Greeley says ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to pipeline review

The City of Greeley has declined to submit its new water pipeline to an additional land-use review by the Larimer County Commissioners.

In a letter dated Dec. 28, Greeley Mayor Tom Norton rejected the request to voluntarily take the northern segment of the pipeline through the process known as a 1041 Land Use approval. That process would bring the portion of project from the Bellvue Treatment Plant through Larimer County before the Board of County Commissioners for review.

“Greeley does not believe that the 1041 process will result in a more reasoned conclusion than the efforts already employed to date,” Norton wrote.

The commissioners had asked Greeley to submit the pipeline project, approved by the Larimer County Planning Commission in 2007 under what is known as a location and extent application, for further review. In the request sent to Water and Sewer Director Jon Monson in mid-December, the commissioners noted that while Greeley was not required to take the pipeline through the 1041 process, it would be “a goodwill gesture” on the part of the city to do so.

Norton’s response outlined the “substantial and costly steps” Greeley has taken since 2007 to comply with the conditions placed on the approvals by the planning commission, and the “considerable feedback from the public” the city has already incorporated into the project.

“The current pipeline alignment takes into account and implements many of the comments, concerns or conditions included in Greeley’s Location and Extent approval, or suggested by the landowners,” he wrote.

“Greeley’s efforts to accommodate public concerns have clearly exceeded that which the County typically requires for similar infrastructure projects,” Norton continued. “In fact, this level of outreach and Greeley’s commitment to listening to and addressing property owners’ concerns to the extent possible appears to have satisfied most of the affected land owners. To date, Greeley has acquired on a voluntary basis three-quarters of the easements necessary (26,267 linear feet of right-of-way) for the Northern segment. This represents 81 percent of the land needed to construct this portion of the pipeline.”

Commissioner Steve Johnson told the North Forty News that he was “disappointed,” but that he had “sort of expected” Greeley to refuse the offer.

“It was just a request that we made,” he said. “There are no other steps that we can take to compel them to do it. I understand that they have to represent their customers and get the best deal they can for their ratepayers. We will continue to represent our position on behalf of our constituents.”