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Home My WebLink AboutREDTAIL RESIDENTIAL - PDP - 26-01 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - MODIFICATION REQUEST (3)K�DTL T d - UEke JrMfC PRE �T� c.oc J F�w` l VIEW F, SW C*NEX 7-#V*lLD rAtfLf vrEw r-h cirk«cp TRW 75 T0149p MAVK Ne;r 7WrT r60 Y R c..9 1S(AP-o' ARovE or Txec- S 1, - SRN ot OF PR0Tc %. T L/44Vv'�t,�t fi,1ltid- =�t- 1'(?(13-(t`�7 '1'�iC�piN41 I /3C'�s �` y - Y fs i u m y��x C d�--s-t f I i i t2fl i t ;c� l i i I I i Gig r r y45, i 0 ILAC-4ic /�2uJL'CT 9 l 0s/6 z PEN --sit p,�o3C�c-T' T� '1984 Q Y' 11 is b The majority of the existing site topography, the existing drainage features and ponds, will be maintained and the project is designed to accomplish this by i) allocating 50.2% of the project net area to landscape / open space areas and ii) clustering the housing in a way to minimize impact on same. g. The project is designed to enhance the natural ecological characteristics relating in particular to the three ponds and adjacent open space / natural area. No landscaping is planned within the buffer zone except for the extension of Cameron Drive into project. h. The project will provide appropriate human access to the buffer area by means of public sidewalks along Cameron Drive and the ped / bike path which proceeds (in conjunction with the emergency access and water utility line road) between the north and middle ponds. Both of these pedestrian / bike sidewalks / paths provide an excellent opportunity for people to observe wildlife, enjoy the natural areas, take photographs, etc. However, other access to the project open space / natural areas will not be encouraged in an effort to preserve habitat and not interfere with wildlife. 4. Accordingly, we respectfully request, based on our satisfaction of the buffer zone performance standards, a reduction of the Redtail hawk buffer from 1,320' to 1,2401, a 6% reduction. This will allow for the development activity relating to Building O, Building P, and the southern pond water quality / outflow structure to be constructed, including a 20' allowance for a construction easement along the north edge of the City natural area, should that possibly be necessary in the future (our present plans call for all construction activity to occur on -site). Thank you. JP/hlb Enclosures Topographic / Elevations Plan Cress -section Photos Furthermore, all street activity and the central park / mail kiosk areas are located centrally in the project, not around the periphery, which reduces the amount of vehicle noise or other noise which otherwise might possibly be transmitted south toward the hawk's nest. b. The project shall preserve and enhance wildlife movement corridors. The major wildlife movement corridor proceeds from north to south along the three ponds and then out onto City natural area. This natural wildlife corridor will be maintained largely in its current state. Where it is impacted by regrading, it will be rehabilitated with the planting of native grasses, shrubs and trees to achieve a condition equal to or greater than the original natural area's condition. Although the wildlife corridor will be impacted by the widening of Cameron Drive for the project access and the water utility line — emergency fire access road — pedestrian / bike path between the upper two ponds, wildlife movement will otherwise not be impacted. Furthermore, in the off-season, wildlife may be able to use some of the culverts being installed for north -south travel. -50.2% of the net project acres is committed to landscape and open space. The major portion of this is the three ponds and related open space described above. c. The project shall be designed to preserve significant existing trees and other significant existing vegetation. With the exception of regrading required primarily related to the extension of Cameron Drive and primarily around the southernmost pond, trees and significant existing vegetation will not be impacted. Where they are, however, they will be replaced with trees and vegetation of equal or greater quality. It is worthy of note that the water utility line will be shifted approximately 20' north (where it passes between the north and middle ponds). This will cause a small part of the upper pond to be backfilled in a long section of non -sensitive shoreline, removing about fifteen trees (mostly 4" — 8", two 12"), however the benefit will be to keep the most pristine natural area located along the north end of the middle pond (just south of the northern pond) otherwise totally intact and in existing natural condition. d. The ponds and adjacent open space, trees and shrubs, existing and new will provide the various wildlife, including waterfowl and other, with habitat and feeding areas. Project is designed to protect, maintain and enhance such habitat and feeding areas as described above. e. The project is designed so that the major amount of traffic, noise and light is central in the project, and therefore is substantially buffered by the buildings which surround the public streets, the two cul-de-sacs, and the central park — kiosk area from impacting wildlife and wildlife use of habitat both on the site and in the City natural area to the south. September 16, 2002 Michelle Pawar Director of Natural Resources Doug Moore Environmental Planner Natural Resources City of Fort Collins 281 N. College Ave. P. O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 RE: Redtail Project / Request for 60o Reduction in the 1,320' Redtail Hawk Buffer Zone Dear Michelle and Doug: 1. In our submittals for this project, we have requested that we be granted this modification. 2. In way of general explanation based on extensive site inspection, measurements and photographs, we are able to conclusively establish that the Redtail hawk nest will not be able to view any part of the Redtail project because a) the hawk nest is located on the south side of a large tree with four major limbs, branches and seasonal foliage blocking the view to the north, and b) the view to the north from the nest is further blocked by a 80' by 440' grove of 50' trees. Please see topographic map, cross-section plan, and photos attached, in further explanation of this. 3. Specifically the project meets the buffer zone performance standards as follows: a. The project preserves and enhances the ecological character and wildlife use of the Redtail hawk nest and furthermore minimizes the impacts of development on same. This is achieved by locating buildings in a fashion and limiting their height so that they are fully blocked from view by the Redtail hawks from their nest by major groves of trees. 3944 JFK Parkway, r af, g Fort Collins, CO 80525 • (970) 225-5000 • Fax (970) 225-5125