Sound policy, consistency and predictability help businesses thrive. That’s why the Fort Collins Area Chamber examines policy issues in depth and takes a stand to protect the interests of businesses and their employees. This year, we are taking a stance on one critical ballot issue. Below is what you need to know about this ballot issue and why it matters to the business community.
Proposed Citizen-Initiated Ordinance
(relating to the former Hughes Stadium property)
The Chamber is recommending a NO vote on this ballot issue.
The Hughes Stadium property in Fort Collins has been the center of much conversation the last four years. Citizens have varying opinions about what should be done with this 161-acre property. This ballot issue directs the City of Fort Collins to rezone and acquire the former Hughes Stadium property for parks, recreation, and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and restoration. The ballot language also directs very specific action by the City and provides legal standing to any registered elector in Fort Collins should the City be non-compliant with the ballot language directives.
Why We Oppose it:
As a Chamber of Commerce, we have long stated that private property rights should be honored and protected. Our Where We Stand document, which outlines the Chamber’s positions on issues important to our members and the economic vitality of the Fort Collins region, clearly states that “the Chamber supports the rights of the individual property owner and no government body should be allowed to use its regulatory powers to take private property or regulatory actions like down-zoning.”
We believe that this ballot issue directly violates this most basic right in a free society by forcing an unwilling seller to have their property acquired by an unwilling buyer. The precedence that this kind of action sets is extremely concerning and certainly inspires the question – is your property next?
Additionally, we are concerned that the ballot language encourages the placement of two important community partners (the City and CSU) in a position of the unintended consequence of never-ending, expensive legal challenges by any registered elector in the City.
The Chamber believes that this ballot issue is bad public policy and that voters should vote “NO.”