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Home My WebLink AboutTIMBERLINE SUBSTATION - SPAR - SPA120005 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTPlatte River Power Authority — Timberline Substation Wall Site Plan Advisory Review #SPA120005 January 17, 2013 P & Z Hearing Page 5 7. Neighborhood Meeting and Public Comments: Two neighborhood meetings were held for the Dixon and Timberline Substations (the neighborhood meetings were combined). The first neighborhood meeting was held on March 21, 2012, while the second meeting was held on August 29, 2012. At both neighborhood meetings, the discussion emphasized the Dixon Creek Substation. Staff has not received any comments on the Timberline Substation. 8. Findings of Fact and Conclusion: In reviewing the request for the Timberline Substation Wall Site Plan Advisory Review, Staff makes the following findings of fact: A. The Site Plan Advisory Review complies with State Statute Section 31-23- 209, C.R.S., in that the location, character, and extent of the proposed wall conform to the adopted Master Plan (City Plan) of the City of Fort Collins. B. The Site Plan Advisory Review complies with the applicable General Development Standards of Article Three and the zone district standards of Article Four. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Site Plan Advisory Review for the Timberline Substation Wall, #SPA120005. 9. Attachments: 1. Applicant submittal including the following: a. Project statement for the Dixon and Timberline Substation Walls b. Combined site, landscape and utility plans for the Dixon Substation Wall, and a simulation from the east and west portion of the sites viewing the wall. Platte River Power Authority — Timberline Substation Wall Site Plan Advisory Review #SPA120005 January 17, 2013 P & Z Hearing Page 4 evergreen trees that buffer the Substation from Timberline Road to the east and the Spring Creek Trail to the east. 6. Location, Character and Extent: A. Location The location of the proposed wall replaces an existing chain link fence and 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. The proposed wall is located within the City of Fort Collins Growth Management Area. It is located within the Prospect Road Streetscape Plan, but the Substation does not have any land fronting on or adjoining East Prospect Road so the standards do not apply. B. Character Staff and residents have worked with the applicant to create a distinguishable base, middle and top to the proposed wall and varying the colors of the wall to add interest. In addition, the wall has columns to break up the wall's mass and the height alternates every 10 feet (one wall section). The existing screening from the evergreen trees will also soften the appearance of the wall, both from Timberline Road and from the Spring Creek Trail. 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, and the proposed wall replaces an existing chain link fence. Wall construction is expected to occur in one phase, last for four months, and begin in the spring of 2013 (note that the Dixon Substation is proposed to be installed in the fall of 2013). All work will be constructed from within the Substation property. The property at Timberline Substation is owned by the City of Fort Collins and leased to Platte River through 2050 as part of the Power Supply Agreement between the two entities. Platte River will request permission from the City to replace the chain link fencing at Timberline in accordance with a provision in the 2050 Power Supply Agreement which requires such approval. Platte River Power Authority — Timberline Substation Wall Site Plan Advisory Review #SPA120005 January 17, 2013 P & Z Hearing Page 3 Under Section 31-23-209, C.R.S., the Planning and Zoning Board should make a finding as to the location, character, and extent of the public building relative to the adopted Master Plan (City Plan) of the City. Such findings help ensure that the proposed project conforms to the adopted plan of the City of Fort Collins. 4. Compliance with Applicable Zone District Standards: The Timberline Substation is located entirely within the I (Industrial) zone district. In fulfilling the requirement for compliance with the location, character and extent of the City's Comprehensive Plan, a review of the applicable Article Four standards are offered. A. Section 4.28(E)(1) - Prospect Road Streetscape Program The Substation does not have any land fronting on or adjoining East Prospect Road so the standards do not apply. B. Section 4.28(E)(3)(a) - Screening Along Timberline Road, a dense screen of evergreen trees exists in front (east) of the Timberline Substation. The only residential use adjacent to the site is the recently approved Buckinghorse Filing No. 1, which is currently under construction. 5. Compliance with Applicable General Development Standards: A. Section 3.2.1(C)(D) — Landscaping and Tree Protection All existing site trees will be preserved. B. Section 3.4.1(1)(1) — Project Design This standard requires that projects in the Spring Creek Corridor be designed to complement the visual context of the natural habitat. This proposal complies with that standard through the neutral, muted colors chosen for the wall. In addition, the site's existing screening will assist in screening the wall and Substation from a user's view when traveling on Spring Creek Trail. C. Section 3.8.11— Fences and Walls As the Timberline Substation wall is over 200 feet setback from Timberline Road, this standard does not apply. However, the site has extensive screening via Platte River Power Authority — Timberline Substation Wall Site Plan Advisory Review #SPA120005 January 17, 2013 P & Z Hearing Page 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Since Platte River Power Authority is a public utility, the project is governed by the Site Plan Advisory Review process in accordance with the pertinent State Statutes. The project's location, character and extent are found to be in compliance with the City's comprehensive plan. COMMENTS: Background: The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: I, Front Range Community College and E, Bath Nursery S: I, Community Automotive Center, Timberline Star, Rocky Mountain Truck and Trailer and Crossroads Towing E: E, City of Fort Collins (to the northeast) and I, Buckinghorse Filing No. 1 (to the southeast) W: P-O-L, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department, Pineridge Natural Area 2. Zoning History: The property was annexed in September of 1973 as part of the East Prospect Street 1 st Annexation. The Timberline Substation was originally built by the City of Fort Collins in 1976 as a 115Kv yard. Platte River took over operation on the Substation in 1982 and expanded it to a 115/230Kv yard. The chain link fence was installed in 1976 by the City of Fort Collins. 3. Right of Advisory Review: Colorado Revised Statutes allow the City to review the planning and location of public facilities Section 31-23-209, C.R.S. provides that no public facilities shall be constructed or authorized in a city until the "location, character and extent thereof' has been submitted for approval by the Planning and Zoning Board. In the case of disapproval, the Planning and Zoning Board shall communicate its findings to the Platte River Power Authority Board. The disapproval of the Planning and Zoning Board may be overruled by the Platte River Power Authority Board by a vote of not less than two-thirds of its membership. PROJECT: Timberline Substation - Wall Project, Site Plan Advisory Review #SPA120005 APPLICANT: Platte River Power Authority c/o Scott Rowley 2000 E Horsetooth Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 OWNER: City of Fort Collins 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for a Site Plan Advisory Review for Platte River Power Authority (PRPA). PRPA is proposing to construct a new 12 foot high concrete block wall for security and screening purposes at their Timberline Substation located at 1809 S Timberline Road. The new walls would be placed in the same location as the existing chain link fences. After the construction of the concrete walls, the chain link fences would be removed. As the Timberline Substation is over 200 feet from Timberline Road and has significant vegetation screening from existing evergreen trees, no additional landscaping is proposed. All wall construction will take place from within the site's boundaries. No lighting is proposed with the wall's construction. The site is zoned Industrial (1) and contains 28.080 acres. The property at Timberline Substation is owned by the City of Fort Collins and leased to Platte River through 2050 as part of the Power Supply Agreement between the two entities. Platte River will request permission from the City to replace the chain link fencing at Timberline in accordance with a provision in the 2050 Power Supply Agreement which requires such approval. RECOMMENDATION: Approval