HomeMy WebLinkAboutOLD TOWN NORTH SUNTERRACE TOWNHOMES - MAJOR AMEND./REPLAT - 16-09 - CORRESPONDENCE - CORRESPONDENCE-HEARINGWe appreciate your consideration of our thoughts and comments. Should you have any
questions, please feel free to any of the contributors listed below.
Very Sincerely,
Jennifer, Thomas and Ellis Hayes — 244 Pascal Street — 970-372-8966
Charles and Blake Ward — 257 Cajetan Street — 970-217-5193
Julie Yates, Eric Brown and Akasha Brown — 215 Cajetan Street — 970-219-9613
Jim, Teresa, Ben and Max Beal--269 Cajetan Street - 970-631-8696
Attention:
Pete Wray
Hearing Officer
281 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524
Dear City of Fort Collins,
Thank you for the opportunity to learn about and provide comment on the proposed
development amendment to the western lots in Old Town North (SunTerrace). As
homeowners and residents of Old Town North, we would like to state our comments and
concerns regarding this development proposal and the Zoning & Planning Meeting held
on Monday, August 10, 2009.
1. First and foremost, we support the continued growth and development of our
neighborhood.
2. We appreciate and understand the "new urbanist' philosophy to include the
development of mixed -use, walkable neighborhoods, containing a variety of
homes ("product types") targeted at a range of income levels and demographics.
3. Our concerns about density and traffic were adequately addressed.
4. We support and welcome affordable housing candidates in our neighborhood and
feel the existing development plan and "product mix" adequately addresses goals
for affordable housing.
5. We are not opposed to re -zoning the proposed blocks for the stated amount of
higher density single-family attached units (24 in total), provided adequate off-
street parking is provided for each unit.
6. We are extremely concerned about and opposed to the creation of a high -density,
rental -only set of units for the following reasons:
a. It appears that the decision to commit to long-term, rental -only units is a
response to current, short-term economic conditions and is not in the best,
long-term interests of the Old Town North community.
b. The families represented by this letter purchased in Old Town North
expecting to be part of a budding, connected community. Rentals do not
create a sense of permanence or connectedness, but instead, create a
transient neighborhood, since most renters do not possess a vested interest
in seeing their community grow and thrive.
c. Rental properties are often not properly maintained by renters or owners
resulting in a potential decrease in property values and desirability of the
Old Town North neighborhood by potential buyers.
d. We are concerned that future prospective homebuyers will be less
interested and less likely to purchase and/or build in a neighborhood
dominated by rentals units.
i. Of the 18 single family detached homes in the neighborhood six
are currently rentals (33%). The Heschel Townhomes are
currently at a 50% rental rate. We are unsure of the rental density
of the North Flats Condos.