The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers: Land Use Code Updates
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The City of Fort Collins is taking steps to comply with a new state law, House Bill 24-1313: Housing in Transit Oriented Communities (TOC), which encourages more housing near high-frequency transit routes.
As part of this process, the City will designate Transit Centers in areas served by frequent transit. If you received a mailer directing you to this page, your property is located within a future Transit Center area.
Under this state law, zoning in Transit Centers must allow at least 15 dwelling units per acre, which typically supports multifamily housing such as apartments or condominiums. In Fort Collins, properties in the state-designated Transit Centers are already zoned to meet or exceed this requirement.
The Transit Center designation does not change existing zoning, but it does align the City with state requirements and may make these areas eligible for future state funding opportunities, including infrastructure funding and affordable housing programs.
What's Happening Next
The first phase of Transit Center designations will apply to properties within the City’s existing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay Zone, including areas along:
The MAX Bus Rapid Transit corridor
College Avenue
Areas around the CSU campus (Lake Street and West Elizabeth)
Additional Transit Center areas will be designated by the end of 2026.
Proposed Land Use Code changes for properties within the TOD area are currently moving through the City’s public review process.
Upcoming public meetings:
Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing: March 25
City Council First Reading: April 7
Explore Transit Centers
View the Transit Centers Map in the Documents and Maps section of this webpage and project information below to see where Transit Centers are proposed and learn more about the process.
Para una versión en español de esta página, toque o haga clic en el botón en la parte superior derecha para seleccionar un idioma.
The City of Fort Collins is taking steps to comply with a new state law, House Bill 24-1313: Housing in Transit Oriented Communities (TOC), which encourages more housing near high-frequency transit routes.
As part of this process, the City will designate Transit Centers in areas served by frequent transit. If you received a mailer directing you to this page, your property is located within a future Transit Center area.
Under this state law, zoning in Transit Centers must allow at least 15 dwelling units per acre, which typically supports multifamily housing such as apartments or condominiums. In Fort Collins, properties in the state-designated Transit Centers are already zoned to meet or exceed this requirement.
The Transit Center designation does not change existing zoning, but it does align the City with state requirements and may make these areas eligible for future state funding opportunities, including infrastructure funding and affordable housing programs.
What's Happening Next
The first phase of Transit Center designations will apply to properties within the City’s existing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay Zone, including areas along:
The MAX Bus Rapid Transit corridor
College Avenue
Areas around the CSU campus (Lake Street and West Elizabeth)
Additional Transit Center areas will be designated by the end of 2026.
Proposed Land Use Code changes for properties within the TOD area are currently moving through the City’s public review process.
Upcoming public meetings:
Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing: March 25
City Council First Reading: April 7
Explore Transit Centers
View the Transit Centers Map in the Documents and Maps section of this webpage and project information below to see where Transit Centers are proposed and learn more about the process.
Have a question?
Ask it here!
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Share I wanted to know if you are having any work done on the cannabis zoning issues. Currently all stores must be clustered vs spread out. This was enacted over a decade ago and very restrictive measures put into place vs regulating like liquor as the voters voted for. Is there any thing that can be done to allow the stores to spread out so someone does not have a one hour round trip to a store if they live say in Mid West Fort Collins? Also Ordinance 41 was a city adopted set back rules that went far above state requirements. Since that adoption, houses have encroached into all the areas set for allowing cannabis stores. We would like to see more than just GC or CG zone and remove the set backs to reflect state guidelines. Can you assist with this? on Facebook Share I wanted to know if you are having any work done on the cannabis zoning issues. Currently all stores must be clustered vs spread out. This was enacted over a decade ago and very restrictive measures put into place vs regulating like liquor as the voters voted for. Is there any thing that can be done to allow the stores to spread out so someone does not have a one hour round trip to a store if they live say in Mid West Fort Collins? Also Ordinance 41 was a city adopted set back rules that went far above state requirements. Since that adoption, houses have encroached into all the areas set for allowing cannabis stores. We would like to see more than just GC or CG zone and remove the set backs to reflect state guidelines. Can you assist with this? on Twitter Share I wanted to know if you are having any work done on the cannabis zoning issues. Currently all stores must be clustered vs spread out. This was enacted over a decade ago and very restrictive measures put into place vs regulating like liquor as the voters voted for. Is there any thing that can be done to allow the stores to spread out so someone does not have a one hour round trip to a store if they live say in Mid West Fort Collins? Also Ordinance 41 was a city adopted set back rules that went far above state requirements. Since that adoption, houses have encroached into all the areas set for allowing cannabis stores. We would like to see more than just GC or CG zone and remove the set backs to reflect state guidelines. Can you assist with this? on Linkedin Email I wanted to know if you are having any work done on the cannabis zoning issues. Currently all stores must be clustered vs spread out. This was enacted over a decade ago and very restrictive measures put into place vs regulating like liquor as the voters voted for. Is there any thing that can be done to allow the stores to spread out so someone does not have a one hour round trip to a store if they live say in Mid West Fort Collins? Also Ordinance 41 was a city adopted set back rules that went far above state requirements. Since that adoption, houses have encroached into all the areas set for allowing cannabis stores. We would like to see more than just GC or CG zone and remove the set backs to reflect state guidelines. Can you assist with this? link
I wanted to know if you are having any work done on the cannabis zoning issues. Currently all stores must be clustered vs spread out. This was enacted over a decade ago and very restrictive measures put into place vs regulating like liquor as the voters voted for. Is there any thing that can be done to allow the stores to spread out so someone does not have a one hour round trip to a store if they live say in Mid West Fort Collins? Also Ordinance 41 was a city adopted set back rules that went far above state requirements. Since that adoption, houses have encroached into all the areas set for allowing cannabis stores. We would like to see more than just GC or CG zone and remove the set backs to reflect state guidelines. Can you assist with this?
Joe Dice asked about 1 year agoHi Joe! We can confirm these are not being considered as a part of the current phase of Land Use Code project. City Council did not include these topics in their directive for this project, and we would not initiate changes in this area without further direction from Council.
If you have specific inquiries related to marijuana land use and zoning, contact our Zoning Inspector, Rob Bianchetto, who can provide more detailed assistance. You can reach Rob at rbianchetto@fcgov.com.
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Share The neighborhood visits seem concentrated on the central and south parts of town. Will there be any visits to commercial areas on the north side of town? on Facebook Share The neighborhood visits seem concentrated on the central and south parts of town. Will there be any visits to commercial areas on the north side of town? on Twitter Share The neighborhood visits seem concentrated on the central and south parts of town. Will there be any visits to commercial areas on the north side of town? on Linkedin Email The neighborhood visits seem concentrated on the central and south parts of town. Will there be any visits to commercial areas on the north side of town? link
The neighborhood visits seem concentrated on the central and south parts of town. Will there be any visits to commercial areas on the north side of town?
ncoffman asked over 1 year agoncoffman, thanks for your comment! We appreciate your feedback about the focus of our neighborhood visits. We selected one commercial center within each City Council District. We did our best to select places in different areas of Fort Collins, but realize that the size and diversity of the commercial centers across Council districts (especially Council District 1, on the northeast side of town) is challenging. That's why we'll be hosting an additional event at the beginning of November in Old Town, held at a more accessible location and open to everyone. Stay tuned for details! In the meantime, we encourage you to use our interactive map tool here on the webpage to share your thoughts on the commercial zones across the city. We’re particularly interested in your feedback on aspects like street access, walkability, bikeability, landscaping and the physical layout of these areas. You can access the map HERE.
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Share What is being done to build affordable housing for ownership in Fort Collins? on Facebook Share What is being done to build affordable housing for ownership in Fort Collins? on Twitter Share What is being done to build affordable housing for ownership in Fort Collins? on Linkedin Email What is being done to build affordable housing for ownership in Fort Collins? link
What is being done to build affordable housing for ownership in Fort Collins?
vday asked over 1 year agoThe City partners with non-profits like Habitat for Humanity and Elevation Community Land Trust to provide restricted for-sale homes. Many of these homes are in a community land trust model, meaning they will be affordable to generations of low-wage homeowners. In this model, the homeowner buys the home and rents the land for a nominal fee. Upon sale, the appreciation in the home is split with some of it staying in the home as equity to keep the home affordable for the next buyer. Habitat for Humanity is currently building condos (hard to find in this market), as well as single family and duplex homes. Elevation Community Land Trust purchased scattered public rental housing sites from the city’s Housing Authority, Housing Catalyst, is renovating them and offering them for sale. They also have new townhomes for sale at Birdwhistle Townhomes built on a City Land Bank parcel. For more information on affordable homes for sale in Fort Collins visit: elevationclt.org.
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Share Will there be a neighborhood visit for the Downtown neighborhoods including Oak 140 affordable housing residents and businesses? The area has become crime central and city codes need to be updated and enforced. on Facebook Share Will there be a neighborhood visit for the Downtown neighborhoods including Oak 140 affordable housing residents and businesses? The area has become crime central and city codes need to be updated and enforced. on Twitter Share Will there be a neighborhood visit for the Downtown neighborhoods including Oak 140 affordable housing residents and businesses? The area has become crime central and city codes need to be updated and enforced. on Linkedin Email Will there be a neighborhood visit for the Downtown neighborhoods including Oak 140 affordable housing residents and businesses? The area has become crime central and city codes need to be updated and enforced. link
Will there be a neighborhood visit for the Downtown neighborhoods including Oak 140 affordable housing residents and businesses? The area has become crime central and city codes need to be updated and enforced.
Downtown Concerned Business Owner asked over 1 year agoHello - thank you for your question! For Land Use Code: Phase 2 we're hosting one neighborhood visit per City council district, plus a dedicated visit for business owners that has yet to be announced.
Downtown is a part of Council District 6; Neighborhood Visit 6 (info in the sidebar of this webpage) will be held in District 6 on Oct. 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cedarwood Plaza Shopping Center at Taft Hill and W. Elizabeth.We'll announce details about the dedicated visit for business owners soon, on this webpage. You can subscribe to this webpage for updates if you'd like!
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Share I keep reading about the "15 minute city" goals, and I'm curious, has the city studied the percentage of people who work near to where they live? on Facebook Share I keep reading about the "15 minute city" goals, and I'm curious, has the city studied the percentage of people who work near to where they live? on Twitter Share I keep reading about the "15 minute city" goals, and I'm curious, has the city studied the percentage of people who work near to where they live? on Linkedin Email I keep reading about the "15 minute city" goals, and I'm curious, has the city studied the percentage of people who work near to where they live? link
I keep reading about the "15 minute city" goals, and I'm curious, has the city studied the percentage of people who work near to where they live?
CD Reynolds asked over 1 year agoHi CD! Thanks for reaching out. That's an interesting question that you pose and while we've performed a lot of analysis on commuting patterns, we haven't studied where people work as part of the 15-minute city analysis. The general concept of the 15-minute city analysis has focused more on people’s opportunity to reach daily destinations, like being within a 15-minute walk of a school or grocery store. The 15-Minute City is a concept of City Planning that aims to provide the structural support (land use code, infrastructure, etc) to enable cities to develop in such a way that allows citizens to have walkable access to their most common amenities (food, healthcare, entertainment, schools, potential employment, etc), reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing localized, walkable neighborhoods - and is a concept that's typically adopted to change existing development or commuting patterns in order to enable long-term change, not in reaction to existing development or commuting patterns. While it would be great for more people in Fort Collins to be able to access their place of employment within a 15-minute walk or ride, people tend to select their job by other factors such as qualifications, salary, benefits, profession, etc. as opposed to solely location - therefore the ability to reach other types of daily destinations is where more of our analysis has focused.
We've performed a Fort Collins Travel Diary Study that found the average commute trip for Fort Collins commuters was 6.5 miles. The City uses 3 miles as the average distance that a person can cover on bike or another micromobility device within 15 minutes.
Here's a link to that study if you're interested: https://www.fcgov.com/fcmoves/files/fort_collins_travel_diary_report_2022_final.pdf?1697133832
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Events: Come share your feedback! (click or tap for more info + to register)
Who's Listening
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City Planner
Phone 970-224-6086 Email svanzee@fcgov.com -
Senior City Planner
Phone 970-416-2270 Email mkeith@fcgov.com -
Senior Project Manager
Phone 970-416-2354 Email statman-burruss@fcgov.com
Timeline
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Fall 2024
The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers: Land Use Code Updates has finished this stageConduct assessments, community engagement (including Neighborhood Visits - see below!), and begin drafting initial code changes.
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Winter 2024 - Spring 2025
The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers: Land Use Code Updates has finished this stageRefine code language, conduct further assessments, and engage with the community.
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Summer-Fall 2025
The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers: Land Use Code Updates has finished this stageFinalize and adopt Land Use Code updates.
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Transit Centers: Initial Commission and Council Hearings
The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers: Land Use Code Updates is currently at this stageSpring 2026
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Transit Centers: Adoption
this is an upcoming stage for The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers: Land Use Code UpdatesTBD
Important Links
Documents and Maps
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Transit Centers Map (956 KB) (jpeg)
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Winter 2025 Focus Group Summaries (246 KB) (pdf)
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April 2025 Open House Summary (2.46 MB) (pdf)
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April 2025 Open House Display Boards (30.1 MB) (pdf)
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Community Forum Presentation - Nov 18 2024.pdf (8.31 MB) (pdf)
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City Council Slides - July 8 2025 Update.pdf (3.85 MB) (pdf)
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Online Survey Results.pdf (78 KB) (pdf)
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Spring 2025 Focus Group Summary.pdf (78.4 KB) (pdf)
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