quality wZtdt.i.6e habita,tB"
p. 4-1
Under the 6ecti.on on Ecotog.icat Setting
"Today, Font Cott.im has a wide diversity 06 witdt.i6e habitats, which .inctude
native b.iotog.icat communities as wett aB those 6ormed oL a -teased by human activity.
PLeBecvation and enhancement o6 both types o6 habitats are important to aBBure
the conservation 06 our naturat ateaB 6or the bene6.it 06 witdt.i6e and the citizens
o6 Fort Cott.i-nB. " p. 4-3
Harmony Cott.i.dor Plan Match 1991
A quote worth noting -- "AtL good planning must begin with a survey o6 actual
tezoutees: .the .Landscape, the people, the work -a -day act.Lv.i,t.Les .in a community.
Good panning does not begin with an abstract and arbdttaty scheme that it seeks
to .impose on a community; .it begins with a knowledge o6 existing conditions
and oppottu it.Les. " Lew.i s Mum6ond.
Dta.inage Basins and Itt.igation Canals
"AS development occurs, 5ut6aee tun-o66 .i.ncteases, resuZt.i.ng in stotmwateA
being d.ivente.d .into a Series o6 swages, detention ponds, ehannets, iAt.igat.ion
ditches and/or streams untie uPtimatety the 6tows teach the Cache La Poudte Rivet.
The study area is .laced with this network o6 dtainageways and iA,%i-gati.on canals.
Stream bank etos.i.on and water quality issues ate concerns .in a t three basins . . .
since both Mait Creek and Fossit Cteek have experienced 6tood.ing, bank etos.i.on and
stream degtadati.on." p.2-3
Land Use Hann in_q
"Fot the past ten years, the City has promoted a mixed .Land use concept .in
Fort CoLP.i.ns because o6 the associated social, economic and envitonmental
bene6its." p. 2-8
Planning Got the 6utute -- The Ptoeess
(e) "Ptov.i.de bon a variety o6 housing types."
(6) "Pnesetue and protect existing tui.dent.i,at ne.ighbothoods 6tom .inttus.Lve
of diztuptive development. p. 3-5
Issues - Visual cons.Ldenat.ions
"AS one enters the cott.idot 6tom the east, the .Landscape character along
Harmony Road iz a unique blend o6 tutaL scenery and high qua-ity, campus-ti.ke
o66.Lee and .i.ndustt.i,af development. " p. 4-2
(Let's not .Lose that unique blend by doing with a t tutat settings!)
The Floodplain
"The 100-yeat 6loodptain .iA the most signL6icant development eonstta.i,nt in
the gateway area. Most o6 the ptopvrty in the gateway area ties within the 700
year 6Loodpta.in, and s.igni6icant pont.Lons o6 the area ate within, the 6loodway.
Land .Located .in the 100 year 6Loodpta.i.n has a one percent chance o6 6lood.ing in
a given year. The 6toodway is the land area that must be reserved in otdeA to
di,scahtge the base 6tood without cumulatively .incte.as.tng the watet 5ut6ace
mote than s.ix inches. Under cuttent po ides, no development is altowed within
the 6Loodway. The areas between the 6.loodway and the 100 year 6loodptaix have
some potent-i.aL Got development .i6 blood-ptoo6.i.ng .its addressed. Since 5exious
.land development reztt.ictions ate associated with the 6toodpZa.in and natural
tesoutee areas, the gateway .is an exeePtent tesoutce Got ae.teinate, .less .intensive
.land uses. The t.Lvex and its 6toodpta.in along with associated wetlands and
witdei,6e habitat i.6 an .integrated system. The abit ty to manage 6loodpla.i.n lands
Got apptopt.i.ate uses .is impon,tant to the r.ivet's natutaL tezouxce vatue." p.5-4
F.i.nat Repo,ct o{ the Cache La Poudte Rivet Nationat Recteat.ion Study Sept. 7989
G. Natutat Resoutcez
"Fot .the purposes og this study, natutat tesoutces og 6ign.i6 icance ate those which
have (1) .intt.i,nsic biotog.icat of ecotog.i.cat value, and/ot (2) ate .land types
tequ Ai.ng spec.iat management consddetatd.on and/ot (3) ate tesoutces which ptov.i.de
quat.ity tecteat.con and .intetptet-i.ve oppottundt.ies. When viewing the Cache La
Poudte Cott.idot, these d.i6t.inct.ions ate dnsepatabte. Natutat tesoutce ateas
serve a mutti,pte gunction and diligent management .v requited. These areas,
genetatty tacking .in most urban setting, ate ptec..ious when they do occur close
to urban ate.as, as .in Fott Cott.ins." p. IV-17
2. Wettand/witdtige/Vegetat.ive Ateas
"The City o6 Font Cottins Depattment og Natutat Resoutces, as pant og the C.ity's
Witdt.C6e Habitat Management Ptan (endotsed .in 1988 by the City Ptann.i.ng and
Zoning Boatd), mapped witdt.i6e habitat areas, .inctud.i.ng the t.ivet, water bodies,
tepat-i.an vegetation and adjacent areas o6 .i,ntetest. The adjacent areas o6
.i.ntetest ate lands close to the t.ivet which wattant speciat attention."
"An etement og the Wi2dt.C6e Habitat Management Ptan .inctudes the .identi6.icati.on
o6 .land covet types and their tetat(.onship to spec.i4 i.c species o6 tocat .intetest
and concetn." p. IV-19
3. The Ftoodpta,in
"The 100-year gtoodptai.n .is both a Land development constta,i.nt and a key natutat
tesoutce. Pattty because there ate s.ign.i4i.cant Land development testtZcti.ons
within the gtoodptain, .it .is an e.xcettent tesoutce got attetnate, less .i.ntens.ive
.land uses. Such uses .i.nctude tecteat.ion, open space and witdt.i6e habitat. The
gtoodpta,in contains quatity witdt.i6e habitat and a d.ivetse ecotog.icat environment.
As the t.i.vet and .its gtoodpta.in ate an .i,ntegtated system, the ab.it ty to manage
6toodpta.in lands got apptopt-i.ate uses bene6dts the t.ivetlz natutat tesoutce
value and ptov.i.des a logic got the ptotect.ion and enhancement og these lands
got tecteation and witdt.i.6e value." p. IV-20
"F.i.gty percent o6 the study area iz within the 100-year 6toodpta,in. The gtoodpta,in
.iA the mast s.ign.i6Zcant natutat tesoutce cons.idetat.i.on (aside 6tom the t.ivet
.itset6) within the study area. It tesutts do the most sttingent land use
conttots and constta.ints as the Fedenat mandate vi tuatty ptohib.its development
within the 6toodway .. and places testt.ict.i.ons on the tema.in.ing gtoodpta.in. ...
Thus enotmous land tesoutce, in conjunction with apptopt.i.ate ptotect.ion and use,
teptesents a signi6icant tecteat.i.on and natutat tesoutce oppottundty. p. IV-20
5. Visuat Resoutces
"Rutat -- Being genetatty undeveloped, tutat tandscapes teptesent v.isuat open
space and ate pteas.ing to the eye. Fatms, tanches and other open space areas
ate an .impottant visuat tesoutce. They ate genetatty o6 modetate to high
vd/uat dntetest." p. IV-22
It shoutd atso be noted that the Land below the t.idge (Fossil Cteeh Intet Ridge
.v6 inundated with aqui,.itz and that tun-o64 water coutd have a negative impact
on watet. quat.ity in th.vs area.
The,6i,6 on Growth Manaaement PoP,icu and Evatuat.ion bu Pau.la A. Cutteu 1984
In the 19601s the .tnad.i ti.on. d ethic o6 b.iggvL i,5 bet -ten was beginning to be
que6t.ioned. P. 1
In 1982 the Land Development Guidance System was developed. It state,
in part ... "It .i,6 an attempt to pi'an mote tat.iona ty than it po66.ibte under
ttaditi-onal zoning. Much o6 the ba6iz Got this type o6 4y6tem ties .in the concepts
utZ ized by env.veonmentaf .impact statements, wheAeby a development .iJ measured .in
teAms o6 .it6 zociveconom.ic and enb.i.Aonmental .impacts upon .its neighbors and the
community."
"UndeA the 6ystem developed .in Fort Cofti.ns, any devetopet may bypa66 zoning
requinement6 .i6 the proposal .i6 5ubm.itted undeA the Land Development Guidance
System. The Guidance System utabti.6hed vat.iou6 pen6otmance ctite)Lia and 6tandatd6
Got att types o6 development, ba6ed on the size, location and natutat resources
o6 the bite and the development's 6ati66action o6 the 6oc.i.at, economic and aesthetic
need6 06 the community. Using the Guidance System, a devetopet may propose any
type o6 development bon a parcel 06 .land, tegatdfes6 o6 the zoning on that
part.icutar patcef." p. 46
The LOGS contains two type6 o6 review ctitu i.a. A pact o6 th.i6 er.i,teAia
.ins a66ut.i.ng eompatabit i,ty and env.iAonmentat 6tandatd6. p. 47
The development ptopo6at iz tev.iewed by the ptann.i.ng 6ta66 and other city
6ta66 to "assure butt d.iscfosure o6 any potent.i,af .impacts and to enable the
vat.i.ous city depattment6 to ptepate bon the development. 16 .it is detenm.ined_ _
by a membeA o6 the planning sta66 that .there wilt be a 6.igni, icant .impact on
ex.i st.(ng ne.ighbothoods, a ne.ighbothood meeting is held between the devefopeA,
a planning 6ta66 membeA and ne6.idents o6 the a66ected ne.ighbothood. The devetopet
.is requ.iAed to .i.ncotpotate te.ident concerns .into the project." p. 47
One o6 the cr.itism6 o6 this plan .ins that devetopet6 who have worked with
the ptann.ing department repeatedly know how to present ptojects Got acceptance
-- of 6.i.nd the "loop holes" and thus 6k.vct the coneenns o6 an area. p. 48
space areas with those in adjacent developments in order to
form a continuous, linear open space network.
Environmental
1. New development should either be located in areas free of natural
hazards; such as wildlife, geologic hazards, floods, and high
winds, or be designed to mitigate the hazards.
2. New development in designated flood plains should be consistent
with the degree of hazard presented by the 100-year statistical
recurrence interval flood and the need -to allow for passage of
storm waters without undue increases in flood heights.
3. Applications for new development should include provisions for
adequately handling drainage entering and leaving the site and for
controlling surface erosion or sedimentation problems within the
site itself.
4. New develolpment should be located and designed to avoid or
mitigate the dangers of manmade hazards.
5. New development should be located and designed to comply with
adopted standards and criteria for environnental quality.
6. New development should be located and designed to preserve criti-
cal components of ecosystems, including significant wildlife
habitat. Significant wildlife habitat is a geographical area
containing essential elements of food, water, cover and space in
a combination and in quantities sufficient to support a species
for at least a portion of the year.
I;
i
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Inte2gove2nmentat Ag2eement 6o2 .the Fo2t Co.tti h U26an G2owth A2ea
➢ubt i shed Ap2.i.t 29, 1980
It Z6 stated that tegu.tations .in .the U2ban G2owth A2ea "can be amended
at any time..." p. 4
Conce2n,ing Den,sZty/Intene.i.ty/Locati.onat
1. A. "New nes.i,dent.i,at devetopment .in ,the U2ban G2owth A2ea shah mitigate
potentt-i.at negative .impaeth on adjacent existing reside tia.t devetopment
by maintaining the eha2actet and dena.i,ty 06 .the existing devetopment
a.tong common bound2ieb. " Exhibit B p. 4
D. "Resi.dent.i,at devetopment pxopoba.tz .tea.a than 10 ac2eh in size adjacent
to existing .tower dene.i,ty tui.dent,i.at devetopment cannot be o6 a
density g2eate2 than 4i6ty pe2cent (50U h,ighen than the adjacent
ex-e sting deve-topmentb' denh.i.ty. "
City o6 Font Cott ns Land Use Pot-izi.es Plan August 74, 1979
The Chaaten Zi sts the 6ottow.ing:
3. "Regulate the use o6 .land on the bas.i6 06 its ,impact on the community
on surrounding area.
4. "Plan boa and regulate the use o6 .land so as to provide planned and
orderly use o6 .land and protection o6 the env.vconment .in a manner
consi,6tant with Constitutional rights." p. 3
Chapter I De6in bons
4. "Bu66ers bon Mitigation Purposes: Centa.in typeb o6 .land uses are .inhenentty
.incompati.bte (due to noise, tza66.i.c generation, ittum.inated .light glare,
etc.) and must be sh.ietded on separated 6rom each other.." p. 12
10. "Flood Plain - Any .land area susceptible to being .inundated by water
6rom any source." p. 13
27. "Transitional Land Uses - Land uses which actas "bu66ers" between
.incompat i.bt e .land us es. "
IT2
may 1971
OPEN SPACE REPORT
This report by the Environmental Task Force of Designing Tomorrow Today,
Fort Collins, Colorado, documents the need to preserve open spaces in the
Fort Collins area, describes the urgency of this need, proposes a Greenbelt
system for Fort Collins, and advises the Fort Collins City Council and Larimer
County Commissioners on initial steps to establish this Greenbelt system.
Open Space Preservation
Results of rapid population growth and land development leading to urban
sprawl are painfully evident in most large cities of the United States,
including nearby Denver. These results are increasingly commercial and mono-
tonous scenery, ugliness, miles of uninterrupted buildings and concrete, use of
rivers as trash dumps and decay of the urban core - - a dull, dirty sameness
that characterizes parts of every big city.
Such deteriorating urban environments foster deteriorating social habits.
People growing up in an ugly neighborhood have neither love nor respect for it.
They do not care for their own property, much less for public property. They
litter the streets. Thel,� do not participate in city government. They lose
respect for the law. Thus problems of environmental quality are more than
esthetic problems. They eventually become costly social problems.
Fort Collins is a rapidly growing urban area. The present area population
of 53,000 is expected to double in 20 years (1). This will require construction
of over 1000 dwelling units per year and will result in development of about
500 acres of land per year (2). In addition, there will be more streets, at
least one new expressway, more shopping centers and new industry. "Good
planners talk about the importance of preserving open space, but few local
governments have done anything about it. This generalization is one of the sad
truths that explains the decline of urban living values" (3). Bold new programs
will be needed if Fort Collins is to avoid mistakes of other cities.
Designing Tomorrow Today/ Committee made up o6 a targe cross section o6 the
cit wry A study done .in the early 197014
From a report on the committee on pr.ior.i,t.i.es o6 .the DTT Enviionmentat Tash Force.
Under Item I .is the 6ottow.ing concern: "Open space - .land which .is not used bon
building or commenci.at purposes. This would .include parks, gol6 courses, natuaat
areas, waterways, on .lakes, etc. and agr.i.cul.tural .lands."
One o6 the areas sited .i.,6 along Foss -it Creek.
Under suggested uses bon open space iz (Under 11 B) "Bi4d Watching and W.itdti6e
Re6uges - Pt me witdai e areas should be set as.i.de as re6uges 6or b.vrds and
other animals already present or 6or other native animals that eoutd be .trans-
.located to these areas."
From a report concerning .long range planning -- "That the City o6 Font Collins
and the County o6 Lar.imer 6ormaZty adopt the goal 06 providing natural areas and
parks o6 continuous open space ... along Fossil Creek ... "
Concerning rapid growth a DDT 6ubcomittee stated ... "many members o6 the
community, and almost without exception, the opinion i.5 that the rapid growth
during the sixti-es has had a de.leter.ious e66ect upon the community. " Certainty
the growth o6 the sixties was m.in.mat to what's happened .in recent years.
One concern expressed rapeatedly was the very thing that made Fort Collins
attractive i,6 no .longer to be bound and people wilt move even 6urther out and
commute many mites to work. TUA negates the thinking that says "Build close
in to prevent commuting and the resultant poktut.ion".
It was also stated in this report "The subcommittee beets very strongly
that the population .itset6 should have a voice .in the decision to stop, modi6y,
etc. concerning growth.
Az tandownets on County Road 9 we ate very concerned about ptopozed
subdi.v.vs.i.on devetopmen,ts. Attached .ice some in6otmation .taken 6tom vat.ious
pubacations which we betieve buppottz out concerns and addte zes out
teque6t to attow this area to temai.n tutat acteagez. Tkis would not be
a precedent as Apptewood Estates, Scenic Knotty and Fairway Estates (att in the
urban growth anew) atteady exist with homes on acteages.
Mt. John Batnett, Ditectot o6 Ptanndng Got Lat.imet County, stated in patt
that he hoped to bee some "tow density housing P unit pelt 2.5 acres)" -.be
devetoped. He atso stated that "Land use ptann.ing must draw a 6.ine d.i,btinet.i.on
between what is but Got the community as a whole and what tebpeets the tights
o6 .end.iv.iduat Land owners. There .is no doubt that the .improper use o6 a
patce.l o6 gtound can negatively .impact not onty those ne.ighbotz .in chose ptoxim ty,
but atso the c tizenty at tatge."
Lastty, we would t.ike to have teptebentati.ves o6 out "neighborhood" meet
with City Councit to dizcubs out request :i6 that would poss.ibte. we would be
gtad to meet at your convenience of to have anyone on the Council vi.6it out
area. 16 e.cthet o6 these i,5 poss.ibte we would be glad to teattange out
sehedutu to meet at a time convenient with the Council t. members.
S.c.nc et ely, ll��
L
Mts. David L. Thomas
Reptezentative Got County Road 9 Homeownet.6