HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEARTHFIRE (HOFFMAN) PUD - PRELIMINARY (REVISED) - 31-95A - CORRESPONDENCE - RESPONSE TO CITIZENr
I like the Fort Collins Oil field: it is the oldest operating
oil field in Colorado and it was discovered by one of my own
personal friend's father in 1922, but as a petroleum geologist
I tell you that it breaks all of the rules of common sense to
place an urban residential development with an eventual total
of 1200 families, into the center of an operating oil field!
With this letter I would like to go on record that I not only
oppose your development plan for the Fort Collins Oil Field,
but I specifically warn you that you are exposing yourselves
to very serious liabilities for the health and life of the
families that you site there. Ask any insurance company what
their opinion is of your proposed actions, specifically the
personal liabilities associated with moving the large, heavy,
tractor -trailer mounted work -over rigs in and out of the area
to frequently service each well, plus the fire and poison gas
hazards.
Sincerely yours
4��
Theodore Chamberlain
Professor of Geology
Colorado State University
copy to:
Mayor Ann Azari
City of Fort Collins
300 LaPorte Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Mr. Steven Olt
Current Planning
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Subject: Hoffman PUD/Hearthfire PUD
Dear Sirs:
cc: Louncii
Greg Byrne
Bob Blanchard
Steve Olt �
(Please cc: Council.
MAR 2 5 )ggg your response. )' 1
CITY 1VJM 4AUER
March 24, 1996
Please let me introduce myself: my name is Theodore
Chamberlain and I have resided at 4004 North County Road 13
for approximately 20 years; I have been a Professor of
Geology at Colorado State University for that same period of
time. I am a specialist in petroleum geology and have done,
and am doing, research and consulting for many of the major
petroleum companies.
I feel that it is irresponsible and possibly criminal to allow
an urban residential development to be positioned in the
center of the Fort Collins Oil Field. Oil fields are
dangerous places: we professionals are required to wear hard
hats and must take special fire and poison gas precautions
whenever we enter an operating oil field such as your Fort
Collins Field. Please let me point out to you that even now
hydrogen sulfide gas floods the area of the Fort Collins Field
frequently. It is so bad that sometimes I go out of my back
door, smell the hydrogen sulfide and go right back in. All
the families near the Fort Collins Field have had bad
experiences with hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide gas
is not a nuisance but rather an extremely poisonous compound:
if you put an urban residential development in the Fort
Collins Oil Field you are going to be liable for a major
health hazard!
Furthermore, large, underground pipes carrying highly
inflammable natural gas criss-cross the entire area; in some
sections of the field the locations of these pipes are not
even known. Oil fields are fire hazards: There are companies
that make their entire living putting out oil field fires.
Oil spills and the danger of the pump -jacks are additional
hazard. One of our neighbors moved out. of the Fort Collins
Field to Greely because even though the pump -jacks were
surrounded with fencing, his children kept climbing over the
fences into the pump -jack cubicles and he felt that sooner or
later one of his children would be crushed.
Community Planning and Environmental Services
Current Planning
City of Fort Collins
April 2, 1996
Theodore Chamberlain
4004 North County Road 13
Fort -Collins, CO. 80524
Dear Mr. Chamberlain,
Thank you for your expressed concerns (in your letter dated March 24, 1996) about the
Hearthfire PUD residential development proposal. I am certain you are aware, by virtue
of your presence at the Planning and Zoning Board public hearing on March 25th, that
the proposal was denied by the Board that evening. A number of them shared some of
your concerns about the compatibility of residential development in close proximity to
existing, operating oil wells.
Please note that your time, effort, and input into the City development review process is
appreciated. Don't hesitate to contact me at 221-6750 if you have any additional
comments to share about this project.
Sincerely,
Stephen Olt,
Project Planner
Current Planning Department
cc: Mayor Ann Azari
City Council Members
Greg Byrne, Director of CPES
Bob Blanchard, Current Planning Director
&VF00C .
281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6750
FAX (970) 221-6378 • TDD (970) 224-6002 -