The Role of City Planning

Linda H., a long-time Quota member, is a former City Community Development staff member and graced our members and guests with a fun and insightful evening during our May dinner meeting.

Fort Collins, Colorado, has undergone remarkable growth and transformation over the years. The City’s development follows a structured approach that balances urban and natural areas, making it one of Colorado’s most thoughtfully designed areas. One of Linda’s responsibilities was to check street names; a minor job, with major implications for police and fire locates.  Well… except there are 3 Linda Lanes (pre-dating her job.)

After her time at City Hall, Linda transitioned into real estate and development, helping to build residential subdivisions, and sell lots and homes.  Linda’s understanding of Fort Collins’ layout made her an asset to homebuyers and investors alike.  She stated that “with every new subdivision and neighborhood, there is a challenge to finding original and meaningful street names.” The developers select street names often with a theme for example – local historical figures, birds, trees, Presidents, etc.  On her own as a developer, Linda named the streets after “Formica samples “… which was both practical and creative.

Growth Patterns and Development History

Unlike nearby Greeley, which expanded east to west, Fort Collins primarily grew from north to south. The City follows a well-defined grid system, where every 10 blocks equate to a mile, creating a structured and predictable urban expansion. For quite some time Fort Collins maintained a steady growth rate, averaging one mile of development every ten years and a neighborhood park in every square mile.

One of the City’s defining features is College Avenue, often referred to as the “spine” of Fort Collins. This major roadway serves as a central artery, supporting both commercial and residential areas and providing a focal point for expansion.

Street Hierarchy and Infrastructure

The layout of Fort Collins is based on a hierarchy of streets, ensuring organized traffic flow and efficient land use. Arterial roads handle higher volumes of traffic, while interior residential streets provide quieter spaces for communities. It even affects how the streets are constructed to handle the amount of traffic.

However, a notable distinction arises in areas that were built within the County’s jurisdiction. Compared to city streets, county streets typically lack curbs, streetlights, gutters, and sidewalk features that are standard within city-managed areas — but County lots often have much desired larger lots.

Fort Collins’ development history highlights careful planning, steady growth, and a thoughtful design.

Linda’s knowledge of the area is fascinating and truly captivating! We could have been there for hours and hours listening to her share her knowledge and fun trivia.  As a lifelong member of Quota NOCO, we are so lucky to have her as one of our valued members.