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Home My WebLink AboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-06/09/2009-Work SessionCity`r / o� Advance Planning V 281 North College Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins Fort Collins, 522 970.221.637 970.224.6111 - fax fcgo v. com/advanceplanning MEMORANDUM DATE: June 10, 2009 TO: Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Pete Wray, Senior Planner Matt Wempe, Transportatio Planner TIIRU: Darin Atteberry, City ManagerqC>�— Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager Jeff Scheick, Executive Director, Planning Development and Transportations y f Mark Jackson, Transportation Group Director`s bta Pb Joe Frank, Director of Advance Planning U Kathleen Bracke, Director of Transpo ation Planning & Special Projectsr_p 6 RE: June 9, 2009 Work Session Summary — Mountain Vista Subarea Plan Update Council members present: Doug Hutchinson, Ben Manvel, Aislinn Kottwitz, Wade Troxell, Kelly Ohlson, and David Roy. Staff members present: Pete Wray, Matt Wempe, Joe Frank, Mark Jackson, Diane Jones, Kathleen Bracke, Matt Baker and supporting staff team. Does Council have all of the necessary information to make a decision regarding the street network shown on the proposed Framework Plan, and "Realigned Vine" in particular? If not, what additional information is needed? ■ More information is needed regarding the unintended consequences of extending the Vine realignment as shown, specifically related to the de facto truck route issue. Staff should research street design alternatives and enforcement options (look to other communities for ideas) that would mitigate the effects of through truck traffic on existing neighborhoods (Follow up Item). ■ Concerns arose regarding the phasing and funding of the street network and related infrastructure, especially the three proposed grade -separated crossings. Staff should create a constrained model analysis that would highlight the impacts on future development and traffic if the City was unable to fund those big -price items (Follow up Item). C of Collins .OI"t�� ■ Questions were raised about the proximity of existing Vine Drive, the proposed extension of re -aligned Vine, and Conifer Street. Staff should clearly explain how each roadway would function and justify the need for having the three so close to each other (Follow up Item). ■ Is the PUC requirement for grade -separated crossings legislative or bureaucratic? It seems unreasonable and is there any way to influence a change in policy (Follow up Item)? ■ Is it possible to change the weight restrictions on local streets? Why is the current limit 54,000 lbs? How do the weight restrictions influence street construction methods (Follow up Item)? 2. Does Council have all of the necessary information to make a decision regarding the request for reduced residential density in the Low Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood zoning on the Moore property? If not, what additional information is needed? ■ The Moore request for reduced density clashes with the tenets of City Plan. Are there ways to use the existing development review process rather than making the policy change through the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan update? ■ More information is needed from the property owner that clearly outlines their reasoning/justification for the request (Follow up Item). : ` `1 Is there any additional information that is needed prior to, or along with agenda materials that would be presented at the time a decision is considered by the Council on September 15, 2009? ■ Staff should provide additional information related to the various schedule changes for the planning process and any/all meetings that have been canceled. How was the public notified of these changes (Follow up Item). ■ The jobs/housing balance for the subarea needs further explanation regarding the increase and staff s reasoning for why it is acceptable (Follow up Item). ■ Clarify the acreage calculations for water features/natural areas/ditch corridors (Follow up Item). • Explain the timing of infrastructure improvements and when development can be expected in the area (Follow up Item). ■ More information is needed regarding the statement that the NECCO project will have no negative environmental impacts. Staff must be accurate when describing the effects of the project on floodways vs. floodplains (Follow up Item). 4. Additional comments/information needed and next steps: ■ Great planning effort. It is important to keep in mind that this is a long-term Plan and one that will involve public -private partnerships to share the costs of infrastructure improvements. ■ There was support and direction given to staff that an additional work session would be helpful (Staff will coordinate August schedule to add meeting). ■ Staff must be conscious to remove any value -laden language from the Plan document in order to respect the public's differing viewpoints. Note: Responses to requests for additional information will be sent at a later date. City of Planning, Development & Transportation Fort Collins Transportation Planning & Special Projects 250 North Mason Street P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins. CO 80522.0580 970.224-6058 970221.6239 - fax fcgov. corn/transportation MEMORANDUM Date: June 12, 2009 To: Mayor and City Council Members Through: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager Jeff Scheick, Planning, Development and Transportation Director it 6dPb Mark Jackson, Transportation Group Director 1 i blk Fb Kathleen Bracke, Transportation Planning & Special Fyojects Director f4t il, .Ppj From: Jennifer Petrik, Transport tion Planner & Project Manager for North College Corridor Improvements Project F I i Re: June 9th 2009 Work Session Summary - North College Improvement Project Update: PhasI e 11 - Vine to Conifer The purpose of this memo is to provide a summary of Council's work session discussion and feedback to staff. Direction Sought from Council: • What feedback would City Council like to share with staff, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and or the North Fort Collins Business Association (NFCBA) regarding the North College Improvements project and the alternative analysis process? • Is there additional information that City Council would like to see staff provide as part of the North College project process? Council Feedback and Key Discussion Points: • Staff is currently exploring the surplus funding from the Truck Bypass Study (approximately $1.8 Million) to determine if this funding can be incorporated into the North College Improvements project — Phase 11. • The project team will provide recommendation letters from the Transportation Board and other Boards and Commissions for the July 28'h City Council work session. • Pedestrian/bicycle option #2 has rated high with the evaluation criteria. This option includes an 8' on - street bike lane, a landscape buffer, and an 8' wide mixed use path to provide facilities for cyclists that are not comfortable riding on the roadway and for pedestrians. • Staff will change the reference in pedestrian/bicycle option #2 from "sidewalk" to reference a mixed use path. • The City currently has dismount zones in sections of town where pedestrian activity is high. For the project area, the potential mixed use path will provide adequate space to balance both pedestrian needs and needs of recreational cyclists. The speeds of cyclists on the mixed use path are anticipated to be slower than on -street commuter cyclists. • Staff noted that several council members have concerns regarding the dedicated off-street bike path (bicycle/pedestrian option 43). • The project team will develop a phased implementation plan that will include improvements to be built in 2011. Remaining improvements will be phased as funding is acquired. The City has been approached F�t`f by several property owners within the corridor with regards to donating right of way to further improvements in the corridor. • Staff will provide a diagram showing all projects in the North College area. Timing of full improvements is not known as project finding is dependent on development, economic conditions, and community and City Council decisions regarding funding options. Such options could include funding projects with debt service to expedite improvements, or repayments from those benefiting from infrastructure improvements such as property owners. • Preliminary conceptual level estimates for improvements for an enhanced streetscape corridor along North College Avenue from Vine Drive to Willox Lane (approximately I mile) total approximately $35 Million. • Staff will provide a symmetrical project area boundary on the project area map when used in the future. • City Council appreciated Staffs efforts to accelerate the project in response to the NFCBA's request. While the accelerated schedule is challenging, Staff is working diligently to provide ,all necessary opportunities for input from public, Boards and Commissions. • North College is an important area of the community and partnerships are very productive. • City Council suggested tying the Mason Corridor and North Mason Street in the North College area and to consider stimulus funds for transit. Projected Next Steps: • Open House is scheduled July 81" to present the draft recommended preferred alternative. • Present draft phased implementation plan including draft recommended preferred alternative to Transportation Board in July. • Present draft phased implementation plan to City Council at the work session July 28'h. • Return to City Council in early September for approval of phased implementation plan. M City of F6rt Collins MEMORANDUM DATE: June 12, 2009 TO: Mayor and City Council members THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager IL> ,_ FROM: Mike Freeman, Chief Financial Officer Josh Birks, Economic Advisor Economic Health Office. 300 LaPorte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6505 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov. com RE: June 9, 2009 Work Session Summary — Economic Health/Financial Issues Update This memorandum provides a summary of the discussion relating to the Economic Health/Financial Issues Update, which occurred at the Work Session on June 9, 2009. Attendance: Mayor Hutchinson; Council Members — Ohlson, Manvel, Kottwitz, Troxell, Roy; Staff— Darin Atteberry, Diane Jones, Mike Freeman, Josh Birks Economic Update ■ Retention and Expansion are the primary goals of the City and the Economic Health team ■ The City should evaluate the work necessary to pre -approve employment, industrial, and manufacturing property for development in our Target Industries; emphasis should be placed on major employment areas including Harmony Corridor, Prospect & I-25, and Mountain Vista ■ Remaining competitive for employment opportunities requires rapid response. "Shovel Ready" sites can provide a competitive advantage Financial Update ■ Please quantify in dollars the decrease in revenues .by category; this provide greater context than percentage change Midtown Commercial Redevelopment ■ Not redeveloping the mall could have huge opportunity costs: continued lost revenues and resulting reductions in City services ■ The study is not being funded for the direct benefit of General Growth Properties, nor is it being conducted on their behalf ■ Doing a study to articulate the community's vision for the mall in the wrong way would be a very expensive mistake; the proposed budget is a good starting point, however if doing it right requires additional budget, then ask for more money (within reason) ■ Council supports continued work on this project. Council should have a formal vote in support of this project; a resolution will be prepared for the first council meeting in July