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Design and Construction Standards for Private Local Access Roads
Larimer County, the Fort Collins Soil Conservation District and the Big Thompson Soil Conservation District have joined together in preparing "The Landowner's Guide to Private Access Road Construction in Larimer County, Colorado". This guide outlines the process of constructing a private access road from the pre-construction planning phase, through design considerations, to revegetation and maintenance issues. While the file is quite large (about 1.7 MB in pdf format) it is filled with lots of good information to help you build a good road. "It is always less expensive to build a good road the first time than to build a bad road over each year". Copies of this guide are available from the Larimer County Engineering Department and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Appendix G-Design and Construction Standards for Private Local Access Roads [pdf, 129 Kb], defines requirements and guidelines for design and construction of private roads in Larimer County.
Rural road construction and building site excavation can be a challenge, particularly in the foothills and mountain areas. Larimer County intends to promote a pro-active approach with citizens wishing to develop rural properties by providing advice and resources to help them during the planning stages of the development. The intent is to help land owners develop their property in such a way that their development rights are respected and the resulting roads and excavations are safe, functional, and disturb the least amount of the landscape possible.
Appendix G defines detailed minimum requirements for private local access roads throughout the county. These minimum requirements address emergency access, proper storm water design, control of erosion from the area disturbed by the construction, and protection of water quality. The standards are incorporated into Larimer County Road Manual. Roads intended to access more than one residence or parcel (multiple access roads) are regulated through a permitting and inspection process. Fees are assessed on the basis of the number of site visits by the County official reviewing the plans for the road(s) and for final inspection. Roads/driveways accessing a single residence (single access roads) are not regulated. Guidelines for construction of single access roads are included in Appendix G and landowners are encouraged to use these guidelines to plan and construct the road accessing their residence. Single access roads can be certified by the County as being built to the minimum standards. This can be accomplished through the same permitting and inspection process as used for regulated roads.
Increasing development in the rural areas of Larimer County has raised some concerns among the citizens of the County. People continue to move here to take advantage of the thriving economy and to enjoy the abundant natural resources and relaxed lifestyle. The concerns are based upon the potential for degradation of the very aspects of Larimer County that make it so popular. If the development is not well planned, more visible scars will appear on our hillsides. Wildlife habitat may be threatened or diminished. Emergency access may be hindered or impossible if roads into rural properties are not well engineered and constructed properly. This could threaten other private properties or public lands if fire occurs. The overall effect can be very negative or it can be minimized by adequate planning.
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