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Home My WebLink AboutNORTHSIDE AZTLAN COMMUNITY CENTER - PDP - 54-05 - DECISION - MINUTES/NOTESzo1e�-;N- i?J f=v2 A-.DrnilVlsTRA Tr vr✓ f4,5FA2i1UG City of Fort Collins �nE * i16 A6?(A 7:S�- VI lkib�� pof PI�5, l�h�Gz 459,9s- ASS pHV Jr✓ vL 2m N, coil Avg 8oszi 2�i-�� i�ispenLi v,cerrr J 0 /�/ -4vwe� �dDS`a j Z2r (035 I hu� @mac i l"/b�H rid � p G23 �fei /0�3 K-GvY'eK�� mow. VDU�% -GAG% S�G�kIK��-, sMoxpi f'q) At �1 u7 1 i'I P-e, Id 300 LaPorte Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6505 • FAX (970) 224-6107 • TDD (970) 224-6001 www.fcgov.com City of Fort Collins -Type 1 Administrative Hearing Findings, Conclusions, and Decision Northside Aztlan Community Center Page 5 of 5 SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS A. A community center and recreation facility is permitted in the POL — Public Open Lands District subject to a Type 1 Administrative Hearing. B. The proposal complies with the applicable District and General Development standards. DECISION The Hearing Officer APPROVES the Northside Aztlan Community Center Project Development Plan without conditions. Dated this 15t day of June, 2006. -�� YA Claire B. Levy Hearing Officer City of Fort Collins -Type t Administrative Hearing Findings, Conclusions, and Decision Northside Aztlan Community Center Page 4 of 5 leaving their vehicles do not have to cross a lane of traffic. This arrangement appears likely to result in people being dropped off while their vehicle is in -bound, which will require pedestrians to cross a lane of traffic. The Hearing Officer encourages the City and design team to consider including traffic calming measures in the drop-off area to slow vehicles as they leave the site to avoid conflict with people being dropped off or picked up. C. The design of the project complies with the Building Standards in Division 3.5. The proposed building invokes the surrounding industrial uses while also providing a transition to the Old Town commercial architecture. Special Height Review pursuant to Section 3.5.1(G) is necessary because a small portion of the building exceeds 40 feet in height. Based on the materials submitted to staff and to the Hearing Officer at the hearing, the Hearing Officer finds that: (1) the proposed building will not substantially alter the opportunity for, and quality of, desirable views from public places, streets and parks within the community; (2) the building will not have a substantial adverse impact on the distribution of natural and artificial light on adjacent public and private property; (3) the building will not infringe on the privacy of adjacent public and private property; and (4) the building is compatible with the scale of the neighborhood given the surrounding uses and the substantial open space buffer. The proposed building does not fully comply with the standard in Section 3.5.3(B)(2), Orientation to Build -to Lines for Streetfront Buildings. The design incorporates a plaza area with appropriate landscaping and site improvements for pedestrian interest, which permits an exception to the build -to line standard pursuant to Section 3.5.3(B)(2)(d). The proposed building complies with the standards in Section 3.5.3 (C) for variation in massing and (D) for character and image. The changes in height, incorporation of recessed entrances and projecting elements, wall articulation, and incorporation of different building materials and textures create a building that contributes substantially to the uniqueness of the community. City of Fort Collins -Type 1 Administrative Hearing Findings, Conclusions, and Decision Northside Aztlan Community Center Page 3 of 5 redevelop in accordance with the River Downtown Redevelopment District standards. The proposed use complements the surrounding natural areas and trail system, and is well integrated with those uses. The project will replace the existing Northside Aztlan Community Center, which has been there since 1978. The substantial increase in size and new location closer to Willow Street will enhance the community center as an amenity to the community. The Hearing Officer finds that the proposal is compatible with the surrounding uses. 2. Compliance with Article 4 and the POL — Public Open Lands District Standards The proposed community center constitutes a Public Facility, and is therefore a permitted use in the POL District subject to administrative review. There are no additional land use or development standards in the POL District. 3. Compliance with Article 3 of the Land Use Code — General Development Standards A. The project complies fully with the Landscape and Tree protection standards. The Hearing Officer adopts and incorporates the findings in the Staff Report concerning the standards in Division 3.2, but calls particular attention to efforts to screen the volume of the gym and the incorporation of water conservation methods and techniques to achieve LEED certification. B. The proposal complies with the standards in Division 3.3 for Access, Circulation and Parking. The parking and circulation system generally accommodates the movement of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians throughout the proposed development as well as into and out of the proposed development. There is sufficient parking, which is well - landscaped. The central organizing pedestrian walkway connecting the skate park, handball courts and Poudre bike trail efficiently allows pedestrians to circulate while minimizing impervious surfaces. It will create an inviting pathway from the bike trail and outlying parking areas to the recreation center. The arrangement for drop-off/pick-up is not ideal, requiring vehicles to circulate throughout the site in order to be oriented such that people City of Fort Collins -Type 1 Administrative Hearing Findings, Conclusions, and Decision Northside Aztlan Community Center Page 2 of 5 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Evidence presented to the Hearing Officer established no controversy or facts to refute that the hearing was properly posted, legal notices mailed and notice published. The Hearing Officer, presiding pursuant to the Fort Collins Land Use Code, opened the hearing at approximately 6:05 p.m. on May 24, 2006 in the City Council Chambers at 300 La Porte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. HEARING TESTIMONY, WRITTEN COMMENTS AND OTHER EVIDENCE: The Hearing Officer accepted during the hearing the following evidence: (1) Planning Department Staff Report; (2) application, plans, maps and other supporting documents submitted by the applicant and the applicant's representatives to the City of Fort Collins; and (3) public testimony provided during the hearing. The LUC, the City's Comprehensive Plan (City Plan), and the formally promulgated policies of the City are all considered part of the evidence considered by the Hearing Officer. FACTS AND FINDINGS 1. Compatibility with Surrounding Uses: The following zoning and land uses surround the proposed development: N & NW: POL — Public Open Lands - Railroad right-of-way with existing City - owned Old Power Plant beyond SW & SE: RDR — River Downtown Redevelopment District — Existing commercial and vacant land E & NE: POL — Public Open Lands — Legacy Park, existing United Way facility, and Swanson Natural Area W: POL — Public Open Lands — Vacant with CCR — Community Commercial beyond The site is bordered on three sides by Public Open Lands, creating a buffer between this use and existing development to the north, east and west. The area to the southeast and southwest is commercial and vacant, and will City of Fort Collins -Type 1 Administrative Hearing Findings, Conclusions, and Decision Northside Aztlan Community Center Page 1 of 5 CITY OF FORT COLLINS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER TYPE I ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND DECISION ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING DATE: PROJECT NAME: CASE NUMBER: APPLICANT: OWNER: HEARING OFFICER: May 24, 2006 Northside Aztlan Community Center Project Development Plan #54-05 Earen Russell EDAW 240 E. Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 City of Fort Collins Claire Levy, Esq. Claire B. Levy, LLC 3172 Redstone Road Boulder, CO 80305 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction of an enlarged, updated and enhanced Northside Aztlan Community Center on the site of the existing Northside Aztlan Community Center, and the demolition of the existing center upon completion of the new center. SUMMARY OF HEARING OFFICER DECISION: Approval ZONING DISTRICT: POL — Public Open Lands District STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval