Rural addressing project to use northern test areas

Work to assign unique names and numbers to properties continues in Larimer County. The goal is to provide a convenient, accurate and systematic means of identifying and locating properties throughout the county.

While most rural residents are familiar with roads and landmarks around their homes, many other people are not. This is true of visitors, delivery and utility workers, and emergency medical, law enforcement and fire responders.

The county plans to use two northern areas to test its strategy for a consistent rural addressing system: the Davis Ranch Road area west of Bellvue and the Bonner Peak/Picnic Rock area north of LaPorte.

Test area residents are invited to either of two meetings scheduled for early October. The meeting for Davis Ranch is Oct. 5, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Cache La Poudre Elementary School cafeteria. The meeting for Bonner Peak is Oct. 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Livermore Community Hall.

Residents who live in these areas can ask specific questions about how the projects might affect their neighborhoods. Any county resident who wants to know more about the program also is invited.

The county has drafted proposed standards that speak to a number of issues, including how roads are named, how structures are numbered and requirements for road signs. The regulations contained in the draft resolution would only apply to unincorporated Larimer County excluding the Estes Valley. The project area also excludes growth management areas of Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor and Berthoud and state and federal land.

The draft resolution, a map of the project area and a fact sheet providing an overview of the project can all be viewed at the county's web site, the Virtual Courthouse at www.larimer.org/addressing.

Whenever possible, the original name of a road will stay the same. All roads must now have a name, whether they are public or private roads. Each road must be given a unique name. If an existing road name is duplicated somewhere else in the same zip code or emergency service area, it may need to be changed.

In the event that a road name change is required due to a duplicate road name, the road first using the name will retain its name. If the county cannot determine which road used the name first, the road with the most addresses will retain its name and the road with the fewer addresses will be changed.

The county commissioners are urging citizens to review these documents, ask questions and provide comments in order to develop the best system possible. Public comment will continue into the fall.

Another public meeting is set for Sept. 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Big Thompson Elementary School, 7702 W. Highway 34, in Loveland.

Civic groups are also encouraged to schedule a meeting with project team members. Anyone interested may call Tess Heffernan, project public involvement coordinator, at 226-4230 or e-mail tess@facilities.us.