Residents of northern Weld County are now witnessing a new era of construction as a local water district has lifted a three-year hold on developers seeking water services. This decision comes after a series of challenges and evaluations to ensure the district's capacity to meet the growing water demands.

Unleashing Construction in Northern Weld County with Water District's Approval

Background and Challenges

North Weld County Water District took a significant step in 2021 by imposing a moratorium on tap sales and new water requests due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the statewide housing craze. This move halted real estate development and left many projects in limbo. The district had to assess its capacity to serve the increasing population, which was growing at an astonishing rate. Between 2010 and 2020, Weld County's population surged by over 30%, making it the second fastest-growing county in the state. The pandemic only exacerbated the situation, turning a hot market into a wild one. Town storage tanks couldn't keep up with the demand as people used more water for their lawns and cars, and agricultural operations also drew on supplies. The master meter dial was constantly spinning, indicating the strain on the system. At the same time, changing regulations in Fort Collins and Larimer County cast uncertainty on a large water project, the NEWT 3 Pipeline.

Impact on Developers

Local real estate agent and developer Aaron Everitt bought a farm in 2020 with plans to turn it into a nine-lot subdivision. He had a buyer and a will-serve letter from the water district but was hit by the moratorium. His project was put on hold, and he lost more than $300,000. Other developers had millions of dollars at stake as well. Everitt needed to complete the months-long review process by around July to avoid losing an additional $500,000. The delay meant that he would have to sell the lots in 2025 instead of 2022, which could impact sales timings.

District's Response and Improvements

The water district lifted its moratorium on tap sales in February 2022 and started working on a new master plan. They asked towns in the service area to estimate their water needs over the next few decades and mapped their system to identify inefficiencies. Upgrades at the Soldier Canyon Treatment Plant increased its capacity from 45 million gallons per day in 2018 to 68 million gallons by 2024. The NEWT 3 project, which is nearing completion, will boost capacity by an additional 10 million gallons per day. These improvements have given the district confidence that it can meet future growth needs until around 2035, with more improvements in the works to meet projected demand through 2045. Concerns about the NEWT 3 pipeline's timeline were also alleviated when Fort Collins narrowed the scope of its new regulations.

Relief and Future Outlook

North Weld lifted its development moratorium in early November, and developers like Everitt are relieved. New construction is seen as a relief valve for the market, and more housing stock could help with affordability. Tad Stout, the board president, believes that the moratorium was necessary based on the information available at the time. He is confident that these improvements will benefit the customers and the community in the long run.