Updates

April 19, 2004 - In a 5 page letter, the planning commission staff's preliminary review of the proposal found that the Serenade Park plan to be problematic in a number of ways. Specifically, they found their analysis and application of the "review criteria" for the rezoning and special review to be inadequate. Among the primary concerns were traffic, traffic, traffic, but also cited were numerous other factors and the impacts on wildlife (including raptors), emergency services, noise, sewage, compatibility with the existing Master Plan, zoning, land use, conservation easements, wetlands, etc.

Among the important conclusions within the letter, they stated that "in evaluating the proposal with respect to the Master Plan we find your analysis to be flawed." They also indicated that they disagreed with some of the applicant's interpretations of the County Master Plan's principles and strategies. Further, the letter said that they believed " ...that there are additional Master Plan principles and strategies which do not support the proposal and its attendant impacts." (see pg. 3, third paragraph). In the very next paragraph, the letter states "Our assessment of your analysis of the review criteria for the rezoning and special review is that it is inadequate," and at the end of that paragraph (at the top of pg. 4), the staff states "We remain unconvinced that the proposal can meet the tests of the strategies of the Larimer County Master Plan. Further we are not persuaded by the arguments presented regarding community need, changed conditions and compatibility."

Other comments include their assessment that proposed "...additional uses [for the site] are incompatible with the specific limits of development proposed by the applicant," that they should "...further address the technical issues raised by agency and referral comments," and that the application [particularly re: the impact on traffic and the transportation and access to the site issues] "...presents a scenario that we cannot support wherein adequate public facilities are not available and an unreasonable impact on public safety will occur as a result." The next to the last sentence says that "until we receive additional information for review and referral we are unable to consider recommending anything but denial of this application." [emphasis added]

April 12, 2004 - Clarification: In our Executive Summary from February 14th, 2004, we state, "Of note is the addition of the new Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Center [the "Ranch"], which we are told is being patrolled by on-duty, not off-duty, deputies. This further depletes the Sheriff’s manpower resources."

There was a question by a reporter as to whether this was the case. So, we have clarified the facts with the Larimer County Sheriff's Department. During a return phone call the week of April 5th, they told us that there is a deputy permanently stationed at the "Ranch" and that there are no off-duty deputies at this location. They added that during a hockey game or a similar event, the Ranch typically uses 4-6 deputies for security and 10 deputies for traffic control. Larimer County does not supply all of these deputies. The Loveland Police Department provides about half of the 14-16 on-duty deputies because, even though, Larimer County owns the Ranch, Loveland has annexed the land. The County, therefore, reimburses the Loveland Police Department for its help. They also confirmed that the Sheriff's Department is understaffed and that if Loveland has a big event which requires Loveland Police Department's staffing, then the Sheriff's Department is sometimes left shorthanded at the Ranch.

An informed source at the Larimer County Sheriff's Department indicated that, in his opinion, he thought that they would not be able to provide deputies to Serenade Park. He also indicated that the Sheriff's Department has sent a letter to the Larimer County Planning Department expressing their concerns about Serenade Park.
 

March 18, 2004 - Loveland Reporter-Herald page-one story regarding the fire on applicant's property (March 17, 2004) entitled, "Wind Whips Flames."  This underscores the reality of increased fire danger with the possibility of 9,000 people on this same property, particularly in the height of fire season.

 

 

Upcoming

The Larimer County Planning Committee Hearing for the applicant's submittal is currently scheduled for mid- to late summer.