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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDOT POUDRE RIVER REST AREA - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 27-04 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTCDOT Poudre River Rest Area — Site Plan Advisory Review, #27-04 August 26, 2004 Page 6 3. The extent of the CDOT Poudre River Rest Area, is adequately addressed through the proposed transportation, stormwater, landscape, and lighting design. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Board approve the CDOT Poudre River Rest Area Site Plan Advisory Review, File #27-04. List of Attachments: A- Site Vicinity Map B- Excerpt from Transportation Impact Study C- Development Plans CDOT Poudre River Rest Area — Site Plan Advisory'Review, #27-04 August 26, 2004 Page 5 These signal improvements, however, should be viewed as an interim measure. Most of the problems associated with this interchange are due to regional growth. The inability to provide for auxiliary turn lanes from Prospect Road onto the 1-25 ramps of the bridge, as well as the need for a double left turn lane northbound is the limiting factor. This constraint will be present with or without the rest area. The proposed drainage design proposes to transfer flows from the Poudre Basin to the Boxelder Basin. Due to this site being at the downstream end of the basins and the area in the Poudre Basin having no defined outfall, this design will be acceptable if proven that no negative impacts are created downstream in the Boxelder Creek Basin. Based on conversations between CDOT, City staff and FEMA, there is agreement that hydraulic analysis of the site would be submitted to FEMA along with the City's mapping for the FEMA Map Modernization process. This would assure CDOT that their proposed changes to the floodplain are acceptable to FEMA and will be incorporated into the map upon completion of the project. Wetland resources will be protected through a 100 foot -wide buffer from the Boxelder Creek. This area will be augmented with additional native plantings; any disturbed areas or degraded areas will be reseeded. Proposed site lighting meeting the City's design standards will be provided for parking areas, drives and pedestrian plazas. Pole heights within the site will not exceed 30 feet and will have cut-off fixtures that prevent light from spilling onto adjacent properties. Street lighting will be provided at the Prospect and frontage road intersection, and the frontage road will have additional street lighting leading to the rest area entrance. CONCLUSIONS: After reviewing the CDOT Poudre River Rest Area Site Plan Advisory Review, File #27-04, staff offers the following conclusions: 1. The location of the CDOT Poudre River Rest Area is appropriate given its orientation toward highway users and its operating characteristics. 2. The character of the CDOT Poudre River Rest Area is compatible with the building forms, materials, and landscaping found in the adjacent Colorado Visitors Center building and within the immediate area. CDOT Poudre River Rest Area — Site Plan Advisory Review, #27-04 August 26, 2004 Page 4 B. Character The proposed architectural style and building materials are effectively differentiated from the adjacent Colorado Visitor Center, yet it is compatible in relation to its size, scale and style. The existing Visitor Center is clad in metal and stucco and includes large expanses of glazing. The cantilevered roof element of the proposed rest area effectively ties the design of the two buildings together. One key differentiating element of the two buildings is the use of rustic materials, i.e.- wood, stone, rusty metal siding, that tend to visually "soften" the rest area building and better incorporate it into the natural landscape. Landscape for the site will consist of shade trees and ornamental plantings. This proposed landscape design successfully blends the facility into the native landscape. Two major planting types were used: 1. Native Dryland areas dominated by shortgrass prairie species and native shrubs, except for natural depressions that allow for more riparian species; and 2. High traffic areas near the building where a more formal landscape helps to define spaces and add seasonal color. The proposed building materials and landscaping comply with the 1-25 development standards found in Article 3 of the Land Use Code. C. Extent Primary access to the rest area will be through a box culvert crossing of Box Elder Creek from the frontage Road. As part of the development, off -site improvements will be made to the Prospect/frontage road intersection, including a traffic light, lane widening to accommodate trucks and RV's, and turn lanes as required. Both Prospect Road and the frontage road will be improved to collector standards, providing for ease of bicycle and pedestrian movements as well as motorized vehicles. RV's and cars will also have the option of existing the site via the existing visitor center access road at Prospect Road; however, this movement is discouraged by the design of the road system on the site. A full traffic report has been submitted which indicates that traffic signals and other improvements built in conjunction with this project will result in adequate site access. The lengthy delays and safety issues related to limited sight distance at the northbound ramp terminal will be significantly reduced. Not only will access be improved to the site, the improvements will benefit current users of the roadway. CDOT Poudre River Rest Area — Site Plan Advisory Review, #27-04 August 26, 2004 Page 3 2. Process Colorado Department of Transportation has agreed with the City to process this review under Section 31-23-209, C.R.S., which states: "When the commission (Planning and Zoning Board) has adopted the master plan of the municipality or of one or more major sections or districts thereof, no street, square, park, or other public way, ground or open space, public building or structure, or publicly or privately owned public utility shall be constructed or authorized in the municipality or in such planned section and district until the location, character and extent thereof has been submitted for approval by the commission." Under the statute, if the Planning and Zoning Board disapproves the site plan such disapproval may be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the State Transportation Commission. No City -sponsored neighborhood meeting was held as part of this application; however, CDOT and its consulting engineers and planners conducted a design charrette. 2. Location. Character and Extent: A. Location The CDOT Poudre River Rest area is located within the 1-25 Subarea, which is an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan, City Plan, and became a formally adopted Plan in 2003 after a lengthy public process. In conjunction with the 1-25 Subarea Plan adoption, the City's Land Use Code was amended to include design standards for properties within the 1-25 corridor. Both the 1-25 Subarea Plan policies and Land Use Code standards call for building placement that will create an attractive gateway into Fort Collins and will protect important view corridors for vistas to the mountains. This has largely been achieved by commercial building placement standards, which restrict the amount of building frontage for buildings close to 1-25. In this case, the building is setback approximately 2,000 feet Oust over 1/3 mile) from 1-25 and has a narrow building facade width of 65 feet. CDOT Poudre River Rest Area — Site Plan Advisory Review, #27-04 August 26, 2004 Page 2 COMMENTS: Background The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: POL, C, E- Welcome Center/State Parks Offices, vacant S: RC, E- City Natural Area E: C- Boxelder Creek, 1-25 and frontage road W: RC, CSU- City Natural Area, CSU Environmental Learning Center CDOT is transferring ownership of the original 1-25 rest area property located on the west side of 1-25 to the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas program, in exchange for City -owned property to be transferred to the State of Colorado. Proposed uses and the conceptual site plan have been approved by the Natural Resources Advisory Board. Proposed development includes a rest area served by a 3,300 sq. ft. building that includes restrooms, visitor information kiosks and vending machines. Parking will be provided through surface lots including spaces for 53 automobiles, 9 recreational vehicles and 25 trucks. Additional structures within the site include a maintenance building with a garage and five picnic shelters. The rest area will be enclosed to the west and south by a rail fence. The purpose of the fence is to restrict access from the site to adjacent wildlife habitat and City of Fort Collins Natural Areas. Several off -site transportation improvements will be made in conjunction with this facility: • Ramp Terminal Signalization. The northbound and southbound ramp terminals will be signalized. • Frontage Road Signalization. The intersection of the (western) frontage road and Prospect Road will be signalized. • Ramp Terminal Geometrics. The northbound approach of the ramp terminal should be restriped to provide channelization to allow for a left turn. • Westbound approach at the (western) frontage road. The volume meets warrants for an additional left turn lane. • Pavement Improvement along Prospect Road and the frontage road. The frontage road will be improved to collector roadway standards, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities. ITEM NO. 3 MEETING DATE 4 STAFF Cameron Gloss Citv of Fort Collins PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD STAFF REPORT PROJECT: CDOT Poudre River Rest Area Site Plan Advisory Review, #27-04 OWNER: Colorado Department of Transportation c/o Rick Gabel 1420 2"d Street Greeley, CO 80631 APPLICANT: Stantec Consulting c/o Dale Stein 209 S. Meldrum Fort Collins, CO 80521 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The CDOT Poudre River Rest Area Site Plan Advisory Review is a request to construct a 3,300 gross sq.ft. rest area south of Prospect Road near the intersection of Prospect Road and the 1-25 frontage road, '/< mile west of the 1-25/Prospect interchange. The proposed rest area will be located directly south the existing Colorado Welcome Center/State Parks offices facility. The facility will replace two existing rest areas located on the east and west sides of 1-25, just south of Horsetooth Road. The site is part of a reclaimed mining operation and lies within two zone districts: River Conservation (R-C) and Parks and Open Lands (POL). RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This request for review from Colorado Department of Transportation is submitted to the Planning and Zoning Board as a Site Plan Advisory Review pursuant to State Statute Section 31-23-209, which limits the City's review to the location, character and extent of the improvements. Staff has concluded that of the proposed facility location, character and extent of impacts are appropriate. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT