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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHUMAN BEAN AT SPRING CREEK - PDP - 37-06 - REPORTS - VARIANCE REQUESTSummer Foliage: opposite, round or elliptical, undersides have whitish hair Autumn Foliage: insiginificant Flowers: white or pink, bell -shaped, .25" to .5" long Fruit: white berries in fall, up to .5" long, persisting through winter, showy Common Landscape Uses: hedge, screen, for winter effect Liabilities: no major problems CultivarsNarieties: (h) The project may be designed to provide appropriate human access to natural habitats and features and their associated buffer zones in order to serve recreation purposes, provided that such access is compatible with the ecological character or wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature. No additional human access to Spring Creek is being proposed. Sidewalks on site will connect to existing sidewalks along College Avenue, allowing access to Spring Creek from the site. Pedestrian use of the coffee restaurant will be encouraged by providing a walk-up order window and an outdoor patio seating area on the southwest corner of the property, overlooking the creek channel. An existing meandering stone retaining wall just off -site between this proposed seating area and Spring Creek will be left in place, discouraging human activity from occurring any closer to the creek than the seating area. (i) Fencing associated with the project shall be designed to be compatible with the ecological character and wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature. No fencing is being proposed. Autumn Foliage: spectacular orange to red fall color Flowers: pale yellow, in small dense clusters, bloom before leaves Fruit: small red berries Common Landscape Uses: massing, woods edge, naturalistic areas, bank covers, groundcover Liabilities: leaves odorous, leaf spot, rusts, aphids, mites, scale Ribes aureum Golden Currant Fort Collins native plant in foothills riparian and plains riparian zones. Type: deciduous shrub hardy to zone 5 (ave. min. temp. -20 to -10 ° F) Site: grows well in sandy and rocky soils Exposure: full sun Habit & Form: 3' to 9' tall, irregular crown Summer Foliage: alternate, simple, ovate with 3 to 5 lobes, light green and glossy, .5" to 1" long and wide, Autumn Foliage: red fall color Flowers: long, trumpet -shaped, fragrant, long-lasting yellow flowers bloom April to June Fruit: small black berry with numerous seeds Common Landscape Uses: screen, hedge, for flower effect Liabilities: CultivarsNarieties: Save Our Shade moderatr Fort Collins native plant in Symphoricarpos oreophilus Mountain Snowberry a water -use deciduous shrub. ills riparian and foothills upland zones. Type: deciduous shrub hardy to zone 4 (ave, min. temp. -30 to -20 ° F) Site: moist, well -drained soils Exposure: full sun to partial shade Habit & Form: 3' to 7' tall, forms dense thickets, spreading Summer Foliage: leaves shaped like spearhead, shiny dark green Autumn Foliage: bright yellow fall color Flowers: pale yellow -green catkins, bloom April to May Fruit: small dry capsule containing numerous small, cottony seeds, ripen May to June Common Landscape Uses: lawn tree, shade tree, specimen Liabilities: only male cottonwoods can be planted within city limits CultivarsNarieties: Prunus Americana American Plum Fort Collins recommended drought -tolerant species. Save Our Shade low water -use deciduous shrub. Fort Collins native plant in foothills upland and plains upland zones. Type: deciduous tree hardy to zone 3 (ave. min. temp. -40 to -30 ° F) Site: soil tolerant Exposure: full sun to partial shade Habit & Form: 12' to 25' tall, up to 20' wide, rounded to irregular crown Summer Foliage: alternate leaf arrangement, oval leaf shape. 1.5" long to 3", medium green leaf color Autumn Foliage: yellow fall color Flowers: white flowers bloom in April, showy, clustered in up to 5's Fruit: rounded, fleshy drupe, 1" in diameter, yellow to red, edible, showy Common Landscape Uses: specimen, mass or grouping, under power lines, buffer strip, parking lot, container, bonsai, patio plant Liabilities: can become weedy, thorns, tent caterpillars CultivarsNarieties: most cultivars have been selected for better fruit quality Rh us trilobata Threeleaf Sumac, Skunkbush Fort Collins native plant in foothills upland, foothills riparian, plains upland, and plains riparian zones. Type: deciduous shrub hardy to zone 4 (ave, min. temp. -30 to -20 ° F) Site: prefers acidic, well -drained soil, soil adaptable Exposure: full sun to partial shade Habit & Form: 2' to 6' tall, rounded and moundlike, often wider than it is tall Summer Foliage: alternate, compound with 3 leaflets, terminal leaflet 1" to 2.5" long, deep green, odorous 'Crimson Pygmy'- A slow -growing, red leaf form with a mounding, dense habit. One of the older dwarf, red foliage cultivars. Red color is best in full sun. V to 2' tall and 2' to 3' wide under most circumstances, but can be larger. Probably the best known barberry cultivar. 'Rose Glow' (also labeled as'Rosy Glow' and'Rosey Glow') - A vigorous grower with red and cream variegated foliage. The mixing in of cream on the foliage is most pronounced on vigorously growing shoats, as older growth seems to fade to solid red. Best color development is achieved in full sun. Introduced from Denmark and very common on the market. Other cultivars: 'Aurea,' 'Bogozam,' 'Kobold,' 'Helmond Pillar,' 'Sparkle,' 'Thornless,' 'Variegata' Crataegus succulenta Fleshy Hawthorn, Western Hawthorn Fort Collins recommended drought -tolerant species. Save Our Shade low water -use deciduous tree. Fort Collins native plant in foothills riparian zone. Type: deciduous tree/shrub hardy to zone 4 (ave. min. temp. -30 to -20 ° F) Site: tolerant of most soil types Exposure: full sun to partial shade Habit & Form: 6' to 20' tall Summer Foliage: alternate leaf arrangement, simple, deciduous leaves, 2" to 4" long, lobed, pointed, medium green leaf color Autumn Foliage: bronze fall color Flowers: white flowers, 0.5" in diameter blooms early in June, short bloom time only 7 to 10 days Fruit: a red pome, 0.25" in diameter, matures Sept. to October, persist through winter, birds eat fruit Common Landscape Uses: specimen tree, screen border, prune into hedge Liabilities: thorns can be hazardous, tends to have many pest problems similar to apple trees CultivarsNarieties: Populus x acuminata Lanceleaf Cottonwood Type: deciduous tree hardy to zone 3 (ave. min. temp. 40 to —30 ° F) Site: adaptable to most soil types Exposure: full sun Habit & Form: up to 50' tall, upright, spreading crown Benccris menioromis Mentor Barberry Type: semievergreen shrub hardy to zone 5 (ave. min. temp. -20 to -10 ° F) Site: prefers well -drained soil, easily transplanted Exposure: full sun to partial shade Habit 8 Form: 5' tall with an equal or slightly greater width, upright, rounded habit Summer Foliage: simple, semi -evergreen leaves, alternate leaf arrangement, V to 2" long, leaf margin entire or sparingly spiny at the apex, dark green leaf color Autumn Foliage: yellowish -red fall color, leaves hold late into the fall Flowers: yellow flowers, flowers borne in long, pendulous clusters, blooms in mid April, showy Fruit: red fruit, doesn't fruit often Common Landscape Uses: border, massing or grouping, hedge, barrier due to thorniness Liabilities: large thorns and spiny leaves make the plant difficult to manage, avoid use where small children will be present, collects litter and leaves around the base CultivarsNarieties: none Berberis thunbergii Japanese Barberry moderately low water -use deciduous shrubs. Type: deciduous shrub hardy to zone 4 (ave. min. temp. -30 to -20 ° F) Site: exceptionally tolerant and adaptable, withstands drought and heat well, urban tolerant, dislikes continually wet soils Exposure: best in full sun, but tolerant of partial shade Habit & Form: 3' to 6' tall, slightly wider than tall, very twiggy, with over branch tips Summer Foliage: alternate, deciduous leaves, ovate shape; significantly wider at the tip than at the base, 0.5" to 1.25" long, 025" to 0.5" wide, bright green color, early to leaf out in spring Autumn Foliage: deciduous, with orange, red and purplish fall color Flowers: small yellow flowers in April, numerous and interesting, but only slightly showy Fruit: bright red berries, color up in October, typically numerous and reasonable showy, fruits last for a while into winter Common Landscape Uses: borders and hedges, groupings and mass plantings, in urban areas, difficult sites, yellow, red and variegated foliage forms to add color to a landscape Liabilities: generally trouble free, can seed itself into the landscape or woods Notable CultivarsNarieties: var. atropurpurea - A naturally-occuring variety that has reddish foliage that tends to fade to green during the summer. Comes true from seed with a range of intensity in the red color. Commercial red foliage cultivars are chiefly selections of this variety with exceptionally nice coloration or habit. 'Bagatelle'- A compact form that is similar to 'Crimson Pygmy', except the leaves are shinier and smaller, and the plant grows more slowly. To about 12" to 16" tall. Foliage is a strong purple -red. native species plantings will help to enhance the area for local wildlife and provide a natural barrier between wildlife activity Spring Creek and human activity on -site. (e) The project°shall be designed so that the character of the proposed development in terms of use, density, traffic generation, quality of runoff water, noise, lighting and similar potential development impacts shall minimize the degradation of the ecological character or wildlife use of the affected natural habitats or features. The site is currently paved for vehicular use, and will continue to have a vehicular use area in the existing paved area of the site. Traffic, noise, and light on the site will likely increase with development, but should not adversely affect local wildlife, who do not tend to use the project site and are accustomed to the high urban activity levels on the adjacent College Avenue. Furthermore, the integration of new native species plantings will help to minimize adverse impacts of the development and enhance the local habitat. With regard to water quality, the proposed project specifies in the utility plans a water quality feature that treats the runoff water before it releases it to the outfall. (f) The project shall be designed to integrate with and otherwise preserve existing site topography, including but not limited to such characteristics as steepness of slopes, existing drainage features, rock outcroppings, river and stream terraces, valley walls, ridgelines and scenic topographic features. No topographical changes are proposed. (g) The project shall be designed to enhance the natural ecological characteristics of the site. If existing landscaping within the buffer zone is determined by the decision maker to be incompatible with the purposes of the buffer zone, then the applicant shall undertake restoration and mitigation measures such as regrading and/or the replanting of native vegetation. Current vegetation on -site is very minimal. There is a 5-foot strip of land between the edge of the parking lot and the edge of the property line, which currently contains no ecologically significant species. Native shrubs will be added in this area to enhance the ecological character of the site in relation to Spring Creek. Specific native plant species that have been recommended by Doug Moore include Western Hawthorn, Mentor Barberry, Japanese Barberry, Golden Currant, Mountain Snowberry, American Plum, Three Leaf Sumac, and Lanceleaf Cottonwood. 3 distance is established according to the buffer zone table below, but the decision maker shall reduce or enlarge any portion of the general buffer zone distance, if necessary in order to ensure that the performance standards set forth below are achieved. The buffer zone performance standards are as follows: (a) The project shall be designed to preserve or enhance the ecological character or function and wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature and to minimize or adequately mitigate the foreseeable impacts of development. The project will enhance the ecological character and wildlife use of the area by providing native plant species beneficial to local wildlife. (b) The project, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, its fencing, pedestrian/bicycle paths and roadways, shall be designed to preserve or enhance the existence of wildlife movement corridors between natural features, both within and adjacent to the site. No new fencing, pedestrian paths, or roadways are proposed. Wildlife movement through the Spring Creek corridor will be unaffected, and the adjacent segment of the corridor will be enhanced by new plantings. (c) The project shall be designed to preserve significant existing trees and other significant existing vegetation on the site. The site is mostly paved and no vegetation of significance to wildlife using the Spring Creek corridor. Two trees along College Avenue are significant, but all other on -site trees are not significant will be removed as part of the development request. Off -site trees by Spring Creek will be unaffected. (d) The project shall be designed to protect from adverse impact species utilizing special habitat features such as key raptor habitat features, including nest sites, night roosts and key feeding areas as identified by the Colorado Division of Wildlife or in the Fort Collins Natural Areas Policy Plan (NAPP); key production areas, wintering areas, and migratory feeding areas for waterfowl, key use areas for wading birds and shorebirds; key use areas for migrant songbirds, key nesting areas for grassland birds, fox and coyote dens; mule deer winter concentration areas as identified by the Colorado Division of Wildlife or NAPP,' prarie dog colonies over fifty (50) acres in size as included on the Natural Habitats and Features Inventory Map; key areas for rare, migrant or resident butterflies as identified in the NAPP; areas of high terrestrial or aquatic insect diversity as identified in the NAPP; remnant native prarie habitat; mixed foothill shrubland, foothill ponderosa pine forest; plains cottonwood riparian woodlands; and any wetland greater than one - quarter (114) acre in size. This site contains no special habitat features. Wildlife using the Spring Creek corridor are not using the paved project site as part of their habitat, and will not be adversely impacted by its development. Additionally, new 2 Request for Buffer Reduction — Human Bean at Spring Creek P.D.PA 1 /10/2007 Applicant: Piazza, LLC 204 Walnut Street, Suite D Fort Collins, CO 80524 Consultant: Troy Jones M. Torgerson Architects 204 Walnut Street, Suite D Fort Collins, CO 80524 Summary of the Request: The property is an existing parking lot that has been in this location for over 30 years, originally built when the adjacent building, now an eye doctor and eyeglass store, was a restaurant. The applicants wish to develop the property into a drive -up coffee restaurant. The existing site is completely paved with the exception of a small parking lot island, a small parking lot peninsula, and a 5 foot strip of land between the edge of the asphalt parking lot and the southern property line. Wildlife activity does not occur on -site, and wildlife who use the adjacent Spring Creek are accustomed to the urban patterns of the area and this site's current vehicular usage. During development, paved area will be decreased and native shrub species desirable to birds and small mammals will be added between the paved area and Spring Creek, enhancing the area for wildlife using the Spring Creek corridor and protecting wildlife from human disturbances. According to the Buffer Zone Table found in Section 3.4.1. (E) of the Fort Collins Land Use Code, a 100-foot buffer is suggested along Spring Creek. The applicants are requesting that a reduction to this standard distance be allowed in this circumstance. The proposed development shown in our site plan decreases the existing paved area, by providing a landscaped edge where there currently is asphalt. Additionally, native plant species will enhance and protect wildlife habitat adjacent to the site. Please see the following Buffer Zone Peformance Standards for further explanations Buffer Zone Performance Standards: The following is a response to the City's Buffer Zone Performance Standards, as found in Section 2.4.1 (E) of the Fort Collins Land Use Code. Text from the Land Use Code appears in italics. (1) Buffer Zone Performance Standards. The decision maker shall determine the buffer zones for each natural habitat or feature contained in the project site. The buffer zones maybe multiple and noncontiguous. The general buffer zone