Larimer planning commission continues LifeQuest rezone hearing to July 15

The Larimer County Planning Commission voted June 17 to continue the proposed LifeQuest Campus and Retreat Center rezone to its July 15 meeting instead of recommending approval or denial. The request, filed as 25-ZONE3797, would rezone about 235 acres at 100 Sunrise Ranch Rd. from O-Open to Rural Planned Development for a mixed-use retreat and campus project north of Loveland’s Green Ridge Glade Reservoir.

The continuation followed a lengthy and contentious public hearing that included extensive commissioner questions, more than 20 public comments and an applicant rebuttal. Vice Chair Conor Duffy made the motion to continue the discussion to the next Planning Commission meeting, and Chair Lisa Chollet seconded it before the commission approved the delay by roll call.

County planning staff had recommended denial of the rezoning. In its report, staff said the proposal does not comply with Larimer County’s rezoning criteria, land use code or comprehensive plan, and argued that the gap between the county’s vision for the area and the project was too great.

The application from Meredith McCrindle of LifeQuest Global, LLC, for property owned by David Karchere and Emissaries of Divine Light, seeks approval for a large rural campus with housing, lodging and event-related uses. Applicant materials describe 153 to 282 housing units plus 90 to 115 lodging rooms, including multi-family independent-living units, detached homes, workforce housing, an 80- to 100-room resort lodge, cabins, a campus life center, a special events hall and amphitheaters.

A central dispute in the case has been whether that intensity of development fits the area and whether it could threaten a nearby drinking-water source. The City of Loveland Utilities asked the county to deny the rezoning, saying the site is immediately upstream of and adjacent to Green Ridge Glade Reservoir, a primary drinking-water source for more than 80,000 customers in Loveland and Larimer County. City comments cited potential risks from wastewater, runoff, traffic and increased public access, while county staff also raised concerns about limited rural infrastructure, wildlife habitat and compatibility with surrounding open and agricultural land.

The applicant has argued the project would cluster development, preserve about 112 acres of open space and bring housing, jobs and economic activity to the area. Applicant materials also contend the project would rely on expanded private water and sewer systems tied to Sunrise Ranch rather than individual septic systems, and that future stormwater controls and later review could address reservoir-protection concerns.

Because the commission continued the matter rather than voting on the merits, the application now returns July 15 for further review after the applicant has a chance to address information gaps and try to meet with county staff and City of Loveland representatives.