Development Applications

The Development Application Process

Development of multi-family and commercial buildings within the Estes Valley requires review by the Estes Valley Planning Commission. (Construction of a single-family home requires a building permit but is exempt from development plan review.) Applications reviewed by the Planning Commission are recommended for approval or denial to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners or to the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees, depending on whether the subject property lies outside or inside the town limits of Estes Park. Final decision-making authority rests with the Board of County Commissioners or Town Board of Trustees. The only exception is development plan proposals; the final decision-making authority for development plan proposals rests with the Estes Valley Planning Commission. Submittals for final subdivision plats, final PUDs, final and supplemental condominium maps, and land consolidation plats are reviewed solely by the Board of County Commissioners or Town Board. All development in the Estes Valley is governed by the Estes Valley Development Code.

The following items require development review:

• Amended plat

• Boundary line adjustment

• Condominium map: preliminary, final, and supplemental

• Development plan

• Easement or right-of-way vacation

• Lot Consolidation

• PUD

• Rezoning petition

• Special use review

• Street name change

• Subdivision plats: preliminary, final, and minor

As you're planning your proposed development, we recommend you read this article, reprinted with permission from the  Colorado Real Estate Journal, on Site Planning.

Development Applications

Prior to submitting an application for development review, schedule a pre-application conference with a Planner. Pre-application conferences must occur a minimum of two weeks prior to the application submittal deadline.

Request form for Pre-Application Conference

Submittal requirements for Development Plan and Special Review uses

Submittal requirements for Subdivision applications

Submittal requirements for All Other Development applications

 

Development Application Packet (combines the documents listed below)

Development Application Form

2008 Schedule for Estes Valley Planning Commission submittals

2008 Schedule for Final Plat submittals to County Commissioners or Town Board

2008 Schedule for Development Plans that qualify for staff-level review

Application Fees

Adjacent Property Owner Notification Requirements

What happens after I submit my application?
    Once your application has been submitted, a legal notice is published in the newspaper, a mailing is sent to nearby property owners to notify them of your proposal, and your application is routed to affected agencies (such as the Town of Estes Park public works department, Larimer County planning department, the sanitation district, Colorado Department of Transportation, etc.) for comment. After comments are received from the public and from affected agencies, the Planner who is working on your application will prepare a staff report for review by the Estes Valley Planning Commission. Staff reports may be viewed online along with your application and site plan. The staff report will recommend either approval or denial of your application and will probably include a list of conditions the planning staff recommends for approval of your application.
    Your application will be presented at the Estes Valley Planning Commission meeting that takes place approximately two months following the submittal deadline for your application. At this meeting your application will be reviewed for compliance with the Estes Valley Development Code. During the meeting, the Planner will present the staff report, you or your agent will have the opportunity to address the Planning Commission regarding your request, and the public will have the opportunity to speak in favor or opposition of the request. Once the Planning Commission has listened to all presentations and asked questions, they vote to either approve or deny (in the case of development plan proposals), or recommend approval or denial (for all other proposals), to the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees or Larimer County Commissioners.
    Approximately one month later, a similar public hearing is conducted before the Town Board or County Commissioners, who review the recommendation from the Estes Valley Planning Commission prior to making a final decision about your proposal.
   If your application is for a final subdivision plat, final PUD, final or supplemental condominium map, or land consolidation plat, your application will be reviewed solely by the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees or Board of County Commissioners.
   If your application is for a change to the name of your street, or for a right-of-way or easement vacation, and your property is within Estes Park town limits, your request will not be reviewed by the Estes Valley Planning Commission, but must be presented to the Public Works Committee prior to being heard by the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees.

Questions? Contact us.