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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHE DISTRICT @ CAMPUS WEST - PDP - PDP120003 - MINUTES/NOTES - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGA. We are aware of this concern as well. Keep in mind that our project will result in a major removal of existing homes which have been used as student rentals over many years. In addition, there will be public improvements to Plum Street which will reflect well on the entire neighborhood. 23. What are the expected rental rates? A. We estimate that the four -bedroom units will lease for about $550 per bedroom and the two -bedroom units will lease for about $750 per bedroom. 24. Will the buildings include any other uses besides residential? A. Building One will include the common area and amenity package and leasing office. Building Two will include the parking structure. But, no, there will not be any retail or business services or food sales in the buildings. 25. What is the height of Cambridge Apartments? A. About 30 feet plus or minus. 26. What is the lifetime expectancy of the buildings? A. This is difficult to answer. The buildings will comply with the City's building codes including the new standards associated with green building and energy conservation. 27. Why not put the parking structure south of Plum Street? A. We do not have any of the land south of Plum under contract. 5 A. The City's Land Use Code has a provision that allows a four -bedroom unit but only if there is a compensating increase in parking and common area amenities. 15. Is there adequate stormwater detention? A. Yes, there will be a system where stormwater runoff is captured in the areas located between the buildings and the seat walls. Stormwater runoff will be detained and released at the historic rate into the existing storm sewer. 16. Sounds to me like the roofs are flat. A. Yes, that is correct. 17. So there will be roof -mounted mechanical equipment? Will these units be screened? A. Yes, there will be a parapet screen wall constructed in association with the flat roofs that are designed to screen roof top units. 18. What is your timeline? Has the public hearing been scheduled? A. We are hoping to begin leasing for the Fall 2013 semester. No, the public hearing has not been scheduled yet. 19. Will the new buildings create a light deficiency for the Sunstone trees? A. No, there will be no shadow impacts during the growing season. 20. Have you purchased all the necessary lots? A. We have the lots under contract. 21. The new buildings will cast unwanted shadows on our property. A. We are aware of this concern. That is why we have lowered the northern portion of Building One from five to four stories. Also, we have noted that there are already shadows on Sunstone Condos from the existing trees some of which are taller than would be the parking structure and the existing trees are closer to the property line. 22. I'm concerned about the impact on our property values. 4 and trees. The north elevation of the parking structure features open decks with a partial screen wall to block headlights and that this elevation uses the same exterior material as the other sides but is not depicted on the architectural elevations at this time. 7. What are the two building setbacks along the north property line? A. Building One is set back eight feet. Building Two is set back 10 feet. 8. It would be helpful to have more perspectives illustrating the north elevations of Buildings One and Two. 9. Along the shared property line, who owns the existing fence, part of which is down? A. It is our understanding that this fence is owned by Sunstone. 10. Mr. Bob Meyer read a statement from Sunstone Condominiums (Buildings C and D). I represent Buildings A and B which is a separate H.O.A. I echo the concerns expressed by Mr. Meyer. The increased shadowing is of particular concern. Having more snow in our parking lot will require more maintenance, and cause more slipping and increase the danger of driving. 11. I'm concerned about the increase in traffic. This will cause more hardship for bicyclists. The Shields and Plum intersection is already too congested. A. Plum Street will be improved with a wider sidewalk than otherwise required. In addition, a bus pull -in lane will allow the bus to get out of the west bound traffic lane. By being so close to campus, we think most residents will walk or ride their bikes to class. 12. Why is the project so big? A. The size of the project is due to the economics of acquiring the land and construction of new buildings. 13. What about parking? Is there enough parking for all residents? A. We are providing 495 parking spaces which equals parking for 74% of the residents. We exceed the City's minimum required number by 54 spaces. Based on our experience, this will be sufficient parking. 14. How can you have four -bedroom units with the City's maximum occupancy of three unrelated persons per unit? k3 QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS 1. Could you summarize the revisions to height that have been made since the first meeting? A. Yes, the height revisions are summarized as follows: Bldg One Bldg One — North Bldg Two Bldg Two Tower Bldg Three August — 2011 5 stories 6 car levels — 53' 4 stories March — 2012 5 stories - 67' 4 stories — 48'8" 5 car levels — 41'8" 57'8" 5 stories — 67'1' 2. The president of the Sunstone Condominium H.O.A. Buildings C and D read from a letter stating in detail the primary concerns of the members. This is the letter from Mr. Bob Meyer and has been submitted for inclusion into the public record. In summary, the primary concerns are shadowing, traffic, lighting and noise emanating from the parking structure, mass and scale and behavior issues related to the age group and lifestyle of the expected occupants. 3. Shadowing — the concern is that there will be excessive shadowing on the south side of the Sunstone Condos. This will impact the quality of life and cause problems for the parking lot in the winter. 4. Traffic — there is a concern that residents of the project will trespass onto the Sunstone parking lot and park illegally as a matter of convenience versus using the parking garage. 5. Parking Garage Impacts — the concern is that there will be an unusual amount of noise and light associated with the cars. And, that the north elevation of the parking garage is inferior. 6. Height, Mass, Bulk, Scale — the concerns are that the proposed buildings are out of proportion with Sunstone Condos and that 674 bedrooms is excessive and will lead to disturbances. A. In response, the consulting team addressed each of the concerns. In particular, the revised shadow analysis indicates less of an impact than the previous plan. The analysis also indicated with photographs taken on December 23`d that there is already shading due to existing houses 2 SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING SUMMARY PROJECT: DATE: APPLICANT: CONSULTANTS CITY PLANNER: The District at Campus West — Multi -Family March 7, 2012 Mr. Derek Anderson, Fort Collins Student Housing, LLC Linda Ripley, Ripley Design Nick Haws, Northern Engineering Ted Shepard, Chief Planner, City of Fort Collins This was the second of two neighborhood meetings. The first meeting was held Al gust 31, 2011. The meeting began with a description of the changes that were made since the first neighborhood meeting. As now proposed, there are 193 dwelling units with 674 bedrooms on 3.34 acres whereas previously there were 210 units and 754 bedrooms on 4.48 acres. These reductions are the result on removing the parcels south of Plum Street from the project. The project is now exclusively located on the north side of West Plum Street between Aster Street and City Park Avenue. The dwelling units would be distributed among three buildings and include a mix of two, three and four -bedroom units, and would be divided in the following manner: 28 two - bedroom (14%); 42 three -bedroom (22%) and 123 four -bedroom (64%). The bedrooms would be leased individually. There would be 495 off-street parking spaces all located within a pa k ng garage with five levels. In addition, 332 bicycle parking spaces are proposed. As with the previous plan, two dead- end streets, Columbine and Daisy, would be vacated. Bluebell Street would still connect north to Baystone Drive. As before, the project includes a clubhouse, pool, and fitness center and computer lab. Regarding building height, moving along Plum Street from west to east, Building One would be five stories but now would step down to four stories on the north side. Building Two would be a five level parking structure with a height equivalent to a four-story structure and faced with a three-story residential building. Building Three would remain a five story building. Unless otherwise noted, all responses are from the applicant or consulting team.