HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/08/2017 - Planning And Zoning Board - Agenda - Work SessionPlanning and Zoning Board December 8, 2017
* Work session times are approximate and are subject to change without notice.
Conference Room A
Jeffrey Schneider, Chair 281 N. College Avenue
Jeff Hansen, Vice Chair Fort Collins, Colorado
Jennifer Carpenter
Emily Heinz
80524
Michael Hobbs
Ruth Rollins
William Whitley
Planning and Zoning Hearing will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2017, in City Hall Chambers.
Regular Work Session
December 8, 2017
281 N. College Avenue – Conference Room A
Noon - 4:00 pm
Consent:
1. November 16, 2017, P&Z Hearing Draft Minutes
2. Trail Head Townhomes (Mapes)
Discussion:
3. The Union on Elizabeth (Holland)
Policy and Legislation:
• Oil and Gas Updates to Reciprocal Buffer
Standards (Everette/Archuleta)
• Land Use Code Updates (Shepard)
Board Topics:
• Access to MAX and Midtown TOD Vision (Iverson)
• City Plan Update (Mounce/Overton)
• Annual Report Discussion – due 1/31/18 (Gloss)
Projected Time *
12:00 – 12:20pm
12:20 – 1:00pm
1:00 – 2:30pm
2:30 – 4:00pm
Planning and Zoning Board
Work Session Agenda
1
Outdoor Lighting & Night Sky Protection – 2017 LUC Changes
Problem Statements
1. The Fort Collins City Council recently adopted Resolution 2016-074 Expressing Council's Intent
and General Policy Considerations Regarding Night Sky Objectives (Sept. 20, 2016). The
resolution states that, “the City will incorporate dark sky policies and standards into Building
Codes, Land Use Codes, and Streetscape standards when applicable and appropriate.”
2. Current Land Use Code standards do not adequately:
a. Address recent technological advances in outdoor lighting, particularly the advent of
energy efficient LED lighting;
b. Protect adjacent property owners, public rights-of-way, and the night sky from spillover
lighting (light pollution) and glare;
c. Address outdoor lighting on single family residential properties; or
d. Account for the impacts of nighttime lighting on human and wildlife health.
Potential Land Use Code Changes
Updates that are currently under consideration include:
• Establishing performance standards based on lighting best practices
• Creating lighting zones and/or limits specific to different land use types
• Maximum pole height/mounting height
• Limits on color temperature
• Limits on lumens emitted
• Limits on backlight, uplight and glare (BUG ratings)
• Hours of operation, automatic controls
• Require full cutoff and down directional fixtures for single family residential development
o Consider making requirements retroactively applicable to older properties
• Exemptions for holiday decorations and string lights, etc.
o Exemption for special art pieces (e.g., APP)
• Updated submittal requirements
• Definitions to clarify full cutoff, fully shielded and down directional, color temperature, color
rendering, backlight, uplight, glare, etc.
Lighting Best Practices
• Light only WHERE you need it: Choose locations wisely. And remember that installing an
outdoor light will draw electricity for years to come, increase your utility bill, and it may not
even be necessary.
• Light only WHEN you need it: Use motion sensors to turn lights on and off as needed. This costs
less money, improves security, and reduces light pollution. Use timers for lights that are needed
only in the evening or early morning.
• SHIELD lights and direct them downward: Several types of full cut-off light fixtures are now
available for home, business, and municipal use. Existing lights can also be adjusted to point
2
downward or retrofitted wtih simple metal shrouds. Shielded fixtures allow no light to shine
above the horizon.
• Select lamps with WARMER COLORS: Amber-colored lights emit longer wavelengths, which
gives more protection to the eyes and minimizes sky brightness; blue light bulbs are more
susceptible to insects
• Use LESS light: An efficient, shielded light fixture can use a smaller wattage bulb and still be
effective. Even a 25 or 40 watt incandescent bulb, or a 9 watt compact fluorescent, is enough to
light a porch or driveway.
• Select the most ENERGY EFFICIENT lamp and fixture: Replacing poor quality outdoor lights with
modern, efficient fixtures is not only good for the environment but also saves energy and money
while improving safety and security.
Current Code Requirements
3.2.4 - Site Lighting
“(A) Purpose . The intent of this Section is to focus on the actual physical effects of lighting, as well as
the effect that lighting may have on the surrounding neighborhood. Exterior lighting shall be
evaluated in the development review process to ensure that the functional and security needs of the
project are met in a way that does not adversely affect the adjacent properties or neighborhood. The
degree to which exterior night lighting affects a property owner or neighborhood will be examined
considering the light source, level of illumination, hours of illumination and need for illumination in
relation to the effects of the lighting on adjacent property owners and the neighborhood.
(B) General Standard . All development, except developments that contain only single-family
residential uses, shall submit for approval a proposed lighting plan that meets the functional security
needs of the proposed land use without adversely affecting adjacent properties or the community.
(C) Lighting Levels . With the exception of lighting for public streets and private streets, all other
project lighting used to illuminate buildings, parking lots, walkways, plazas or the landscape shall be
evaluated during the development review process. The following chart gives the average minimum
and, for under-canopy fueling areas, maximum lighting levels for outdoor facilities used at night.
…
(D) Design Standards . The lighting plan shall meet the following design standards:
(1) Site lighting that may be confused with warning, emergency or traffic signals is prohibited.
(2) Background spaces like parking lots shall be illuminated as unobtrusively as possible to meet
the functional needs of safe circulation and of protecting people and property. Foreground
spaces, such as building entrances and plaza seating areas, shall utilize local lighting that
defines the space without glare.
(3) Light sources shall be concealed and fully shielded and shall feature sharp cut-off capability so
as to minimize up-light, spill-light, glare and unnecessary diffusion on adjacent property. Light
fixtures shall be attached to poles and buildings by use of nonadjustable angle brackets or other
mounting hardware. Under-canopy fueling areas shall feature flush-mount, flat lens light fixtures
as part of any newly constructed canopy or remodeled canopy.
(4) The style of light standards and fixtures shall be consistent with the style and character of
architecture proposed on the site. Poles shall be anodized (or otherwise coated) to minimize
glare from the light source.
(5) Light sources must minimize contrast with the light produced by surrounding uses, and must
produce an unobtrusive degree of brightness in both illumination levels and color rendition.
3
Incandescent and high-pressure sodium light sources all can provide adequate illumination with
low contrast and brightness and are permitted light sources.
(6) Unique areas or neighborhoods within the City may have additional design guidelines for
lighting as part of a neighborhood or area plan. The Community Planning and Environmental
Services Department can provide information regarding neighborhood or area plans. Natural
areas and natural features shall be protected from light spillage from off-site sources.
(7) Maximum on-site lighting levels shall not exceed ten (10) foot-candles, except for loading and
unloading platforms where the maximum lighting level shall be twenty (20) foot-candles.
(8) Light levels measured twenty (20) feet beyond the property line of the development site
(adjacent to residential uses or public rights-of-way) shall not exceed one-tenth (0.1) foot-candle
as a direct result of the on-site lighting.
(9) Outdoor display lots for vehicles sales and leasing (as those terms are defined in Article 5)
shall comply with the requirements of this section. In addition, display fixture illumination shall
be reduced within thirty (30) minutes after closing so that the remaining illumination levels are
sufficient for security purposes only; provided, however, that any illumination used after 11:00
p.m. shall be reduced to levels sufficient for security purposes only.
(10) Exposed L.E.D. (light emitting diode) lighting shall be limited to a maximum of one thousand
(1,000) candela per square meter (nits).
(E) Alternative Compliance. Upon request by an applicant, the decision maker may approve an
alternative lighting plan that may be substituted in whole or in part for a plan meeting the standards
of this Section…”
Item: Amend 3.2.5 – Trash and Recycling Enclosures – to update and clarify
standards in order to properly size enclosures to accommodate various end-
users and the expected number and type of containers. Also, to provide for
improved maneuvering for users and haulers and new waste streams such as
compost and cooking oil and other materials (returnable crates, pallets, etc.).
Problem Statement:
The current Code section is in need of updating and enhanced specificity. The City’s
Neighborhood Enforcement Team, Code Compliance Officers and Zoning Inspectors
have, over the last several years, discovered numerous problems with enclosures that
are too small, difficult to access for both users and haulers and do not account for new
regulations that prohibit cardboard from being tossed into the waste stream. Problems
also occur when the size of the enclosures and size and number of containers are not
matched up with the materials produced. This is especially the case with multi-tenant
commercial buildings where the needs of the tenants change over time.
In addition, with the recent adoption of the 2016 – 2017 Community Recycling
Ordinance, compostable materials from supermarkets are required to be diverted from
the landfill and it is expected that future businesses will be added to this category.
Finally, with the relatively new trend of student-oriented, mid-rise apartment buildings,
problems have been discovered that effectively discourage reduce recycling rates.
Proposed Solution Overview:
A variety of proposed Code changes are recommended that address the following:
• Standards to apply to single family attached dwellings that use a communal
waste collection system.
• Add references to include compostable materials and waste cooking oil.
• Add references to returnable crates, containers, pallets, etc.
• Require door-less, hands-free entry, ensure maneuverability within the enclosure
and the pairing of waste and recycle containers.
• Require unobstructed access to the enclosure and the containers, fully
operational gates, concrete service pads and other maneuvering specifications.
• Signage identifying waste streams to minimize cross-contamination.
• For multi-family structures utilizing trash chutes, comparable facilities for
recyclable materials are required.
Proposed Code Revisions:
3.2.5 - Trash and Recycling Enclosures.
(A)
Purpose. The purpose of this Section standard is to ensure the provision of areas,
compatible with surrounding land uses, for the collection, separation, storage, loading and
pickup of trash, waste cooking oil, compostable and recyclable materials. This standard is
supplemented by the Enclosure Design Considerations and Guidance Document.
(B)
General Standard Applicability. All development, to the extent reasonably feasible, shall
The following developments must provide adequately sized, conveniently located, and easily
accessible trash and recycling enclosures to accommodate the specific needs of the
proposed use and future uses that are likely to occupy the development; new commercial
structures, new residential structures using a common collection system for waste disposal,
commercial structures proposed to be enlarged by more than twenty-five (25) percent,
residential structures using a common collection system for waste disposal proposed to be
enlarged by more than twenty-five (25) percent, commercial structures where a change of
use is proposed and all newly constructed enclosures.
(C)
Regulations General Standard. The following regulations shall be applied to the extent
reasonably feasible:
(15)
Areas for the collection and storage of trash, waste cooking oil, compostable and
recyclable materials, and other materials (linen service containers, returnable crates and
pallets, and the like) must be enclosed so that they are screened from public view. The
enclosure shall be constructed of durable materials such as masonry and shall be
compatible with the structure to which it is associated. Gates on the enclosures shall be
constructed of metal or some other comparable durable material, shall be painted to
match the enclosure and shall be properly maintained.
(2)
The amount of space provided for the collection and storage of shall be designed to
accommodate collection and storage containers that are appropriate for the recyclable
materials generated. Areas for storage of trash and recyclable materials shall
Enclosures must be adequate in capacity size, number and distribution location to
readily serve the development project. [2] needs of the developments occupants.
(31)
All new commercial or multi-family structures and all existing commercial or multi-family
structures proposed to be enlarged by more than twenty-five (25) percent, or where a
change of use is proposed, shall provide adequate space for the collection and storage
of refuse and recyclable materials.
Development plans must include labeled drawings of all proposed enclosures, including
all proposed dumpsters, containers, bins and the like and the capacity of each.
Recycling capacity must be at least 50% of the proposed trash capacity (to meet the
requirements of the Community Recycling Ordinance; No.109 2016).
(43)
Recyclable materials storage areas shall be located abutting refuse collection and
storage areas.
Space allotted for the collection and storage of compostable/recyclable materials and
waste cooking oil (where proposed use or likely future use will generate waste cooking
oil), must be adequate in size and located in the same enclosure as the trash in a
functional manner.
(58)
The property owner shall supply and maintain adequate containers for recycling and
waste disposal. Containers must be clearly marked for recycling.
The property owner must supply, securely affix, and maintain adequate signage for
enclosures that clearly designates containers’ use for “Landfill”, “Recycle” and
“Compost” as applicable.
(64)
Each trash and recycling enclosure shall be designed to allow walk-in access without
having to open the main enclosure service gates.
Each enclosure must be designed to allow walk-in access for pedestrians via a door-
less entry that is at least 32 inches wide and provides unobstructed and convenient
access to all dumpsters, containers, bins, and the like, that are provided in the
enclosure.
(7)
Enclosures must provide service gates that are constructed of metal or other
comparable durable material, and must be finished to complement the enclosure.
Service gates must be free of obstructions that would prevent them from opening fully,
must have a method to be secured in both closed and fully open positions, and must be
properly maintained so they may be operated easily and smoothly. The width of service
gates must be at least 10 feet for haulers to efficiently maneuver dumpsters, containers,
bins and the like in and out of the enclosure unless alternative and functional method is
demonstrated on plan.
(8)
Enclosures must include bollards, angle-iron, curbing, metal framing or other effective
method to protect the interior walls of the enclosure from being damaged by dumpsters,
containers, bins, and the like.
(96)
Enclosure areas shall be designed to provide adequate, safe and efficient accessibility
for service vehicles.
Enclosures must be designed to provide adequate, safe and efficient accessibility for
service vehicles, including but not limited to front-load, rear-load, side-load, and roll off
trucks and trucks used to pump waste cooking oil. Development plans must label the
route the hauler will take to service the enclosure and must comply with necessary
turning radii, width, and height restrictions for the type of collection vehicles that will
service the enclosure.
(107)
Enclosure areas shall be constructed on a cement concrete pad.
Enclosures must include a service pad that extends beyond the service gates at their full
open position at least the width of the widest proposed dumpster, container, bin and the
like plus an additional 2 feet. Enclosures and service pads must be constructed of
cement concrete. If the truck access point is separated from the enclosure any pathway
a hauler must take in order to service the enclosure must be constructed of cement
concrete and not exceed a maximum grade of 5% in the direction of travel and 2% cross
slope, the route must be free of obstructions that would prevent wheeled service
dumpsters, containers, bins and the like, from rolling smoothly.
(11)
Multi-story buildings utilizing trash chutes must include a recycling chute of the same
size or larger than the trash chute. Anywhere a trash chute is provided a recycling
chute must also be provided adjacent to it. Chutes must be appropriately labeled
“landfill” and “recycle” as appropriate.