Annexation comment line set up

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

A telephone comment line has been established at the suggestion of the transition committee appointed to ease the annexation of the nearly three-square-mile southwest enclave into Fort Collins.

Comments called into the line at 416-2300 will be forwarded to the city council, according to Mark Radtke, Fort Collins director of governmental relations. He said city staff will respond to any questions received.

Residents Sandra Robbins, Ann McSay, Karl Hill, Amanda Keller and A&J Antiques Mall owner Joann Malara were appointed by city manager Darin Atteberry to represent the interests of those in the enclave. The currently unincorporated area extends from the city limits just east of College Avenue, west to Taft Hill Road, north to Harmony Road and south to Trilby Road.

Radtke and Tess Heffernan, council policy manager, will represent the city. Larry Timm, planning director, and Deni LaRue, community information manager, will represent Larimer County.

The group met Aug. 21, Radtke said, and will meet at least once or twice again to discuss the best ways to facilitate the annexation. "The committee is making sure every avenue of communication is open," he said.

The immediate focus is getting information out to businesses along the Kel Mar commercial strip bordering South College Avenue, Radtke said. The city council on Sept. 5 will consider an ordinance annexing that first phase, followed by the final reading scheduled for Sept. 19. If approved, the annexation should take effect by the end of the month.

Radtke said the transition committee also discussed reactivating the group for subsequent annexations expected to take place over the next 10 years. Radtke said the next phase will be annexation of the areas east of College including Fairway Estates, Fossil Creek Meadows and Trilby Heights. The third phase will be annexation of the unincorporated area between College and Shields Street, followed by the final phase of annexations west of Shields.

Opponents fought fiercely against the annexation and succeeded in passing state legislation requiring cities to create such transition committees when annexing enclaves. While that legislation didn't take effect until Sept. 1, Radtke said the city wanted to follow the spirit of the law.

The telephone link joins the existing www.fcgov.com/swa web site that contains an e-mail form to submit comments. The web site also offers background information on the proposed annexation.