Negotiations to begin next month

Voters in overwhelming numbers this week directed the city to try to acquire the land

The city of Fort Collins and the Colorado State University System appear ready to return to the negotiating table over the Hughes Stadium property after voters in over whelming numbers this week directed the city to tr y to acquire the land for open space.

Now comes the hard part: Finding

a solution to the question of whether the 161-acre parcel will be developed into a neighborhood with some open space or transformed entirely into open land. That stalemated the City Council last summer.

In its comments after the results, the CSU System said that while it respects the will of the voters, it reasser ted its position that it can use the Site Plan Advisory Review in state law to develop the Hughes Stadium land without approval from city officials.

That process, also known as SPAR, allows some state entities to develop land they own and supersede local zoning and development rules under certain conditions.

“As we have discussed all along with city leadership, this ballot measure does not bind the state to sell the Hughes property — that decision and authority rests with the Board of Governors of the CSU System,” the system said early Wednesday morning. “We look forward to future conversations with the city to determine if there is a path for ward.”

The system declined to make Chancellor Tony Frank available for an inter view Friday.

OPTIMISM ON NEGOTIATIONS

For t Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry said the City Council will star t taking up rezoning of the property as soon as May 4, after its newly elected members are sworn in.

After that, city staff will begin speaking with CSU System staff on acquiring the property, a process that will include independent