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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 1/13/2015 - Information From Darin Atteberry Re: Agenda Item #3 - Csu On-Campus Stadium Mitigation Needs And RecommendationsPage 1 of 13 Colorado State University Multi-Purpose, On-Campus Stadium Mitigation Needs and Recommendations Colorado State University’s proposed on-campus multi-purpose stadium will have a substantial impact on local infrastructure, event-day traffic congestion, municipal services, and area residents. Any gathering of 40,000 people (or even a gathering of 10,000 people) influences not just the immediate area, but also has impacts that can be felt miles away. Colorado State University staff and their consultant teams worked with City of Fort Collins staff to analyze the potential impacts of an on-campus stadium. Impacts to Transportation Operations and Infrastructure, Utilities Infrastructure, Municipal Services such as Police and Parking Enforcement, Neighborhood Impacts and Relations including Noise and Lighting, and Environmental concerns were identified, then recommended mitigation steps developed. Where possible, order of magnitude cost estimates for mitigation strategies were included. This memo recommends off-campus mitigation needs should the stadium project move forward. This report is intended to inform discussions between the City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University in the development of an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) that will mitigate on-campus stadium impacts to the community. Operational Strategies: Transportation, Parking, Transit, and Police Services Transportation in and out of the current Hughes Stadium is primarily by automobile, with little travel by bus, bicycle or pedestrian modes. As a result, Hughes Stadium is designed to accommodate this vehicular movement with ample surface parking. Moving people before and after football games is a relatively straightforward, although time-consuming exercise. Moving the stadium on-campus opens up opportunities for a more diverse, multi-modal approach to moving people before and after an event. Parking is more spread out on the CSU main campus and satellite campus sites, posing unique challenges in wayfinding and management, but also opening up opportunities for remote parking and access via shuttle transit services. Finally, an on-campus stadium likely means a much greater percentage of students and nearby residents accessing the stadium as pedestrians or as bicyclists. City of Fort Collins staff worked closely with CSU’s Staff and transportation consultant team to examine the assumptions and strategies incorporated into their transportation impact analysis and recommendations. The two teams agreed on modal split assumptions, verified the estimates of available parking, and discussed incorporating transit into the event management strategies. The result of the collaborative effort identifies ways to accommodate events through planning, encouragement of mode-shift, operations, and infrastructure improvements. It is important to note that implementation of all of the items identified below will not completely eliminate the impact of the stadium on area roadways, travel patterns, congestion, delay and parking. Their implementation will reasonably mitigate the largest and most directly tangible elements of impact, strengthen mobility, and support the safety of multi-modal users. Jan. 13, 2015 TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: Darin Atteberry RE: Work Session Item #3 /sek Page 2 of 13 Developing an Operational Plan Given the tremendous expense and feasibility challenges of infrastructure construction, it is prudent to address as many needs as possible through operational enhancements (such as additional transit service), and multi-modal traffic management. This will require a comprehensive plan that includes outreach, education, detailed parking information, transportation demand management, and game day operational plans for all modes. The full development of a detailed travel demand management and game day operational plan is the responsibility of the University, but in collaboration with the City of Fort Collins. The timeline for this would occur in future months (or even years) and needs to involve CSU staff, Police Services, and City transit, traffic operations and parking services. In the meantime, enough work has been done to develop a general approach for accommodating game day transportation at the new stadium. Parking A detailed on-campus parking management program will be needed for the stadium events. This is the University’s responsibility to develop, implement, and manage. Since many lots are small and scattered throughout the campus, a major concern for both City Traffic and Police Services is that attendees not drive around looking multiple places for parking. Clear wayfinding and assigned lot designations for ticket holders are strongly recommended. The University acknowledges that as many as 3,000 off campus parking spaces will be needed for a major event. Many of those spaces will be at the south campus, tennis courts, or Natural Resources Research Center (NRRC). It is the University’s responsibility to secure the parking (whether on the main campus, South Campus, or elsewhere) and implement a shuttle system between parking and the stadium. The stadium traffic impact analysis also assumes that there will be up to 8,000 attendees at a sold out event that will walk or bike from off-campus to the event. This will require thousands of bike parking stalls or similar facilities close to the stadium. For potential off-campus parking in area neighborhoods, it is the University’s responsibility to develop, implement, enforce and/or fund any needed expansion and broader use of the City’s Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) that is related to stadium use. Parking in Neighborhoods Residents of neighborhoods near the CSU campus are concerned about game-day parking on residential streets. The City has implemented a Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) to help address this issue. Currently, there are three neighborhoods in the program (Spring Court, Sheely, and Mantz.) By the time the stadium is built, it is likely that several additional neighborhoods will be added. The RP3 requires a permit to park in a residential permit zone. Only residents of the zone are allowed to obtain permits. Normal enforcement of a residential permit zone involves issuing citations to vehicles that do not have a permit. The City feels this approach will not be effective on game day. In order to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods on game day, a more proactive preventative approach is needed. “Prevention” will consist of posting signs in neighborhoods stating, “Vehicles without proper permit will be towed.” (This approach has been very effective in residential areas around the Broncos’ stadium in Denver.) Six enforcement officers and a supervisor will be on duty on game-day for a four-hour period Page 3 of 13 beginning two hours before game time to coordinate towing of vehicles with private tow companies. The figures below reflect Parking Services staff’s cost estimate for these services. Note: Residential parking management may be needed for other non-football events as well. Variable costs (these costs will be incurred on each game day.) • Six enforcement officers and one supervisor, four hours overtime: $1,200 • Officer-vehicle expense (mileage): $50 • Tow companies will be paid by vehicle owners when they retrieve their vehicles • 400 candlestick signs, $3.75 daily rental rate for each: $1,500 • Labor @ $60/hr, 4 people to set up signs, X 2 hours: $480 • Labor @ $60/hr, 4 people to takedown signs X 2 hours: $480 Total variable costs: $3,710 per event One-time costs • Fabricate 400 specialty signs, $60 each: $24,000 • Note: once these signs are made, they can be used over and over again. Total one-time costs: $24,000 Alternative approach to neighborhood parking enforcement An alternative, but less effective approach would be to write citations for vehicles that park in the permit neighborhoods without a permit, but not tow them. Large signs could be posted at the entrances to these neighborhoods to alert game-day traffic to the possibility of receiving a citation. Under this scenario, the personnel costs would remain the same, but the cost of signs would be significantly less. However, it should be recognized that many game-day ticket holders may consider the cost of a citation to be a reasonable price to pay for close-in parking (this applies in particular to the Sheely area.) Variable costs of the alternative approach, per game-day • Six enforcement officers and one supervisor, four hours overtime: $1,200 • Officer-vehicle expense (mileage): $50 • 25 large signs with barricades, $30 daily rental rate each: $750 • Labor @ $60/hr, 2 people to set up signs, X 2 hours: $240 • Labor @ $60/hr, 2 people to take down signs, X 2 hours: $240 Total variable costs: $2,480 One-time costs • Fabricate 25 specialty signs, $150 each: $3,750 • Note: once these signs are made, they can be used over and over again. Total one-time costs: $3,750 Transit Enhancements A review of CSU’s traffic impact analysis coupled with a conceptual feasibility assessment resulted in the recommended enhanced transit service needed to transport an estimated 7,500 stadium attendees onto the CSU main campus. Conceptual costs assume six game day events. Transfort identified five sub- areas to target for enhanced and new special event transit service two hours prior to kick-off and two hours after the end of game (See Attachment 1): Page 4 of 13 1. Gillette Drive/Centre Avenue extending from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital north to Prospect Road. This corridor will serve the parking located near the CSU tennis courts, the NRRC, and the Grove apartment complex. a. Two minute service headways b. 11 additional buses c. Capacity for 3,600 passengers using 11 buses over two hour span d. Expense for six events: $42,240 ($7,040 per event) e. Total service hours: Eight 2. Mason Corridor served by the MAX. This corridor provides connections to CSU from multiple parking lots/structures and residential units from the South Transit Center to the Downtown Transit Center. a. Five minute service headways b. 10 additional buses c. Capacity for 3,840 passengers using 16 buses over two hour span d. Expense for six events: $38,400 ($6,400 per event) e. Total service hours: Eight 3. East Prospect extending from I-25 and Prospect west to Whitcomb. This corridor will serve parking located at the Colorado Welcome Center and the CDOT Rest Area as well as residential locations along East Prospect. a. 15 minute service headways b. Four additional buses c. Capacity for 480 passengers using 4 buses over two hour span d. Expense for six events: $15,360 ($2,560 per event) e. Total service hours: Eight 4. West Elizabeth and West Prospect. These two corridors will serve high density student housing and potential park-and-ride locations. a. 10 minute service headways b. Seven additional buses c. Capacity for 1,440 passengers using 8 buses over two hour span d. Expense for six events: $26,880 ($4,480 per event) e. Total service hours: Eight 5. On campus along the Around the Horn alignment. This area serves on campus parking, residential and the CSU transit Center. a. 10 minute service headways b. Two additional buses c. Capacity for 480 passengers using 3 buses over two hour span d. Expense for six events: $7,680 ($1,280 per event) e. Total service hours: Eight The special event transit service recommended above is designed to accommodate 7,500 stadium attendees both before and after an on-campus event. The recommendation provides for additional capacity knowing that each bus will not be at 100% capacity for every trip during the two hour span before and after an event. The expense for the additional service recommended would cost $21,760 per event, or $130,560 for six events. These expenses are represented in 2014 dollars and should be Page 5 of 13 increased annually by the local CPI for year of implementation. Any event attracting several thousand people will have a profound impact on adjacent transit routes, particularly the MAX service, and will require enhanced transit service to accommodate. The City recommends that coordination occur between CSU and the City for any event at an on-campus stadium to identify if it requires special event transit service and/or other traffic mitigation. This recommendation does not address stadium access or parking and bus staging requirements necessary for drop-off and pick-up of passengers. These accommodations would be necessary for any special event transit service to an on-campus stadium. CSU project staff has acknowledged this need and are incorporating it into their design and operational plans. Police Services For decades Fort Collins Police Services has provided assistance to Colorado State University for their football game day traffic and some other public safety duties within the stadium. CSU currently reimburses Police Services about $70,000 per year for the overtime expense for officers working the games. Game day management is a joint effort that involves CSUPD, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Loveland Police and Colorado State Patrol. In the past these agencies operated under an intergovernmental agreement, but currently utilize a blanket mutual aid agreement that the Sheriff publishes every year that gives all the enforcement agencies jurisdiction throughout the county. There is no current formal agreement with Colorado State University that defines this management structure or requires the University to pay for police services for game management. It has been a verbal agreement, and there have been no problems with this arrangement. If the University moves forward with the on-campus stadium, we recommend that football games and other special events be permitted under the City’s special events process. A special events permit would be required to modify the traffic pattern on city streets and would allow the city to better manage the issues associated with large events. A special events permit application is reviewed by several city departments to make sure it meets the requirements and that the impacts of the event are properly managed by the organizers. Whether the event is an athletic event, music concert or political rally, the permit process would allow the city to require the event organizers to properly plan for the event. This process is currently used for CSU events such as the annual Homecoming Parade. The police impact of the new stadium is uncertain until the traffic and parking plans are finalized. It will likely be an iterative process to arrive at the best way to manage the traffic and pedestrian flow in the area. We predict that the need for Police Services personnel could be similar to the current staffing requirements. It is recommended that the current model of the University reimbursing the City for the cost of police personnel be continued for the new stadium. An intergovernmental agreement should be written to outline this general agreement. If this reimbursement continues, the number of police officers needed for an event is irrelevant because it is cost neutral to the City. Infrastructure Needs: Multi-Modal Transportation Even with enhanced transit service and a robust implementation of traffic management strategies, there are areas around campus that will be critical “pinch points” for the mobility of stadium attendees and nearby residents. These are areas that require infrastructure changes to accommodate the additional bike, pedestrian, and vehicular traffic. In addition to major events (sellouts), it’s also important to consider the non-capacity events that will occur at the stadium on a much more regular basis. Some of those may not have dedicated traffic Page 6 of 13 control management and the transportation impacts need to be accommodated primarily with on-the- ground infrastructure. In locations needing changes for the stadium, it is strategic and fiscally responsible to select infrastructure improvements that will not only address stadium mitigation but also meet more general University needs. Therefore, the following documents were reviewed together: Multi-Purpose Stadium Traffic Study – September 2014 The study tried to quantify the traffic in all modes related to a capacity event. This included satellite parking south of campus with shuttle service, and a decrease of MAX headways from 10 minutes to either 5 min or even 2 minutes (an increase of capacity of 2-5 times). Enhancement of the Neighborhood Parking Permit Program (RP3) is also recommended. For vehicles, the study identified movements at five intersections that are ‘critical’. It noted missing sidewalk elements on-campus and quantified pedestrian and bike crossing volumes at the campus edge. Colorado State University Parking and Transportation Plan – April 2014 This Plan discusses improvements to the transportation system by 2024 due to existing and future campus needs. The list includes lane improvements to six (6) off-campus intersections and provides a narrative on walking / biking needs. Colorado State University Bicycle Master Plan The Master Plan identifies network recommendations of both linear improvements (pathways and protected bike lanes) and spot improvements at crossings / intersections. Off-campus, this includes five (5) intersections and improvements to many of the perimeter roadways (Shields, Prospect, Laurel, etc). A review of the recommendations in the above reports coupled with a conceptual feasibility assessment resulted in the following off-campus mitigation needs to accommodate the new stadium: (See Attachment 2 map for relative locations) Item Description Item # on map Est. Conceptual Level Cost 1. Lane Improvements at five (5) intersections a) Shields and Elizabeth Still under review # 1 $ 0.5 -1.0 million b) Prospect and Shields WB right turn lane # 4 $ 0.5 -1.0 million c) Prospect and Whitcomb Improve NB / SB left turn # 6 $ 0.5 -1.0 million d) Prospect and Centre NB / SB double lefts # 8 $ 0.5 -1.0 million e) College and Lake Lengthen NB left # 11 ~ $300,000 Subtotal: $ 2.0 – $4.3 million 2. Grade Separated Pedestrian and Bike Crossings at two (2) locations a) Shields and Elizabeth # 2 $ 2.0 - 4.0 million b) Prospect and Centre This includes connectivity to north and south (sidewalks) # 7 $ 2.0 - 4.0 million Subtotal: $ 4.0 – $8.0 million 3. At-Grade Enhanced Pedestrian and Bike Crossings at four (4) locations a) Shields and Pitkin Pedestrian hybrid HAWK signal # 3 ~ $ 75,000 b) Prospect at Mason Trail Enlarge crossing area # 9 ~ $ 50,000 Page 7 of 13 c) Laurel at Washington Add median and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) # 12 ~ $ 100,000 d) Laurel at Sherwood Add median and center RRFB # 13 ~ $100,000 Subtotal: ~ $ 325,000 4. Intersection review at Prospect and College. Likely EB and WB double lefts and addition of bike and pedestrian accommodations (review potential for right turn islands and bike connectivity to east). # 10 $ 3.0 – $4.0 million 5. Prospect corridor improvement review per recommendations from West Central Area Plan (WCAP). For stadium impact, the most prominent needed improvement is the wide multi-use path on north side. # 5 $ 2.0 – $3.0 million Although the perimeter roadways are of most concern to the City, there may be additional improvements inside the perimeter that are needed for the overall efficient movement of stadium attendees. As it relates to the City, upon initial review, these should at least include: Item and Description Item # on map Est. Conceptual Level Cost 6. Lake Street bike / pedestrian improvements per recommendations from West Central Area Plan (WCAP). The largest needed item here is the protected bike lane. # 14 ~ $ 1.0 million 7. Sidewalk improvements as listed in Campus Stadium Traffic Impact Study (TIS page 74). This includes sidewalks on Whitcomb that connect between Lake and Prospect Road. -- Unknown 8. Intersection control review at Lake and Centre # 15 $ 0.5 – $1.0 million Finally, management of stadium traffic, especially traffic related to more frequent but non-capacity events that don’t include dedicated traffic control, will benefit greatly from the implementation of a traffic responsive signal system. Item and Description Item # on map Est. Conceptual Level Cost 9. Traffic Responsive Signal System. This is a system that will detect current vehicular traffic patterns and adjust signal timing ‘on the fly’ as conditions change. This system will especially benefit non-capacity events that don’t utilize police controlled intersections and operations for future growth of campus traffic. Much of the ability to do this is already in place at the City’s traffic management center, but additional detection at the 15 signalized intersections immediately adjacent to the University will need to be installed and the management of the system implemented. -- ~ $ 150,000 The overall cost range of needed transportation infrastructure improvement is $ 13 – $22 million. About one third of the cost is in the two grade-separated pedestrian and bike crossings, and one third is Page 8 of 13 in intersection improvements at six locations. The remaining costs mitigate impacts through a number of smaller projects. Note that the above list identifies specific infrastructure needs related to stadium impact on the City. It doesn’t address other needs (both physical and management based) internal to the University such as vehicle and bike parking, on-campus bike / pedestrian movements, and travel demand management. Transportation Summary As noted in the introduction, events at the multi-use stadium on campus will have a dramatic effort on the area transportation system. Those impacts cannot be eliminated. However, the items noted above will help to mitigate the largest of impacts for both sellout and smaller attendance events, and support the needs and plans for Colorado State University in the future. Infrastructure Needs: Utilities Not all infrastructure impacts of an on-campus stadium can be seen above ground. City of Fort Collins Utilities staff worked with CSU’s consultant team to review their analyses and determine impacts to City utility systems and identify mitigations steps. This analysis includes Light and Power, Stormwater, Wastewater, and Water Utilities. Light and Power Colorado State University uses its own electric distribution system, and can incorporate and accommodate additional loads and service levels required by a new on-campus stadium. As a result, there are no mitigable impacts to City of Fort Collins’ Light and Power utility. Water Utilities The proposed Multi-Purpose Stadium will have varying impacts on the City’s water, wastewater and stormwater systems. The major effect will be on the wastewater system that will occur during large events when 40,000 people are in attendance. Utilities staff continues to working with Colorado State University staff and stadium consultants to identify and evaluate the increased demands on the City’s water utilities systems. This memo summarizes the impacts and outlines measures needed to mitigate the increase demands. Fort Collins Utilities provides water, wastewater and stormwater services to Colorado State University. The manner in which these services are provided is contained in the Water and Wastewater Service Allocation Agreement between Colorado State University and City of Fort Collins Utilities as well as City Code. Water Colorado State University owns, operates and maintains the water distribution system on main campus. Domestic water service for the stadium will be provided by the campus water system. The effects of increased water demands resulting from the stadium will be addressed through the provisions of the Service Allocation Agreement. The University’s campus water system will also provide a majority of the fire protection needs for the stadium facility. The only added infrastructure in the City’s water distribution system will be two fire hydrants connecting to the City water main in Lake Street. The costs of installing these hydrants would be funded by the stadium project. Page 9 of 13 Wastewater The wastewater collection system on main campus is also owned, operated and maintained by the University. This system does not have the necessary capacity to transport the projected wastewater flows from the stadium facility. The City and stadium design team have reviewed and analyzed alternative connections to the City wastewater collection system to carry the projected flows. The selected alternative includes the construction of a sanitary sewer in Whitcomb Street from Lake Street to an interceptor sewer in Wallenberg Drive. It is planned that this sewer would replace existing sewers in Whitcomb as well as carry the stadium wastewater flows. From preliminary discussions with University staff, it is anticipated that costs of the sewer improvements would be shared in proportion to the sewer capacity utilized by City customers and by the proposed stadium. Following completion, the sewer would be owned and maintained by the City. In addition to the sewer in Whitcomb, it appears there may be some sewer capacity issues in downstream portions of the City wastewater collection system. Additional analysis is being performed to determine the extent of these potential problems. If mitigation is needed, provisions of the Service Allocation Agreement would be followed and costs would be funded by the stadium project. Stormwater The stormwater system through campus is generally a mix of public stormwater and stormwater generated by the CSU campus. There are two major storm sewer systems that run through campus: • a 42” storm drainage pipe that daylights near Spring Creek east of Centre Avenue; and, • a 36” storm drainage pipe that daylights into Spring Creek east of Centre Avenue. An analysis of the existing storm sewer systems is in progress. Prior information indicates the systems may be undersized for the drainage areas they serve. With the stadium proposal, the stadium will not increase runoff into these systems during the 100-year storm. The primary impact to the existing systems is in the form of water quality treatment. There is currently no stormwater quality treatment in either of these systems and none is being proposed with the stadium construction. A stormwater quality pond should be constructed at the outfall of the 42” pipe and a proprietary mechanical BMP (Best Management Practices) treatment device is needed in the 36” pipe. The stormwater quality pond would be constructed on land that is currently owned by the City and CSU. There is no room for a similar facility on the 36” pipe, so the proprietary mechanical BMP treatment device would likely be installed in City right-of-way or in the gravel parking lot owned by CSU to the north of Spring Creek. It is anticipated that ownership and maintenance of the stormwater quality pond and proprietary mechanical BMP would be shared by the City and CSU. Conceptual preliminary costs of the sanitary sewer improvements in Whitcomb Street and stormwater quality improvements are as follows: Item and Description Est. Conceptual Level Cost 1. Sanitary sewer in Whitcomb Street from Lake Street to Wallenberg Drive. 2. Water quality pond at outfall of 42” storm sewer 3. Proprietary mechanical BMP on 36” storm sewer $1.5 to $2.0 million $75,000 to $100,000 $175,000 to $200,000 Total Utilities Infrastructure Improvements: $1.75 million to $2.3 million. Page 10 of 13 Community and Neighborhood Character It is important that CSU consider and integrate Community Character into the design and construction of an on-campus stadium. Consideration must be given to items of community importance that help define where we live and what makes Fort Collins unique and special. This includes things such as preservation of view sheds, noise and lighting impacts, historic preservation, environmental sensitivity, and retaining neighborhood vitality and character. Neighborhood Impacts and Relations The proposed location of an on-campus stadium will have a substantial impact to the surrounding residential neighborhoods on game days and other events. Staff recommends the creation of a Stadium Area Advisory Group and a Good Neighbor Fund to address and mitigate impacts to the neighborhoods. Stadium Advisory Group/”Good Neighbor Fund” Staff suggests that The University of Minnesota District Partnership be used as a model for developing a Stadium Advisory Group and a Good Neighbor Fund. “The Alliance” was formed in 2009 and is used to preserve homeownership, strengthen neighborhood livability, and develop a transformative vision for the neighborhoods surrounding the Minnesota Stadium. The City would also be a partner in the Advisory Group. The vision for the Advisory Group is to work collaboratively with the University to attract students, staff, researchers and faculty to “learn, live, play, and work in the area” by building a more diverse community that draws people from across the age spectrum to the surrounding areas. The advisory group would work closely with CSU on Master Plan principles and assist in identifying action steps in achieving both short and long term goals and resource needs. Staff further recommends that the Stadium Advisory Group form a committee to administer a Good Neighbor Fund to enhance and protect the beauty, serenity and security of the neighborhoods impacted by the operation of a CSU on-campus Stadium. The committee formed should include someone from the Advisory Group, neighborhood organization representatives and at least one business association representative. The fund committee is responsible on an annual basis for developing a budget, soliciting proposals, reviewing applications and recommending expenditures from the Fund. Staff suggests that project dollars be used to establish a fund. Other methods of funding may include: a ticket surcharge, or contributions from the Alumni Association. Projects that might be funded through such a program include: park and streetscape improvements, neighborhood planning, signage, way finding and promotion of commercial districts and other content that promotes living in the neighborhood, youth programs, etc. Beyond the direct, intended benefits of the individual projects, the University of Minnesota and the surrounding neighborhoods have found the partnership has provided a means for multiple neighborhoods to develop projects together that address a common purpose and provided a vehicle for neighborhood commercial districts to partner with UMN Athletics on promotion and marketing the area. Noise and Lighting Impacts Areas of primary concern voiced by nearby residents were the spillover effects of stadium-related noise and lighting. The CSU design team addressed these issues in their preliminary reports, and subsequently met with City of Fort Collins staff to discuss their assumptions, analysis and recommendations. City Staff provided the CSU team with recommended mitigation measures to address concerns noted. Page 11 of 13 Noise City Staff analyzed the CSU design team’s reports and offered potential mitigation solutions for both football games and concert events. Based upon CSU’s assumptions and noise contour map, City Staff found that anticipated decibel levels during the football game, south of Prospect Road, primarily in the High Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood, (H-M-N) zone and the Sheely neighborhood, exceed that which is allowed by Section 20-21 of the City Code. The CSU study also indicates that amplified music concerts have the potential for higher peak and average sound levels than sports events. Recommended mitigation measures to address football game-related noise issues include: • Raising the wall at the south end of the stadium so that when combined with the scoreboard, there is a more effective mass capable of lowering the off-site decibels impacting the R-L zone district to the south. This wall could include live plant material as a feature to soften the mass of the wall. These walls are sometimes referred to as “green screens” or “green walls” depending on the scope of the plant material and its supporting elements. • Perform sound measurement analysis at Hughes Stadium, and its environs, for the benefit of interested citizens. Such a field test could use real-time sound measurements during actual football games at distances that approximate the distance from the south end of the proposed on-campus stadium to the nearest residential property lines zoned R-L. Adjustments could be made for stadium design and loud speaker arrangement. Such an exercise would allow residents to experience the sound of a stadium P.A. system at a wide range of decibels. Recommended mitigation measures to address concert-related noise at the stadium include: • Limit the number of concerts per year. • Establish a time certain conclusion for concerts. • Consider agreeing to hold concerts only on the granting of a special use permit (allowed by the ordinance) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from the City. • Preliminary coordination with concert sound company to discuss speaker orientation and sound monitoring techniques Lighting Impacts City Staff also reviewed the CSU Design team’s lighting analysis and noted several areas of concern related to spillover illumination to nearby residential areas and glare to motorists. Recommended mitigation measures to address spillover illumination at the stadium include: • Provide a point by point illumination plan (photometric diagram) showing the foot-candles at regular intervals as a result of all lighting sources, not just the sports lighting. Such a plan would include all other exterior lighting, interior lighting that emits illumination through large windows and any auxiliary lighting that may be associated with music concerts. Analyzing a photometric diagram would reveal various hot-spots that would need to be addressed by reducing lighting or by mitigation to block line-of-sight impacts. • Reduce the light impact on the H-M-N zone to the south of the Stadium or provide massing to block the line-of-sight of the light sources. Such massing could potentially be provided along the south end of the stadium in the area of the bridge/concourse to supplement the scoreboard. Such massing would also have the benefit of blocking decibels from the P.A. system or amplified music as noted in the analysis of the Noise Study. Page 12 of 13 Environmental Impacts Environmental Sustainability is a fundamental principle for the City of Fort Collins. In addition to the operational and infrastructure impacts, it is important that CSU also identify and address environmental impacts that occur as a result of stadium construction, demolition/deconstruction, and redevelopment of the existing Hughes Stadium site. City of Fort Collins’ Environmental Sustainability Staff recommends several “Best Practice” mitigation strategies that CSU should consider as part of the Design and Construction processes: Design Phase: CSU should conduct an air quality impact analyses, evaluate greenhouse gas emissions and impacts, and develop restorative, regenerative, and sustainable practices that support a “green” built environment for the following scenarios: • Existing conditions • Build new stadium on campus, discontinue operations at and deconstruct Hughes Stadium • Build new stadium and continue some operations at Hughes stadium CSU should address ozone formation in the ozone non-attainment area, Carbon monoxide (CO) hot spots, and diesel particulate matter emissions, and use the results to inform street design, optimal traffic flow patterns and infrastructure design for alternative modes of transportation. They should maximize deconstruction practices, reuse and recycle building materials, and select sustainable materials. CSU should minimize and recycle construction waste and incorporate energy efficiency into any of the scenarios. Examples could include incorporating solar and wind energy production into site and building design, developing innovative methods for utilizing thermal storage capacity and designing enclosed spaces to the highest energy efficiency standards. CSU should maximize use of low impact development principles, design for low water use and treatment and use of gray water and overall ensure building operation and maintenance is optimized for sustainability. Construction Phase: During construction CSU should prohibit unnecessary vehicle idling, equip vehicles with auxiliary power units, minimize construction equipment idling for warm up and cool down, and use ultra-low sulfur diesel or bio-diesel fuels. These actions will minimize air pollutants from construction vehicles. To reduce air emissions from any asphalt paving, CSU should discontinue paving operations on high ozone days, conduct paving operations at night, use alternative materials such as gravel, concrete, warm mix asphalt and use pervious pavement or pavers. Spray materials should be avoided and low or no Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) materials should be utilized. A dust control plan incorporating best management practices should be utilized. Climate Action and Adaptation impacts: CSU should estimate emission from new construction and determine strategies to offset these emissions. They should determine the impact to increased GHG emission to GHG emission reduction goals established by the City and determine strategies to offset. CSU should determine impact to the city’s Climate Action Plan and Road to Zero Waste Plan, analyze the carbon footprint for the estimated life of a new stadium and determine strategies to offset emissions. CSU should consider incorporating into the design the ability to use the facility as a respite center for extreme heat, flood or fire episodes. Finally, CSU should explore innovative ways for the new stadium and/or existing Hughes stadium to be utilized for carbon sequestration. Page 13 of 13 ATTACHMENTS 1. Map of Recommended Additional Transit Routes for Special Event Service 2. Map of Recommended Infrastructure Improvements 3. Summary Matrix of Recommended Mitigation and Costs ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following City Departments contributed to this analysis and report: Planning, Development & Transportation • Engineering • FC Moves • Community Development and Neighborhood Services • Parking Services • Traffic Operations • Transfort Utilities • Light & Power • Water Systems Engineering Police Services Sustainability Services (Environmental Sustainability) City Manager’s Office Communication and Public Involvement Office (CPIO) Poudre Fire Authority