[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6029378,"mediaKeyId","5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24","parentId",5586211,"title","City staff outline eminent‑domain process and say condemnation is last resort","audioSeconds",1288,"startMs",7223790,"endMs",8512525,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24&start=7223&end=8512","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24/thumbnail_7223790.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6029378/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/City-staff-outline-eminentdomain-process-and-say-condemnation-is-last-resort","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029378-c9991b94b3ff6802b6e835a208e65b09/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138003&Signature=IIy95O4RxhzpeHEucdD6e5TS29~QfeaZvGLaeBFdzsY-86-TBDtCu-jB4DBy9SvMMnz0xgntay9f12f-zma0tQ-TjlBk7XNR4gNqlZ4WPaAtZGVZCTruS1oYi56vWGqX-xYSfmd-r3CQ5U-pM00Zu2whPBkpDJoj~IQVm8W0rS1UUrgMAkTCfqD~Vq5mH401dvBwrziZ9UKLJ3dOxbZ7CILm2qBsmMuEpeYXa2R31Mn0V6rbLB12UxecBc6tMWLvutcLIvtVjUiM3R8gebLVsyfeap5qNUImXBEPsvqcohJBihYbSRErfaHmQ-4xkvq6z9JK8G2GRHy5q420lTHhTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Greeley","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","GREELEY, Colo. — Economic development staff and the real estate division briefed the Greeley City Council on the city’s property acquisition and eminent‑domain process, stressing that condemnation is a tool of last resort and that the city documents negotiation steps, offers and appraisals before seeking possession.

“The city does not have a written policy around eminent domain so we lean heavily on federal and state processes,” an economic development staff member told the council while introducing the real estate manager. Staff said the centralized real‑estate division exists to standardize acquisition processes for multiple departments and to act as a single point of contact for property owners.

Presenters explained key concepts: eminent domain is the government’s right to acquire private property for a public purpose with due compensation; condemnation is the court action taken only if negotiations and offers fail. Staff described a typical sequence of steps before condemnation: project introductions and community engagement; 30‑percent design and funding confirmation; a notice of intent to acquire; appraisal and written offer; a final offer; and only if the final offer is rejected, a condemnation filing. Staff emphasized that negotiations may continue even after a condemnation action is filed.

To show historical practice, staff presented project counts from 2019 onward: acquisition work involved 174 parcels across 12 projects and 135 property owners, and staff said the city initiated condemnation on only 4 parcels during that period. Presenters said adherence to the federal Uniform Act and consistent documentation protects property owners’ rights to notice, appraisal and just compensation while preserving project schedules and funding.

Why it matters: Councilors asked for clarity on when staff seeks council authorization, what level of design and appraisal precedes a notice of intent, and how the city balances the need to acquire land for public infrastructure with property owners’ expectations. Multiple councilors requested a single, clear process that property owners can consult and asked staff to produce a codified or documented policy so owners know what to expect.

Next steps: staff committed to drafting clearer written guidance and a one‑stop contact for property‑acquisition questions, and to return with a proposed policy that clarifies the thresholds and approvals required before staff seeks eminent‑domain authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Greeley City Council Work Session - March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Economic development staff briefed council on the city’s property acquisition workflow, local historical usage and safeguards; presenters emphasized documentation, the Uniform Act and that condemnation has been used rarely in recent years.","taxTitle","Greeley City, Weld County, Colorado","taxId",12465,"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},6029383,"Greeley council weighs camping restrictions as homeless services and outreach capacity remain limited",3739,2928710,6668170,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24&start=2928&end=6668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24/thumbnail_2928710.jpg","/articles/6029383/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/Greeley-council-weighs-camping-restrictions-as-homeless-services-and-outreach-capacity-remain-limited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029383-641bd0a9475dbd3e5507ac2c32f331da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138004&Signature=KDHffY1iZnllfyzMq90tRKKiPyDV24Ci3aFd1xuXAFTEwIBQrxujgA65MRBYIVZFk8j-YKSduIfOicfSH6rHqD7NTrlI1CD86518CxLn5x6nU-r1nvZIf0dNFWABsrGYh7lgsgKNhEfd2PW56-vmtPNSpmg1TV5RQJchZH6g-U6npdZb-ZrQ9tk8UyFQkr-tSWPvzjT5cm-BS2w78F-SkjWg5qTqPXcLF5BdGCdr699ruUxzYtw3WECG5fGI6AI9z0wMWwPKulPzjOwuCXK0lT8-YZpEJse4UHMajarLCnMb3~q~L1v-3ihPqWa6Lcy3igCc9rQWjtKeT8eX79Qcmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","GREELEY, Colo. — City police, homeless‑services staff and the city attorney briefed Greeley City Council on encampment cleanups, public‑safety risks and legal limits after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, and the council gave staff direction to develop camping regulations that would prioritize enforcement in high‑risk locations while maintaining outreach and referral efforts.

“Good evening, mayor and council. My name is Adam Turk — I'm your police chief,” Chief Adam Turk said as he opened the presentation on an overview of camping restrictions and enforcement options. He introduced Manny Shreve, Director of Homeless Solutions; Will Jones, Deputy Public Works Director; and Barbara Cranston, supervising senior attorney from the City Attorney’s Office.

Staff presented data showing homelessness and rent burden trends and described the city’s current coordinated encampment cleanup process. The city and partners reported they removed nearly 1,400 cubic yards of material from encampments over the past two years — “about 115 large dump‑truck loads” — and staff estimated cleanup costs near $155,000 for that period. Public‑safety and environmental concerns cited by staff included fire hazards, E. coli contamination near waterways, damage to river embankments and bridge safety risks from open fires and stored propane tanks.

Barbara Cranston summarized the legal background, including the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling and related case law. She said the court held that ordinances prohibiting camping on public property do not necessarily violate the Eighth Amendment and that municipalities may adopt public‑camping rules to address encampments that “pose significant health and safety risks,” while warning that such measures should not be deployed to criminalize homelessness as a status.

Chief Turk described how Greeley currently relies on verbal warnings, education and trespass citations and said an enacted camping ban would be used as a deterrent with outreach and escalating enforcement, with arrests as a last resort. Staff reviewed options for council: (1) make no code changes, (2) direct staff to bring an ordinance banning camping on public property (and identify high‑risk areas where enforcement would be prioritized), or (3) adopt a camping ordinance that also specified high‑risk public areas and differentiated enforcement in those zones.

Council debated operational and timing concerns: multiple councilors said enforcement without additional shelter capacity risks displacing people around the city rather than housing them. Councilor Butler and others urged caution while the United Way seasonal shelter funding remains uncertain; staff and councilors noted regional coordination through the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care and described ongoing outreach that has housed individuals despite limited shelter capacity.

After discussion, the mayor asked whether council wanted staff to proceed; council members agreed by consensus to direct staff to develop an ordinance to implement camping regulations for public spaces and to identify high‑risk locations (a merged approach reflecting options 2 and 3). Staff characterized the direction as a request to return with an enforceable code provision and implementation plan that would include prioritized geographies, outreach protocols and interdepartmental procedures.

Why it matters: Staff framed the measure as a legal tool aimed at reducing risks from high‑impact encampments (bridges, waterways, critical infrastructure) while continuing outreach and housing‑placement efforts. Councilors repeatedly emphasized the need for shelter capacity and regional partnerships before and during any enforcement expansion.

Formal motions and next steps: council did not adopt an ordinance at this meeting. Staff will draft proposed code language and an implementation plan that (per council direction) will prioritize high‑risk public areas, clarify definitions of “camping,” outline outreach and storage/salvage procedures, and identify resource needs and timing relative to shelter availability.","Police and city staff presented an overview of encampment impacts, legal constraints after the Supreme Court Grants Pass ruling, and enforcement options; council gave staff direction to draft camping regulations focused on high-risk public areas while continuing outreach, and signaled concern about shelter capacity and timing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6029387,"Greeley City hears progress report on five-year Housing for All strategic plan",2708,214175,2923005,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24&start=214&end=2923","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5586211-1a5baaedaff667fc063904bc3e26af24/thumbnail_214175.jpg","/articles/6029387/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/Greeley-City-hears-progress-report-on-five-year-Housing-for-All-strategic-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029387-95a6e54c0e5a640b15f9238d2882a34c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138004&Signature=IdxwUezFrMuGiO5I9ai8o8d7P-jY8qcha4aOx0eLKm18woXNesgalOaxxM41L9JWWQFDyLW3VSpGDVToyOfEIkAHrS~HNZcPMY0Op05eMmPiM7cw2i8OrUhB5BWEJ5ZOdZftUm93l8PuAz8RcGbXycYhBZAmUotr~RouiRQCM3RHUB67WDIMO4lL4r3Phy9D20h2TcFfe5iBkVGbRIyyDt~0776BngmrDcurjkt9H42fM0sJz4SEop7sJgWda5WvjqzjG5B2pSupIUpSfpSia805xaFt3YOqdmvVp0B1U6EVeg47EUGndCXh83oXDjEfLw~7nQSvod841vCz2CkZ6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","GREELEY, Colo. — Consultants updating Greeley City Council on a five-year Housing for All strategic plan said the city needs a coordinated approach — including a master developer model, new financing tools and close alignment with economic development — to produce housing for starter, workforce, market-rate and executive segments.

“Specifically, my name is Steve Hanmer with Breakthrough Leadership Consulting, and we are joined by Peter Chapman of Urban Policy and Innovations,” Hanmer told the council as he opened the March presentation. “We are appreciating this vision for growth and prosperity and to be able to join in partnership with you.”

Consultants presented four “keys” for the strategy: using a master developer approach for large sites; linking housing and economic development; creating financing strategies tailored to city goals; and ensuring organizational capacity to implement the plan. Peter Chapman highlighted financing tools already used nationally and regionally, including the low-income housing tax credit (the competitive 9% and noncompetitive 4% programs), tax increment financing and community development block grants.

The consultants described a “master developer” entity as a public or quasi‑public development authority that could aggregate land and direct infrastructure, design standards and public/private investment on catalytic sites the consultants identified for scale: downtown, West Greeley and the airport. Chapman said the master developer model is most appropriate where large, complex sites require coordinated entitlement, infrastructure and phased delivery.

Council members asked detailed implementation questions. Councilor Halkley asked about developer reception; Hanmer said roundtables in December produced “great engagement” and “a general eagerness to partner with the city.” Councilor Olson asked about Habitat for Humanity pricing and the effect of Colorado’s construction-defect laws on condominium development; consultants and staff said the law has made insurance and financing for for-sale condos more difficult statewide and that some legislative fixes are being pursued. Councilor Valcourt asked whether the city could pair land and water banking with an affordable housing trust fund; consultants described dedicated, recurring revenue sources and inclusionary zoning opt-outs as standard ways to sustain trust funds.

Consultants also noted organizational and market-readiness work already under way: interviews with stakeholders, a landscape analysis, an equity assessment done in December, roundtables and a planned “summit” in late April to bring developers, financers, employers and community partners together. Staff said the city will pursue further design of a private activity bond allocation process to support 4% tax-credit deals and will return with a proposed competitive process for bond allocation.

Why it matters: Greeley officials framed the plan as an effort to manage and direct rapid growth while producing housing across multiple price points — from starter homes to executive housing — so that workers at a range of incomes can live in the city as employment and amenities expand.

The meeting did not produce a formal council vote on the plan. Staff and the consultants left the council with a request for continued engagement; the consultants will return for two‑by‑two briefings and the late‑April summit to refine final recommendations and next steps.

Council members signaled support for continuing the process and for closer alignment of the strategic plan with the city’s affordable housing code rewrite and private-activity bond work. The consultants said they will include case studies (Central Park/Lowry/Green Valley Ranch) and financing options in their final report.","Consultants told the Greeley City Council that a master developer model, linked financing tools and coordinated economic-development planning are central to the draft Housing for All strategic plan; council and consultants agreed to continued stakeholder engagement and a multi-day housing summit in late April.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff outline eminent‑domain process and say condemnation is last resort

Greeley council weighs camping restrictions as homeless services and outreach capacity remain limited

Greeley City hears progress report on five-year Housing for All strategic plan