By Sandy Barnes
Berthoud Recorder

Town board members objected to fee reductions and waivers requested for the proposed O’Malley Glen project on Hwy. 56 at the Tuesday, Sept. 22 meeting. Steve Hanson of the Pinnacle Consulting Group has asked for waivers of park dedication and development fees and public facilities fees, a 30 percent reduction in the raw water fee and a 25 percent reduction in the road impact fee. Also in the request for the Larry Bebo project was a 50 percent reimbursement for oversizing water lines, a 10 percent fee reduction if paid at permit and a 20-year vesting period.

While noting the Town already has development incentives in place, which include deferring building permit fees until the certificate of occupancy, Trustee Jeff Hindman said he couldn’t support further reductions.

“I don’t see a committed schedule,” said Trustee Glen Buckingham. “Without that, I don’t really think there’s a whole lot more we can give on the fee reduction side. I’m looking for commitment to building.”

Trustees Michael Patrick and Dick Shepard agreed that without a specific construction schedule granting further incentives would not be advisable.

During his presentation, Town Planner Tim Katers said he and other Town staff were seeking direction from the Board on seven major requests from the developer, three of which they were in agreement with the applicant. Among the recommended requests was running a wastewater line due north, which would serve a larger area than bringing it directly from the sewer plant. Katers said that Town staff also supported acquiring off-site easements and amending Berthoud’s 2008 plan for the wastewater line.

Reimbursement for oversizing the line is also possibility for the Town to consider, he added.

During his remarks to the Board, Bebo also said he was seeking direction. “You guys decide,” he said. “I do have a good history with the Town,” he added. Bebo also explained that the 20-year vesting request was to ensure that future changes would not be made to the original plat.

“The quid pro quo is what we’re looking for,” said Trustee John Bauer. If beneficial to the Town, fee reductions possibly could be considered, he remarked.

The Town Board also reviewed the proposed Ludlow Farms project during a continued public hearing on zoning for the 300-acre parcel bordering County Road 17 and U.S. Highway 287.

Katers said good progress had been made in negotiating with the developer, especially in regard to buffering issues along the property, which borders existing residential development.

While looking at the permitted uses in the land use matrix, Patrick said he would not like to see a freestanding parking lot along Highway 287, which is the gateway to Berthoud. Hindman said his only concern was visible placement of cell phone towers in the project. Trustees also sought clarification on the mixed-use parcels, which would permit second floor residences only.

The Board will consider an annexation request for the project and vote on zoning at a future meeting.