Southwest Enclave Annexation heads to vote

Fort Collins voters now will have the their say on the Southwest Enclave Annexation after the city clerk certified that opponents had collected enough signatures to force a vote on the issue.

The city council on Dec. 19 rejected the opportunity to overturn its October vote annexing the enclave. Instead the council voted to place the question on the April 3 municipal ballot.

Annexation of the 2.75-square-mile enclave became effective on Nov. 1, but now will return to unincorporated status until the election.

The enclave containing some 3,100 residents and 100 businesses became eligible for annexation after it was surrounded by properties within the city limits. Since that annexation effort started, opponents have fought a pitched battle to keep the city at bay. In December, they submitted the 3,150 petition signatures necessary to put the issue before Fort Collins electors.