New comment policy, more on tap
Urban renewal board, presentation on Centerra South development on agenda at Tuesday’s meeting
Loveland City Council will vote on a request to annex vacant land in the northwest portion of the city and on a new board for a local metropolitan district when members return to the dais on Tuesday for the first regular meeting of the month.
Council will then join the four new members of the Loveland Urban Renewal Authority (LURA) board for the first official meeting of the expanded board, followed by a presentation from Mcwhinney Real Estate Services about Centerra South.
But first, City Council will get a chance to see its new general comment policy in action. Approved last month after several weeks of debate, the updated rules will be implemented for the first time on Tuesday.
As previously, general public comment will occur early in the meeting, before any action is taken by council. Speakers will have three minutes to address members on any item, except pending ordinances. That now includes resolutions on the regular agenda, though those are also still subject to direct public comment.
However, commenters are now asked to sign up before the meeting, either by filling out a contact card in chambers for those speaking in person, or, for those appearing remotely, by registering online at lov.gov.org/councilpubliccomment before noon on the day of the meeting.
Preregistered commenters will be called upon by Mayor Jacki Marsh to speak in the order the registrations were received. If any time remains in the 60-minute comment period, speakers who did not register in advance will have a chance to be heard.
The preregistration policy does not apply to those wishing to speak to ordinances or resolutions on the regular agenda that council will take action on. But, anyone who addressed a resolution during open comment cannot speak to it when it comes up for discussion and a vote.
Taft Ridge annexation
Council has just one ordinance on its plate on Tuesday, a request to annex and rezone 266 acres north of 57th Street between Taft and Wilson avenues, known at the the Taft Ridge First Addition
If approved, property owner Walton Global Holdings plans to
bring more than 1,000 residential units and “small node” of commercial space to the area. According to materials in the agenda packet, at least one parcel of the development will be dedicated to multi-family housing.
The city’s Planning Commission approved the annexation unanimously at its Nov. 28 meeting, despite concerns from some members about the pace of growth in Loveland. Earlier that month, the commission approved an 89acre addition to the Green Valley Ranch subdivision, located just south of Taft Ridge.
New LURA board
Immediately following its final regular agenda item, City Council will adjourn and reconvene as the LURA board of commissioners, a power it has held exclusively since 2002.
Now the LURA board is getting four additional commissioners, thanks to changes in the state’s urban renewal law that mandates a role for other agencies and districts impacted by tax-increment financing. The new urban renewal plan proposed to fund the Centerra South development marks the city’s first under these updated regulations.
The “newly reconstituted” board, now consisting of 13 members, will be officially seated on Tuesday, followed by a quick orientation and election of officers. In addition to the nine city council members, the LURA board will also include Jody Shadduck-mcnally, representing Larimer County Board of County Commissioners; Barbara Kruse, representing the Thompson School District Board of Education and Tami Lien, representing Thompson Valley Health Services District and other special districts. Rounding out the group is former Larimer County Commissioner Steve Johnson, who was appointed by Marsh.
Once seated the board will hear two presentations related to Centerra South, though it is not scheduled to take any action. The first will be on “benefits and challenges” of using urban renewal to fund development, followed by a presentation from Mcwhinney Real Estate Services about its future plans for the property.
How to participate
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at the Municipal Building, 500 E. Third St.
Comments from members of the public will be accepted in person as well as over Zoom.
Those wishing to join by Zoom can use the ID 975 3779 6504 with a passcode of 829866, according to the meeting agenda.
The meeting will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 16/880, Pulse TV channel 16 and streamed through the city’s website at lovgov.org/tv.
Tuesday’s agenda packet can be found through the Loveland City Council’s website at lovgov.org.