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Home My WebLink AboutFOSSIL CREEK RESERVOIR OPEN SPACE - ANNEXATION & ZONING - 4-08 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTfishing, wildlife observation, hiking, and other appropriate recreation activities. The City of Fort Collins in conjunction with Larimer County will continue to manage, preserve and protect the entire Fossil Creek Regional Open Space area with this annexation. The properties were purchased for use as regional public open space areas and will continue to be protected by the POL — Public Open Lands zoning designation. Coordination between the City and County regarding planning and land management will continue when the property is annexed into the City. PRINCIPLE OL-2: Open lands are important in providing the City with a well-defined edge, establishing community separators, directing growth, and preserving rural character. The proposed annexation is near the Fort Collins Growth Management Area (GMA) boundary and will define the edge of the Fort Collins community as a natural, regional open space area preserving the southern side of Fossil Creek Reservoir. PRINCIPLE OL-3: A variety of recreational opportunities will be provided to the community through a diverse and interconnected framework of open lands including parks, trails, community separators and natural areas. The Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan calls for a variety of recreational opportunities including trails within and beyond the proposed annexation area, wildlife viewing, shoreline observation, and picnic shelters for the community. 2 Ak Planning, Development and Transportation Services Planning &Zoning City of Fort Collins Project Description Fossil Lake Park & Natural Area Annexation Applicant: City of Fort Collins Property Owners: Larimer County 220 W. Oak St. Fort Collins, CO 80521 City of Fort Collins Natural Resources Department PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 The Fossil Creek Reservoir Open Space Annexation is a 100 percent voluntary annexation of 328.745 acres of property within the larger Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space area. The proposed annexation area is located south of Fossil Creek Reservoir and north of Carpenter Road (East County Road 32. Per Colorado Revised Statues 31-12-104, Eligibility for Annexation, the property has the minimum one -sixth perimeter of contiguous boundary with the annexing municipality by means of the property to the north of the reservoir. Contiguity is not affected by the existence of such reservoir or water body. The proposed Fossil Lake and Natural Area Annexation is consistent with the principles and policies of the adopted City Plan as follows: PRINCIPLE GM-3: The City will consider the annexation of new territory into the City limits when the annexation of such property conforms to the vision, goals, and policies of City Plan. This annexation proposal is located within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area (GMA) and conforms to the vision, goals and policies set forth in City Plan for Open Land Corridors. All State of Colorado statutory requirements will be met and the property will remain as City/County Regional Open Space. PRINCIPAL OL-1: Preserve and protect open lands within Fort Collins, the Growth Management Area, and regionally to provide habitat essential to the conservation of plants, animals, and their associated ecosystems. This will benefit the citizens of Fort Collins by providing appropriate opportunities for education, scientific research, nature interpretation, 281 North College Avenue — P.O. Box 580 — Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 — (970) 221-6750 — FAX (970) 224-6134 Fossil Creek Reservoir Open Space Annexation - #4-08 April 18, 2008 P & Z Meeting Page 3 3. On April 15, 2008, the City Council approved a resolution that accepted the annexation petition and determined that the petition was in compliance with State law. The resolution also initiated the annexation process for the property by establishing the date, time and place when a public hearing would be held regarding the readings of the Ordinances annexing and zoning the area. 4. The requested POL — Public Open Lands Zoning District is in conformance with the policies of the City's Comprehensive Plan. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the annexation and requested zoning of POL — Public Open Lands. Fossil Creek Reservoir Open Space Annexation - #4-08 April 18, 2008 P & Z Meeting Page 2 The property is located within the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. According to policies and terms between the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County contained in the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area, the City will agree to consider annexation of property in the UGA when the property is eligible for annexation according to State law. This property gains the required 1/6 contiguity to existing City limits from a common boundary with the Fossil Lake Annexation No. 3 (March, 2002) to the north of the reservoir. Per Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 31-12-106 Annexation of Enclaves, Partially Surrounded Land, and Municipally Owned Land, contiguity is not affected by the existence of such reservoir or water body. The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: UE — Urban Estate and T - Transition in the City of Fort Collins, and FA-1 — Farming in Larimer County; existing single-family residential and agricultural uses E: T - Tourist in Larimer County; existing highway interchange and vacant/agricultural land S: AP - Airport in Larimer County; existing single-family residential W: AP - Airport in Larimer County; existing South Fort Collins Sanitation District facilities A neighborhood meeting was held for the annexation proposal on Monday, March 10, 2008 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church. No interested parties attended this meeting. ANALYSIS: The requested zoning for this annexation is the POL — Public Open Lands Zoning District. The Public Open Lands District is for large publicly owned parks and open lands which have community -wide emphasis or other characteristics which warrant inclusion under this separate designation rather than inclusion in an adjoining neighborhood or other Zoning District designation. The POL — Public Open Lands zoning designation is appropriate because this property is preserved as a regional open space area. The City's adopted Structure Plan, a part of the Comprehensive Plan, indicates that POL — Public Open Lands is appropriate for this location. FINDINGS: 1. The annexation of this area is consistent with the policies and terms between Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins contained in the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. 2. The area meets the eligibility requirements included in State law to qualify for a voluntary annexation to the City of Fort Collins. City Of Planning & Zoning Board F6rt' Staff Report Collins Item No. Meeting Date I OB Staff �6u�omMPU PROJECT: Fossil Creek Reservoir Open Space Annexation - #4-08 APPLICANT: City of Fort Collins OWNERS: City of Fort Collins Larimer County PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request to annex and zone 328.75 acres located on the south side of Fossil Creek Reservoir and north of Carpenter Road (Highway 392). The existing zoning is FA1 — Farming, C — Commercial and AP - Airport in Larimer County. The property is preserved as regional open space jointly owned by the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County, and it features minimal development including trails, parking, maintenance, and office facilities. The proposed zoning for this annexation is POL — Public Open Lands. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the annexation and recommends that the property be placed in the POL — Public Open Lands Zoning District. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This is a 100 percent voluntary annexation of 328.75 acres of open space property owned jointly by the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County. This annexation request is in conformance with the State of Colorado Revised Statutes as they relate to annexations, the City of Fort Collins Comprehensive Plan, the Larimer County and City of Fort Collins Intergovernmental Agreement, and the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code. BACKGROUND: The applicants and property owners, the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County, have submitted a written petition requesting annexation of 328.75 acres located on the north side of Carpenter Road (State Highway 392) bordering Fossil Creek Reservoir. The existing zoning is FA1 — Farming, C — Commercial and AP - Airport in Larimer County. The property is preserved as regional open space and features minimal development including public trails and parking, and maintenance and office facilities associated with the open space program. The proposed zoning for this annexation is POL — Public Open Lands. The surrounding properties are currently zoned UE — Urban Estate and T — Transition north of the reservoir; FA1 — Farming in Larimer County to the northwest; R — Residential, M — Multifamily, C — Commercial and T — Tourist in Larimer County to the east; and AP — Airport in Larimer County to the south. This is a 100 percent voluntary annexation.