LaPorte developers promote plan for metro district

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Two local men have been trying to develop a piece of property in LaPorte for two years, but they have one big obstacle: lack of sewer service.

Now, they've grown tired of waiting for Fort Collins to supply that service, and they're making plans to form their own "metro" district. The district, if approved by property owners, could provide sanitation and other services to residents in the service area.

Chris Kaul and Charlie Meserlian, who own 68 acres on the east edge of LaPorte, want to create a neighborhood with 260 residences, plus commercial and open space. According to Kaul, the partners waited to finalize their project until the LaPorte Area Plan was complete, so they could comply with its requirements. They and many others assumed that Fort Collins would supply city sewer to their development.

Now, that's anything but certain. About six months ago, faced with several pending developments in the LaPorte area, city planners suddenly said "Whoa!" to extending city sewer outside the growth management area. They created a city/county committee to study the issue. In September, the group released its report, recommending that Fort Collins extend sewer to certain areas near LaPorte. This area would include The Grove at LaPorte, the development proposed by Kaul and Meserlian.

This is purely a staff recommendation, however, and the idea must be approved by the Fort Collins City Council. The city's water board and the planning and zoning board will make recommendations to the council, and a final decision isn't expected until next year.

Even if the city agrees to supply sewer service to the LaPorte area, Kaul has problems with some of the suggestions in the report. It recommends a one-time fee for LaPorte-area developers to cover city services such as transportation, parks and the library, a move that would add to the cost of new homes. Also, Kaul said, the proposed area that the city would serve is too small.

Process outlined

While they're waiting for a city decision, Kaul and Meserlian are going ahead with plans to create a new district, and they're talking to other landowners in the area about coming on board.

The proposed metro district, which would serve about 16 square miles, would help the two partners in the short run and the community of LaPorte in the long run, Kaul said. The service area would include land north of County Road 54G, between Overland Trail and Taft Hill Road, extending north of the cement plant. According to Kaul, the organizers want to accommodate other potential development in the LaPorte area, especially if U.S. Highway 287 is moved east.

Kaul sees the issue as one of local control. "Either we let the city of Fort Collins govern LaPorte through assessment of utilities and growth restrictions, or the town of LaPorte can start accepting revenues to manage their own services," he said. "I'm looking to put the revenue in the hands of LaPorte instead of Fort Collins."

Kaul also said he thinks a new metro district could be a step towards incorporation of LaPorte, a move he favors.

There are several steps involved in establishing a metro district. First, the organizers must establish boundaries for the district. Second, the county must approve a service plan, and third, an election must be held. A majority of residents and property owners in the proposed district must approve the plan. If that happens, the next steps are technical planning, bonding and building facilities.

With a new district, Kaul explained, there would be a choice of contracting for services from another provider, such as Fort Collins or the Boxelder Sanitation District; or building a treatment plant near LaPorte. Kaul said he would prefer building a new plant, possibly a "package plant" that is fabricated elsewhere. With a package plant, he thinks the plant and main sewer lines could be in place in less than two years.

What's next?

On Nov. 18, the Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Baord is scheduled to hold a hearing on the issue of providing city sewer to LaPorte. The city water board will hold a hearing on the matter Dec. 2, and the city council will conduct a study session on the topic Dec. 14.