HomeMy WebLinkAboutARAPAHOE FARMS REZONING - 26-04 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - REZONING RELATED DOCUMENTdevelopment. This proposed rezone would create the aforementioned transition
between the lower density residential uses to the south and east, and this existing
commercial use.
The rezoning of this parcel will not significantly impact the natural environment of the
site. Topographically, the site is generally flat. There are no known significant wildlife
habitats on the site and there are no existing trees present.
The site is adjacent to the Woodridge development, but is not an extension of the
Woodridge development. The Woodridge development consists of single-family
detached dwellings, some of which back up to the subject property. Vehicular
connectivity from the Woodridge development to the site is not possible; hence the traffic
produced from the subject property will not be routed through the Woodridge
development. Eventual access to the site will be from W. Harmony Road with a possible
connection to S. Taft Hill Road.
The parcel is oddly shaped and is encumbered by an approximately 10,000 square foot
out parcel, owned by the Fort Collins — Loveland Water District, located immediately
adjacent to the intersection. The parcel is relatively small in size and is limited to
maximum density of approximately 35 units. By designating the parcel as MMN, the
maximum allowable density would increase to approximately 53 units. The MMN zone
district is also commonly located at arterial road intersections as shown on the Structure
Plan and is found adjacent to lower density residential developments throughout the city.
Therefore, the project is both logical and orderly in its development pattern approach
and is compatible with the lower density development surrounding the subject property.
With the characteristics of the site, the proximity to the arterial road intersection, the
limited site access and the lack of vehicular connectivity to the surrounding lower density
residential neighborhoods, the rezoning of the subject property from LMN to MMN is a
suitable and reasonable request that should be granted.
Cityscape Urban Design
3555 Stanford Road, Suite ro5
Fort Collins. Colorado 80525
Phone: (970) zz6-4074
Fax:(970) 2z6-4i96
July 8, 2004 www.cityscapeud.com
e(a)cilyscapeud.com
City of Fort Collins
Current Planning Division
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80522
RE: Petition to rezone a parcel of land on the SE Corner of the intersection of W.
Harmony Road and S. Taft Hill Road.
The Petitioner, Western VII Investment, LLC is requesting to rezone a 4.45-acre parcel
of land on the southeast corner of the intersection of Taft Hill Road and Harmony Road
in Fort Collins, Colorado. The parcel is currently zoned LMN — Low Density Mixed Use
Neighborhood. The applicant is requesting a zoning designation of MMN — Medium
Density Mixed Use Neighborhood. The applicant is requesting Structure Plan
amendment concurrently with the rezone petition.
The parcel is located on western edge of the City of Fort Collins city limits. The most
recently adopted version of the Structure Plan, dated May 4, 2004, shows the site
bounded by UE-Urban Estate to the North and West, and LMN-Low Density Mixed Use
Neighborhood to the South and East. An existing commercial development is located on
the Northwest corner of the arterial road intersection and is identified as LMN on the
structure plan, which in the future would qualify as a Neighborhood Center. The current
Zoning Map identifies the property to the south of the project site as RL — Low Density
Residential. The remainder of the development surrounding the subject property,
including the commercial development on the Northwest corner of the arterial road
intersection, is zoned as residential uses within Larimer County. The uses surrounding
the property are single family residential to the south and east, larger lot residential to
the west, commercial development to the northwest and residential to the north.
Although the site is defined as Low Density Mixed Use Neighborhood on the Structure
Plan, the request to rezone the property to Medium Density Mixed Use Neighborhood is
consistent with other arterial road intersections within Fort Collins. The Structure Plan
and the Land Use Code advocate a transition of higher residential densities at arterial
intersections to lower densities between arterial road intersections. Some examples of
the MMN zone district designation at arterial road intersections on the west side of the
city include the intersections of W. Horsetooth Road and S. Shields Street, W. Drake
and S. Taft Hill Road, W. Harmony and S. Shields Street and W. Prospect Road and S.
Overland Trail.
Division 4.5 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code (MMN - Medium Density Mixed Use
Neighborhood) states that the MMN district is "intended to be a setting for concentrated
housing within easy walking distance of transit and a commercial district" and is intended
to "form a transition and a link between surrounding neighborhoods and the commercial
core." While not located within the city limits, commercial development within a future
neighborhood center is located on the opposite side of the intersection from this