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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTIMBERLINE VILLAGE - HARMONY SCHOOL SHOPS, 4TH FILING - PDP - 10-03 - CORRESPONDENCE - CITY HALLJune 20, 2003 Mr. Stanley Whitaker Page 3 understanding in that the City will not deviate from CDOT on issues of safety and will not question their administrating of their criteria. Sincerely, John 9, L&J, F. Fischbach City Manager /khp cc: Matt Baker, Street Oversizing Coordinator Rob Beery, Miller Weingarten Realty, Inc. Greg Byrne, Director of Community Planning and Environmental Services Matt Delich, Transportation Engineer Tess Jones, Colorado Department of Transportation Cam McNair, City Engineer Ron Phillips, Executive Director of Transportation Services Randall Provencio, JR Engineering Ted Sheppard, Chief Planner Marc Virata, Civil Engineer Eldon Ward, Cityscape Urban Design June 20, 2003 Mr. Stanley Whitaker Page 2 westbound Harmony to southbound Timberline may need to extend past the left turn movement into your site in order to allow for adequate deceleration, transitioning, and storage — otherwise the design of this area may become a safety issue. This conclusion was based on criteria set forth in CDOT's State Highway Access Code, as adopted and effective August 21, 1998, taking into account traffic data provided in your traffic study combined with the posted speeds at this location. Issues regarding safety and operation of a CDOT roadway is specifically noted in the State Highway Access Code [Section 2.6.(7-8)] and grants CDOT the authority to "rebuild, modify, remove, or relocate any access", regardless of information presented in an access plan. The City always discusses concerns regarding access with CDOT, but we cannot ignore the authority of the State in applying their code criteria. This process as stated earlier requires amending the Plan and cannot be simply carried out unequivocally by CDOT or the City without this amendment process The City believes that the Harmony Road improvements you cited will be the final improvements with regards to road width; we do not anticipate any further road widening to the north into your site for the ultimate build -out of Harmony Road. At the same time, we cannot predict with certainty that when Harmony Road becomes the full 6-lane roadway that issues regarding safety and function of the roadway will not arise. If safety issues do become a concern, then the City and CDOT will be required to reevaluate the left turn movements into your site with regard to how it functions in conjunction with the left turn movements to southbound Timberline Road. However, this is true of any access within the City when an interim condition is in place. Since the safe operation of the highway is our major concern, it would not be prudent for me to commit in perpetuity to keeping a type of turning movement at an access point open when it potentially could become a safety issue years from now. It was concluded between the City and CDOT that this issue of possibly having your access reduced to right-in/right-out should be brought up as information for the future. However, it is fair to say that this issue may only occur when the ultimate build -out of Harmony Road is reached. At the time of ultimate build -out, it may be concluded that a design waiver is appropriate in this case and that safety and function is not being compromised in granting a waiver. In addition, changes in State Highway Access Code requirements, traffic numbers, or posted speeds may result in this no longer being an issue. It is simply too far down the road to predict exactly what is needed to ensure safety and function when Harmony Road is ultimately approved. I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to attempt to intercede on what amounts to a notice (not a guarantee) at this time and may not be an issue at all when ultimate build -out takes place. No matter what the eventual outcome may be, the City and CDOT are fully supportive of the left turn movement into the site in the current condition. We both do not see it as an issue for the safe operation of Harmony Road for the time being; but again, we both want to preserve our right to re-evaluate this access when Harmony Road is widened in the future and in the event it becomes'an issue, undertake the process to amend the Access Control Plan. We hope you are June 20, 2003 Mr. Stanley Whitaker Page 2 westbound Harmony to southbound Timberline may need to extend past the left turn movement into your site in order to allow for adequate deceleration, transitioning, and storage — otherwise the design of this area may become a safety issue. This conclusion was based on criteria set forth in CDOT's State Highway Access Code, as adopted and effective August 21, 1998, taking into account traffic data provided in your traffic study combined with the posted speeds at this location. Issues regarding safety and operation of a CDOT roadway is specifically noted in the State Highway Access Code [Section 2.6.(7-8)] and grants CDOT the authority to "rebuild, modify, remove, or relocate any access", regardless of information presented in an access plan. The City always discusses concerns regarding access with CDOT, but we cannot ignore the authority of the State in applying their code criteria. This process as stated earlier requires amending the Plan and cannot be simply carried out unequivocally by CDOT or the City without this amendment process. The City believes that the Harmony Road improvements you cited will be the final improvements with regards to road width; we do not anticipate any further road widening to the `6 6 north into your site for the ultimate build -out of Harmony Road. At the same time, -we canno DOu61, (k r_p edict with certainty that when Harmony Road becomes the full 6-lane roadway that issues ee; regarding safety and function of the roadway willorse. If safety issues do become a concern, then the City and CDOT will be required to reevaluate the left turn movements into your site with regard to how it functions in conjunction with the left turn movements to southbound Timberline Road. However, this is true of any access within the City when an interim condition is in place. Since the safe operation of the highway is our major concern, it would not be prudent for me to commit in perpetuity to keeping a type of turning movement at an access point open when it potentially could become a safety issue years from now. It was concluded between the City and CDOT that this issue of possibly having your access reduced to right-in/right-out should be brought up as information for the future. However, it is fair to say that this issue may only occur when the ultimate build -out of Harmony Road is reached. At the time of ultimate build -out, it may be concluded that a design waiver is appropriate in this case and that safety and function is not being compromised in granting a waiver. In addition, changes in State Highway Access Code requirements, traffic numbers, or posted speeds may result in this no longer being an issue. It is simply too far down the road to predict exactly what is needed to ensure safety and function when Harmony Road is ultimately approved. I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to attempt to intercede on what amounts to a notice (not a guarantee) at this time and may not be an issue at all when ultimate build -out takes place. No matter what the eventual outcome may be, the City and CDOT are fully supportive of the left turn movement into the site in the current condition. We both do not see it as an issue for the safe operation of Harmony Road for the time being; but again, we both want to preserve our right to re-evaluate this access when Harmony Road is widened in the future and in the event it becomes an issue, undertake the process to amend the Access Control, Plan. We hope you are City Man.ger's Office City of Fort Collins June 20, 2003 Mr. Stanley E. Whitaker, President Western Property Advisors 11859 Pecos Street, Suite 300 Westminster, CO 80234 RE: Timberline Village Dear Mr. Whitaker: Thank you for expressing your thoughts and concerns regarding your Albertson's development on the northeast corner of Harmony Road and Timberline Road. I have researched this matter with City Staff and believe that this letter will adequately respond to your concerns. Your letter expressed particular concern with the driveway access into your site off of Harmony Road and the possibility that left turning movements at this location could be removed in the future. This possibility was brought up after an evaluation of the development proposal by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) during the development review process. As we are all aware, Harmony Road is a state highway and as a consequence, CDOT has legal authority over issues regarding access design and location along Harmony Road. It should first be stated that both the City and CDOT are in agreement that the left turning movements at this location conform to the Harmony Road Access Control Plan. Furthermore, changes to this type of access cannot be made without amending the Plan. The Harmony Road Access Control Plan that you cite is a collaborative effort between the City and CDOT, designed to help with development along Harmony Road within the City. At the same time, it is my understanding that while the Harmony Road Access Control Plan does plan for access points and turning movements along Harmony Road, the Plan is general by its nature, and it does not take into account geometry of turn lanes necessary for the safe operation of all vehicles on the roadway. Specific requirements for street design, such as adequate storage, taper and deceleration into turn lanes, cannot be forecasted at this level and requires more in-depth analysis (meeting City and CDOT requirements) as properties develop. Furthermore, it is my understanding that in evaluating the turning movements when Harmony Road is widened to 6 lanes, CDOT has concluded that the dual left turn movements from 300 LaPorte Avenue • PO. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522,0580 • (970) 221-6505 • FAX (970) 224-6107 • TDD (970) 224-6001 %vNVwfcgov.com