Making a Public Comment || Development Review

What are public comments?#

A woman speaking to a man in front of a presentation on parking in Fort Collins

Speak Up

Anyone who has an opinion on development in Fort Collins can explain their stance in a public comment to both the people who would like to build the development and the people who approve or deny development proposals (Such as the Planning and Zoning Commission). Decision makers often find input from the public to be compelling evidence in support or opposition to the proposal. Commenters are not required to live next door to proposed development, or hold citizenry within the City of Fort Collins to be heard.

Comments are more than just opinions

Public comments are a formal statement of your perspectives on an issue that the City is making a decision on. Casual conversations with City staff or officials are not counted as comments. You must indicate that you are making a public comment by using the channels we have in place for them.

Making a Comment at the Neighborhood Meeting#

Some development review proposals are required to have a neighborhood meeting where anyone interested can come learn about them and then have a conversation with the applicant team and City staff.

The conversation is recorded and sent to both the applicant and the decision makers who will hear the project later on in the development review process.

Making a Public Comment to the Decision Maker#

At the end of the Development Review process a decision maker will decide whether or not the development proposal follows the City's laws for development laid out in the Land Use Code. There are four different types of decision makers:

Basic Development Review Project - The CDNS Director

Projects making smaller changes may be approved by the Director of the Community Development and Neighborhood Services Department.

Email comments to devreviewcomments@fcgov.com
Mail comments to the CDNS Director at 281 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Drop comments off for
the CDNS Director at 281 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Type 1 Project - An Administrative Hearing Officer

Projects making larger changes can be approved by a third-party Hearing Officer.

Email comments to devreviewcomments@fcgov.com
Mail comments to the Neighborhood Development Liaison at 281 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Drop comments off for
the Neighborhood Development Liaison at 281 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Make a spoken comment by attending the VIRTUAL hearing and speaking during the public testimony part of the agenda. Learn more at

Type 2 Project - The Planning and Zoning Commission

Projects making the largest changes allowed under the current Land Use Code can be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Email comments to devreviewcomments@fcgov.com
Mail comments to the Neighborhood Development Liaison 281 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Drop comments off for the Neighborhood Development Liaison at 281 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Make a spoken comment by attending the HYBIRD in-person or virtual hearing and speaking during the public testimony part of the agenda. Learn more at

How Can I Make an Effective Public Comment?#

Whether you choose to write to us or stand up at a meeting and speak, we promise to listen to all public comments. However, decision makers will find some comments more useful than others. Here are some tips for making a helpful comment:

Be specific in providing input. In addition to sharing what you like or don't like, it's helpful to say why. For example, in addition to saying "I don't like that building", it is often helpful to say, "I don't like the color" or "I think it's too tall." Those more specific pieces of feedback are much easier to consider and respond to.
Be constructive, and provide alternatives when possible. It is often helpful to talk about what you would like to see in a specific project in addition to what you are concerned about. For example, in addition to sharing concerns about the effect of projects on traffic in the neighborhood, you could add "Walking in my neighborhood is important to me. I would like to see safe sidewalks around this property."
Answer the question: Does the project follow the Land Use Code? Remember, the decision maker is not able to consider things that aren't protected by the law, such as ensuring property values in the surrounding neighborhood go up. They can only make their decision based on whether or not the project is legal. Do you believe that the project does not adhere to the Land Use Code or other City laws? Tell us why.