HomeMy WebLinkAboutMANHATTAN TOWNHOMES - PDP - 34-04 - REPORTS - PLANNING OBJECTIVESCommon landscape areas, residential front yards, back yards, side yards, sidewalks,
private drives and mini -park — kiosk area will be maintained by the HOA.
The adjacent open space/storm detention area will be maintained by the City.
V.
Rationale Behind Assumptions and Choices
1. The storm water detention area provides a buffer and transition between the single-
family residences to the south and the Manhattan project.
Manhattan Avenue provides a buffer and transition between the project townhouses
fronting on Manhattan and the single-family residences to the west.
The storm water detention area also provides a buffer for the project from the retail
and office uses to the east as well as the theatre and mini -storage uses to the north.
2. The LMN zoning is appropriate in this area and allows for relatively lower cost and
higher density housing immediately adjacent to the Mason Street Corridor. This
provides convenient access to the Mason Street Bike—Ped. Path for residents and also
helps the City meet the requirements for Federal Funding for the Mason Street Corridor
project.
3. This project provides two types of housing in the middle of the city, adjacent to the
Mason Street Corridor, which will permit residents of this project to make use of this
new mode of public transportation (mini public transit busses) to commute to thousands
of employers located near and along the entire length of College Avenue from Harmony
to downtown. Also, existing public transit provides public transportation to major
employers located along both north -south and east -west arterioles. Providing attractive
housing convenient to public transportation achieves the goals of reducing reliance on
motor vehicles, encouraging the use of bikes, and enhancing residents' and, employees'
overall quality of life.
VI.
Land Use Conflicts
There are no Land Use conflicts, and as described above, the project is buffered and
transitions from adjacent uses on all sides.
VII.
Name of Project
Manhattan FDP
Page 4 of 4
A
considerations present in the mini -park — mail kiosk area with benches for informal
socializing.
6. Active Living Space
All of the townhouse units front on or back up to the open space/storm water detention
area. This active living space creates the opportunity for informal recreation,
interactions between neighbors, a sense of neighborhood and quality of life.
7. Pedestrian -Oriented Streetscapes, and Variety and Visual Interest in Exterior
Design
The relatively smaller scale, mass and height of the buildings plus varied townhouse
frontages, varied roof design elements and varied siding materials provide for an
interesting pedestrian streetscape as well as variety and visual interest in exterior
design.
Furthermore, the mini -park — mail kiosk area, the adjacency to the open space/storm
detention area, and the varied architectural elements enhance the overall character of
the project.
III.
Open Space, Landscaping, Circulation
Approximately 78% of the project is subject to an easement in perpetuity to the City for
storm water drainage. This has the effect of creating about 8.2 acres of open space
immediately adjacent to the east of the residential units.
The project mini -park, project landscaping and adjacency to the open space/storm
detention area create a pedestrian -friendly environment. Furthermore, these features
contribute to a sense of community and enhanced quality of life.
The project is designed so that pedestrian, bike and vehicle traffic within the project
proceeds safely along walkways, and very low traffic private drives, as residents
circulate between buildings, garages, mini -park — mail kiosk area, and open space.
IV.
Ownership and Maintenance of Public and Private Open Space
The project will have a Homeowners Association and Covenants.
Page 3 of 4
r
1. Transitional
This project is complementary to and transitional in relation to the adjacent uses: offices
and retail to the east, theatre and mini -warehouses to the north, and single-family
residential to the west and south.
2. Mixed Residential Uses
This project is comprised of two -bedroom townhomes with attached two -car tandem
garages, which units front on Manhattan, and two -bedroom condominiums with
detached garages.
3. Sense of Community / Quality of Life
Project design elements include residential buildings at a human scale, attractive
elevations with architectural diversity, and connectivity to the mini -park and mail kiosk
area, with benches for informal socializing.
4. Access
The vehicular access to the Manhattan project is from the north and the south along
Manhattan Avenue. In addition, there is north -south bike and pedestrian access from
the Mason Street Bike-Ped. Path, as well as along Manhattan Avenue. The east -west
vehicular access to the project is via Horsetooth and Manhattan. In addition there is
access to the east off the Mason Street Bike-Ped Path.
Proceeding north on Manhattan and east on Horsetooth provides access to many of
Fort Collins' retail stores and employers including Foothills shopping center. Also,
proceeding north or south on College (after jogging north on Manhattan and east on
Horsetooth), provides access to retail, offices and employers from the south end of town
all the way north to downtown. This same north access can also be achieved via the
Mason Street Bike-Ped. Path, and in the future mini public transit vehicles running north
and south along the Mason Street Corridor:
There is easy access to schools and parks via Horsetooth and Manhattan. In addition,
residents have immediate access to the approximate 8.2 acres of adjacent private open
space/storm water detention area for limited recreation use. The public will have the
same opportunity with access off the Mason Street Bike-Ped. Path.
S. Architectural Character
The LUC goal of achieving exceptional architectural characters realized by this project
in terms of a) differentiated and interesting architectural elements present in the
residential building elevations, b) orientation of all units so they have decks and/or views
of the adjacent open space/storm water detention area, and c) thoughtful design
Page 2 of 4
FA
i
MANHATTAN RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
STATEMENT OF PLANNING OBJECTIVES
September 2004
I.
Introduction
Manhattan is a unique residential project consisting of two complementary residential
product types, two -bedroom townhouses with attached two -car tandem garages and
two -bedroom condos with detached garages. This project makes good use of this infill
parcel in a way that incorporates good planning, good architecture, and respect for
environmental considerations. There is a contemporary -traditional architectural theme,
parking in excess of City standards, attractive landscaping transitioning to the open
space/storm water detention area and easy access to the Mason Street Bike-Ped.
Corridor, now under construction.
The homes which will be offered in the Manhattan project are:
Manhattan Townhomes will be located fronting on Manhattan Avenue. They will have
access to attached tandem garages off private drives at the rear of buildings. A mini -
park with mail kiosk and benches will provide the opportunity for informal socializing.
Manhattan Condominiums — The existing 8-plex will undergo a major renovation and will
be integrated in a complementary way into the new townhouse community. Each of the
units in this 8-plex will be provided with a new detached garage. And the mini -park with
mail kiosk and benches again provides the opportunity for informal socializing.
The project is an infill project between offices and retail across the railroad tracks to the
east, theatre and mini -warehouses to the north and single family residential to the west
and south. The project has been designed to coordinate with City plans for an adjacent
open space — storm water detention.
Connectivity is being provided by means of the public sidewalk along Manhattan
Avenue, as well as connectivity to the Mason Street Bike-Ped. Path adjacent to the
east.
II.
City Plan Principles and Policies Achieved
Page t of 4