FAQs

A Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a type of large neighborhood or community that’s designed as a whole, rather than one building at a time. This means that homes, parks, shops and other features are planned together with the intention to create a well-connected and cohesive community. After the overall PUD plan has been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission or by City Council, construction companies typically plan and build different parts of the neighborhood in phases over time.

In Fort Collins, PUDs are permitted only for large development projects that cover 50 acres or more. This is because PUDs can modify the existing zoning rules for the area, effectively creating custom zoning for the development. In the past, Fort Collins allowed PUDs on smaller parcels, but over time, those have become difficult to enforce. Other communities in Colorado and elsewhere still do permit PUDs for smaller-scale development projects.

PUDs between 50 and 640 acres are reviewed and may be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Larger PUDs – those over 640 acres- are reviewed and may be approved by City Council.

Once a PUD has been approved for a site, the applicant will continue to refine the details of the projects. For these large developments, this detailed planning happens in phases over years or even decades. Each phase requires additional approvals before construction can begin. City staff review the plans for each phase to ensure they are consistent with the overall PUD, the applicable zoning regulations and other City rules and regulations (how electricity, water and sewer are brought to the development, what happens to stormwater, how will the streets be designed, where will trails be built, where will trees be planted, etc.)

A metro district is a type of special tax district, similar to a school district or a fire protection district. It allows residents (or future residents) within that district to collectively access more favorable financing to build public infrastructure like roads, streetlights and water or sewer systems. The metro district can issue government bonds to fund this type of construction, which tend to have better interest rates than the loans available to developers. Residents then repay the cost of these improvements over time through a dedicated metro district tax. This in turn can keep housing prices lower in metro districts.