HomeMy WebLinkAboutNOEL ANNEXATION & ZONING - 58-87, A - CORRESPONDENCE - MEMO / P & Z BOARDServices
Planning Department
November 30, 1988
Mr. Alvin L. Miller
4017 Spruce Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Dear Mr. Miller,
I want to thank you for your letter and comments regarding the proposed Noel
Annexation and Zoning. I would like to take this opportunity to address some
of the land use related questions raised in your letter. The planning staff has
informed me that a copy of your letter has been forwarded to the Parks
Department and to the Water Department for review of the comments concern-
ing property maintenance and utilization of public open space. Any responses
to those concerns will come directly from those departments.
I would first like to address the comments regarding the proposed zoning for
the annexation and what that zoning could allow in terms of residential
densities at the time of development. The Planning and Zoning Board agrees
with your comment that the City needs strong land use policies for the footh-
ills area. The Board can understand your frustration of, what seems to be, the
changing of public land use policy every two or three years. I believe the
Board's vote to recommend denial of the requested R-L-P, Low Density Planned
Residential Zoning District, reaffirms our belief that the current low density
Policy (maximum I unit per acre) is a valid policy direction for the City to
follow for the properties in the foothills area. Of course, the Board's vote is
in the form of a recommendation to the City Council and the final policy
decision will have to be made by the Council.
The planning staff also informs me there are several sections of the City Code
which help address some of your stated concerns about the pasturing of horses
in the foothills area. Section 4-72, from Chapter 4 on Animals and Insects,
requires a minimum of 1/2 acre of pasture per horse. This pasture require-
ment is in addition to minimum lot size requirements for residential uses. The
1/2 acre per horse pasture requirement is similar to Larimer County Zoning
regulations dealing with the same issue. Section 4-71 requires a property owner
to remove any feces deposited by animals on public or private property. Also,
Section 20-2, from Chapter 20 on Nuisances, identifies dust as an air pollution
nuisance and prohibits a property from being so poorly maintained that dust
problems are created for surrounding properties. This same Section 20-2 also
deals with weeds and prohibits weeds from growing to such an extent that
they become a nuisance for surrounding properties. These sections of the City
Code provide the legal basis for the City to address some of the concerns
raised in your letter.
300 LaPorte Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (303) 221-6750
0 •
There are, however, no regulations to monitor ground cover, except the section
dealing with dust and weeds cited in the previous paragraph, or to require
irrigation of pasture areas. The Planning and Zoning Board, in its review of a
specific development proposal anticipating the utilization of some portions of a
property in the foothills area for pasturing of horses, can require information
on the proposed method of maintenance of pasture areas. The issues of ground
cover and irrigation could then be addressed. Specific commitments for
maintenance can be applied as conditions of development approval. A failure
to comply with the commitments for maintenance can result in the loss of the
privilege to continue the pasture use.
I want to again thank you for your letter concerning the proposed Noel
Annexation and Zoning. I hope this letter addresses some of the concerns
raised in your letter. If you have further comments or concerns please feel
free to contact me or Tom Peterson, Director of Planning, or Ken Waido, Chief
Planner.
Sincerely,
Laurie O'Dell, Chair
Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Board
xc: Members of the City Council
Members of the Planning and Zoning Board
Steve C. Burkett, City Manager
James M. Davis, Director of Development Services
Tom Peterson, Director of Planning
Ken Waido, Chief Planner