By PAT FERRIER | Fort Collins Coloradoan
The speed with which the proposed 240-acre Ladera development project in Timnath is built will largely depend on the outcome of the April 2 election.
That’s when Timnath’s roughly 6,500 registered voters will decide ballot question 1A, a citizen-led initiative that would restrict the town from annexing any land that includes an active mining permit until reclamation is completed. It would apply retroactively to the 188.5-acre Connell LLC annexation the town approved Feb. 13 that includes Connell Resources’ active mine and asphalt plant.
If passed, Question 1A could slow development of the project’s second phase — the 188.5 acres annexed Feb. 13 —but would not stop its first phase, roughly 60 acres on the northeast side of the site that were previously annexed and are expected to be occupied by an In-N-Out Burger, G-Que BBQ and a dual-branded hotel. Those 60 acres do not include any active mining.