Driving
along the bustling I-25 corridor, it’s easy to miss Timnath, a tiny
community tucked behind a bluff to the east of Fort Collins. Originally
founded in 1882, Timnath was once a hub for surrounding farmsteads, occupying
less than a quarter square mile for over 100 years.
"We contract with SAFEbuilt Colorado, which means we don't have to manage or set-up a building department, allowing us to focus on the bigger issues. This will be the first year of significant building for us,
and SAFEbuilt Colorado will be there to educate our citizens
as well as developers new to the Front Range." |
Directing Growth
Now, as farmland gives way to shopping, housing and industry, all of Northern
Colorado finds itself in the midst of an unprecedented population explosion.
With regional population projected to exceed 700,000 within 15 years,
Larimer and Weld county communities are grasping for answers about how
to welcome economic growth on their own terms.
Timnath, one of the smallest towns in the region, is seemingly immune to the sprawl that has melded its interstate neighbors, yet the town is currently building on years of careful planning to direct its own inevitable growth spurt.
Timnath is only minutes away from the booming communities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley and Windsor, yet it appears to be lagging in large-scale regional expansion.
Just a few miles to the south, at the intersection of I-25 and Highway 34, looms the largest construction project in the state—representing nearly 5,000 acres of development that earns valuable in-state and out-of-state revenue every day. This, however, is not like the prosperous future that Timnath has chosen for itself.
From today’s 200-some Timnath residents to the 22,000 anticipated by 2030, the town’s first priority is to maintain the same high standard of living and community feeling that has persisted for over a century. Securing profitable developments—and the subsequent revenue stream—is the surest way for small towns like Timnath to afford the world-class amenities that are important to its residents.
Maintaining its Small-Town Feel
But how can Timnath maintain the “small-town charm” while welcoming
development? Timnath’s solution includes a collaborative partnership
among the townspeople, the town council and staff, as well as interested
developers and builders. Timnath has adopted a vision of the future that
strives to attract and direct healthy growth for the benefit of the entire
community while retaining its integrity.
Using revenue from the variety of developments that want to call Timnath home, the town is able to allocate funds for superior infrastructure and world-class amenities. The implementation of this vision began when the town annexed nearly six acres for future home sites, retail/commercial development and recreation opportunities. Several new neighborhoods accommodating nearly 5,000 new homes will be connected to the town by over 50 miles of bike trails.
Construction will begin on a public elementary school and an improved downtown district. The six parks that are currently in the works cover more than 20 acres each, while two reservoirs are also planned in the area. Streetscapes, floodplain mitigation, updated sewers and traffic improvements are also underway.
