Timnath, city debate animal shelter site

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

One dogfight between Fort Collins and Timnath has been averted while another one is looming over possible relocation of the humane society to city-owned property within the town's future boundaries.

Fort Collins' purchase of that open space separator has long been a sore point between the communities, which could be rubbed even rougher should it become the new site for the animal shelter.

For the time being, however, strides have been taken toward restoring harmonious relations. The Timnath Planning Commission, in its recent recommendation on expanding the town's growth management area, did not include properties at the Interstate 25 interchanges with Harmony and Prospect roads.

Those prime sales-tax producing properties were already recognized as being part of Fort Collins' growth management area. Their potential inclusion into Timnath's territory threatened to set off a land war and disrupt relations among the county and municipalities.

"I'm very encouraged to hear that," said Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry, calling it "very respectful of past land-use decisions."

With that conflict resolved, Timnath now is proceeding with developing intergovernmental agreements with Fort Collins and Larimer County defining the relationships with each other to reduce future clashes.

"We're actively working on that," said county planning director Larry Timm. "I want to keep it moving as rapidly as possible." The progress, he acknowledged, would not have been possible if the conflict continued with Fort Collins.

Timm said the value of an IGA is establishing cooperative relationships to better prepare for development in areas that will eventually be annexed to municipalities. He said the agreements can be as simple or as detailed as necessary, with Timnath's tending toward the latter.

"We want to have it very clear how we operate," explained Town Manager Becky Davidson.

"We really want to get that firmed up," agreed Mayor Donna Benson.

At the same time, a new scuffle threatens to arise over the possibility of the humane society buying land that Fort Collins purchased within Timnath's growth management area. Fort Collins Natural Resources Department Director John Stokes said the 105-acre property on the east side of I-25 was purchased with open space funds to preserve a separation between the city and Timnath as development occurs.

He said the property was purchased with the understanding that it would later be sold with a conservation easement preserving it largely in its natural state. "That would allow some potential for limited development," he said.

The Larimer Humane Society had expressed interest in acquiring a portion of the property for its new shelter, Stokes said, which seems to be an appropriate use considering the city's goal.

"They're very interested in the property," said Atteberry. "We do believe it's a good fit."

But Timnath officials strongly beg to differ.

"The location does not make sense," Davidson said, noting that the town has long called for homes to be built on that land instead.

"They need to respect what we have planned in that area," she insisted. To understand Timnath's anger, Davidson suggested Fort Collins officials consider how they would feel to discover Timnath made a similar move to impose an unwanted land use in its eventual city limits.

"Who would like that?" she asked.

Davidson also questioned the propriety of Fort Collins acting as developer in using public open space tax revenues to buy property with the intent of reselling it. "I think it's not good policy on their part to sell that off," she maintained.

Timnath, Davidson said, still hopes to reverse Fort Collins' reach or at least assure that it doesn't happen again. She said the town also hopes to discourage the city from selling the land to the humane society.

Mayor Donna Benson strongly agrees. In addition to the lack of respect for Timnath's preferred use for the land, she said, the shelter would be a noisy nuisance to any neighbor. "It's not just for Timnath," she said. "It shouldn't be close to residential areas."

Stokes, however, questioned whether a kennel could be any louder than the deafening noise already resulting from traffic thundering by on the bordering interstate highway.

Should the humane society decide to pursue that site, he said, it ultimately would come down to a policy decision by the city council, which would have to approve any sale of the property.

Larimer Humane Society President Joe Olsen said the site in contention is one of five in Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County being considered following an 18-month search.

"We're not ready to pounce on anything this moment," he said. "But that time is coming soon."

Olsen said the society has outgrown its 3.5-acre site on Kyle Avenue in southeast Fort Collins. He said it is seeking a new site with 16 to 40 acres, ready access to utilities and a big enough buffer to shield neighbors from the noise. "People don't want a humane society next to a newly built home," he said.

Olsen said the society expects to choose a site within six months based on the recommendation from an attorney hired to conduct the search. Then it would set to raising funds to construct an ultra energy-efficient 35,000- to 45,000-square-foot building.

"I think any municipality would be happy to be the proud recipient of this humane building," Olsen said.

While there have been no discussions with Timnath, he said, "we're an open book when it comes to what our hopes are."

Any potential for conflict certainly would be a consideration in the site selection, Olsen said, because "we just want to take care of animals and serve the community."