HomeMy WebLinkAboutFRIENDLY FIRE ANNEXATION & ZONING - ANX180005 - CORRESPONDENCE - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING (3)C
'F�t, fins
What is Neighborhood Services?
Neighborhood Services offers a variety of services and programming to promote quality neighborhoods, including:
• Assistance in organizing your neighborhood or meeting facilitation,
• Free use of our copier for a neighborhood newsletters or fliers,
• A Neighborhood Grant Program for help financially with big projects or events,
• An Adopt -A -Neighbor Program for residents who need help shoveling snow,
• Helpful wording for common neighborhood letters or emails,
• A free, bimonthly e-newsletter called Neighborhood News with articles for your newsletter, and
• Free welcome bags for new neighbors.
What is the best way for me to contact the City of Fort Collins?
Access Fort Collins is an easy way to contact the City with your questions, comments, and service requests
whenever it is most convenient for you. By visiting the website, https://www.fcqov.com/contactus/_you will be able
to submit a question, comment or service request on myriad topics 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Is a wood burning stove permitted inside the City of Fort Collins?
City Code for Wood Burning
Only wood burning units certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may be installed in Fort
Collins.
Only clean, dry, untreated wood may be burned in a wood stove or fireplace. "Pellets" burned in pellet stoves and
manufactured fire logs such as DuraFlame burned in a fireplace are acceptable. Burning of garbage and treated
wood is prohibited.
After the first 15-minutes of start-up, smoke from the chimney must be at or less than 20% opacity (smoke should
be barely visible looking at it with your back to the sun).
Violation of City Code can result in a summons to appear in municipal court resulting in a fine of up to $1,000 and
180 days in jail.
Will the school boundaries change and if so who is responsible for that change?
The City of Fort Collins is not involved in determining school boundaries. This is the sole responsibility of the
Poudre School District. According to the Poudre School District's Long -Range Planning: Boundary Committee
they often recommend "clean-up" of boundaries that have little to no student impact and include modifications like
adjusting boundary lines such that they do no bisect fields or lots, adjusting boundary lines to follow the mid -line
of roads as opposed to bisecting properties, etc.
Ultimately, the responsibility of changing school district lines start as a recommendation from the Boundary
Committee then is approved by the Superintendent and Colorado Board of Education.
In the Poudre School District's 2015 Majority and Minority Reports, it shows proposed changes to the Kruse
Elementary School / Werner Elementary School — Middle School and High School Boundary that will affect 0
students.
What are some of the upsides of being annexed into the City of Fort Collins?
• Faster police response time
• Voting for a Mayor and Council Member (Gerry Horak, Mayor Pro Tem, District 6)
• Urban level services
• Rebates through energy audit programs (i.e., Solar Installation Incentives)
However, these are just a few advantages of being part of the City it is not an exhaustive list. Please visit our
website at http://www.fcgov.com/ to find out more.
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Other City Regulations & Information
How many horses per acre are you allowed to have in the City as compared to the County?
Municipal Code Section 4-72. - Minimum size of pasture area for horses or ponies.
Horses or ponies may be kept for the use of occupants of a lot and their guests provided that at least one-half (112)
acre of pasture area is available for each horse or pony.
Horses per Acre
'/z Acre / Horse
How many chickens and roosters can I have on my property?
• May keep up to 8 chicken hens
• No roosters
'/z Acre / Horse'
Will our cat need to be registered when we are in the City of Fort Collins?
Yes. You will be required to register your cat. The cities of Fort Collins, Wellington and Loveland require all cats
and dogs be registered. Larimer County and Timnath require the registration of dogs only. Registration is simple.
Simply provide proof that your pet's rabies shots are current, complete the application and provide the required
fee(s).
Fees are as follows:
Animals 4 months to one year of age: $12.00
Animals 1 year and older, spayed or neutered: $12.00
Animals 1 year and older, not spayed or neutered: $35.00
Fees for Senior Citizen pet guardians (age 62 and older):
Animals under one year of age: $5.00
Animals 1 year and older, spayed or neutered: $5.00
Animals 1 year and older not spayed or neutered: $35.00
Optional Cat Licensing Where Not Required: $5.00. Larimer County and Timnath residents may elect to purchase
a voluntary Cat License for $5.00. Replacement tags are $2.50.
For more information you can contact the Larimer County Humane Society at (970) 226-3647 extension 201 or
visit www.larimerhumane.org
If the number of horses on the property exceeds one horse per one-half acre, minor special review approval is
required unless the chart and formula indicate that special review approval is required.
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2015/2016 Reappraisal Cycle
Colorado property tax law requires assessors to conduct countywide reappraisals every two years in odd -
numbered years, and that a specific date, June 30th of the year preceding the reappraisal year, be used to
benchmark all property values throughout the state. The benchmark, or "level of value," for this reappraisal cycle
is June 30, 2014. For the 2015/2016 reappraisal cycle, Larimer County is using 60 months of data. That means
our sales study period extends from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2014. All sales are trended up or down to the
level of value date, June 30, 2014, depending on market factors in the different areas of Larimer County.
For 2016, only owners that saw a change in value or ownership from the previous year were mailed a notice with
the new value and have the option to protest online. The majority of property values do not change in even
numbered years because Colorado is on a two-year reappraisal cycle. If you do not have the Notice of Value you
may complete and mail a 2015 Protest Form to our office no later than June 1, 2016. Protests can also be filed in
person, by letter or fax. We cannot accept appeals sent in by email or taken over the phone.
Properties that are appealed during our protest period will be reviewed and a Notice of Determination will be sent
to those property owners on June 30, 2016. If you are satisfied with the value after this review, the process ends
and your tax will be based on the value reflected in the notice of determination. If you disagree with the
Assessor's decision, the next step will be to file an appeal with the County Board of Equalization. More details will
be provided in the Notice of Determination that will be sent June 30, 2016.
What is the difference between City sales tax and County sales tax?
Tax Rates effective January 1, 2018:
State of Colorado
2.9%
Larimer County
0.55%
Total Sales Tax (Larimer County)
3.45%
City of Fort Collins
3.85%
3.85% Tax includes
• 2.25% Base Rate
Total Sales Tax (City of Fort Collins)
7.30%
.25% Community Capital
Fort Collins Lodging Tax (in addition to
3.0%
Improvement Program
above)
(Expires 2025)
• .25% Street Maintenance
(Expires 2025)
• .25% Open Space (Expires
Total Accommodations Tax
10.30%
Fort Collins Tax on Food For Home
2.25%
Consumption (contact State of
2030).
Colorado regarding taxability)
• .85% Keep Fort Collins
Great (Expires 2020)
Total Food Tax
2.25%
For further information, please contact Tiana Smith, tjsmith@fcgov.com
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Will we be charged additional tax on our utility bills?
Xcel Energy
If your home or business requires the use of natural gas, Xcel energy continue to be your service provider and a
local tax of 3.85% will be assessed.
Wireless Service
Yes, a local tax of 3.85% will be applied.to each bill. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue an
existing E911 1.4% surcharge and a 9.44% Colorado State Wireless Tax will also remain.
Comcast
Yes, a local tax of 3.85% will be applied to each bill.
Fort Collins Municipal Electric
Yes, a local tax of 3.85% will be applied to a portion of usage for each bill, see PILOTs FAQ below for more
information on how this is calculated.
Fort Collins Water
No added tax is assessed to this service.
Fort Collins Wastewater
No added tax is assessed to this service.
What are Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTS) and how do they affect utilities customers?
City utilities only charge tax on electric services. The tax is computed by removing the PILOTs part of the electric
charges and then multiplying by the 3.85% rate. Here's an example: total electric charges = $100 ; removing the
PILOTS is done by $100 / 1.06 = $94.34 ; sales tax then computed as $94.34 ' 3.85% _ $3.63.
How will the assessor determine the value of our property?
According the Assessor's office:
The County Assessor is responsible for valuing all real and personal property, including mobile homes, residential
and commercial properties and agricultural land for property tax purposes. The Assessor determines the equitable
value of property to ensure that each taxpayer pays only his or her fair share of the taxes. Anyone who disagrees
with changes in the actual value of real property can object or file a protest with the Assessor in May. Protests for
Commercial Business Personal Property accounts should be filed with the Assessor between June 15 and July 5.
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How will our property taxes change?
Property taxes will go down after being annexed into the City of Fort Collins. The resulting 0.798 mil reduction
($0.80 for every $1,000 in property valuation) in property tax is caused by the replacement of the Poudre Valley
Fire District 10.595 mil with the Fort Collins 9.797 mil. Below is a comparison of tax -rates between that the City of
Fort Collins and Larimer County.
Mill Levy 5
Poudre R-1 General Fund
Larimer County
Poudre R-1 Bond Payment
Poudre Valley Fire District
Fort Collins6
Poudre River Public Library District
Health District of North Larimer County
Northern Colorado Water Conservation District
Larimer County Pest Control District
TOTAL
Example of Property Tax Changes
38.683
22.092
13.947
0
9.797
38.683
22.092
13.947
10.595
0
3.000 3.0
2.167 2.167
1.000 1.0
0.142 0.142
90.828 91.626
Property Larimer County Property Fort Collins Property Tax Difference
Tax Liability Liability
1804 Laporte Ave $2,015 $1,997 $17
1802 Laporte Ave $7,861 $7,793 $68
1760 Laporte Ave $15,491 $15,356 $135
5 The mill levy is the "tax rate" that is applied to the assessed value of a property in order to fund a variety of
services. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 dollars of assessed valuation. (0.001)
6 The County's Poudre Fire District Mill Levy is replaced by the City of Fort Collins upon Annexation. The Fort
Collins Mill Levy is lower by 0.798 Mill.
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Are there any types of sales that are exempt from tax?
Yes. Sales to government and qualifying religious and charitable organizations may be tax exempt. Also, if you
operate a business that sells farm machinery for use in farming operations, these sales are exempt from City tax.
However, the exemption does not apply to repair parts for farm machinery. Please see Section 25-73 (c)(14) &
(15) for additional information and check with the State and County for their requirements.
What is use tax?
Use tax applies to items used, stored or distributed in Fort Collins that are not items for resale to a customer.
Examples include furniture and office supplies. Use tax can be described as a complement to sales tax. You pay
one or the other. If you pay City sales tax, you do not need to pay City use tax.
Do I owe use tax on business equipment I owned prior to becoming annexed into the City?
No, you do not have to pay use tax for equipment you owned prior to becoming annexed into the City. The City
municipal code has a specific exemption for this.
Would use tax be due on inventory I have on hand that is for resale to a customer.
No, use tax is not due on items for resale. Sales tax should be charged to the customer.
Religious, Charitable and Government Organizations:
What if I am tax exempt as a religious, charitable or government organization?
If you are a religious or charitable organization, you can apply for a City tax exempt organization license at
https://www.fcgov.com/salestax. This will exempt the organization from sales tax on purchases made when used
in the conduct of the organization's regular activates to foster its religious or other expressed chartable purpose.
Government organizations are exempt from otherwise taxable purchases when they are made with organization
funds. Note that the City does not issue a tax-exempt license for governmental organizations as it does for
charitable organizations.
Additional Resources:
For additional tax information, please visit https://www.fcgov.com/salestax or contact the Sales Tax Department at
970.221.6780.
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Taxes
The City of Fort Collins is a home rule municipality. This means the City administers its own sales and use tax
regulations. This guide has information and answers to frequently asked questions for residents and
homeowners, businesses, charitable and government organizations.
Residents and Homeowners: Once your home becomes annexed into the City, you will be subject to City sales
tax. This tax is in addition to any State or County tax that may apply.
What will I pay sales tax on when my residence becomes annexed into the City?
The City taxes tangible personal property and some services. Examples include items delivered to your home,
such as furniture and landscaping materials. Taxable services include the purchase of gas, electric and
telecommunications services. Additionally, if you purchase a vehicle or pull a building permit, these transactions
are subject to City tax.
Business Tax
If your business is in an area that will be part of a future annexation, you may find the information below helpful.
Do I need a City of Fort Collins Sales and Use Tax/Business License?
Yes, a business located inside Fort Collins City limits needs to have a Sales and Use Tax License. If you already
have a City of Fort Collins Sales and Use Tax License, you don't need to apply again. However, the filing
frequency may need to be updated.
Are there any other City licenses I should obtain?
It's possible that based on the type of business you operate there are additional City licenses that are needed.
For example, if you operate a hotel, your business will need a Lodging Tax License. If you operate a business out
of your home, you may need a Home Occupation License. If you plan to operate a Short -Term Rental, you will
need a Short -Term Rental License.
What are the requirements for renting a room in a house or the entire home?
If you plan to operate a Short -Term Rental out of a home, you will need a Sales and Use Tax License, Lodging
Tax License and Short -Term Rental License. In addition to City sales tax, there is a City lodging tax on stays less
than 30 consecutive days.
What type of City of Fort Collins tax applies to my business?
In addition to the State and County sales tax your business already collects on taxable sales, you will now be
required to collect the City of Fort Collins sales tax if the item is picked up in Fort Collins or delivered to an
address in the city limits of Fort Collins. The City sales tax collected will be remitted directly to the City (not the
State). Any taxable items, such as furniture and office supplies, that you use in your business will be subject to
City sales or use tax. The City may tax items differently than the State and County and you should verify if the
items sold are taxable. Also, please check the current tax rates in effect at the time your business is annexed.
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Rate Factor Table:
**typical for residential
For further information, please contact Jill White, Utility Fee Rate Specialist, 970-416-2139, iiwhite@fcoov.com
What if my property is on septic? How will being part of the City of Fort Collins affect me?
The City of Fort Collins does not regulate septic systems. However, if your current septic system fails and your
property line is within 400 feet of the municipal sewer system you will be required to connect.
Septic Systems are solely regulated by Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. If you have any
additional questions, please contact the Larimer County Health Department by phone at (970) 498-6700 or visit
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/health/ehs/isds.asp.
Will my water or wastewater services change because of the annexation?
No. Annexed properties will continue to be served by City of Fort Collins water and sewer services.
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What is the Stormwater Fee?
Fort Collins Utilities charges a monthly rate to pay for construction and maintenance of Fort Collins' stormwater
system, which helps protect residents and businesses during storms and floods on a citywide basis. This includes
ongoing maintenance of regional stormwater quality and detention ponds, underground storm drainage pipe
systems, and culverts. All developed properties within city limits pay stormwater rates, which are based on
impervious surface and lot size. Below is an example calculation of a stormwater fee for
Example of Monthly Fees:
1804 Laporte Ave
8,500 SF
0.25 (Very Light)
$14
1802 Laporte Ave
41,800 SF
0.4 (Light)
$72
1760 Laporte Ave
47,605 SF
0.8 (Heavy)
$165
Monthly fee = (lot or parcel area) x (rate factor) x (base)
The base rate for the stormwater utility fee shall be $0.0043526 per square toot per month for all areas of the City.
Formula:
Lot Size - lot area in square feet, plus the customer's share of open space in the development, if applicable
Base Rate - $0.00
Rate Factor3 - based on the percentage of impervious area (surfaces that do not absorb water) such as buildings,
parking lots and concrete
Formula for Estimated Monthly Rates:
Single-family Lots Less than 12,000 Square Feet
Monthly Rate = Lot Size x $0.0041454 x Rate Factor
Single-family Lots Over 12,000 Square Feet4
Monthly Rate = 12,000 x $0.0043527 x Rate Factor plus (Lot Size - 12,000) x $0.0043527 x Rate Factor x 0.25
2 This is an estimated fee based on 2017 rates. A stormwater fee specialist will be able to calculate the exact
fees.
3 See table on next page.
4 These lots receive a reduction in fees on that portion of the lot greater than 12,000 feet.
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Utility Services
How will our electric service change?
All properties within the Friendly Fire Enclave are already served by Municipal Light and Power and all other
service will remain the same after annexation.
What about solar rebates?
Currently, rebates are available for approximately 300 residential customers and multiple projects up to 1-
megawatt total for commercial customers.
You will receive full credit for the electricity generated by your PV system through our net metering program (see
rates here).
Information about federal tax incentives is available at Energy Star and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Available Rebates'
Residential: up to $1,500
Commercial: up to $100,000
Application Timeline
Utilities will begin accepting and confirming rebate applications for the 2017 rebate program on Jan. 1, 2017
1 Rebate amounts are based on a $0.50/Watt, 20-year Renewable Energy Credit (REC) purchase
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Zoning and Land Use
What about City zoning?
The requested zoning district for the Friendly Fire Enclave annexation is Limited Commercial (C-L) which is in
conformance with the City's Structure Plan and Northwest Subarea Plan Land -Use Framework Maps.
Once the property is annexed into the City, Larimer County zone districts would be replaced with City of Fort
Collins zone districts.
What if I am a legal existing use in Larimer County but not in the City of Fort Collins?
Legal existing uses are grandfathered-in however if the nonconforming use is discontinued for 24 consecutive
months the nonconforming use is then considered "abandoned" and will not be able to continue.
To find more information on nonconforming uses and structures visit Division 1.5 in the City of Fort Collins Land
Use Code.
https•//www.municode.com/library/co/fort collins/codes/land_ use
What if our development has a private covenant, will the City of Fort Collins preempt the
covenant, and how?
Yes, in some cases the City will preempt a private covenant as outlined in under Section 12-122 of the Municipal
Code which states, "No person shall create, cause to be created, enforce or seek to enforce any provision
contained in any restrictive covenant which has the effect of prohibiting or limiting the installation or use of
Xeriscape landscaping, solar/ photovoltaic collectors (if mounted flush upon any established roof line), clothes
lines (if located in back yards), or odor -controlled compost bins, or which has the effect of requiring that a portion
of any individual lot be planted in turf grass".
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Intergovernmental Agreements
Does Larimer County have anything to say about enclave annexations?
Yes, Larimer County encourages the cities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud and Estes Park to annex
properties that have become enclaves and have been surrounded by no less than three years. The City of Fort
Collins and Larimer County have entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (I.G.A.) that establishes a Growth
Management Area (G.M.A.). Within this G.M.A., the City and County have agreed that growth and development
should be at an urban level and that the City, and/or special districts, is best able to provide an urban level of
public services. Under the I.G.A., with regard to land located within the G.M.A., the City has agreed to pursue the
annexation of enclaves as those areas become eligible according to state law.
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Enclave
What is an enclave?
An enclave is a property, or group of properties, that are in unincorporated Larimer County but, due to urban
growth and development are now surrounded by the City of Fort Collins municipal boundary.
How is it that our properties became enclaves?
The properties contained within the Friendly Fire annexation area became an enclave through a combination of
four (4) previous annexations that happened between 1925-2012:
• Friendly Fire Enclave is approximately 1.8 acres in size, contains 4 parcels and a combination of
residential and commercial land uses.
What is an enclave annexation?
An enclave annexation is a growth management technique used by municipalities that allows Cities and Towns to
establish a unified jurisdiction that does not have pockets of unincorporated land. After an enclave is created,
three years must elapse before the City or Town can annex the property or multiple properties.
Is it normal for the City of Fort Collins to annex properties after the three-year period?
Yes, it has long been the City's practice to annex enclaves after three years.
Can you give us a recent example of an enclave annexation?
Yes, there were four Southwest Enclave Annexations totaling 1,603 acres (2.7 square miles) that were phased in
over time and adopted by City Council between 2006 and 2013.
How long will the annexation process take?
Typically, an annexation process takes between 3 and 4 months once the annexation process is initiated.
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AdditionalResources: .......................................................................................................................................... to
How will our property taxes change?...................................................................................................................11
Will we be charged additional tax on our utility bills?..........................................................................................12
What are Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) and how do they affect utilities customers?...............................12
How will the assessor determine the value of our property?...............................................................................12
What is the difference between City sales tax and County sales tax?................................................................13
Other City Regulations & Information......................................................................................................................14
How many horses per acre are you allowed to have in the City as compared to the County?...........................14
How many chickens and roosters can I have on my property?...........................................................................14
Will our cat need to be registered when we are in the City of Fort Collins?........................................................14
Is a wood burning stove permitted inside the City of Fort Collins?......................................................................15
Will the school boundaries change and if so who is responsible for that change?.............................................15
What are some of the upsides of being annexed into the City of Fort Collins?...................................................15
Whatis Neighborhood Services?........................................................................................................................16
What is the best way for me to contact the City of Fort Collins?.........................................................................16
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Fa t'Collins
Friendly Fire Enclave Annexation- FAQ
Contents
Enclave.......................................................................................................................................................................
3
Whatis an enclave?..............................................................................................................................................3
How is it that our properties became enclaves?....................................................................................................
3
What is an enclave annexation?............................................................................................................................3
Is it normal for the City of Fort Collins to annex properties after the three-year period? .......................................
3
Can you give us a recent example of an enclave annexation?.............................................................................3
How long will the annexation process take?..........................................................................................................
3
IntergovernmentalAgreements..................................................................................................................................4
Does Larimer County have anything to say about enclave annexations?............................................................4
Zoningand Land Use.................................................................................................................................................5
Whatabout City zoning?........................................................................................................................................
5
What if I am a legal existing use in Larimer County but not in the City of Fort Collins? ........................................
5
What if our development has a private covenant, will the City of Fort Collins preempt the covenant, and how?.5
UtilityServices............................................................................................................................................................6
How will our electric service change?....................................................................................................................
6
Whatabout solar rebates?.....................................................................................................................................6
Will the tax on our phone bill change?................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Whatis the Stormwater Fee?................................................................................................................................
7
What if my property is on septic? How will being part of the City of Fort Collins affect me? .................................
8
Will my water or wastewater services change because of the annexation?.........................................................
8
Taxes..........................................................................................................................................................................
9
What will I pay sales tax on when my residence becomes annexed into the City? ..............................................
9
BusinessTax.........................................................................................................................................................
9
Do I need a City of Fort Collins Sales and Use Tax/Business License?...............................................................
9
Are there any other City licenses I should obtain?................................................................................................
9
What are the requirements for renting a room in a house or the entire home? ....................................................
9
What type of City of Fort Collins tax applies to my business?...............................................................................
9
Are there any types of sales that are exempt from tax?......................................................................................10
Do I owe use tax on business equipment I owned prior to becoming annexed into the City?............................10
Would use tax be due on inventory I have on hand that is for resale to a customer...........................................10
What if I am tax exempt as a religious, charitable or government organization?................................................10