HomeMy WebLinkAboutFAIRVIEW ELEVENTH ELIZABETH AND CITY PARK CORNER REDEVELOPMENT - Filed GC-GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - 2014-07-17INTERWI as C O N S U LTING GROUP
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
May 1, 2012 ENGINEERING
Ms. Sheri Langenberger
City of Fort Collins REVIEWED BY
PO Box 580
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
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Re: Elizabeth St. and City Park Ave. Comer Redevelopment —1401 West Elizabeth
Request for Variance #1 - Minimum Off Street Parking Setback
Dear Sheri:
Elizabeth and City Park Corner LLC is planning a redevelopment of the existing lot
(Consuelo's Mexican Restaurant) located on the southwest comer of West Elizabeth
)r' Street and City Park Avenue. A new parking lot and commercial/mixed use building will
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constructed. Site access is located off of City Park Avenue (classified as a Minor
ollector street). The existing parking lot is configured with the nearest parking spaces
jacent to the existing right of way approximately 7.5' from the flowline of City Park
venue. The proposed parking layout will improve this situation but does not meet the
LCUASS minimum. A variance is requested from Figure 19-6 "Minimum Off Street
Farling Setback Distance' in the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards to
reduce the required parking setback from 50' to 26'.
City Park Avenue is fully built and is signed at 25 mph (the lowest threshold for a Minor
Collector). The site access is located 100' south of the West Elizabeth Street intersection
and is past the storage of the left turn lane. There is a 4' bike lane and 12' south bound
travel lane adjacent to the site as well as a 10' left turn lane and an 18' north bound travel
lane / bike lane. The proposed 26' minimum offset (on the north side of the drive) is
adequate for a single car to be in the drive while another car is backing out of the first
parking space. On the south side of the drive, a parking space has been removed to make
the offset 30' from flowline.
The City's original response to this variance request was denial. The criterion that the
City proposed was to allow for one car of storage in the drive and behind the sidewalk (so
µ Waiting car -,vo ald not block the Nvaik). During the same PDP review, the Planning
Department commented that the walk widened from the 7' attached walk originally
proposed (exacerbating the issue).
1218 W. ASH, STE. C, WINDSOR, COLORADO 80550
TEL. 970.674.3300 - FAX 970.674.3303
A meeting was held with Planning and Engineering staff on April 26, 2012 at the site. At
this meeting, Planning staff reduced the width that they were requiring for the sidewalk
from 12' to 10' and Engineering staff (Sheri) stated that the nearest parking stall could
remain (16' from back of the new sidewalk and 26' from the street flowline). The 16'
back of walk to parking space offset at this first parking space will be adequate to store
most cars and meets the intent of the Engineering requirement.
Ultimately, City Park Avenue, the parking lot, and the sidewalk will have minor
vehicular and pedestrian traffic compared to other nearby commercial areas (like those
taking access directly off of Elizabeth Street). The proposed drive and parking layout is a
significant improvement over the existing condition with respect to this portion of the
LCUASS, and City Park Avenue is a low speed collector. Our assessment is that this
variance will not negatively impact the public health, safety or welfare. Please call me at
970-674-3300 if you have any questions or require any additional information for the
approval of this variance.
Sincerely,
Michael Oberlander, PE
Project Manager
1218 W. ASH, STE. C, WINDSOR, COLORADO 80550
TEL. 970.674.3300 - FAX 970.674.3303