HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/03/2006 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 156, 2006, AMENDING ITEM NUMBER: 21
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: October 3, 2006
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Shelby Sommer
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 156, 2006, Amending Section 4.17(B)(2)(c)of the Land Use Code
to Add a Permitted Use to the R-D-R, River Downtown Redevelopment Zone District.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. On September 21, 2006, the
Planning and Zoning Board voted 6—0 (on its consent agenda) to approve the Amendment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is a request for a text amendment to the Land Use Code to add Health Clubs as a permitted use
in the River Downtown Redevelopment Zone District. The new use is proposed as being subject
to Administrative Review (Type One).
BACKGROUND
Section 2.9.4 of the Land Use Code allows applicants to submit requests to amend the text of the
Land Use Code. Such a request must first be considered by the Planning and Zoning Board before
being forwarded to City Council for final action in the form of an ordinance. City Council has
legislative discretion to approve, modify or deny the request.
Applicant's Justification:
The applicant has provided a letter that offers justification for adding the use. Briefly, the
justification is that a Health Club is a use that fits well into the neighborhood and, as this area of the
downtown area develops, more businesses of this type will relocate in this area.
Staff Evaluation of Request:
Limited Indoor Recreation Establishments are currently permitted uses in the River Downtown
Redevelopment zone district,subject to Administrative Review(Type One),while Health Clubs are
not permitted uses. Limited Indoor Recreation Establishment is defined as the following:
"facilities established primarily for such activities as exercise or athletic facilities;
and amusement or recreational services, such as billiard or pool parlors,
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October 3, 2006 -2- Item No. 21
pinball/video arcades, dance studios, martial art schools, arts or crafts studios; or
exercise clubs,but not including bowling alleys or establishments which have large-
scale gymnasium-type facilities for such activities as tennis, basketball or
competitive swimming. This definition is intended to restrict the type of recreational
use allowed to those small-scale facilities containing no more than five thousand
(5,000) square feet that would be compatible with typical buildings and uses in the
zone district in which the use is allowed."
Health Clubs differ from Limited Indoor Recreation Establishments in that Health Clubs do not have
a size restriction, and must offer a variety of facilities (three or more). As defined in the Land Use
Code, the term Health Club is defined as:
"an establishment that is open only to members and guests and that provides
facilities for at least three (3) of the following: aerobic exercises, running and
jogging, exercise equipment, game courts and swimming facilities, and that also
includes amenities such as spas, saunas, showers and lockers."
From an operational perspective,Limited Indoor Recreation Establishments and Health Clubs are
very similar. However, many Health Clubs have large-scale gymnasium-type facilities for tennis,
basketball and/or swimming; facilities that are prohibited in Limited Indoor Recreation
Establishments due to their size. The 5,000 square foot size limit on the Limited Indoor Recreation
Establishments is intended to ensure that the facilities are compatible with typical buildings and uses
in the surrounding zone district.
Because the River Downtown Redevelopment zone district specifies development standards for all
buildings in the zone district, including massing, placement, character, image, materials and site
design, all development proposals are subject to these standards, regardless of their size. Staff,
therefore, finds that Limited Indoor Recreation Establishments and Health Clubs are very similar
from an operational perspective. The development standards set forth in the River Downtown
Redevelopment zone district apply to developments regardless of size to ensure compatibility with
surrounding uses.
Staff recommends that Health Clubs be considered permitted for Administrative Review (Type
One).
Other Considerations:
This text amendment is being recommended for approval based on the merits of the proposed use
and not in conjunction with a specific development application. The applicant has noted interest in
adding a health club use to the building under construction at 351 Linden Street, but staff's
recommendation is made independent of that potential application.
Should the applicants pursue a change of use project development plan,then staff and the Decision
Maker are authorized to review any such proposal by other sections of the Land Use Code. For
example, Section 3.5.1(J)(1-6)—Operational and Physical Compatibility Standards, allows staff to
impose conditions on a Project Development Plan:
October 3, 2006 -3- Item No. 21
"...to ensure that new development will be compatible with existing neighborhoods
and uses, including,but not limited to, restrictions on:
1. hours of operation and deliveries;
2. location on a site of activities that generate potential adverse impacts on
adjacent uses such as noise and glare;
3. placement of trash receptacles;
4 location of loading and delivery zones;
5 light intensity and hours of full illuminations;
6. placement and illumination of outdoor vending machines."
Staff and the Decision Maker have the discretion to impose restrictions. If necessary, such
conditions may include limiting hours of operation, special sound-proofing for the building,
installation of extra landscaping, specifying the location of any courts, gymnasiums or pools, or
other mitigation measures that may be required to address compatibility issues on a site-by-site
basis.
Planning and Zoning Board Recommendation:
On September 21, 2006, the Planning and Zoning Board voted 6 —0 (on its consent agenda with
Member Schmidt abstaining due to conflict of interest)to approve the Text Amendment by taking
the following action:
A. Recommend approval of adding Health Clubs to Section 4.13(B)(2)(c) of the River
Downtown Redevelopment zone district as a Type One permitted use.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Applicant's Justification for Land Use Code Amendment.
2. Location Map.
ATTACHMENT 1
FORT COLLINS
REAL ESTATE
RESIDENTIAL.COMMERCIAL d INVESTMENT SPECIALISTS
August 18, 2006 HAND DELIVERED 8/I9/06
Ted Shepard, Current Planning, and
Peter Barnes, Building and Zoning
City of Fort Collins �•��
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80524
RE: Request to Add Use to RDR Zoning District
Dear Mr. Shepard and Mr. Barnes:
The purpose of this letter is to request The City of Fort Collins consider adding "health and
membership club" as a permitted use under the RDR zoning designation.
As you know, the property located at 351 Linden Street (formerly the Sears Trostel building) is
currently under renovation. The north section of the building will be occupied by the owner and his
engineering firm CTL Thompson. The remaining 2/3 of the building is currently vacant. Fort Collins
Real Estate, LLC, as agent for the owner, is working with a potential health club tenant for this portion
of the building.
The current zoning designation for 351 Linden Street is "RDR," which does not list a "health and
membership club" as a permitted use. 351 Linden is located just one-half block north of Jefferson
Street, the border line from the `Downtown"to "RDR" zoning.
We feel that a health and membership club would be an asset of all businesses and residents in Old
Town and downtown, and is a use that fits well in this evolving and developing neighborhood. The
customer-base of a health club is primarily mid- to upper-class citizens, who choose to spend their time
and money on personal improvement activities. We also feel that as future improvements and
expansion of Old Town and Downtown Fort Collins occur, many more businesses of this caliber will
be relocating along Linden Street and Jefferson Street.
Please call me at your earliest convenience and advise what steps we need to take to facilitate this
addition. The owner and I are available to meet with you and other City delegates at any time to
discuss in greater detail.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
RT COLLINS REAL ESTATE, LLC
Michael . Jensen, anag
MLJ: rmw
1220 South College Avenue, Fort Collins,Colorado 80524—Office: 970.226.0999,Fax: 970.206.0090
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ORDINANCE NO, 156, 2006
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING SECTION 4. 17(B)(2)(c) OF THE LAND USE CODE
TO ADD A PERMITTED USE TO THE R-D-R, RIVER
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ZONE DISTRICT
WHEREAS, on March 18 , 19971 by Ordinance No. 051 , 1997 , the Council of the City of Fort
Collins adopted the Fort Collins Land Use Code (the "Land Use Code") ; and
WHEREAS , at the time of the adoption of the Land Use Code, it was the understanding of
staff and Council that the Land Use Code would most likely be subject to future amendments, not
only for the purpose of clarification and correction of errors, but also for the purpose of ensuring that
the Land Use Code remains a dynamic document capable of responding to issues identified by staff,
other land use professionals and citizens of the City; and
WHEREAS , the Land Use Code contains a zone district known and the "River Downtown
Redevelopment Zone District" (the "R-D-R Zone District") which permits "Limited Indoor
Recreation Establishments " but does not permit "Health Clubs" as uses allowed in the R-D-R Zone
District; and
WHEREAS , from an operational perspective, limited indoor recreation establishments and
health clubs are very similar; and
WHEREAS , because of the stringent R-D-R Zone District regulations regarding building
massing, placement, character, image, materials and site design, both Limited Indoor Recreational
Establishments and health clubs can be made compatible with other uses in such district; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2 . 9 .4 of the Land Use Code, the City has received an
application request to amend the text of the Land Use Code to amend the R-D-R Zone District
permitted use list to add health clubs as a permitted use; and
WHEREAS , on September 21 , 2006, the Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend
that the City Council amend Section 4 . 17(B)(2)(c) to add "health clubs" as a permitted use in the R-
D-R Zone District; and
WHEREAS , the Council has determined that the proposed amendment to the R-D -R Zone
District is in the best interests of the City and its citizens .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that Section 4 . 17(B)(2)(c) of the Land Use Code be amended by the addition of a new
subparagraph 12 to read as follows :
12 . Health clubs .
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 3rd day of
October, A. D . 2006, and to be presented for final passage on the 17th day of October, A.D . 2006 .
Mayor
ATTEST :
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 17th day of October, A.D . 2006 .
Mayor
ATTEST :
City Clerk