HomeMy WebLinkAboutRIDGEWOOD HILLS RESIDENCES (4TH FILING) - PDP - 33-10 - CORRESPONDENCE - (62)Oct 17, 2010
Steve Olt
Senior City Planner
Development Review Center
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
0c, 21 2A
Steve,
As a resident of Ridgewood Hills subdivision at the south limit of Fort Collins, 1 am writing to
express concern over the preliminary proposal to develop Tracts T and N adjacent to Triangle and
Avondale avenues with 192 high density apartments.
As you can imagine, my concerns are typical of those single family home owners near a proposed
high density development - traffic, loss in property value, incongruent with existing surroundings,
increase wear on public resources, environmental impact, and loss of open space (oh do I cherish
the view across the.plains from Triangle Drive). But I would like to point out two important
points for your consideration.
First, this neighborhood is a long way from most services. As I've learned from the two years
I've lived here, it is difficult to make bus transit work and cycling to anyplace else is
disheartening. In order to get to bike paths, one must travel along rough roads or alongside fast
moving traffic where a collision would likely spell death. You are pretty much tied to your
vehicle this far from basic services, which is not a position the city should be encouraging,
especially for affordable housing. Just as affordable homes are a virtue in a community, so is
proper siting— and this neighborhood is poorly suited to support such high -density living.
Second, the traffic situation at Triangle and Hwy 287 is barely workable as is. During most
daylight hours, those leaving the neighborhood must use the "suicide" center lane in a two-step
left turn, lest they wait an inordinate amount of time. There is frequently a backup of cars, and
when there is a gap in the high speed traffic on 287, there is often someone in the northbound lane
making a left hand turn. Also, 90% of the traffic leaving Triangle onto 287 turns north toward
Fort Collins, thus little relief is provided by right turning vehicles. While such a situation can be
creatively solved where you can see people's faces, see their hand motions, etc., the speed
involved precludes this. A stoplight would be essential should any additional dwellings be put
into this neighborhood. Substituting other two routes that exit onto Trilby is a poor choice as well.
Trilby also has times where it takes minutes per car to leave the neighborhood, and this would
also route much more traffic past the elementary school. We have already had one tragic death of
a child along Avondale.
In order to fairly and adequately accommodate the proposed development, the mitigations would
have to be substantial, a bike path extended to the area, and a significant upgrade and rethinking
of traffic flow. These are mandatory in my view, not simply my preferences stemming from a
NIMBY attitude. I know the city strives for its citizens to have a quality living, and I appreciate
the job done by city planners. Thank you for listening and please do closely examine the
transportation situation in my neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Chad Moore
527 Kim Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525