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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPOUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT 2004 HIGH SCHOOL - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 43-01A - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATION (3)It would seem logical that the new high school would trigger the improvement of Cambridge Avenue, but I understand that the traffic impact analysis required of the School District surprisingly does not indicate that the improvement of Cambridge Avenue is necessary to accommodate the traffic needs of the High School. Therefore, a situation is being created where nearly 1000 new residences have been approved, and an 1800 student high school is about to be approved, with the most direct route to these developments remaining unimproved and dead ending just 1000 feet short of the center of these developments. The problem of drivers either not knowing the way or looking for a shortcut could increase for years and is not likely to go away in the long term. Consider the additional traffic generated from visitors, contractor and service vehicles to these new neighborhoods. Plus, consider the sporting events with visiting teams to be held in the new baseball diamonds and soccer fields that are part of the new High School. The public safety problems extend beyond the publics' use of an unimproved private drive and increased turning movements at the Cambridge/Harmony intersection: The School District school bus currently stops directly in the Cambridge/Harmony intersection to pickup and drop-off students. On January 31 st, 2001 a student was nearly struck by an eastbound motorist who, not seeing the school bus, veered to the right into an irrigation ditch, just missing a child leaving the bus (Police Report No. 02-1988). I respectfully urge the City to consider that the construction of the new High School, in conjunction with the development of the Brookfield and Willowbrook residential subdivisions, would introduce both unnecessary traffic intrusions and safety problems on Cambridge Avenue. Short of Cambridge Avenue being properly improved to assume its' eventual role in accessing these areas, traffic mitigation measures along Cambridge Avenue should be required of the new High School project. These would include 1) signage at the Cambridge/Harmony and Cambridge/Rock Creek intersections, 2) barricade placement where Cambridge Avenue currently end and at the Cambridge/ Rock Creek intersection, 3) a commitment to install a turn around where Cambridge Avenue ends, 4) and any other measures necessary to avoid problems during the indefinite time period before Cambridge Avenue is improved. I appreciate your passing my concerns to the applicant, appropriate staff and the Planning and Zoning Board. Sincerely, Lester M. Kaplan Cc. Cambridge Avenue residents ti Lester M. Kaplan 140 Palmer Drive: Fort Collins • Colorado 80525'—-"-...__ Phone: (970) 226-6819 Fax: (970) 207-9256 l ii Ted Shepard, Chief Planner Community Planning and Environmental Services FEB 0 7 2002 1 II 281 North College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80522 By Re: Fort Collins High School Proposal Ziegler/ Rock Creek Dear Ted: As an owner of property on Cambridge Avenue close to where the 1800 student Fort Collins High School project is proposed, I would like to express my concerns regarding the inevitability for errant traffic on Cambridge Avenue. This High School traffic would be in conjunction with traffic from the recently approved Brookfield Subdivision and the Willowbrook Subdivision. While Cambridge Avenue is not currently being considered as access to any of these developments, it is the most direct route and, although unimproved, will be used by those not knowing the way or as a shortcut. Currently, Cambridge Avenue is an approximately 1600 foot private drive, with public right-of-way for only the first 700 feet or so. Designated as an eventual minor arterial with approved construction drawings, this private drive currently provides access to five (5) houses and dead ends about 1000 north of east -west Rock Creek Drive, which is the primary access road for the Brookfield/Willowbrook Subdivisions and the High School. Whether Cambridge Avenue is improved or not, new residents to the area and students will try to use Cambridge Avenue as the most direct route to their homes and to the High School. This means errant traffic going north on Cambridge Avenue then, once reaching the dead end, turning around. Not only a traffic intrusion onto a private drive maintained by the property owners, this traffic also would add to the existing safety problem of traffic turning east and west at the Cambridge/Harmony intersection. There will no doubt be those with four-wheel drive vehicles trying to drive across private property where no improved road exists, attempting to cut through the last 1000 feet from where Cambridge Avenue dead ends to reach Rock Creek Drive Of course, the improvement of Cambridge Avenue consistent with the City's master street plan would solve the problem. Unfortunately, this is not scheduled. As you know, the final approval for Hewlett-Packard's project on the west side of Cambridge Avenue includes the improvement of Cambridge Avenue. However, Hewlett-Packard has indefintely postponed its' project, thereby indefinitely postponing the improvement of Cambridge Avenue. Neither the Brookfield Subdivision nor the Willowbrook Subdivision are being required to improve Cambridge Avenue. You will recall that the applicants for these projects had proposed to the City that Cambridge Avenue, the most direct route to these neighborhoods from Harmony Road, be improved by them to serve as their primary access road. However, the City and Colorado Department of Transportation required that east -west Rock Creek, instead of Cambridge Avenue, serve as the primary access road to these new neighborhoods.