Public Comment Period Extended for Fort Collins CPW Office Relocation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extended the public comment deadline to November 5 for feedback on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's plan to relocate its Fort Collins administrative office to property the agency owns near Interstate 25 and Mountain Vista Drive.
CPW announced the extension October 24, giving residents additional time to review the revised draft Environmental Assessment and submit comments to [email protected]. The assessment concludes the proposed project would improve surrounding access roads without affecting wetlands, floodplains or threatened or endangered species.
The relocation would move CPW operations from 317 West Prospect Road to agency-owned property at the southeast corner of I-25 and Mountain Vista Drive. The new site at 1424 Northeast Frontage Road currently serves as a CPW storage facility.
Aging Facility Drives Relocation Decision
The current administrative office has operated for more than 60 years and has reached staffing capacity as CPW's mission and programs expanded over decades. The building's original design accommodated far fewer employees than work there today.
City development surrounding the Prospect Road location has created access challenges for visitors arriving with boats, ATVs, campers and trailers. Narrow streets and limited parking complicate operations for both the public and CPW fleet vehicles.
Storage space at the existing facility cannot accommodate equipment and materials needed for expanded agency programs including wildlife disease management, invasive species monitoring and outdoor education initiatives.
Environmental Review Finds No Significant Impacts
The Environmental Assessment evaluated potential impacts to wetlands, floodplains, threatened and endangered species, and local traffic patterns. Federal review is required because USFWS funding supports the project.
NEPA regulations mandate public comment periods for projects involving federal funding or significant environmental considerations. The extended deadline provides additional opportunity for Northern Colorado residents to review project details and submit feedback.
The revised assessment indicates the new facility would feature wider access roads designed to accommodate large vehicles and trailers, addressing longstanding access problems at the Prospect Road site. The approximately 28-acre property provides space for expanded parking, secure fleet staging areas and purpose-built storage facilities.
New Campus to Expand Public Services
The relocation will consolidate administrative offices, vehicle maintenance facilities and specialized public service stations on a single campus. Planned improvements include an aquatic nuisance species decontamination station and a chronic wasting disease check station.
The new administrative buildings will total approximately 74,500 square feet, substantially increasing workspace compared to the confined urban parcel on Prospect Road. The design incorporates modern infrastructure and environmental standards that the 60-year-old facility cannot match.
CPW operates as an enterprise agency funded primarily through license sales, state parks fees and registration revenues. The agency manages 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres across Colorado, contributing an estimated $6 billion annually to the state's economy.
Public comments on the revised Environmental Assessment are due November 5 and should be emailed to [email protected]. The revised assessment is available through the USFWS website.