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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRANSFORT FACILITY EXPANSION - MJA - 23-10 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESTransfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 trees. We need to be protected from the noise, sight and diesel fumes of the enlarged facility. A. Thank you and yes, we understand your concerns and will endeavor to mitigate these impacts to the extent that our budget will allow. Page 13 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 14. What is a mock station? A. A mock station is designed to allow our drivers to practice maneuvering the longer articulated buses within the Mason Street Corridor. 15. Does the property line to the east change? A. No, the easterly property line remains as is. 16. 1 am concerned about the sound emanating from the C.N.G. building? A. The C.N.G. building will be constructed out 8-inch thick concrete block that is specifically designed to block sound. The new fueling facility will be smaller and quieter than the existing facility and we think that the sound associated with fueling from C.N.G. can be effectively mitigated. 17. Will there be any security fencing? I A. Yes, there will be fencing about 15 feet past the curb and gutter. The trees will be planted outside the fence. 1'8. What about drainage? A. The site drains to the north into what is referred to as Stone Creek. This is the drainage channel that divides Huntington Hills from Brittany Knolls and is mostly owned by the City Natural Areas program. Existing wetlands will be preserved. Stormwater detention and stormwater quality treatment measures will be in compliance with City regulations just as if we were a private developer. 19. What about increased traffic on Trilby Road? A. Our Transportation Impact Study (T.I.S.) indicates that we will not be adding a sufficient number of new trips to justify the widening of Trilby Road by virtue of serving the Mason Street Corridor. Most of our bus traffic is off-peak. Trilby Road is classified as a standard arterial and will be widened either by other private development or re- development or by a city-wide capital improvement project like the recent project at West Harmony Road and Shields Street. 20. Overall, the revised plan is an improvement. But, I must emphasize that we in Brittany Knolls value as much screening as possible by berms and Page 12 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 A. It is difficult to predict. At this time, we have not heard of PSD converting their southern buses over to C.N.G. 7. 1 am concerned about the sound and disturbance from the back-up beepers on the buses using the training course. A. The new design is an improvement over the old design in that there will be less backing -up and more pull -through maneuvering. This will minimize the back-up beepers. 8. What about the existing berm along the east side of the project? A. Our plan is add any excavated dirt to the existing berms along the east property line. And, any existing tree that is able to be transplanted will be added to the east property line and wrap around the north if enough are available. 9. That sounds good but will there be additional trees planted as well? We vastly prefer coniferous trees for year-round screening. A. Yes, we will plant some new trees along the north wall of the new. building. 10. If there are any trees along the Mason Street Corridor that need to be transplanted, perhaps they could be transplanted along the east side of the facility to benefit the neighbors. A. We can look into this. 11. Could you provide trees to help screen the PSD Facility? A. I am afraid we cannot plant our trees on PSD property. 12. It would be helpful if you could stake in the field the envelope of the proposed building and the northeast corner of the property. A. We can do this. 13. Does the bus chassis wash change in any way? A. No. The location remains the same and will continue to be shared with PSD for efficiency. JIM SELL DESIGN Page 11 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 Addendum B Meeting Minutes from Neighborhood Meeting 1 May 24, 2010 QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS Thank you for moving the new building south and changing the pitched roof to a flat roof. These are improvements. 2. How were you able to enlarge the storage capacity of the new building from 16 to 24 buses? A. By adding on to the existing building, we were able to save expenses. The storage capacity of 16 buses is considered adequate in the short term, about five years. As we gradually convert the fleet from diesel to compressed natural gas, we will need additional storage capacity in the long term, about 10 to 15 years. We can accommodate a third row of eight buses by enlarging the building to the west. This way, the east elevation facing the neighborhood will remain the same as if there were only two rows of eight. 3. Could you explain what goes on with the training? A. The training area is for drivers that need to obtain or renew their C.D.L. In addition, we will set up a mock station that will replicate a bus rapid transit facility in the Mason Street Corridor. Training will be done during the weekday during normal working hours. 4. Will the buses using the training area be diesel? A. Yes, at first, many of the buses will be diesel. But, as noted, we plan on converting the fleet over to compressed natural gas over the next several years. 5. How long will the conversion process take? A. We have 30 buses now and we estimate that about 14 will be converted by the end of this year. It is difficult to estimate the timeframe for total conversion because it depends on future budget allocations. 6. Will the Poudre School District convert their south fleet over to compressed natural gas (C.N.G.)? JIM SELL DESIGN Page 10 Transfort Facility Expat,�ion September 15,2010 A. No, we will look into using recycled water. 32. Could a subterranean garage be designed? A. Due to the cost and. grade breaks associated with a subterranean garage, it is safe to say that a subterranean garage would not be feasible. 33. Could you utilize the existing Poudre School District facility? That would be a more desirable location. A. Unfortunately, they have no room to spare for Transfort vehicles. But, for efficiency, please note that the two entities share the bus wash facility. 33. What are the next steps associated with this project? A. The Transfort team and architect will review the comments. Any changes will.be considered as long as functionality is preserved and we stay within the budget. JIM SELL DESIGN Page 9 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 23. What are the red stakes on top of the berm? A. The red stakes are survey benchmarks. 24. Will the chain link fence screened? A. Yes, the chain link fence will be screened 25. Why were we not notified in August of 2009 about this project? A. Response from City Planner: This project is still early in the design review process. While it may appear that plans are pretty far along, in fact, these drawings represent our initial thinking. Keep in mind that these are paper plans, nothing has been constructed, and adjustments can be made. 26. What about connectivity to Mason Corridor, are their plans for that? A. There are plans in the works for connectivity to the Mason Corridor, however we are currently lacking funding to provide this level of service. 27. Were hybrid busses considered? A. Hybrid busses are expensive and were ruled out as an option. 28. What is the east side easement? A. The east side easement is fifty feet (50'). 29. Could you provide a context map showing a quarter mile section? We need to see where our houses are relative to the proposed facility. A. Yes, we can provide a context map. 30. With the large natural gas storage tanks, will there be a fire hazard? A. No, the gas is fed to the buses directly by an underground gas line to the compressor. There will be no storage tank. The bus itself is the storage tank and there are no fire hazards known. However, if garage doors were included on this project, more ventilation would be needed. 31. Does the bus wash use recycled water? JIM SELL DESIGN Page 8 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 A. The total cost of the project is 82 million dollars. This figure includes 16 million dollar local matching contribution. 16. Could you orient the building differently? A. The current orientation makes the most sense due to turning radii for busses. We also have the gabled roof for view plane considerations. 17. What is the setback on the western portion of the site? A. There is a fifty foot (50') setback from the existing wetlands on the western portion of the site. 18. What effect will the proposed development have on the property values of the surrounding area? A. Response from City Planner: Property values are not considered by the hearing officer in his or her review. It is not an objective criterion to evaluate a development by. 19. What is the decibel rating of the back up beeper on a bus? A. We are not sure of the decibel rating. There is a required minimum that we must adhere to. Further, in terms of training, we do not anticipate all busses backing up at the same time. 20. 1 would like to see increased landscaping with this site design. Can you tell me more about your landscaping plan? A. The evergreen trees are proposed to be planted on the tow of the berm to provide year-round screening. 21. What view plane considerations did you make with this site design? A. The floor elevation of the proposed building is three feet lower than the floor of the existing building. 22. 1 am concerned about wildlife in the area. In the past, eagles have nested in this area. A. An EIS was previously conducted for this site, which included a wildlife inventory. There are no known eagle nests in the area. JIM SELL DESIGN Page 7 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 A. A flat roof would save approximately eight feet (8') maximum on height. 9. Why was a facility more north not considered in order to better sere CSU students? A. When the site was built in 1984, there was no development in the area. Additionally, the site was selected for regional connectivity and service considerations. Moreover, the current site has a natural gas line already installed. Natural gas is much safer than conventional petroleum vehicles and it dissipates quickly. 10. Considering the Greeley to Loveland route was recently discontinued, what are the current ridership figures? A. Yes, this regional route was discontinued by the M.P.O, the Regional Transportation Planning Agency, Transfort, however, experienced a 25% - 30% increase in ridership in 2009. 11. What is the noise factor at this site? A. The two compressors are enclosed to mitigate noise. The site will also be held to nuisance code standards so as to not exceed maximum allowable decibel levels. 12. When will our neighborhood gain bus access? A. It is tough to say when the area will gain bus access. Transfort has plans to expand service in the area as resources permit. 13. Could the facility have garage doors? A. Yes, if resources permit, the facility could have garage doors. Currently, the structure is sized for doors. The garage doors are left off due to the need to vent the natural gas. If garage doors are added, then an automatic ventilation system must be installed. 14. What is the phasing timeline for the facility? A. The phasing timeline is still to be determined based upon funding. We are anticipating in 2011 to receive a notice to proceed from the Federal Transit Agency. 15. What is the total cost of this project? 144; WNW� JIM SELL DESIGN Page 6 Transfort Facility Expawsion September 15,2010 Addendum A Meeting Minutes from Neighborhood Meeting 1 April 14, 2010 1. Why is the City purchasing 16 new vehicles? A. Transfort has no plans to increase the number of busses overall in its fleet. The plan is to purchase 6.new, 60-foot long busses to replace existing busses. 2. Will there only be natural gas vehicles in the future? A. There is a possibility of a few diesels, but mostly natural gas busses will be utilized. 3. When will the fleet be comprised of 100% natural gas vehicles? A. Transfort is most likely to always keep a mix of both diesel and natural gas vehicles as a hedge in case of supply problems. 4. 1 am concerned with the unpleasant odor and the fumes drifting east towards my property. A. Natural gas vehicles produce fewer odors and are also quieter than conventional diesel busses. - 5. What will the training schedule be? A. The bus driver training schedule will be 8 AM — 5 PM. 6. Can the roof on the proposed garage be lower? A. No, the current design reflects 3:12 pitch, the lowest pitch recommended by the metal roof manufacturer. 7. Why was a pitched roof, rather than a flat roof, used for the garage design? A. Given the current budget constraints facing Transfort, a pitched roof is more economical and a flat roof requires more maintenance. 8. How much of an overall height difference would there be between a flat roof and a pitched roof? JIM SELL DESIGN Page 5 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT AS EVIDENCE OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE APPLICABLE CRITERIA, THE COMPLETED DOCUMENTS PURSUANT TO THESE REGULATIONS FOR EACH PROPOSED USE. THE PLANNING DIRECTOR MAY REQUIRE, OR THE APPLICANT MAY CHOOSE TO SUBMIT, EVIDENCE THAT IS BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THAT SECTION. ANY VARIANCE FROM THE CRITERIA SHALL BE DESCRIBED: No variances are expected. NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF HOW CONFLICTS BETWEEN LAND USES OR DISTURBANCES TO WETLANDS, NATURAL HABITATS AND FEATURES AND OR WILDLIFE ARE BEING AVOIDED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE OR ARE MITIGATED: The applicant does not believe that the proposed project will cause any conflicts or disturbances to wetlands, natural habitats and features or wildlife. WRITTEN NARRATIVE ADDRESSING EACH CONCERNASSUE RAISED AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING(S), IF A MEETING HAS BEEN HELD: Two neighborhood meetings were held on April 10'h and May 20" 2010. Please see Addendum A and B for full comments and responses. NAME OF THE PROJECT AS WELL AS ANY PREVIOUS NAME THE PROJECT MAY HAVE HAD DURING THE CONCEPTUAL REVIEW: Project Name: Transfort Facility Expansion 6570 Portner Rd Fort Collins, CO 80525 JIM SELL DESIGN Page 4 Transfort Facility Expa..aion September 15,2010 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED OPEN SPACE, WETLANDS, NATURAL HABITATS AND FEATURES, LANDSCAPING, CIRCULATION, TRANSITION AREAS, AND ASSOCIATED BUFFERING ON SITE AND IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE PROJECT: The Transfort Expansion will have a positive effect on the surrounding natural areas. Areas disturbed during construction will be reseeded with native grasses as opposed to the non native species that are currently in place. The new detention pond will be constructed based on the Standards and Guidelines set forth in the City of Fort Collins Landscape Design Standards and Guidelines for Stormwater and Detention Facilities. This will further enhance the associated naturalized drainage way on the west side of the site. STATEMENT OF PROPOSED OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPEN SPACE AREAS; APPLICANT'S INTENTIONS WITH REGARD TO FUTURE OWNERSHIP OF ALL OR PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PLAN: The owner and developer of this project is the City of Fort Collins, they currently and will continue to maintain the area associated with this project. ESTIMATE OF NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES FOR BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES: This expansion of the existing Transfort Facility will allow an increase in employees in the Transfort Department, including but not limited to mechanics, drivers and support personal. The number of new employees is not know at this time. DESCRIPTION OF THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE ASSUMPTIONS AND CHOICES MADE BY THE APPLICANT: All decisions and assumption made on this project have been in line with the current City Code and all applicable guidelines. JIM SELL DESIGN Page 3 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 The project will promote compact development by enabling the Transfort System to be expanded to serve new areas and existing areas with greater frequency. Principle LU-2: The City will maintain and enhance its character and sense of place as defined by its neighborhoods, districts, corridors, and edges. The proposed project will enhance the existing edges of the site and help define the neighborhood to the east. 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. The proposed project will enable the City to further reduce private automobiles on the city streets by increasing bus capacity and frequency throughout the city. Principle T-2: Mass transit will be an integral part of the City's overall transportation system. The proposed project will enable the City to further reduce private automobiles on the city streets by increasing bus capacity and frequency 'throughout the city. Principle T-3: City transportation programs will promote the reduction of vehicle miles traveled through strategies that reduce trip generation and length and increase automobile occupancy. The proposed project will enable the City to further reduce private automobiles on the city streets by increasing bus capacity and frequency throughout the city. Principle T5: 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 proposed project will help link separate pedestrian areas though mass transit. JIM SELL DESIGN Page 2 Transfort Facility Expansion September 15,2010 TRANSFORT FACILITY EXPANSION STATEMENT OF PLANNING OBJECTIVES PROJECT OVERVIEW: This project is comprised of a 16,000 sf expansion of the existing Transfort Facility located at 6570 Portner Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525. This expands the capacity of the Facility to house the additional busses required by the BRT busway, and to provide adequate space for training and testing drivers. This expansion includes the transplant of many significant existing trees, and the addition of a detention pond to control the stormwater impact of this project. Overview The Transfort Facility located in south Fort Collins is a storage and maintenance facility for the Transfort bus fleet and also houses administrative and dispatch functions for the organization. The proposed building expansions will provide additional storage capacity for the bus fleet, provide a storage area for driver training equipment and will expand an existing wash bay to accommodate longer articulating buses that will be used to service the Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit system. Building Areas The proposed garage expansion is approximately 16,000 sq.ft. and will accommodate 24 standard 40'-0" passenger buses and a 400-500 sq.ft. storage area. The Chassis Wash expansion is approximately 600 sq.ft., the result of extending the south wall of the existing Chassis Wash 32'-0" Building Materials Insulated precast concrete walls extending from the footing to the parapet will be used in all wall applications with exposed aggregate specified to match those of the existing walls. Steel overhead sectional garage doors and steel personnel doors will be specified to match the materials/colors of the existing facility. Flat roofs will be used on the expansions to be finished with a white thermoplastic roofing membrane. All trim and flashings will be galvanized steel painted brown to match existing finishes. STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATE 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. JIM SELL DESIGN Page