Larimer County proposes legislative rezoning of manufactured-housing parks to preserve units

Larimer County staff on July 6 proposed a county-initiated legislative rezoning to apply a Manufactured Housing Park Preservation (MHP-P) zoning district to existing manufactured-housing parks across unincorporated Larimer County.

"Staff is proposing to legislatively rezone all existing manufactured housing parks in the county," said Samantha Lascher, community development staff. The district, adopted by the Board on Dec. 9, 2024, was modeled after Fort Collins' manufactured-housing zoning and is intended to protect existing parks and limit redevelopment that could lead to resident displacement.

Aaliyah Rodriguez, the county's housing manager, told commissioners the parks currently being considered for the zone account for 3,137 lots. Staff estimates about 28 parks in total: 15 inside the Fort Collins growth management area, seven inside the Loveland growth management area and six outside growth-management areas.

Staff proposed beginning the legislative rezoning process on July 15 with maps posted at two public locations and online, postcards to park owners, and resident outreach led by the housing office. Two open houses are planned for Aug. 5; staff also proposed a joint Board/Planning Commission work session in September, a Planning Commission recommendation on Oct. 21 and a Board hearing on Nov. 9.

Several commissioners urged rezoning all parks at once rather than phasing the work. "There are a lot of residents who rely on this naturally occurring affordable housing in our community," said Commissioner Stevens, expressing support for a countywide approach and the proposed timeline. Commissioners flagged concerns about a small number of parks currently zoned in nonresidential districts (for example, commercial corridor or industrial-light) and asked staff to watch for conflicts such as data centers or other heavy industrial uses near residential communities.

Commissioners also pressed staff on urgency: three parks in unincorporated Larimer County are on the market and their resident right-to-purchase period expires Aug. 27; staff said a legislative rezoning adopted in November would still provide protections for parks in the county's jurisdiction and that state-required notice procedures add additional timelines for owners seeking changes.

Staff said it will notify municipal partners and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) about the project, provide printed maps and informational handouts for commissioners, and present owner and resident feedback to the Planning Commission and Board as part of the formal process. Staff asked commissioners for feedback on whether to rezoning all parks in one phase or to stage rezoning across multiple phases; commissioners indicated a preference for countywide application for clarity and consistency.

The county will post detailed zoning maps, solicit owner and resident input, and return with formal hearings and recommendations through the fall.