Council tables Alta Vita riparian setback variance after extended debate over habitat trade-offs

A Longmont City Council meeting on an application to reduce the riparian setback at the proposed Residences at Alta Vita ended with the council tabling the item for further staff and applicant follow-up.

The developer asked the council to allow buildings and associated infrastructure within the 100-foot riparian setback for Dry Creek Number 1, effectively moving the setback north to the edge of the existing bike path and sidewalk. Parker Macy, representing the applicant, said the 17-acre parcel at 2475 Bentway is intended for a continuing care retirement community and that the requested change was needed to make several townhouse and multifamily elements financially and physically feasible.

The proposal prompted a technical presentation from city staff and consultants. Zach Blazic, senior environmental planner, explained the code and the new sustainability evaluation system (SES) used to weigh ecological impacts and mitigation. He told council the applicant's SES score was 10 (the applicant later said that a corrected self-score would be 9) while staff scored the proposal a 5. Heather Houston of Birch Ecology, who carried out the applicant's riparian assessment, said much of the land north of the bike path is currently mowed alfalfa and nonnative weeds and argued the project could increase native tree and shrub cover and improve water…