Larimer County, Town of Estes Park to Separate Land Use Planning

Beginning April 1, 2020, land use planning services jurisdiction within town limits and unincorporated areas of the Estes Valley will be divided between the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County.

The current intergovernmental agreement (IGA), which went into effect on Feb. 1, 2000, established a working relationship between the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County to evaluate land use in the Estes Valley Planning Area and determine if it complies with the Estes Valley Development Code (EVDC).

Currently, the Estes Valley Development Code (EVDC) boundaries include the town of Estes Park and the unincorporated surrounding communities in the Estes Valley. Larimer County indicates it will adopt the current zoning and uses of the EVDC into its Land Use Code along with the review processes that Larimer County uses when the split occurs.

Two open houses will be facilitated to educate residents and stakeholders on the split. Land owners are encouraged to attend these sessions.

Land use development has long been a topic of interest in Estes Park. In the 2015 Estes Park Community Survey, it was noted “there are concerns that our building codes limit redevelopment of many outdated buildings.” With limited land for redevelopment, business owners cited the EVDC as prohibitive to their operations.

Development policies were also cited as a top priority in the 2015 Estes Valley Economic Development Strategy. It reads:

As we embark upon this change in development oversight, we must remember our stated vision for the future. As entrepreneur Jim Rohn said, “Life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”

Monitor the upcoming transition by following the Larimer County and the Town of Estes Park development websites.