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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 -