[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6162426,"mediaKeyId","5437827-a06f7ea8755a510438767f14cdb22dc8","parentId",5437827,"title","Community Development director: hold building official hire, consultant chosen for countywide TDR pilot","audioSeconds",520,"startMs",2459000,"endMs",2979000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437827-a06f7ea8755a510438767f14cdb22dc8&start=2459&end=2979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437827-a06f7ea8755a510438767f14cdb22dc8/thumbnail_2459000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6162426/Larimer-County/Colorado/Community-Development-director-hold-building-official-hire-consultant-chosen-for-countywide-TDR-pilot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162426-0ae243c6cff49d94bf80ae088647fb30/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495695&Signature=WuDDBX1uhBn2iihNVBEeRCsn0zFFeF31RUB7K5R2-OmXxOZiM5KzMa3jrvTBtPM6L-tGOURcx~GVtev-~Fu7LyasdngrY3QhW3yBKXN5MbQbvH8JFQVTC7yob9gPCKi0HZ6NTO67IGUizo0i35BnyWgXLdwh6fUMZSuyAupk8dfTyqHV3-Paj5D5f6klGPlheIQAnWg0MpG7F91mgFROOnK4~Up1LMkfzE8kjc8CRRBEmdb614XnNEOIoFmNF7ozsZ5vFz1qc60PTq1~j-Q7Yt7vPwR3s~U9-uaB6jJsEPXFfqsj2WjdgSIec-dypkQKQKI1ZKwsjkgcpxMbn3Iwdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Larimer County, CO","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","Rebecca Everett, Larimer County community development director, told the Board of County Commissioners on July 21 that the county will keep the building official position vacant for a few months while staff build a retirement transition plan and provide interim coverage.

Everett said the interviews produced three finalists but—after “a lot of deep thought”—she decided “not to fill that position at this time and hold it vacant for a few months while we work on a transition plan for Eric’s retirement, make sure the team is well supported in that transition, and re‑advertise the position later this fall.” The decision is an administrative staffing choice by the department; no formal board vote was recorded during the work session.

Why it matters: The building official oversees plan review and field inspections; leaving the post vacant during a transition can affect project timelines, permitting workloads and the department’s capacity unless interim coverage or reassignments are in place.

Everett also briefed the commission on upcoming land‑use hearing logistics. The July 28 docket includes a 3 p.m. session with three items on consent and three items slated for discussion and a 6:30 p.m. session the same day that will include two items (a conservation development and an appeal). Everett said staff can move discussion items between sessions or reschedule them if commissioners prefer; she recommended notifying applicants that one commissioner will be absent at the Aug. 11 hearing and offering applicants the option to delay if the absence might materially affect their project timelines.

On capital‑policy work, Everett announced the county selected Logan Simpson as the prime consultant for a countywide Transfer‑of‑Development‑Rights (TDR) program. She said the project is funded by a Department of Local Affairs Strong Communities grant and that the consultant team includes Echo Northwest and TDR expert Skip Swenson. Everett described the selection as a step toward developing a TDR program that can be piloted on a countywide scale; the procurement and selection were presented as complete at the July 21 briefing.

Leslie Ellis, director of Community Planning, Infrastructure and Resources, gave a separate update on planned educational water‑security events the county is advancing with Palmer Land Conservancy, the Colorado State University Water Center and Northern Water. Ellis said the likely dates for those events are Oct. 13 and Nov. 3 and that organizers plan locations in the north and south of the county and a mix of film screening, panel discussion and facilitated conversation to inform agricultural producers and other stakeholders about regional water resources and options to reduce transfers out of the region.

Other administrative notes included a canceled Board of Adjustment meeting the night before because of a lack of quorum; staff said the Board of Adjustment was rescheduled for August with both a work session and a regular meeting. Everett said staff will reach out to applicants on scheduling options and will re‑advertise the building official role later in the fall. The TDR consultant team will begin work under the DOLA grant to draft a program that the county can test.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Larimer County BOCC Work Session 7/21/25 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Community Development Director Rebecca Everett told commissioners July 21 the county will leave the building official post vacant during a retirement transition and selected Logan Simpson as prime consultant for a Transfer‑of‑Development‑Rights pilot funded by a Department of Local Affairs Strong Communities grant.","taxTitle","Larimer County, Colorado","taxId",4545,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6162430,"Larimer County previews 2025 fair as Ranch master plan reshapes grounds",667,1091000,1758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437827-a06f7ea8755a510438767f14cdb22dc8&start=1091&end=1758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437827-a06f7ea8755a510438767f14cdb22dc8/thumbnail_1091000.jpg","/articles/6162430/Larimer-County/Colorado/Larimer-County-previews-2025-fair-as-Ranch-master-plan-reshapes-grounds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162430-1b9653d0837511113902f85f170f5fda/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495695&Signature=gpRO33YvZU2FWZTSvQwZ9HQD5DBeQ3SE9VQJHwAv~2cb4zARZETkrU~dy2hX6a4DeDHzSVGJTulT0wVB3i8X8XbGgh-8igiqTLkY-IihQu6vAQLAvtprl2mtH6cjnL0E2yw9I2lbsNy75TZMZJfzoLmLVvu5d5RlMCjhyzycq9kCb06Lf7Z5HGAyriUOJF9CORcNuzLtZr1e5UGvLPX9-ksHi5sosPMVXUTGzs~QpC7fh75T2kJi-uWP6ohk5XCaXILHKvMJYgPmyt8ClZjKFkZuP0JWSJ7DkhQdFhqXWd0bjo2ucVZ9VSjqDqYAf43MTS7zH-l5MHHkpFf0YeFHiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Larimer County officials on July 21 previewed the 2025 Larimer County Fair and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo and outlined accessibility upgrades and construction that will change the fairgrounds' layout.

The fair runs Friday, Aug. 1, through Tuesday, Aug. 5; the PRCA rodeo is scheduled Sunday, Aug. 3, through Tuesday, Aug. 5, with performances beginning at 7 p.m. in Blue Arena. Portia Cook, strategic communications lead for the Ranch Events Complex, told commissioners the presentation was “a preview of what’s taking place,” and described new entertainment, vendor and accessibility features.

Why it matters: The 2025 fair is both an annual community event and the last edition held on the current configuration of the grounds before the county begins work to move the fair to a new event lawn and continue with phase 2 of the Ranch master plan. That transition will affect parking, guest access, crowds and where some events are staged in future years.

Officials said the fair is seeing heavy participation this year: staff anticipate more than 600 4‑H youth exhibitors and more than 1,500 open‑class entries, with record submissions in livestock and quilts. All 67 vendor booths are sold out, and organizers described a wide range of new entertainment and family experiences, including an Indigenous opening ceremony on Friday, Aug. 1, at 5:30 p.m.; a local DJ billed as “Lil Coop” performing Sunday; the Shockwave trick riders on horseback on Friday night; a wing‑eating contest on Saturday; and a sensory‑friendly day on Monday with a low‑sensory environment.

New exhibits and activities slated for the fair this year include a House of Butterflies with more than 15 live species and an Ag Venture Scavenger Hunt. OVG Hospitality will offer new concessions described on the record as a maple‑glazed “mini churro chicken skewer,” a “jumbo pizza dog” and a 21‑plus drink called the “cotton candy crush.” A Mountain Dew tent will offer samples and games.

Cook described recent site work tied to the Ranch master plan that organizers say will change the guest experience. She said ADA accessible parking has been relocated away from Lot F to Lots B and C and that the county added 69 ADA spaces in Lot C and 20 in Lot B, including two electric‑vehicle‑compatible ADA spaces. “This now completed upgrade improves guest safety, really reducing that foot in vehicle traffic in one of the fair’s busiest areas,” Cook said. The changes also include a dedicated rideshare lane, marked crosswalks, paved flat walkways and accessible signage.

Lot F is now vacant and will be developed as a roughly 130,000‑square‑foot events plaza to host food trucks, live entertainment and pop‑up events, officials said. Construction under the same larger program includes Lot E expansion, which will add 450 parking spaces, and a County Road 5 project that will widen the road from one lane to two with a dedicated turn and acceleration lane. County staff told commissioners construction will continue through the fair but said organizers expect “little to no disruption for guests.”

County and Ranch leaders framed 2025 as a transition year. Portia Cook and staff said work will begin this fall on a new event lawn that will become the future home of the Larimer County Fair; other phase‑2 elements mentioned in the presentation include an amphitheater/event lawn, a redeveloped youth sports and ice complex with three new sheets of ice, Blue Arena enhancements, redesigned events plaza (work on that plaza was described as beginning in fall 2026), upgraded signage and a future convention and hotel center. Officials said the changes will expand the campus as a year‑round destination.

Commissioners asked about accessibility logistics under the new parking plan. Staff said they added larger shuttles and drivers, will pour a new ADA path at Gate 1 that will connect to McKee parking, and expect most accessible spaces to be closer to First National Bank/Gate 2 or nearer Blue Arena than the vacated Lot F. Blue Arena will also operate with additional concessions during the fair year, including a new stand called Frye Heaven offering customizable fries.

No formal board actions were taken during the presentation; commissioners thanked staff and encouraged residents to visit 4‑H exhibits and the McKee Building as part of fair programming. Organizers said full event details are available on the Ranch Events Complex website and invited the public to attend.","County staff and Ranch Events Complex leaders on July 21 previewed the Aug. 1–5 Larimer County Fair and PRCA Rodeo, highlighted record exhibitor numbers and vendor sellouts, and outlined parking, accessibility and construction changes tied to the Ranch master plan.","actionData","errors"]

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Community Development director: hold building official hire, consultant chosen for countywide TDR pilot

Larimer County previews 2025 fair as Ranch master plan reshapes grounds