Understanding Holding Agriculture (HA) Zoning and How it Impacts the Catalyst Project

The West Greeley Entertainment District is an exciting step in Greeley’s growth, but transforming the land from rural to urban use requires careful planning. Holding Agriculture (HA) zoning plays a crucial role in this process by allowing the City to manage the land responsibly while it prepares for future development. Under HA zoning, essential public infrastructure work—such as grading, public utilities and environmental preparation—can proceed before full construction begins.

Overview
The Holding Agriculture (HA) zoning district allows the City of Greeley to responsibly manage land as it transitions from rural to urban use. This zoning classification is designed to preserve low-intensity agricultural activity while enabling critical site and infrastructure preparation for future development once utilities and services are available.

What’s Allowed Under HA Zoning
While full vertical construction for urban or commercial use requires rezoning, certain types of pre-development work may proceed under HA zoning when approved by the City. These activities ensure that land is safely and efficiently prepared for long-term growth.

Permitted Activities Include:

• Grading and Earthwork: Site grading, drainage improvements, and stormwater management to shape land for future development.
• Public Infrastructure and Utilities: Extension of water, sewer, stormwater, and electrical systems in coordination with City-approved plans. These are often funded through General Improvement Districts (GIDs) or Enterprise Funds, ensuring costs are limited to benefiting properties—not general taxpayers.
• Road and Transportation Improvements: Construction of arterial and collector roads, access drives, and drainage systems consistent with City and CDOT standards.
• Environmental and Site Preparation Work: Surveying, soil testing, environmental mitigation, and temporary facilities that support public infrastructure projects.

Why It Matters

These authorized activities allow Greeley to proactively prepare land and infrastructure before rezoning—reducing long-term costs, improving efficiency and protecting surrounding areas from uncoordinated growth.

Once such improvements are approved through the City’s review and agreement processes, the project may also obtain vested rights, ensuring that established approvals and financial commitments are protected from future zoning or code changes.