HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 4/19/2022 - Memorandum From Pete Wray Re: Staff Response To Councilmember Questions At First Reading On April 5, 2022 Regarding The Mulberry & Greenfields Pud Master Plan
Community Development & Neighborhood
Services
Planning & Development Services
281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
970.221.6376
970.224.6111- fax
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 14, 2022
To: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, Director of Planning, Development, and Transportation
Paul Sizemore, Director of Community Development and Neighborhood Services
Rebecca Everette, Planning Manager
From: Pete Wray, Senior City Planner
Re: Staff response to Councilmember questions at First Reading on April 5 regarding the
Mulberry & Greenfields PUD Master Plan.
The purpose of this memo is to provide a response to questions raised at First Reading on how the
Mulberry PUD Master Plan is addressing existing natural habitat resources within the Cooper Slough and
Lake Canal areas, and interface with East Mulberry Street.
Cooper Slough
The Mulberry and Greenfields PUD Master Plan meets the buffering standards of Land Use Code (LUC)
Section 3.4.1, Natural Habitats and Features, and does not propose to alter the standards of that section
in any way. Therefore, future filings/phases of development will be required to meet all applicable
standards in LUC Section 3.4.1 standards, including any new or changed standards should that code
section be updated in the future. The provisions for protecting the Cooper Slough, including the provision
for a minimum 300-ft buffer, are intact; all future phases of development within the PUD must abide by
those requirements. Additionally, staff has recognized that existing flows in the Cooper Slough have been
degraded in recent years. The PUD proposes to direct treated stormwater flows to the adjacent Cooper
Slough as far north as site constraints allow to increased water flow through the Slough and restore some
of the historical hydrology of that valuable and unique natural resource. Stormwater detention ponds
located within al Habitat Buffer Zone (NHBZ) will be designed to a very high
standard to not only treat stormwater prior to entering the Slough but also to create quality and varied
wildlife habitat. Bloom Filing 1 will perform the over lot grading for the entirety of the PUD area and will be
using an all-native seed mix for soil stabilization that meets 3.4.1 NHBZ standards.
Lake Canal
The PUD does not include any improvements being made directly to the Lake Canal Ditch. The PUD
shows a conceptual natural habitat buffer along this drainage corridor. Future filings of Bloom will include
infrastructure to be provided throughout the development for the Lake Canal overflow, consistent with the
flooding impacts.
East Mulberry Street/Greenfields Drive Intersection
Highway 14 is recognized as a Scenic Byway route as it overlaps with the Cache La Poudre River
National Heritage Area. The PUD and Bloom development is not near the river. In addition to the recent
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) improvements on the north side of East Mulberry Street
and existing Greenfields Court intersection, the vision of the PUD includes new landscaping and gateway
design elements. Bloom Filing One will include a new round-a-bout gateway feature at the intersection of
Greenfields Court and realigned frontage road. Streetscape landscape improvements along the frontage
of Bloom will meet the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards. Filing One
will also recognize the street name change from Greenfields Court to Greenfields Drive as this street
extends north of East Mulberry Street to East Vine Drive.