Timnath boundary plan stalled

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

Reservations by residents and protests by Fort Collins once again have slowed adoption of an agreement defining the future boundaries of Timnath.

The Larimer County Commissioners voted unanimously to postpone consideration of the intergovernmental agreement for six months. The delay is intended to give the town time to negotiate further with Fort Collins and inform residents whose properties would be incorporated into the town's expanded growth management area.

"We do have a spirit of cooperation. I'd hate to see it thrown out the window," Commissioner Randy Eubanks said, attributing the strong citizen opposition to the lack of communication.

"This is putting us between the cities. I would prefer to work with the cities," said Commissioner Glenn Gibson. "I would like to see us work with each other rather than against each other."

The vote followed a two-hour January hearing in which a succession of speakers objected to Timnath's plans to extend its GMA north to County Road 52 (Richards Lake Road).

A GMA is recognized by the county as the territory a municipality eventually expects to annex. The recognition assures that any development proposals in that area will be subject to review under the standards of that city or town. The GMA is established through an agreement with the county with a goal of assuring the most intensive development occurs near the municipalities best suited to supply urban services.

"We're trying to plan for 20 years," Timnath Town Manager Becky Davidson said in defense of the proposed boundaries and associated employment-related land uses bordering Interstate 25.

"The only area available for that growth is north," she said. "There really isn't an overwhelming amount of land left in Timnath to develop."

But Fort Collins Deputy City Manager Diane Jones said the urban level of development proposed by Timnath north of Prospect Road was inconsistent with city structure plan, which calls for development of a more rural nature in that area. While she acknowledged that change may be warranted, she asked the commissioners for more time to resolve differences and reach an acceptable agreement.

"It is changing, and we're not objecting to those changes." Jones said. "We're just saying take the time to do it right."

"We feel like we were blindsided," said East Prospect Road resident Carolyn Mason.

That mirrored the terminology of Timnath officials when Fort Collins intervened in September as adoption of the intergovernmental agreement seemed at hand. Following Fort Collins' challenge, Timnath redoubled its efforts to make affected residents north of Mulberry aware of its plans through seven meetings, according to Davidson.

But that effort fell short, according to those south of Mulberry who said they knew little about the town's plans and preferred to remain in a rural setting outside any municipal boundaries.

"If that's the way Timnath will run this thing, then I'm not very happy," said Inge Diodati. "I don't think it's been planned very well."

"What will Timnath do for me?" asked Karen Hansen. "It seems to me Timnath is changing things to fit its needs."

"What we're talking about here is not annexation but a GMA," Davidson said. "If someone doesn't want to [annex] they don't have to."

"I wish there had been more meetings in that area," said Commissioner Kathay Rennels. "That conversation should take place."

She added, however, "I don't want to hold Timnath hostage with delay and delay."

Davidson later said she expected to schedule meetings with Fort Collins early this month and arrange additional informational meeting with residents south of Mulberry soon.

"We made a lot of effort north of Mulberry but didn't realize the concerns of those to the south," Davidson said.