Larimer County approves Mountain Whitewater / Paddlers Pub appeal to seek expanded special-event days for 2026 season, removes restriction on non-rafters

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on March 9 approved an appeal (file 25GNRL0583) by Mountain Whitewater and Paddlers Pub to permit a modified series of special-event days for the 2026 season, subject to staff-recommended conditions and with one condition removed.

Senior planner Samantha Mott told the board the property at 1329 US Highway 287 in Fort Collins (applicant recorded in the packet as Lindsay/Lindsey Modisette; owner Bamboo Descents, LLC) is zoned PD for commercial uses. The appeal sought relief from Article 7 special-event rules that limit special events to only three per year and to one per calendar month; the applicant requested up to 30 event days, scheduled on Fridays and Sundays between May 29 and Sept. 6, with a proposed maximum of 300 people on-site for those event days. "Staff is recommending approval of this request with a total of ten conditions of approval," Mott said, noting the Larimer County Health Department had proposed conditions addressing sanitation and public-health protections.

Applicant representatives described more than two decades of seasonal rafting and a family-run pub operation, arguing that enforcement of certain proposed conditions (notably a requirement to restrict access to rafting patrons only at certain times and a six-month timeline to provide permanent sewer service) would be financially untenable and could force the business to close. "We are a company of 27 years that are in good standing and have given a ton of things back to Larimer County," the applicant said, asking the board to allow continued operations in a manner consistent with previous practice.

The health department (Leah Schneider and staff) told commissioners that many of the recommended conditions mirror standard special-event requirements — hours, portable restrooms and noise controls — and explained that permanent, year-round commercial use would require restroom and accessibility upgrades that the existing on-site septic system (sized for a three-bedroom house) does not support. Schneider noted porta-potties are acceptable for permitted special events but that the underlying site and septic issues remain unresolved for permanent expansion of uses.

During deliberations commissioners wrestled with enforcement, sanitation, and consistency with other special-event permit interpretations. Several commissioners said they wanted to avoid adding a duplicative revocation condition because Article 7 already provides permit suspension and revocation authority. Commissioner Kristen Stevens said she would support approval but asked that a proposed condition that barred non-rafting patrons on-site (condition 4) be removed, calling it difficult to enforce and potentially punitive; Commissioner John Cafales moved that the board approve the appeal subject to the staff report conditions with condition number 4 removed. The motion passed on a voice vote.

What the approval means: The board's action allows the applicant to apply for special-event permits for the 2026 season consistent with the granted appeal. Each special-event permit will be reviewed by county staff and referral agencies for technical compliance (including sanitation, parking, noise and safety) and may be denied or conditioned further if requirements are not met. The approval is time-limited to 2026 in recognition that county special-event regulations are under revision for 2027.