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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOTTER BOX DISTRIBUTION/WAREHOUSE EXPANSION - PDP & APU - 17-10 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESOtterBox Distribution Center Expansion PDP Principles and Policies July 14, 2010 Page 3 of 3 b. The City will assist in retaining, • expanding and attracting businesses that diversify our economic base. c. The City will encourage new businesses and the retention and expansion of existing businesses that have made a positive commitment to the environment and community as evidenced by their corporate policies and practices. OtterBox contributes to the City's balanced and sustainable economic development as defined above. Thinking outside of the box for over two decades. 401 W. Mountain Ave., Suite 200 ■ Fort Collins, CO 80521 ■ tel. 970.224.5828 ® fax 970.224.1662 s www.vfrdesigninc.com OtterBox Distribution Center Expansion PDP Principles and Policies July 14, 2010 Page 2 of 3 PRINCIPLE ENV-6: Natural habitat/ecosystems (wildlife, wetlands, and riparian areas) will be protected and enhanced within the developed landscape of Fort Collins The project proposes to build water quality ponds to improve water quality before releasing storm water to the existing natural areas that border the property to the south and west. Discharging the water to these areas will help to insure that they continue to provide habitat for birds and other wildlife in the area. Plantings along the edge of the Boxelder Creek drainage help buffer the project visually and also provide structural diversity that enhances wildlife habitat. PRINCIPLE ENV-8: The City will minimize potentially hazardous conditions associated with flooding, recognize and manage for the preservation of floodplain values, adhere to all City mandated codes, policies, and goals, and comply with all State and Federally mandated laws and regulations related to the management of activities in flood prone areas. The proposed site plan respects floodplain boundaries. Policy ENV-8.6 Watershed Approach to Stormwater Management Policy. The proposed storm water system for the project is designed to minimize the introduction of human caused pollutants. PRINCIPLE GM-5: The provision of adequate public facilities and the phasing of infrastructure improvements will be important considerations in the timing and location of development. Policy GM-5.1 Phasing of Development. The proposed building expansion is located where it can be adequately served by critical public facilities and services such as water, sewer, police, transportation, schools, fire, and storm water management, in accordance with adopted levels of service for public facilities and services. PRINCIPLE ECON-1: The City will pursue a balanced and sustainable economic development program. Policy ECON-1.1 Balance of Employment Opportunities. The City will support the enhancement of its economic base and job creation by supporting the location of new businesses and the retention of existing businesses in the following ways: a. The City will encourage the establishment of new businesses and the retention and expansion of existing businesses that provide higher wage jobs (above the County average) for base employment opportunities. Thinking outside of the box for over two decades. 401 W. Mountain Ave., Suite 200 a Fort Collins, CO 80521 ■ tel. 970.224.5828 ■ fax 970.224.1662 a www.vfrdesigninc.com 1 PLEY DESIGN INC. land planning ® landscape architecture s urban design ■ entitlement July 14, 2010 City Plan Principles and Policies achieved by the proposed plan. PRINCIPLE LU-1: Growth within the City will promote a compact development pattern within a well-defined boundary. OtterBox is located within Interchange Business Park (IBP) adjacent to Interstate 25 in order to effectively utilize this interstate corridor for shipping and receiving their products. PRINCIPLE T-1: The physical organization of the city will be supported by a framework of transportation alternatives that balances access, mobility, safety, and emergency response throughout the city, while working toward reducing vehicle miles traveled and dependence upon the private automobile. OtterBox encourages alternative modes of transportation by providing bicycle parking both on site and within the building. PRINCIPLE T-5: The City will acknowledge pedestrian travel as a practical transportation mode and elevate it in importance to be in balance with all other modes. Direct pedestrian connections will be provided from places of residence to transit, schools, activity centers, work and public facilities. The project includes a sidewalk along the property frontage to provide safe and convenient pedestrian mobility within the business park. PRINCIPLE ENV-4: Drinking water provided by the City's Water Utility will meet or exceed customer expectations for quality, quantity, and reliability. Water conservation will be strongly encouraged. The project will utilize xeriscape principles throughout the landscape to conserve water. Thinking outside of the box for over two decades. 401 W. Mountain Ave., Suite 200 a Fort Collins, CO 80521 ■ tel. 970.224.5828 ■ fax 970.224.1662 . www.vfrdesigninc.com 0 • There are approximately 30 existing trees located in a cluster at the southwest corner of the site. The majority of these trees will need to be removed to allow for the building expansion. Tim Buchanan, the City Forester, has requested that the Applicant plant ten 3-inch caliper trees to mitigate the loss. Since the site is adjacent to the Boxelder Creek drainage the mitigation trees are planted along the south and west sides of the property bordering the natural areas. In addition, native grasses, shrubs and more trees are provided to enhance the natural areas and provide structural diversity for wildlife habitat. The existing building is well landscaped with foundation plantings and a variety of trees. Additional plantings are proposed with the building expansion that include foundation plantings along the building expansion, screening for parking areas and a continuation of street trees along the Southeast Frontage Road. An outdoor patio space is proposed on the east side of the existing building. The intent is to provide a pleasant outdoor gathering space for employees. The area is enclosed with a courtyard wall to screen out parking and provide a sense of enclosure. Casual seating, outdoor furniture and a barbeque are included. OtterBox would like to get the expansion under construction as soon as possible in order to keep up with the market demand for their products. As you can see from their web site, OtterBox is proud to call Fort Collins their home. The owners of OtterBox along with the entire design team look forward to your comment, anticipating n August 1 g`h public hearing. Please don't hesitate to call if you have questions or need clarification. Sincerely, Ripley Design Inc. Linda Ripley Principal Thinking outside of the box for over two decades. 401 W. Mountain Ave., Suite 200 ■ Fort Collins, CO 80521 ■ tel. 970.224.5828 ■ fax 970.224.1662 ■ www.vfrdesigninc.com • r EY DESIGN INC. land planning ■ landscape architecture ■ urban design ■ entitlement July 14, 2010 Mr. Ted Shepard Senior Planner City of Fort Collins Planning Department 281 North College Fort Collins, CO 80521 RE: Planning Objectives for OtterBox Distribution Center Expansion Project Development Plan Dear Ted, The OtterBox Distribution Center is a 31,338 square foot warehouse/distribution facility located on Lot 9 within Interchange Business Park (IBP) at the southeast corner of State Highway 14 and Interstate 25. Interchange Business Park was originally developed in Larimer County and was later annexed into the City of Fort Collins in 2000. The business park was designed to accommodate large lot commercial and light industrial development. Lots in the business park range from 1-3 acres in size in order to accommodate parking, loading docks, semi -truck access and outdoor storage yards. When IBP was approved in Larimer County it was zoned C-Commercial which allowed both commercial and light industrial uses. When it was annexed into the City it was zoned C- Commercial, however, light industrial use are not permitted in the C District in the City. Therefore the applicant is requesting the Planning and Zoning Board to approve a request for the addition of a permitted use. This request is formally submitted in a separate letter. OtterBox was created by Curt and Nancy Richardson in 1998 starting with a simple water proof protective case for cameras. Since that time the Company has moved from waterproof boxes into four lines of device -specific cases for today's hottest technologies. The company has grown quickly into an international business tied to the ever expanding field of electronic technology. As a company, OtterBox has proven to be exceptionally innovative, creative and highly successful. This success has resulted in the need to expand their existing distribution center located in IBP. The proposal is to expand the existing facility on to Lot 11, the adjacent lot to the southwest. The 50,385 square foot building expansion will be a one-story addition that will measure 32 feet to the top of the precast. The existing building is 28 feet tall. The architecture of the expansion matches the design of the existing building, utilizing precast panels, aluminum storefront detailing at the entry and providing windows in the same pattern. OtterBox expects to employ approximately 100 people at the facility after the expansion is completed. Existing access is from Denrose Court and a second point of access is located along the Southeast Frontage Road utilizing an existing curb cut. The existing building has shipping /receiving area on the south side of the building. The expansion will provide for two additional loading docks adjacent to the existing ones. Emergency access is provided along three sides of the existing building and the proposed expansion. With the expansion the site will have 74 vehicular parking spaces and 8 bike parking spaces. It is anticipated that additional bike parking can be provided inside the building to encourage this alternative mode of transportation. Thinking outside of the box for over two decades. 401 W. Mountain Ave., Suite 200 ■ Fort Collins, CO 80521 ■ tel. 970.224.5828 ■ fax 970.224.1662 ■ www.vfrdesigninc.com