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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/22/2015 - PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE FORT COLLINS-WINDSOR HIGDATE: STAFF: September 22, 2015 Laurie Kadrich, Director of PDT Josh Birks, Economic Health Director WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Proposed Amendment to the Fort Collins-Windsor Highway 392 Interchange Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to consider a proposed amendment to the Highway 392 Interchange IGA to include auto dealerships as a permitted use in the Corridor Activity Center (CAC) Overlay zone. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. Does the Council wish to meet with the Town Board of Windsor to explore a request to amend the existing IGA to include auto dealerships as a permitted use in the CAC? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION On August 24, 2015, Mayor Troxell and Mayor Pro Tem Horak received a letter from the Mayor of Windsor, Mr. John S. Vazquez, asking for Council to consider discussing the concept of including auto dealerships at the I- 25/Highway 392 Interchange (Attachment 1). The letter requested that Council consider discussing a concept to permit automobile dealerships as a permitted use within the I-25/Highway 392 CAC. The letter further mentioned that Windsor did not wish to attract businesses away from Fort Collins nor approve development contrary to the clear terms of the IGA. The City Plan vision for the I-25 Corridor provides two guidelines for development: compact mixed-use activity centers at interchanges and reduced development and/or open lands between the interchanges. In 2008, using those principles, Windsor and Fort Collins developed a joint plan for improvements and development at the I25- Highway 392 Interchange. The total project cost was $26.97 million and included joint design standards, CAC overlay zone, land uses, cost and revenue sharing. Since 2008 there have been two amendments to the original IGA that defined procedures for implementation, definitions and revenue sharing aspects. Also, in 2013 an administrative IGA was developed describing a joint development review process for any development within the CAC. In addition to these documents there are two other planning documents (I-25 Regional Corridor Plan, 2001 and I-25 Subarea Plan, 2003) that provide guidance for development along I-25. Enacting Land Use Codes (LUC) were put in place to provide methods to implement the documents and included:  Residential Setback from I-25 at ¼ mile  Commercial building design standards  Building height and placement standards  Landscaping and screening standards  Corridor Activity Center standards Improvements to the I-25/Highway 392 Interchange were made in 2011-2012 and included a complete rebuild of the interchange, including the ramps and both frontage roads. Community entrance signs were completed this year. The total improvements cost was nearly $27 million dollars and a combination of federal, state and local funds were used to pay for the improvements. Following the improvements Windsor and Fort Collins agreed to joint planning and standards for the lands affected by the improvements. The CAC described what uses would be allowed within those areas and a cost and revenue-sharing formula was developed. During those discussions auto dealerships were considered; however, they were not included as a permitted use within the CAC. The principle reasons for not including dealerships were that the interchange was considered a “gateway” to both September 22, 2015 Page 2 communities and that more intensive mixed use development would be more appropriate in the CAC. Revenue generation, signage and aesthetics were also considerations. Staff does not believe the original vision for the Corridor includes auto dealerships and recognizes that retention of local businesses is a priority in some cases. As such, if an amendment were to be considered specific design criteria should be jointly developed that addresses the concerns related to signage, landscaping and aesthetics. Representatives of two auto dealerships groups have inquired of the City of Fort Collins and Windsor as to whether the CAC could be amended to include dealerships. If Council were to consider proposal, the following steps would need to be taken to amend the existing agreement:  Joint jurisdiction staff review  Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Board / Windsor Planning Commission recommendations  Windsor Town Board Hearing  Fort Collins City Council Hearing  Fort Collins/Windsor IGA Amendment ATTACHMENTS 1. Letter from the Town of Windsor, August 24, 2015 (PDF) 2. Powerpoint presentation (PDF) ATTACHMENT 1 1 Proposed Amendment Fort Collins-Windsor Hwy 392 Interchange Intergovernmental Agreement Laurie Kadrich, PDT Director; Josh Birks Economic Health Director 9-22-15 Council Work Session ATTACHMENT 2 Question for Council Does the Council wish to meet with the Town Board of Windsor to explore a request to amend the existing Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to include auto dealerships as a permitted use? . 2 Request by Windsor Town Board • Discuss a potential IGA amendment: • I-25/Highway 392 Corridor Activity Center (CAC) • Permitting Auto Dealerships • No activity in the corridor since 2011 • Current request by two dealerships to locate • Town Board not uniform in its view • Requesting a joint meeting to consider this request 3 I-25 Corridor Background City Plan Vision for I-25 Corridor (2004) • Compact mixed-use activity centers at interchanges • Reduced development/open lands between interchanges 4 SH 392/I-25 Interchange CAC Overview Interchange Improvement Plan • 2008 Joint Plan (Windsor and Fort Collins) • Project cost: $26.97 million • Four Agreements: • 2011 Original IGA • 1st Amendment; implementation • 2nd Amendment; definitions, revenue sharing • Administrative IGA; joint development review 6 Project final design Interchange Project 8 Framework Plan and CAC Area SH 392/I-25 Interchange Corridor Activity Center (CAC) Area Fort Collins / Windsor IGA (2011) Highlights of IGA: • Creation of the Corridor Activity Center (“CAC”) • Designation of land uses in the CAC (Incorporated in the land use code by March 31. 2011) • Providing that joint design standards for the CAC (Adopted by March 31, 2011) • Cooperation in development approval reviews within the CAC CAC Overlay Amendment Process CAC Amendment Process: • Joint jurisdiction staff review • Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Board/Windsor Planning Commission recommendations • Windsor Town Board Hearing • Fort Collins City Council Hearing • Fort Collins/Windsor IGAAmendment Auto Sales and Repair/Servicing Land Use Requirements: • Permitted use in the following zone districts: (General Commercial, Service Commercial, Limited Commercial, Industrial) – except not in CAC area • Relationship/orientation of buildings to streets, walkways/parking • Variation in building massing • Design character and image – façade treatments • Parking lot landscaping/lighting and screening Auto Sales and Repair/Servicing Question for Council Does the Council wish to meet with the Town Board of Windsor to explore a request to amend the existing Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to include auto dealerships as a permitted use? . 13