HomeMy WebLinkAboutTREEHOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL - PDP - 17-07 - CORRESPONDENCE - CORRESPONDENCE-HEARING (8)Shelby Sommer - Child care center coma
solution. In addition, the City should consider traffic calming devices on
Valley Forge because of the current state of traffic on the street, the
intense uses of the street by the neighborhood pool and this proposal, and the
function this street serves as a collector. Such traffic calming might be
speed bumps or a stop sign.
-Because of the already intense nature of the proposal, we recommend that if a
future expansion of the number of children at the school is proposed, a
hearing before your Board should be conducted. This would be preferable to an
administrative review as it would allow for public input for such an
expansion.
-Location close to another permitted child care center. A Montessori school
has unique qualities which differentiate it from a standard child care center,
including the involvement of parents in the school operation. This uniqueness
may justify a variance to the separation distance stated in the code. This
uniqueness may be an asset to the neighborhood as the school could serve
parents living in Rolland More West neighborhood. If this proposal is
approved, the RMWNN would work with the school to solicit families from the
neighborhood to send their children. With this idea in mind, we recommend
allowing this child care center within 1500 feet of another permitted child
center with the condition that it can only operate as a Montessori school.
-If the Bible church property is to be used for activities of the school, we
recommend a formal agreement be signed with the Church defining these
activities. The school should explain how it would carry on these activities
if the agreement with the Church is voided.
-A final concern of immediate neighbors is landscape maintenance. We would
like to be assured of a well maintained landscape.
The Rolland Moore West Neighborhood Network (RMWNN) Steering Committee
appreciates the value the Treehouse Montessori School would bring to our
neighborhood. Immediate neighbors generally view this proposal favorably.
By addressing the above concerns we feel that issues around the intensity of
use on the site can be mitigated. Thank you for consideration of our concerns
Regards,
RMWNN Steering Committee
Shelby Sommer - Child care center comrr s Page 1
From: Iloyd <Iloyd@goku.engr.ColoState.EDU>
To: "Shelby Sommer" <ssommer@fcgov.com>
Date: 07/09/2007 3:57:33 PM
Subject: Child care center comments
Shelby,
Below is a statement prepared by our Neighbrohood Network. This will be
presented at the hearing. Please include it in the packet that goes to P and
Z members. Please advise me of the date of the hearing.
Regards,
Lloyd
Members of the Planning and Zoning Board:
The proposal coming before you titled the Treehouse Montessori School was
presented to our neighborhood at a meeting on June 26. In addition to
interested neighbors, three members of our neighborhood Steering Committee
attended. Subsequent discussions were held among: 1) immediate neighbors,
conducted by our Network Block Captain, and 2) our Steering Committee members.
There is a generally favorable view of this proposal with the following
observations, comments and recommendations presented for your consideration.
We request that in your review of the proposal you address the points outlined
below. Resolution of these issues would result in a project that is an asset
to our neighborhood.
The proposal is a very intense use of the site because: 1) There is no onsite
parking proposed for the three teachers; 2) It is on a busy street the city
considers a sub -collector street and near an intersection; 3) The proposal is
asking for 15 children and mentioned that they would perhaps like to expand
beyond that number in the future; 4) It is within 1500 feet of another
permitted child care center; 5) The applicant suggested the Bible Church might
be used for certain of the school's activities. More detail on these points
follows:
-Onsite-parking for teachers: The proposal would have the teachers parking on
the Bible Church site, however there is no formal agreement regarding this
use. At the P and Z hearing there should be such an agreement presented.
However, since the agreement would only be valid as long as the church is
there (not a definite certainty), we recommend a condition be added that if
any agreement with the church is voided, the garage onsite would be used to
park two of the teacher's vehicles. A proposed gravel driveway is to be added
to the existing driveway. We request this be paved.
-Traffic and child safety is a critical issue to be addressed. The code
states that child care centers located on other than local streets need to
consider traffic safety solutions. The City views Valley Forge as a form of
collector street. In addition the site is near a busy intersection. We
recommend providing a paved drive -through drop off point on the site. An
alternative is for the City to create a loading zone in front of the proposed
school with appropriate signs and a red painted curb. This is how traffic and
child safety is addressed at the neighborhood pool to the east on Valley
Forge. We feel it is important for cars stopping to pick up and drop off
children must do so out of the traffic lane. Using the existing driveway to
the garage as a loading zone would present problems because: 1) the proposed
school plans to use this driveway for parking during parent visits, and 2)
backing into the traffic lane after a child pick up or drop off is not a safe