HomeMy WebLinkAboutRIVER DISTRICT BLOCK ONE MIXED-USE (ENCOMPASS) - PDP - PDP120020 - CORRESPONDENCE -so that the restaurant would be financially viable. Thus, the goal of the physical location of the
restaurant is to have it encroach into the river corridor to the maximum extent possible so as to
make the most money possible by exploiting this public natural resource and the sensitive
ecology.
4. The Project Would Likely Violate Several Sections of the Land Use Code: The plans currently
being considered for the project would likely violate section 4.17, 3.4.1, and 2.8.2 (including
subsections of each, and maybe other sections) of the land use code. Because the project
would likely violate several sections of the land use code, the project would likely create a long
and contentious permitting process. One aspect of the project already submitted — the
"Ecological Characterization Study" — provides false, non -scientific information by saying:
"Development of the Block One parcel would create no additional impacts to the Poudre
River corridor beyond those that are already occurred from existing disturbance and
development."
Because the project is being considered by the DDA, we assume that the project may also ask
for public money to build it. Save The Poudre strongly opposes using public money to degrade
and exploit nature, public resources, and the sensitive ecology of the Poudre River corridor —
that this project would only be built to increase private profits adds insult to injury. We
strongly encourage you to ask this developer to completely redesign this project, to engage
public stakeholders in a timely fashion, and to protect (rather than exploit) the Poudre River
corridor.
Thank you for considering our concerns and request.
Gary Wockner, PhD, Director
Save The Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper
Fort Collins, Colorado
http://savethepoudre.org
970-218-8310
SavethePoudre-org
Poudre Date.rkeeper
August 7, 2012
To: Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority
From: Save The Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper
Re: Block One project proposal on your Thursday August 9, 2012 agenda
Hello Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority,
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On Thursday August 9, 2012, you will be reviewing the "Block One" project proposal. Save The
Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper (STP) has extreme concerns about the project and requests that
you openly discourage the proposal from moving forward for the following reasons:
1. The Developer Avoided Stakeholder Outreach and Input: Several months ago we had two
telephone conversations with the potential developer/buyer (developer) of the property. On
the second call, we expressed our concerns about the project potentially encroaching too close
to the Poudre River. After hearing our concerns the buyer said he would provide project plans
to us so we could review them before a PDP was submitted so we could work out potential
disagreements early in the development process. Several months later, we found out that the
buyer submitted the PDP without consulting with us. Thus, this project developer has chosen
not to engage important stakeholders in a timely fashion.
2. The Project Would Negatively Impact The Poudre River: The plans currently being
considered for the project place a large multi -story building just 15 feet from the bank of the
Poudre River egregiously encroaching into the sensitive ecological corridor. In fact, if this
project is built, the building will be closer to the river than any proposed project in Fort Collins.
The developer proposes to build a restaurant with a deck on the 3rd story, which is proposed to
be a very busy establishment throughout the day and evening. Serious negative impacts due to
noise, lights, and an influx of people would occur. In addition, the wildlife corridor would be
irrevocably negatively impacted destroying any potential for a more healthy ecological buffer
on both sides of the river.
3. The Developer Proposes The Project Simply To Increase Private Profit: In a recent
conversation with the development team, one member told Gary Wockner that the developers
had consulted with several restaurant owners to discuss making the project a "destination
restaurant" overlooking the Poudre River (so diners could see the river from the 3`d story deck)