HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-035-06/20/2000-STATING THE INTENT OF THE CITY TO ANNEX CERTAIN PROPERTY AND INITIATING ANNEXATION PROCEEDINGS FOR T RESOLUTION 2000-95
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE DOWNTOWN RIVER CORRIDOR
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1997 - 1999 City Council Policy Agenda, a program was
initiated in January, 1998,to develop the Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program(the
"Program"); and
WHEREAS,over one hundred meetings have been held with City Council, City boards and
commissions,community groups,property owners associations and individuals to gain input on new
projects in the Downtown River Corridor(the"Corridor"); and
WHEREAS,various public events and symposiums have been held to aid in the adoption of
the Program; and
WHEREAS, as a result of said meetings, symposiums and public events, the staff has
developed and presented to the City Council a Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program
Report which is intended to coordinate the implementation of existing and new projects involving
natural features, recreation, public infrastructure, historic resources, flood mitigation and
development in the Corridor; and
WHEREAS,the Program uses as its foundation the elements of City Plan together with the
standards contained in the Land Use Code, as well as adopted area plans; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board and the
Downtown Development Authority have recommended certain amendments to the Program and have
recommended to the City Council that it accept and approve the Program as proposed to be amended;
and
WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Board has recommended to the City Council that it
accept and approve the Program; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Fort Collins has determined that it is in the best
interests of the citizens of the City that the Program be accepted and approved.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the Council hereby accepts and approves the Downtown River Corridor
Implementation Program, including: (1) the list of prioritized projects, (2) directions for the
formation of a "River Team" to guide Program implementation,(3)directions for the investigation
and pursuit of funding sources and(4)the provision of public outreach throughout implementation,
all as described in the Report attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A".
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 18th day of July,A.D.
2000.
Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk
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Downtown- River Corridor
Implementation Program
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City of Fort Collins
Community Planning and Environmental Services
Advance Planning Department
DRAFT
July 10, 2000
Table of Contents
ExecutiveSummary...............................................................................................................................1
Introduction............................................................................................................... ........................3
Purposeand Intent..............................................................................
3
PlStudy Area and Context......................................................................................................................................3
anning Process...............................................................................:
ExistingFramework................................................ .........9
....................................................
LBasis of the Program...........................................................................................................................................9
Hiand Use Regulations.........................................................................................................................................9
storic Resources............................................................................................................................................. 10
Natural Resources............................................................................................................................................. 10
Floodplains...........................................................................................
Previous Plan Actions and Strategies................................................................................................................ 15
AreaIssues.......................................................................
PExistingPublic Projects.................................................................................................................................... 16
rivate Projects.................................................................................................................................................. 19
NewProjects.........................................................................................................................................21
DKeyFeatures of the Program.............................................................................................................................21
Downtown River Corridor Themes................................................................................................................... 21
escription of New Projects.............................................................................................................................23
Project Priority Recommendations.................................................................................................................... 31
ImplementationPlan............................................................................................................................33
Timing of Project Implementation....................... .
Interdepartmental Downtown River Corridor Lead Team("River Team")....................................................... 33
Funding.................. . . .
.................. 33
Brief Description of Funding Sources............................. .............................................................................37
Infilland Redevelopment.................................................................................................................................. 38
AppendixA -Relevant Plans and Programs.....................................................................................39
AppendixB: Actions From Relevant Plans.......................................................................................41
AppendixC -Diary of Events.............................................................................................................43
AppendixD -Public Comments..........................................................................................................47
Appendix E: Resolution to Acquire Certain Floodplain Properties...............................................71
Figures and Tables
Figure 1: Downtown River Corridor Location.............................................................................................4
Figure2: Existing Zoning...............................................................................................................................11
Figure 3: Historic Resources................................ . .
Figure 4: Natural Areas and Natural Habitats and Features.....................................................................13
Figure 5: Poudre River and Old Town Floodplains...................................................................................14
Figure 6: Existing Project Locations.............................................................................................................18
Figure 7: Illustrative Concept Plan................................................................................................................29
Table1 : Theme Areas....................................................................................................................................22
Table2: Project Priorities..............................................................................................................................31
Table3: Implementation Matrix...................................................................................................................35
Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program
Executive Summer
The Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program (DRCIP) is a plan of action for the area
along the Cache la Poudre River near Downtown Fort Collins. The Program is intended to
coordinate the implementation of existing and new projects involving natural features, recreation,
public infrastructure, historic resources, flood mitigation and development.
The Program does not suggest changes in City Plan or the Land.Use Code. Instead, the Program
builds on existing projects and programs, especially City Plan. As spelled out in City Plan, the vision
for the Downtown River Corridor is for enhancement and restoration of natural features of the
river, an extension of Downtown uses and character towards the river landscape, and the integration
of cultural and recreational opportunities into the area.
The Program consists of two distinct phases. The first phase,which concludes with this report, has
been the process of identifying priorities, recommending next steps, and providing public outreach.
The list of projects and descriptions,which resulted from this process, are crucial for coordinating
projects and pursuing appropriate funding sources. The second phase will consist of actual project
implementation.
The following are actions recommended to implement the Program:
1. Form an interdepartmental staff"River Team" to coordinate the implementation of projects
between departments and between the City and non-governmental entities.
2. Through the River Team, investigate and pursue existing and new funding sources and
coordinate public outreach through all phases of implementation.
3. Implement the following projects:
19,Priority 2nd Priority
Cache la Poudre River Habitat Restoration Environmental and Cultural Interpretive Program
Linden,Willow and Lincoln Streetscape Improvements Cache la Poudre River Trail Amenities
Jefferson/Linden Intersection Improvements Linden/Willow Urban Design Features
Jefferson/Riverside Streetscape Improvements Gateway at Mulberry and Riverside
Off-Street Public Parking
Contaminated Site Assessments 3rd Priority
Recreational River Channel Enhancements Feasibility Study Gateway Features
Oxbow-Acquisition for Public Use Downtown Shuttle Service
Flood Protection Improvements for the Buckingham
Neighborhood
N. College/Vine-Flood Protection
Triangle(Lincoln Avenue)-Flood Protection
Lemay Avenue Levee
Bank Stabilization
Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program 1
Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program 2
Introduction
Purpose and Intent
Despite community aspirations over many years to restore and revitalize the environs along the
'Cache la Poudre River near Downtown Fort Collins, few enhancements have come to fruition.
Only a few isolated enhancements have been completed. Recently, the 1997-99 Council Policy
Agenda identified the need for a more coordinated approach towards actions in the Downtown
River Corridor ("Corridor' . The completion of City Plan in 1997 also provided further impetus for
a process and mechanism to improve the relationship of the city to the river in this area.
In January 1998, a committee made up of staff from a variety of City departments began work on
the Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program ("Program"). The Program's mission was
to coordinate City projects in the Corridor and to identify, filter and prioritize future projects
recommended in various planning documents done over the years. The intent of the Program was
to build on existing documents and studies rather than add a new vision for the Corridor. This
report contains information and recommendations from the first phase of the Program. The second
phase will consist of implementation of the new projects contained in this report.
Study Area and Context
The Downtown River Corridor is an
approximately 330-acre area adjacent to
Downtown along the Cache la Poudre
River. This area is bounded by Vine
Drive on the north, Martinez Park on
the west,Jefferson Street/Riverside
Avenue and Mulberry Street on the
south, and Lemay Avenue jogging over
to 1"Street on the east (see Figure 1) In
City Plan, the Corridor is described as a �� �•
k
sub-district of Downtown, and as the k,;: �
"Historic and Cultural Core Segment" of "t
3fF
the Poudre River Corridor. v
The area around today's Linden and s
Willow intersection was the parade
grounds of the military fort established in 1864. After the army relinquished ownership in 1872,
various uses served the area such as flour milling, retailing, farming and ranching,lodging, animal
feed production, housing, and the City dump.The portion of the Corridor between Jefferson Street
and Willow Street is part of the Old Fort Collins National Historic District. The entire Corridor is
part of a "national river corridor",which Congress designated in 1996 for the Cache la Poudre River
to recognize its critical historical value in the westward expansion of the U.S. One of the most
significant physical changes that occurred in the past century was the channelization of the river
between Linden Street and Lincoln Avenue. This resulted in the relocation of the river from the site
now known as the "Oxbow" to the south in its present location. The river has scoured the channel
in this section down to bedrock.
Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program 3
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Today, the Downtown River Corridor contains a diverse mix of commerce, heavy and light industry,
offices, recreation, and housing. Union Pacific has a rail line passing through the area, and there are
several working and abandoned rail spurs. There are 72 different landowners in the area, the largest
of which is the City of Fort Collins. Residences are scattered throughout the Corridor and
residential and commercial uses are not clearly
separated. The residences are found singly or in small
clusters, often immediately adjacent to business and
industrial sites. The Buckingham neighborhood is 'i�'��
located just to the east of the Program area. A variety
of community service agencies are within the Corridor
including a United Way center, the Education and Life
Training Center,The Mission and the Open Door
Mission. The Downtown and the Old Town area are
immediately to the west of the Program area, although
separated by Jefferson Street/Riverside Avenue, which
serves as a state highway and major truck route.
Approximately 30% of the land area within Corridor is city owned. A significant portion of this
percentage is within natural areas, including Udall Natural Area and the Gustav Swanson Nature
Area. Other public lands are the former Fort Collins Light and Power Plant,Northside Azdan
Community Center and Old Fort Collins Heritage Park, Buckingham Park,Wastewater Treatment
Plant#1, and the former Dreher Pickle Plant site.
There has been a limited amount of newer development within the Corridor. Two significant
buildings recently constructed include the United Way building in 1985 and the New Belgium
Brewery in 1997.
The proximity of the Poudre River to Downtown presents unique opportunities for increasing
public awareness of and access to this valuable resource. In addition, protecting and enhancing
wildlife habitat is eased by the lack of development in many areas immediately adjacent to the river.
However, providing the right degree of balance between conflicting uses remains a challenge in
some areas. City Plan, the Land Use Code, and this Program provide a framework for appropriate
change,protection, and development in the Corridor
Planning Process
As mentioned earlier, this Program synthesizes the work of earlier plans. Each of these was
developed through an extensive planning process that included many opportunities for public
participation. In addition, the Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program included a two-
and-a-half-year process with public participation.
The planning process was conducted in three stages: ideniifcation of relevant implementation actions,
filtering of actions into a manageable list, and prioritising of filtered projects. Specific milestones and
outreach techniques are listed below:
Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program 5