HomeMy WebLinkAbout20110583 FIRESTONE : rjFL 24 A h 40
A COMMUNITY IN MOTION
February 17, 2011
Weld County Commissioners
Attn: Barbara Kirkmeyer, Chair
915 Tenth Street
PO Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632
RE: Coordinated Planning Agreement
Dear Barb:
As we discussed the other day, the Firestone Town Board of Trustees has provided
Town staff direction to work cooperatively with Weld County to prepare a draft
Coordinated Planning Agreement that is in the best interest of Firestone and the
County. We appreciate the effort the County has put forth to this end and there are
clearly some very positive agreement points that have been jointly developed. However,
there are two key points that have been proposed by the County that appear to be
problematic. The purpose of this letter is to note those items and some rationale for our
concerns and suggested alternatives.
The County proposes that the Town (or the appropriate service provider) has, or will
have within one year following the effective date of the agreement, the plant capacity to
serve all areas within the urban growth area with potable water and sanitary sewer
services. The Town cannot make that representation on behalf of the St. Vrain
Sanitation District or the Central Weld County Water District. Even if the Town had its
own plants, such facilities would not be sized to serve the Town's entire planning area.
The concept of having a fixed urban growth boundary line also does not appear to make
sense. Please consider allowing the agreement to provide for a line that moves as the
Town grows. Possibly the urban growth boundary line that would be three miles from
the then current Town municipal limits. This approach would be generally consistent
with the County's Comprehensive Plan in addressing urban areas and the State
annexation law, which defines a three mile annexation limit for any given year. Another
concern regarding having a fixed urban growth boundary line, is that it has the potential
to severely limit options for expanded private property rights and land uses to
unincorporated properties on the outside of the line.
151 Grant Ave. • P.O. Box 100 • Firestone, CO 80520
rnin\KJ, (303) 833-3291 • fax (303) 833-4863
2011-0583
Weld County Commissioners
February 17, 2011
Page 2
A good example of why a fixed urban growth boundary line is problematic is
represented in the Dry Creek RUA Financial Analysis, prepared by Sky to Ground dated
December 15, 2009. In the section, Why Not Annex, the following information is
provided:
"...At present, no nearby municipality seeks to annex the Dry Creek
study area, in part because existing intergovernmental agreements
(IGAs) specifically prevent it..."
Thank you for considering these comments. Please contact us if you have any
questions.
Sincerely,
�' / / C /
Wes L$Vanchy, Town Manager
CC: Firestone Town Board of Trustees
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