Letter to Council Ahead of the January 16, 2024 Council Work Session

Mayor and Council,

With respect to your work session items regarding the Land Use Code this week, Preserve Fort Collins would like to share our opinions. First, some general opinions:

1. No changes to building types or density should be made to the zoning code of existing built-out neighborhoods without a vote of the citizens.

2. HOA covenants should be respected and not overridden to allow subdivision of lots or additional building types.

3. Basic Development Review should not be allowed in existing low- and medium-density neighborhoods. Council should explore other options for Proposition 123 other than eliminating public input.

4. The 10% limit for what constitutes an “affordable” development for Basic Development Review should be higher - at least 20%. We note that the City’s overall target is 10% - and we are below that now. To reach the 10% overall target, you should be incentivizing numbers *higher* than 10%.

Next, here are our specific recommendations for Tuesday’s work session (assuming the ordinance is repealed on second reading as seems likely):

1. We support Staff’s recommendation of “Work Stream #1” which allows for a form-based Land Use Code without changes to existing built-out neighborhoods.

2. Existing neighborhood zones (Old Town) should not be renamed and consolidated.

3. Council should refrain from adding controversial changes (duplexes, ADUs, multi-family housing, etc.) to existing neighborhoods back to the Land Use Code.

4. Although we and the public do not approve of rampant population growth and rapid development, we are neutral on permitting higher residential density in commercial zones and larger undeveloped parcels throughout the City.

Thanks,
Ross Cunniff, Chair

Preserve Fort Collins

Agenda Link