Wellington Board of Trustees 4/08/25
by Nanci Wendland
Main Topics
Planning Director Bird reviewed key findings from the final report of the Housing Needs and Affordability Assessment conducted by The Matrix Design Group, Inc. The report also includes recommended strategies and goals for the town.
The board unanimously adopted all but one of the amendments to Chapter 15 of the Land Use Code, increasing opportunities for affordable housing. Members voted to keep the current code for downtown multi-family dwellings at only 6 units with a maximum of 2 floors in height.
The board approved a 20-year agreement with Black Hills Energy with a franchise fee of 3% of gross receipts from gas sales within town limits.
The board approved a consulting agreement for $174,539 to create a Master Plan and Community Center Feasibility Study for the Wellington Parks, Recreation, Open Spaces, and Trails (PROST).
Cities Digital, Inc. will store and archive the town records, providing data back-up and restoration if needed at a cost of $11,850 for the first year.
Water conservation in Wellington is no longer mandatory effective Apr. 15 through Oct. 15. Guidelines are voluntary.
The board unanimously approved a liquor license for the 2025 Main Street Brewfest on June 7 at Centennial Park in Wellington.
All items on the Consent Agenda were unanimously approved. Details are in the packet.
- March 25, 2025, meeting minutes
- Resolution No. 11-2025 awarded a contract for engineering services to Advanced Engineering & Environmental Services, LLC.
- Resolution No. 14-2025 is a budget amendment for a Housing Affordability Infrastructure study.
Planning Director Bird presented the final report of the Housing Needs and Affordability Assessment conducted by The Matrix Design Group, Inc.
Key findings are:
- Single-family homes are the majority of residential housing units in Wellington (90% of the town’s residential parcels), followed by townhomes, and condominiums. Duplexes, triplexes, manufactured homes, and apartments account for 1% of residential properties.
- Wellington’s housing stock is relatively new, with the median home having been constructed in 2007.
- In 2022, 1% of the town’s homes were unoccupied.
- The average rent is 45% higher in Wellington than Larimer County as a whole.
- In 2022, 41% of renter households and 24% of homeowners were considered cost-burdened, meaning they devote 30% or more of household income to gross rent or mortgage.
- There is a lack of rental units for residents earning below 50% AMI (Area Median Income).
- There is also a lack of entry-level housing units for sale.
- Approximately 800 new units must be available by 2030 and over 1,300 new units must be available by 2035 to accommodate the expected growth of the town.
Matrix Design Group Consultants made the following recommendations to address the findings and identify gaps:
- Regulatory reform – Remove barriers to the development of accessory dwelling units, re-evaluate parking standards, amend the design review process, introduce inclusionary zoning to incentivize affordable development, and modify dimensional standards and other regulations to increase diversity of housing types.
- Plan or study – Consider measures aimed at promoting housing rehabilitation and preservation.
- Program or resource – Create a naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) inventory, increase senior housing options and facilitate aging in place, pursue funding opportunities through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).
Kate Conley, Board Secretary for Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, and an Architect, Principal, and Director with Architects FORA spoke at the meeting. Conley said Wellington could be a part of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity organization to facilitate affordable homes being built for the town’s vulnerable population.
An employee with Fort Collins Housing Catalyst said he supports the changes that Matrix Design Group, Inc. is proposing. He said there should be more rental housing for 1-2 people, seniors, and the disabled.
The board unanimously approved the final report.
Planning Director Bird proposed amendments to the Land Use Code to increase opportunities for housing affordability. Bird said the first step should be short-term fixes to lower housing costs and increase in-house planning staff resources. Bird cited 4 goals:
- Increase diversity of housing types
- Allow multi-family dwellings in downtown neighborhoods
- Allow manufactured homes in medium-density neighborhoods
- Increase diversity of dwelling sizes and configurations
- Increase net density by reducing lot widths
- Increase the opportunities for Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) in all residential zone areas from 1,000 sq. ft. to 1,200 sq. ft.
- Reduce land requirements and costs for multi-family developments.
- Reduce some restrictions on multi-family dwellings
- Update minimum parking requirements
In conclusion, Director Bird said, “There is no one solution to housing needs and affordability. The proposed code amendments are intended to remove barriers and create opportunities for residents.”
The board unanimously approved Ordinance No. 08-2025 adopting all but one of the amendments to Chapter 15 of the Land Use Code increasing opportunities for affordable housing. A majority of board members voted to keep the current code for downtown multi-family dwellings at only 6 units with a maximum of 2 floors in height, instead of amending and allowing 8 units with a maximum of 2 floors height.
Ordinance No. 02-2025: The board unanimously approved the Black Hills Energy franchise agreement allowing its lessees, successors and assigns the authority to construct, operate, maintain and extend a natural gas distribution plant and system, including the right to use the streets, alleys, and other public places within the town of Wellington. This is a 20-year agreement with a franchise fee of 3% of gross receipts from gas sales within town limits. The board said this will bring additional revenue and plans to use the money to add a School Resource Officer (SRO).
Resolution No. 13-2025, unanimously approved, is a consulting agreement with Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker LLC to create a Master Plan and Community Center Feasibility Study for the Wellington Parks, Recreation, Open Spaces, and Trails (PROST). The agreement is not to exceed $174,539 and is expected to be completed no later than June 30, 2026.
Resolution No. 12-2025, unanimously approved, is a purchase agreement with Cities Digital, Inc. for software and services for Laserfiche Software to store and archive all town records, providing data back-up and restoration if needed. The agreement is for 1 year at $11,850 and is records management only. The board said it will bring the town into the 21st century, increasing efficiency and security for the town and the town’s staff.
Resolution No. 15-2025 was unanimously approved, establishing voluntary guidelines for irrigation and water conservation effective Apr. 15 through Oct. 15. The guidelines suggest watering only 2 days per week between the hours of 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. with provisions for local Homeowners Associations to reduce fines for any homeowner whose lawns may turn brown despite following the guidelines.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Questions to Consider
- How does the new water plant influence the town’s non-punitive position on watering restrictions?
- How much revenue will come from the gas franchise agreement and is adding a school resource officer the best use of it?
Next Meeting: Apr. 22, 2025, 6:30 p.m. online Zoom, or in-person at The Leeper Center, 3800 Wilson Avenue, Wellington, CO
Members’ Present
Mayor Calar Chaussee, Mayor Pro Tem Brian Mason and Trustees: Rebekka Daily, David Wiegand, Shirrell Tietz, and Lowrey Moyer. Trustee Ed Cannon was absent.
Others Present to Note: Town Attorney Dan Sapienza; Town Administrator Patti Garcia; Town Clerk Hannah Hill; Deputy Town Administrator Kelly Houghteling; Planning Director Cody Bird; Deputy Director of Public Works Meagan Smith; Deputy Director of Public Works Nathan Ewert; Matrix Design Group, Inc. consultants; Planner III Brittany Lenoir; PROST Manager Billy Cooksey.
Documents
*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.