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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning And Zoning Board - Minutes - 05/03/2001Planning and Zoning Board Minutes .May 3, 2001 6:30 Council Liaison: Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Cameron Gloss Chairperson: Jerry Gavaldon Phone: (H) 484-2034 Vice Chair: Mikal Torgerson Phone: 416-7431 9 9 Chairperson Gavaldon called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. Roll Call: Craig, Carpenter, Colton, Torgerson, Meyer, Gaveldon. Member Bernth was absent. Staff Present: Gloss, Eckman, Olt, Grubb, Stanford, Jackson, Virata, Baker, Schlueter, Williams. Agenda Review: Director of Current Planning Cameron Gloss reviewed the Consent and Discussion Agendas: Consent Agenda: 1. Minutes of the March 15 and April 5, 2001 (Continued) Planning and Zoning Board Hearings. 2. Modifications of Conditions of Final Approval 3. #13-82CM Oakridge Business Park, 33rd Filing, IHOP Restaurant, PDP 4. #13-82CO Oakridge Business Park, 34th Filing, The Residence at Fort Collins, PDP S. #7-01 A Staley Elementary School 2001 — Site Plan Advisory Review (Pulled for Discussion) Member Craig asked for Item 5, Staley Elementary School 2001, Site Plan Advisory Review be pulled for discussion Member Torgerson moved for approval of the Consent Agenda items 2, 3, and 4. Member Meyer seconded the motion. The motion was approved 6-0. Planning and Zoning May 3, 2001 Page 2 Project: Project Description: Recommendation: Board Minutes Staley Elementary School 2001, Site Plan Advisory Review, #7-01A Request for a 63,000 square foot elementary school on 14.8 acres. The property is located south of Kechter Road (CR 36), east of Ziegler Road and west of County Road 7. The requested zoning is LMN — Low Density Mixed - use Neighborhood Approval Hearing Testimony, Written Comments and Other Evidence: Brian Grubb, City Planner gave the staff presentation. He stated that this project is a Site Plan Advisory Review; State statutes allow the Planning and Zoning Board to comment on the School District's compliance with the City's Comprehensive Plan. The area around the proposed school site is largely undeveloped and the school site itself has been used for agricultural purposes. The Fossil Creek development is located to the Southwest. The future development, Willowbrook, will be located directly north of the school site. A new high school may potentially be built north of Kechter Road. Kechter Road is a 24-foot wide paved county road without shoulders. The proposed school site is located outside the 500-year floodplain for the McClelland Channel. Planner Grubb offered praise for the selected location of the school, as multiple transportation routes will be available. The site design generally complies with City standards; stormwater detention exists and a good amount of landscaping exists, although it would not meet City standards for landscaping, it is appropriate for this facility. Kechter Road improvements should be complete by the time the school opens, Planner Grubb referred to a letter from Ed Holder of Poudre School District, which stated that the School District would participate in its share of the Kechter Road improvements dependent upon other surrounding developers doing the same. This produced concern about completing design by July 15 in order to complete improvements by the scheduled school opening in August of 2002. Planner Grubb then referred to another letter, also from Ed Holder, dated May 3, 2001. This letter states that, in the event that Kechter Road is not completed by the time the school opens, the School District will install a 6-foot asphalt bike and pedestrian path from Ziegler Road to the site. Planner Grubb noted a modification to the second paragraph of the staff recommendation in the staff report. The new paragraph should read: Planning and Zoning Board Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 3 Staff also recommends that the Planning ad Zoning Board advise the Poudre District Board of Education to proceed with construction of the school only after all transportation and utility improvements are constructed; or the final design approvals, funding, and legal authority to construct such improvements are in order; or the bike and pedestrian improvements are constructed in accordance with the letter dated May 3, 2001 signed by Ed Holder of the Poudre School District. Ed Holder, Construction Manager for the Poudre School District, stated that members of the School District staff were present to answer any questions or address any concerns. CITIZEN INPUT None. Member Craig asked for staff input on the transportation infrastructure and road improvement issues. Matt Baker, Engineering Department, replied that he has had several meetings with the School District and developers in the area that have adjacent property frontage. Area developers realize that the schedule of the school opening will drive area road improvements as they will be the first to open. Mr. Baker stated that the area developers have made verbal commitments to participate in a combined roadway project. Contractual commitments exist for engineering design, which is currently underway. These designs should be complete by July 15, allowing staff to complete a break -down of responsibility of costs so funding can be acquired from all parties, placed into a fund, and improvements completed. This should allow improvements to be completed by the school opening in August of 2002. Mr. Baker stated that Ziegler Road is being improved on the west side — adding bike lanes and a sidewalk on the west side of the road. The frontage along the Webster property will remain undeveloped until the high school site is constructed. Member Craig asked about improvements to Kechter Road. Mr. Baker replied that the road is currently classified as a minor arterial. Two 8-foot bike lanes, curb and gutter, 10-foot parkway, and a 6-foot sidewalk will be added. In accordance with the IGA; the sidewalk will widen to 8 feet along the school site. Member Craig asked for clarification on the bike lanes and sidewalks from Ziegler to the east side of the school. 3 Planning and Zoning Board Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 4 Mr. Baker replied that there will be full improvements on both sides of the street from Ziegler Road past the school site to the edge of the Chateau Development property. The road will then narrow down to a 36-foot wide, two travel lanes and a bike lane to County Road 7. Member Craig asked for staff input regarding stormwater issues. Glen Schlueter, Stormwater Department, responded that the school is outside the 500- year floodplain. Staff issues included the erosion buffer zone. Natural Resources is requiring a 50-foot setback which is wider than the erosion buffer zone. Another issue was the McClelland drainageway which the school will stay away from in the buffer zone. Member Craig asked for input on the school installing a wetland. Mr. Schlueter responded that the wetland is part of the schools' environmentally - friendly, sustainability plan. The school is also installing an extended detention for water quality and will experiment with porous pavement. Mr. Holder responded to Member Craig's question regarding the wetland. He stated that it is a Water Quality Pond that is collecting the runoff water and will allow the silt to settle as that water is then released into McClelland Creek at historical rates. Mr. Schlueter stated that in addition to the aforementioned aspects of the Water Quality Pond, the area will be planted as a wetland in order to work even more effectively. Mr. Holder stated that bioswales exist in the parking area which will capture water, allowing it to filter back into the ground at its natural rate. The school is also looking at utilizing recycled products in the school, using porous pavement to allow surface water to be reabsorbed naturally, leaving native landscaping and decreasing irrigation as much as possible. Member Craig praised Mr. Holder and the School District for making efforts to create a 'green' site plan. Member Torgerson asked what a 'myasaura' nest is? Corky Bradley, a representative for RB+B Architects, responded that it is a concrete area patterned with dinosaur bones and covered with sand; part of the playground. Mr. Bradley also commented on the reduced amount of asphalt around the school. Member Colton stated a concern with the lack of landscaping. Planning and Zoning Board Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 5 Mr. Holder responded that there are several trees on the site but reiterated the desire to reduce irrigation as much as possible. Planner Grubb added that the lack of landscaping, which may not be indicative of what the City would require, refers primarily to shrubs and greenery directly around the building and that many deciduous trees exist on the site plan. Chairman Gaveldon asked for response to some questions regarding a Traffic Impact Study. The first question involved the service level of Kechter and Ziegler. Mr. Stanford replied that the Traffic Impact Study showed service levels A and B and that staff concurred with that finding. Chairman Gaveldon asked if that service level was with or without development. Mr. Stanford replied that it should include the surrounding expectations of the development. Member Gaveldon asked what developments other than Willowbrook are planned for Ol the area. Mr. Stanford replied that Sage Creek, Harvest Park, and Fossil Creek are all planned. Chairman Gaveldon referred to points 1 and 2 of the May 3, 2001 letter signed by Ed Holder of the Poudre School District and asked if there were any staff concerns regarding the Traffic Impact Study. Mr. Stanford replied that if the road improvements come in as developments are built out, there should be no concerns. If the road stayed at its current state or deteriorated, staff would not find it to be adequate. Chariman Gaveldon asked about how the interim temporary asphalt bike and pedestrian paths would fit in. Mr. Stanford replied that the temporary asphalt would suffice for its purpose. Mr. Holder added that the temporary paths would be a last resort if the road improvements were not complete by the time the school opened. Chairman Gaveldon asked about busing routes to be used until bike paths are in place. 0 6 Planning and Zoning Board Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 6 Mr. Stanford replied that, even with the busing routes, the level of service will not be affected. Chairman Gaveldon asked for clarification on the IGA with respect to the School District paying for its share of the road improvements Planner Grubb responded that the School District agreed that it would cover its prorated share of road improvement costs adjacent to the elementary school site and the future high school site. Mr. Holder added that as an adjoining property owner, the School District will pay its portion of the road improvements and desires to complete the improvements as soon as possible. Member Torgerson asked about Cinquefoil Lane and possibly continuing it. Mr. Stanford responded that Cinquefoil will run on the east side of the property, offset. Mr. Holder added that the road has now been deleted and is not part of any project. Planner Grubb added that Cinquefoil would dead end at Kechter and would not continue south along the School District property. Member Torgerson asked if that made sense in terms of traffic flow. Mr. Stanford replied that it would not be an issue and that another road would flow thorough the Fossil Creek area, west of the school site. Chairman Gaveldon raised a concern about stop signs and calming methods which may be needed on Cinquefoil. Mr. Stanford replied that a concern does exist but stated that a problem has not been proven so no changes have been made. Marc Virata, Engineering Department, added some information about the classification of Cinquefoil and stated that major traffic is not foreseen there. Member Torgerson commented that a caveat exists in the Poudre School District letter stating that the School District will construct the temporary asphalt sidewalks providing the City does not place any unrealistic requirements on them. Planning and Zoning Board Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 7 Chairman Gaveldon asked what the City could be doing that would be considered unrealistic. Mr. Holder responded that the intent was to have some limits associated with doing what they needed to do. Member Colton stated that if the asphalt sidewalks are considered acceptable, there is no cause for concern. Chairman Gaveldon thanked the Poudre School District for partnering with the City on the new school site. Member Colton asked to remove the second part of the second paragraph on the Staff Recommendation of the Staff Report. The new paragraph should read: Staff also recommends that the Planning ad Zoning Board advise the Poudre District Board of Education to proceed with construction of the school only after all transportation and utility improvements are constructed; or the bike and pedestrian improvements are constructed in accordance with the letter dated May 3, 2001 signed by Ed Holder of the Poudre School District. Member Colton moved for approval of the Staley Elementary School, 2001, #7- 01A, with the change noted above. Member Carpenter seconded the motion. Member Torgerson stated that he would have preferred that Cinquefoil go through the site. Mr. Virata noted that the road would probably have been required to go through had this been a private development. Member Colton stated his appreciation for surrounding landowners' cooperation in getting the road improvements complete prior to the school opening. He also stated his appreciation for the 'green' components of the school plan. Chairman Gaveldon stated his appreciation for the partnership between the School District and the City. The motion was approved 6-0. 0 Planning and Zoning Board Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 8 Other Business Planning Director Gloss mentioned the Planning and Zoning Board half -day retreat to be held at the Edwards House prior to the upcoming worksession. The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.