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Home My WebLink AboutTREEHOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL - PDP - 17-07 - REPORTS - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGName Address Phone Ern aii boroc- 'IJ Neighborhood Information Meeting Project: T'eehoyse Mon � ssori Slch&) f Meeting Location: Td r-+ 061UA C OtiliAliNI Churck Date: �TUY1Z SO , VOA PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY 'Vame Address Phone Email 544. V►-A L.ELAnI D Zoe-n V -kV � 970 Z(o(, l l S"AtljN ® COX CoM �a I -,z aV1 1y07 Cu rvlvose S� - 52� Z��- r l l�ia✓1K7o�cov as . rte�- 1.ac vtvte _ qvl5ovA t 7q2\ Cep c.�. g�� a -73o dcqAitels Elpro ' �a c� r �✓ o?la ( 1 Ca-r-L 51)6- � o F 157 zrr►Mc ii_ vj/1 r 5 i ✓1/Glnc)161 L rSo h l l e A0 2 ocoL9 ✓a I 1 e 7T;c %v .Stsz X2 -$ C70 22-1-5-15� SL 5I rh ce;,A-, /y1 ear ss �Am al 07 t (zcrlr o�JgZ_ b o l0 6a Q i i . C &314 Lt gl - I r c J 41 I n7ac RUT- r- R: r , M� not a need for another; 4. 20 students are not allowed due to zoning regulations 26. Comment: (Applicant) The current facility on the northwest corner of Valley Forge and Taft Hill would need at least 40 students to break even financially (it rents for $7000 per month). We are looking to keep our school small and specialized, and not be a large daycare facility. The child care facility, if it ever reopened, would actually complement our facility because it serves a different age population (infants and older children) and is not educational based. 27. Comment: (Resident) Traffic in this neighborhood is a big problem due to the pool, beauty shop etc. The City needs to explore traffic calming options and give the neighborhood some relief from the high speeds of traffic. 28. Comment: (Resident) I would like to encourage the staff and parents to bike to school in order to help be part of the traffic solution, not make the problem worse. 29. Question: (Resident) How do I follow up on the status of this project? Response: (City Planner) The Project Development Plan is available to the public and you may call or stop by my office for an update or to look at the latest plans. n Response: (Applicant) The property was available when we started searching for a location and we liked it's location because it will serve many families in this neighborhood, including the family next door to the east. We also needed a ranch -style (single floor) property and this one suited our needs well because of the current ownership and acquisition possibilities. 23. Question: (Resident) What if the school wants to change what was approved? Response: (City Planner) In order to change an approved plan, the applicant must submit a minor or major amendment to the approved plan. A minor amendment is when there is not a significant change of character to the property and is an administrative task. A major amendment is when there is a significant change of character and will require another public hearing. 24. Question: (Resident) If the project is approved, can any changes be made to the plan? - Response: (City Planner) A Final Plan stage occurs after the Project Development Plan approval. The Final Plans must reflect any conditions of approval as well as modifications or minor revisions to things such as engineering requirements, landscaping etc. The project specifications (size, parking etc.) will not be allowed to change at the Final Plan stage. 25. Comment: (Resident) The proposed use is too intense at this site for the following reasons and must be addressed at the hearing: 1. Employees must park at church because there is not enough space on the site (if the church redevelops, parking will become an issue); 2. Valley Forge is a difficult street due to traffic patterns for a safe drop-off area 3. There is an existing childcare facility nearby, and there is 9 residential lighting. 16. Comment: (Resident) I would like to see the applicants explore a child drop-off area behind the property. 17. Comment: (Applicant) The Bible Church will be submitting a formal agreement regarding the shared parking, and we will definitely explore drop-off area alternatives. 18. Question: (Resident) What remodeling will you do inside the house? Is the basement finished? Response: (Applicant) We will be removing some walls, updating the bathroom to code, installing a gate to the kitchen, etc. There is a full basement, which will be used for storage, and will not be permitted for children. The fireplace may need to be screened and/or blocked. 19. Question: (Resident) Could Tree House Montessori sell the property to another childcare facility in the future? Response: (City Planner) The facility could be sold and operate as another childcare facility as long as the original plan was followed. If the use is abandoned for 12 months, the property will revert back to a single-family house. 20. Question: (Resident) What franchise is the Montessori school? Response: (Applicant) Montessori is a method, not a franchise or brand. It will be a unique, individual school, owned by the Tree House Montessori Corporation. 21. Comment: (Applicant) The school is primarily composed of 15 families, 3 teachers and a parent board. We plan to operate as long as we possibly can and as long as the school is successful. 22. Question: (Resident) Why have you selected this house/property? 5 12 13 14. 15. separated by at least 1500 feet. How will this be addressed? Response: (City Planner) A modification of standards request has been submitted and will be evaluated with the Project Development Plan. The justification for the modification request is that the proposal will standard equally well as a compliant plan. The decision will be made by the Planning and Zoning Board. Question: (Resident) What type of sign is proposed? What is allowed? A big sign out front will be ugly. Response: (Applicant) We haven't thought about signs at this point, but will probably do a small sign on the house and/or maybe one out in front in the flower bed. Follow-up Response: (City Planner) The applicant will need to apply for a sign permit through the Zoning Department for any signage on the property. In the RL District, one identification per child care center is permitted, provided that such sign does not exceed 10 square feet in area per face and is unlighted. Question: (Resident) If 15 is your maximum enrollment, how will 20 eventually be accommodated? Response: (Applicant) 20 would be permitted with the City's requirements, but 15 is the maximum per State regulations. We would have to research the state's requirements in order to add more students. Question: (Resident) When do you anticipate opening? Response: (Applicant) We would like to open in Fall 2007, if the approval process can move that quickly. Question: (Resident) What type of lighting is proposed? Response: (Applicant) We are not proposing any changes to the existing :� property is approximately 80 by 140 foot (11,200 square feet). 6. Question: (Resident) What is the address? What type of house is it? Will anyone live at the house? Response: (Applicant) The property is located at 2013 Valley Forge and it is a ranch style house. The facility will not be a dwelling unit. 7. Question: (Resident) Will all students be there all day? Response: (Applicant) There is a morning session and an all day session so some of the children will leave at approximately 12:30. 8. Question: (Resident) Why are you leaving your current facility at the Unitarian Church? Response: (Applicant) The church would like to have that space back so that they can have some room to grow. 9. Question: (Resident) How many square feet do you need per child? Response: (Applicant/City Planner) 40 square feet per child is required, which this proposal more than satisfies with 15 children. -10. Question: (Resident) Could you do a driveway on the property that would accommodate a drop-off area? Response: (Applicant) A drive -through (loop) driveway is a dream of ours. 11. Question: (Resident) The Land Use Code allows drop-off/unloading areas on Local Streets only. Isn't Valley Forge larger than a Local Street classification? Follow-up Response: (City Planner) The City's Master Street Plan identifies Valley Forge as a Local Street. 12. Question: (Resident) Per the Land Use Code, child care centers must be 3 in the street in front of the next door neighbor's house (she is a parent involved with the school) or in the Fort Collins Bible Church parking lot. Overflow parking for parent meetings is also available at the Bible Church. A child drop-off area is proposed along the street, with a teacher coming outside to greet and take the students inside the facility. The children would be outside for play time when they arrive in the morning, before noon and in the late afternoon, and will also be outside for outdoor "work" or activities. ...........................QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS, RESPONSES........................... 1 2. K 4 5. Question: (Resident) Who will maintain the facility, especially during breaks and the summer session? Response: (Applicant) We will establish a parent maintenance schedule since we have a lot of parent participation. Comment: (Resident) I live across from this property and traffic does not concern me. I am curious as to what improvements are proposed because this was a "drug house" in the past and the property has deteriorated significantly. Response: (Applicant) We propose to modify the landscaping extensively and to remodel the interior of the house significantly as well as exterior improvements. Comment: (Resident) As a longtime resident in this neighborhood, I would welcome this facility in my neighborhood. Comment: (Resident) The City needs to re-evaluate the traffic problems in this area and take a hard look at this development proposal. The existing traffic on this busy thoroughfare, in combination with a bus stop at Sheffield is already a problem that this development will exacerbate. Question: (Resident) How high will the fence be? How large is the lot? Response: (Applicant) A new six foot fence with gate is proposed and the 2 NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION MEETING PROJECT: Tree House Montessori School Project Development Plan DATE: June 26, 2007 APPLICANT: Louanne Johnson, Shawn Leeland CITY PLANNER: Shelby Sommer PROJECT SUMMARY: This is a proposal to convert the single-family residential house located at 2013 Valley Forge Ave. to a child care center to house the Tree House Montessori preschool. The property is located in the RL - Low Density Residential Zone District, in which child care centers are permitted uses, subject to Planning and Zoning Board approval. Louanne Johnson, the school director, gave a brief presentation about the school's history and objectives for this development proposal. The school has been in operation for 4 years and currently occupies a small classroom in the Fort Collins Unitarian Church (they are currently called Montessori at Hope). The proposal is for a preschool facility that will operate from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from late August until late May. There will also be a 10 week summer session, so the school will be in operation for most of the year, with the exception of major holidays and breaks between sessions. The proposal is for 15 children, with hopes to potentially expand to 20 children in the future. The current school rents the church facility for $100 per month, whereas the vacant child care facility at the northwest corner of Valley Forge and Taft Hill is asking $7000 per month. The house has been vacant for many months and the vision for this development is to fit in to the existing neighborhood and improving the quality and appearance of the property. Historically, this school and others that are similar do not see a big rush of cars in the morning, but rather have children arrive 2 or 3 at a time throughout the morning. Staff members may park in the driveway, 1