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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRICHARDS LAKE TO WAVERLY TRANSMISSION LINE - SPAR - 12-08 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTTri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project -Site Plan Advisory Review, #12-08 June 19, 2008 P & Z Meeting Page 4 B. Character — The proposed transmission line is entirely above grade and the design character for the transmission structures (poles) is similar to or identical with the existing transmission line poles coming into the Richard Lake Substation from the south. The new additions to the Richard Lake Substation are adequately screened by existing landscaping around the substation. The structures (poles) are freestanding, without landscaping at the base, which is the standard application for transmission lines. C. Extent — The extent to which this proposal affects the City's ability to carry out City Plan and other adopted plans is minimal. No existing buildings are impacted by this proposal. Within the City of Fort Collins existing residences are avoided. Alignment of the transmission line through vacant parcels does not split developable land or by its location preclude future development or redevelopment options. Any necessary permanent right-of-way or easement would be acquired from private property owners. For the property owned by the City of Fort Collins, the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association seek appropriate permits and pay any necessary impact fees and permit fees. The construction in the City of Fort Collins is expected to occur in one phase and will be completed by November 2009. There will be temporary minimal physical, environmental, or health impacts on affected and adjacent properties during construction. The construction requires a 75 foot wide right-of-way/easement. CONCLUSIONS: After reviewing the Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project - Site Plan Advisory Review, staff offers the following conclusions: The location of the Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project is appropriate since it entirely parallels the existing Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way without impacting any residential or non-residential uses or facilities. 2. The character of the Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project is compatible With the building forms, materials, and landscaping found in the adjacent area, - specifically the existing Richard Lake Substation and 115-kV line poles south of the substation. 3. The extent to which the Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project affects the City's ability to carry out City Plan and other adopted plans is minimal. No existing buildings are impacted by this proposal. Within the City of Fort Collins existing residences are avoided. Alignment of the transmission line through vacant parcels does not split developable land or by its location preclude future development or redevelopment options. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Board approve the Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115- kV Transmission Line Project - Site Plan Advisory Review, #12-08 Attachments: Submittal documentation from the applicants Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project -Site Plan Advisory Review, #12-08 June 19, 2008 P & Z Meeting Page 3 4. Purpose and Need Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is proposing to construct a new 7.7 mile, 115-kV transmission line to improve electric service to the members of Poudre Valley REA. The transmission line will be in the City of Fort Collins limits for a distance of 0.4 mile. This line will provide the power delivery infrastructure needed to increase reliability and capacity of the existing transmission system. The new transmission line would connect the existing Richard Lake Substation (in the City, located west of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery plant) with the existing Waverly Substation (in Larimer County, near Douglas Lake on County Road 60). Environmental Assessment The transmission line has been routed along the Burlington Northern Railroad in an industrial district. There are no known sensitive environmental resources within the City limits that would be affected by the proposed project. The appropriate environmental assessments and studies for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and Colorado Natural Heritage Program have been done and evaluated by City staff. This information is included in the Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project — Site Plan Advisory Review 3-ring notebook that is being provided to the Planning & Zoning Board members for their deliberation. Also, the electric and magnetic field effects from the transmission line have been evaluated. Information on the predicted field levels is provided in the Site Plan Advisory Review documentation. 6. Estimated Proiect Schedule Construction activities will begin after all permits and land rights have been acquired. An estimated schedule of project activities is as follows: ' Permit approvals ... June — July 2008 * Survey ... July — October 2008 * Complete design/coordination ... October— November 2008 * Easement acquisition ... November 2008 — May 2009 * Receive materials ... May 2009 ' Construction ... June — October 2009 * In-service ... November 2009 7. Location. Character and Extent: A. Location — The location of the route for the transmission line does not trigger any concerns in regard to the City's ability to execute its adopted plans including City Plan and various subarea and master plans. Very little of the proposed transmission line (0.4 mile) is located within the City of Fort Collins Growth Management Area. This short segment of the proposed transmission line falls within the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan boundary. The adopted Mountain Vista Subarea Plan is an element of City Plan. The transmission line project as proposed will cross County Road 52 as it exits the City of Fort Collins limits and Growth Management Area and enters into Larimer County. The transmission line is entirely above ground and there are no concerns with regard to the proposed location. Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project -Site Plan Advisory Review, #12-08 June 19, 2008 P & Z Meeting Page 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This request for review from the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is submitted to the Planning and Zoning Board as a Site Plan Advisory Review pursuant to State Statute Section 31-23-209, which limits the City's review to the location, character and extent of the improvements. COMMENTS: 1. Background The Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project covers approximately 7.7 miles of land in the City of Fort Collins and unincorporated Larimer County, both within and outside of the City's established Growth Management Area. About 0.4 miles of the line are within the City limits. Please refer to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the submittal documentation for more details on the proposed route. Surrounding zoning and land uses are: Zoning ... I - Industrial in the City of Fort Collins (east, west, and south) FA1-Farming in Larimer County (north of County Road 52) ' Land Uses ... Anheuser-Busch Brewery to the east Anheuser-Busch facility to the west Agricultural land to the south Agricultural land to the north The route within the City of Fort Collins has been determined in consultation with City staff from all affected departments. The proposed route parallels existing right-of-way and easements for much of its length. No buildings will need to be demolished to install the transmission line towers in the proposed route. Conflicts with utilities are avoided to the extent feasible. 2. Process The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has agreed with the City of Fort Collins to process this review under Section 31-23-209, C.R.S., which states: - `When the commission (Planning and Zoning Board) has adopted the master plan of the municipality or of one or more major sections or districts thereof, no street, square, park, or other public way, ground or open space, public building or structure, or publicly or privately owned public utility shall be constructed or authorized in the municipality or in such planned section and district until the location, character and extent thereof has been submitted for approval by the commission." Under the statute, if the Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Board disapproves the site plan such disapproval may be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association members. A review meeting has been held with City Staff members in all affected departments to identify potential issues and to coordinate the proposed route. 3. Neighborhood Meeting There was a neighborhood meeting conducted by the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association on January 8, 2008. This was not a City -facilitated neighborhood meeting. A sign -in sheet is included in the Site Plan Advisory Review documentation that was provided to the City for review. �t Collins Planning & Zoning Board Staff Report Item No. a Meeting Date d -/q - 1 ? Staff Qk' o /-� PROJECT: Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project - Site Plan Advisory Review, #12-08 OWNERS: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. c/o Corp Tax Department One Busch Place Saint Louis, MO 63118 City of Fort Collins . P.O. box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80521 APPLICANT: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. c/o Mark Murm, Permitting and Land Rights Manager 1100 West 116 Avenue Westminster, CO 80234 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Within the City of Fort Collins, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is proposing to construct 0.4 mile of a single -circuit, three-phase 115-kV overhead transmission line and to modify the existing Richard Lake Substation to accommodate the new transmission line, which will terminate at the Waverly Substation in unincorporated Larimer County. There will be 7.3 miles of line in Larimer County. The segment that is the subject of this review is between the Richard Lake Substation and County Road 52, within the Fort Collins city limits and Growth Management Area. All of this segment of the transmission line will be parallel to, and on the west side of, the existing right-of-way for the Burlington Northern Railroad. It will be on private property owned by Anheuser-Busch. The physical facilities associated with the Tri-State Richard Lake to Waverly 115-kV Transmission Line Project are as follows: ' Additions to the Richard Lake Substation that include a 52 foot tall A -frame structure where the conductors for the new transmission line (to the north) attach to the substation and a set of line disconnect switches. Additional equipment to be installed includes two circuit breakers on concrete slab foundations, four switches and associated stands, three current capacitor voltage transformers, and three metering units. ` A new deadend (angle) structure located immediately north of the substation fenceline, and a new deadend structure located at the northeast corner of the substation. Transmission structures (poles), 65 feet to 90 feet in height, spaced at 400 feet to 800 feet along the line. Within the City of Fort Collins limits there will be only 0.4 mile of line with possibly 3 to 5 structures. RECOMMENDATION: Staff has concluded that the proposed facility location, character and extent of impacts are appropriate and recommends approval.