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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBANK OF COLORADO - PDP - 16-03 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT4. Findings of Fact/Conclusion: In evaluating the request for Bank of Colorado, Staff makes the following findings of fact: A. The land use, financial services, is permitted in the I, Industrial zone, which, in accordance with Colorado case law, is the governing zone district, subject to Administrative Review. B. The P.D.P. complies with the applicable Land Use and Development Standards of the Industrial zone district. C. The P.D.P. complies with the applicable General Development Standards. D. The Alternative Compliance request for Section 3.2.2(K)(2) has been evaluated and recommended by Staff as a comparable method by which to comply with the standard. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Bank of Colorado, P.D.P., #16-03. concrete shingle. All four elevations include windows. The primary building field is brick. The base will include natural buff sandstone. All color shades are subdued and compatible with the area. J. Section 3.5.3(B)(1)(2) — Relationship of Buildings to Streets, Walkways and Parking The main entrance is on the east and connects to the public sidewalks on both streets by a walkway that includes a pedestrian plaza. The building is between 10 and 25 feet back from Lemay Avenue. (The building is set further back from Lincoln Avenue due to the stormwater detention pond. K. Section 3.5.3(C)(D) — Variation in Massing and Character and Image As mentioned, the building is attractive and uses high quality materials. The building features a recognizable base, middle and top. All exterior facades are articulated and the entrance is clearly defined. L. Section 3.6.4 — Transportation Level of Service Requirements The P.D.P. adequately provides vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle facilities necessary to maintain the adopted transportation Level of Service standards contained in Part II of the City of Fort Collins Multi -Modal Transportation Level of Service Manual. Both Lemay and Lincoln Avenues are classified as arterial streets. Lemay will ultimately include a median thereby restricting the driveway to a right- in/right-out turns only. The Lincoln Avenue driveway is temporary and will feature full turn movements. Upon development of the abutting parcel, the Lincoln driveway. will be moved approximately 470 east and shared with the future development. This future permanent access is expected to be restricted to right-in/right-out turns only. In the short range (2005), all intersections will operate acceptably. This assumes that Vine Drive will be equipped with both east and westbound left turn lanes at the Lemay intersection. This is the maximum practical improvement that can be made at this intersection without substantial right-of-way acquisition. In the long range (2023), the Lemay Avenue bypass around Andersonville and San Cristo, with a grade -separated crossing of the railroad tracks and Vine Drive, is assumed to have been constructed. Pedestrian levels of service is expected to be provided as undeveloped parcels construct public improvements in accordance with the standards for public streets and sidewalks. Average AM Peak Hour Average PM Peak Hour In Out In Out 26 19 37 38 Staff finds that the data contained in the T.I.S. indicates that traffic generated by the land use could exceed the maximum number of allowed parking spaces. Further, Staff finds that since the future potential abutting development is multi -family and that there are no opportunities for shared parking. Since the surrounding area is undeveloped at this time, there is no opportunity for parking on public streets. Staff also finds that there are no opportunities for nearby convenient parking that can be leased from a private or municipal provider. In evaluating the Alternative Compliance request by the criteria of the standard, Staff further finds that three extra parking spaces: 1. Does not detract from continuity, connectivity and convenient proximity for pedestrians between or among existing or future uses in the vicinity; 2. Minimizes the visual and aesthetic impact along the public street by placing parking lots to the rear or along the side of buildings, to the maximum extent feasible; 3. Minimizes the visual and aesthetic impact on the surrounding neighborhood; 4. Creates no physical impact on any facilities serving alternative modes of transportation; 5. Creates no detrimental impact on natural areas or features; 6. Maintains handicap parking ratios. Staff, therefore, recommends approval of the Alternative Compliance request. Section 3.5.1(B)(C)(E)(F) — Building Project and Compatibility There is no definitively established architectural character for the mix of land uses in the area. The building, however, is attractive and features high quality materials and will set a high standard for the buildings that follow. There are multiple pitched roofs, both metal (earth tone) and D. Section 3.2.1(F) — Tree Protection and Replacement There is one significant Burr Oak tree located on the south edge of the parking lot next to the detention pond. This tree will be preserved. E. Section 3.2.2(B - E) — Access Circulation and Parking The parking and circulation system is designed to integrate with future development on the north and east. The north -south drive aisle will be shared with the future development and is guaranteed not to change since it also the location of a 20-foot wide utility easement for an existing sanitary sewer main. The parking lot and sidewalks are laid out in a logical and functional manner. The demarcation between the drive -through lanes and the parking lot is obvious. The on -site pedestrian system provides connections out to the public sidewalk of both streets. A bicycle rack is provided near the entrance. F. Section 3.2.2(H) — Drive-in Facilities The three drive -through lanes are located on the north side of the building and do not conflict with the pedestrian plaza on the south side of the building. Each lane has stacking for three waiting cars for a total of nine. There is a walk-up service option as well as the drive-in option. G. Section 3.2.2(K)(2) — Parking Lots — Maximum Number of Spaces Financial services are allowed a maximum of 3.5 spaces per thousand square feet. For a building consisting of 5,447 square feet, a total of 19 spaces are allowed. The project consists of 22 spaces. H. Section 3.2.2(K)(3) — Parking Lots — Alternative Compliance The applicant has proposed that the project, with three extra parking spaces, complies with the standard through the Alternative Compliance provision. As evidence, the applicant has submitted a Traffic Impact Study prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of Colorado. The T.I.S. indicates that for bank of comparable size, with drive through lanes, in both the morning and afternoon peak hours, the average number of trips, both in and out, equals or exceeds 19. Based on the Trip Generation, 6th Edition, Institute of Traffic Engineers, the number or trips during the peak hours are as follows: zone, subject to Administrative Review (Type One). After the project was submitted, the parcel was rezoned to M-M-N, Medium Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood, to implement the East Mulberry Corridor Plan. In order to remain consistent with Colorado case law, the project is being processed in accordance with the Land Use Code that was in effect at the time of the submittal. Therefore, the Industrial zone district standards prevail, not the M-M-N standards. (As a point of reference, financial services are permitted in the M-M-N, but, in contrast to the Industrial zone, would be subject to Planning and Zoning Board review.) B. Section 4.23(E)(2)(b) — Building Design — Orientation In the Industrial zone, buildings along arterial streets are required to have at least 30% of the facade located along the landscaped yard and that these portions of the building not have blank walls. The building provides 100% of its facade facing the landscaped yards the walls feature windows and other articulation. 3. Compliance With General Development Standards: A. Section 3.2.1(C)(D) — Landscaping and Tree Protection The P.D.P. provides full tree stocking and foundation shrubs around the east, south and west elevations. One significant tree along Lincoln Avenue will be preserved. Ten new street trees will be added along both street frontages, five per street. B. Section 3.2.1(E)(4)(a) —Parking Lot Perimeter Landscaping The north edge of the parking lot will feature a five-foot wide landscape strip. The south edge of the parking lot is separated from Lincoln Avenue by the 50-foot wide stormwater detention pond. The east edge of the parking lot will a shared private access drive for future development to the north and east. A letter from the adjacent owner is attached. C. Section 3.2.1(E)(5) — Parking Lot Interior Landscaping The parking lot exceeds 6% interior landscaping in the form of islands, which is the required minimum for lots with less than 100 spaces. COMMENTS: Background: The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: M-M-N; Vacant (miscellaneous outbuildings from old farmstead) S: C; Existing Multi -Family (Buffalo Run Apartments) E: M-M-N; Vacant W:I; Existing Multi -Tenant Commercial/Industrial Building The site was annexed into the City in 1994. The following represents the planning activity on the parcel since annexation: • The 17-acre Lincoln East Overall Development Plan was approved in 1996. This O.D.P. envisioned a mix of convenience retail, business services, auto -related services and industrial land uses. This O.D.P. has since expired. • Lincoln East Convenience Center Preliminary P.U.D. (Diamond Shamrock convenience store, fuel facility, carwash and lube shop on 2.3 acres) was approved in 1997. • Lincoln East Convenience Center Final P.U.D., First Filing (Schrader's Country Store, fuel facility and carwash on 1.4 acres) was denied in June of 1998. • Lincoln East Convenience Center, Second Filing, (auto lube shop on less than one acre) was denied in June of 1998. • The East Mulberry Corridor Plan was adopted by City Council in September of 2002. • The property was part of a larger re -zoning from I, Industrial to M-M-N, Medium Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood, on May 20, 2003 to implement the East Mulberry Corridor Plan. 2. Compliance with Applicable Standards of Industrial Zone — Article Four: A. Land Use At the time the project was submitted, the parcel was zoned Industrial. Financial services, which include banks, are permitted in the Industrial ITEM NO. 2 MEETING DATEQ -_' STAFF ?fd SME MAP Citv of Fort Collins HEARING OFFICER STAFF REPORT PROJECT: Bank of Colorado, P.D.P., #16-03 APPLICANT: Bank of Colorado C/o V-F Ripley and Associates 401 West Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 OWNER: Drahota Construction Company 4700 Innovation Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for a 5,447 square foot bank, with three drive -through lanes. The building would be one-story in height. The parcel is 1.71 acres in size and located at the northeast corner of Lemay Avenue and East Lincoln Avenue. The parcel is zoned M-M-N, Medium Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood. RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: At the time the project was submitted, the property was zoned I, Industrial. Although it was subsequently rezoned to M-M-N, the Industrial zoning governs the application. The P.D.P. complies with the applicable Land Use and Development Standards of the Industrial zone district. The P.D.P. complies with the applicable General Development Standards. The Alternative Compliance request for Section 3.2.2(K)(2) has been evaluated and recommended by Staff as a comparable method by which to comply with the standard. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT