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| Bullhorn Issue of Sept. 24. Has an interview of David Wright. It is a wide ranging discussion of many local issues. |
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W.A.R.M.E. is a Ft. Collins based organization set
up initially to establish a tax raising entity whose purpose is to
purchase water rights. The reason for purchasing the rights is primarily
to keep the water resources in the Northern Colorado region rather than
letting them go to other areas. From our point of view, there are many far
reaching consequences of doing this, some positive and others negative. In
the near future we will add to this discussion as time permits.
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Events, Actions and Publications of Note |
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This is a reservoir building project designed to lock in a more dependable
supply of water.Its service area is aimed at Larimer County south to
Denver. The site of greatest interest is Chimney Hollow which is primarily
owned by Hewlett Packard. This is a NCWCD project.
It is farther along than the NISP project and 2 years away from phase III. It is a smaller project ($200m) and they are noticeably willing to down size if need be. Also has big city participants that are more capable of driving the financing. Erie and Greeley are common participants with both NCWCD projects. One site of interest is Little Thompson main stem. It is only a distraction from their real intention which seems to be Chimney Hollow---owned by HP. This WG project has additional potential sites all over the place including a large expansion of Black Hollow Res.(Cactus) The land is owned by Bud. This is not a great site, shallow and along way from the nine participants. They are also looking at a dirty water site off the S. Platte.
Issues are environmental and financial. Funding is again done by running
revenue bonds through enterprise funds. Citizens will not get a chance to
vote. While intended to be funded by growth, any blips in the economy
would put the burden on water users.It is not intended to serve
Agriculture. Water is all for future development.
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Halligan is a water reservoir north of Ft. Collins. It is used as storage
and is a factor in holding water for drought conditions. Ft. Collins has a
provision that requires water, sufficient to operate effectively in a
1-50 year drought, must always be available.
To date it would appear that the only real decision that is at hand, is
whether to exercise the option to buying Halligan. It was recommended by
the Water Board that the reservoir be purchased and that the City continue
efforts to do the largest expansion 40K/a/f. It would appear that the City
will purchase Halligan. As we see it, the City MUST make the purchase. If
not, the facility will fall into the hands of the Tri District and the
City will lose all control of a major water source, a source that will be
used for driving outlying growth. With the largest expansion, as much as
25A/ft might go to the Tri D. I have complained to the water board about
this option of handing water to the Tri. D. and the need for the City to
stay in control. While they have listened, the business of regional
cooperation with everybody and anybody is strong and I am not sure in our
best interest. We feel there is a need to confine water control to only
the larger cities and keep it there. All future growth problems will be
outside the boundaries of the cities. The city has now expanded its future
water needs to between 12K/a/ft-21k/a/ft rather than the previous
10k/a/ft. If the city buys Halligan, any development will apparently have
to include Northern Irrigation because of a pre-existing agreement.
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What is Serenade Park? A proposed concert venue located at the Mouth
of the Big Thompson Canyon on U.S. 34, west of Loveland. The plan
calls for weekend concerts with seating for up to 9,000 people
utilizing the amphitheater and parking for over 4,000. The property is
currently zoned FA-1 agricultural, and the applicant is asking to
up-zone this to a T-Tourist zoning.
What effect will this amphitheater have on my community and me? We
believe Serenade Park with have a VERY NEGATIVE effect on the entire
northern Colorado community. Just a few of the reasons are:
· Traffic to accommodate the concerts will add thousands of
vehicles to an already extremely crowded U.S. 34 on the weekends.
· Road rage and drunk drivers traveling on the winding roads
before and after concerts will increase accidents and endanger
innocent lives.
· The integrity of the Larimer County Open Lands Master Plan,
which calls this an “Important Resource Area” will be violated.
Viewsheds will be ruined, along with the intent to preserve this
critical area. Neighboring properties with conservation easements and
adjacent U.S. Forest Lands are simply not compatible with this tourist
venue.
· This property has valuable wildlife including raptors, bighorn
sheep, deer, elk, and many other small mammals. The impact of
thousands of concert goers will have a very negative effect on these
animals. Wetlands on the property are critical to many of these
species, all of which deserve to be protected.
· This project will add an unnecessary burden upon the
taxpayers. Police, fire protection, and other essential services will
be extended far beyond what Larimer County resources can safely
handle. On average, there is only 1 sheriff patrol car per shift for
this area, and only 5 patrol cars for all 5 areas of the county per
shift.
· The tourist up-zoning opens the door for other non-compatible
uses including nightclubs, convenience stores, car washes, take-out
restaurants, etc... There are too many unintended consequences that
may occur by changing the zoning.
· Our quality of life is at stake with increased noise
pollution, light pollution, air pollution, trash and litter from
concert goers.
What is the process for approval of Serenade Park? This application
will be heard in front of the Planning Commission, then it proceeds to
the County Commissioners.
What can I do to stop Serenade Park from becoming a reality? Write
your County Commissioners at P.O. Box 1190, Ft. Collins, CO 80522.
Call County Sr. Planner Rob Helmick 970-498-7682. Call your County
Commissioners: Tom Bender 970-498-7002; Kathay Rennels 970-498-7001;
and Glenn Gibson 970-498-7003.
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