Fort Collins moves toward plan to treat LaPorte-area sewage

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

The planets are aligning for Fort Collins to treat sewage from new LaPorte developments, according to city planner Timothy Wilder. However, it's still uncertain when that may happen and who would provide the necessary collection lines in LaPorte.

The Fort Collins City Council, in a study session on Dec. 14, agreed with a staff recommendation that the city provide sewage treatment for LaPorte to avoid having effluent dumped into the Poudre River. Earlier, the city's planning and zoning board and water board both endorsed the plan. The council will vote on a formal resolution about the matter on Feb. 1.

Under the plan, the city would work with a district in the LaPorte area, which has yet to be formed. The district would build collection lines, maintain them and take care of billing. It would contract with Fort Collins to provide treatment at the city's existing plants.

At the study session, the city council indicated it wants to deal with only one district in the LaPorte area, as opposed to each new development creating its own. If a LaPorte district does not form, the city would provide complete sewer service to a defined area. No deadline has been discussed for formation of the district, however. City attorneys estimate that it would take at least two years to form a new district.

Developers Chris Kaul and Charlie Meserlian, who want to build on a 68-acre parcel on the east edge of LaPorte, have taken initial steps to form a metropolitan district that would serve their development and others. A metro district could provide numerous services, including sewer service. Voter approval, as well as county approval, would be necessary to form such a district. If it is formed, the district could build sewer collection lines and contract with Fort Collins to provide treatment, or the developers could consider building a treatment plant of their own.

Doug Ryan of the county health department has said his department prefers a consolidated treatment plant downstream of Fort Collins, rather than a new treatment plant that would discharge effluent into the river above the city. City officials share that point of view. Wilder said that providing sewer treatment to the LaPorte area would result in a "strong benefit" to the city in terms of ensuring water quality in the river.

At the study session, the council also agreed that an impact fee for LaPorte developments is reasonable. Developers would likely be assessed a fee of $1,000 to $1,700 per lot, depending on the types of units, to cover use of the city's parks, libraries and roads. That fee would be in addition to a charge for providing sewage treatment.