HomeMy WebLinkAboutNIX FARM NATURAL AREA FACILITY - PDP/FDP - 10-01 - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATIOND � 0 X
To: Mr. Cameron Gloss, Current Planning Director L183y
9Z001From: Charles Hatchette, M.D. GeneralCai•e Health Services, Inc.
RE: Neighborhood information meeting I
Date: March 27, 2001
Dear Mr.'Gloss,
Thank you for hosting last night's meeting about the Nix's Farmhouse conversion currently being
proposed by the Fort Collins Natural Resources Department. My wife and I enjoyed the hospitality and the
information about this proposed development.
After reflection, I still have concerns about the traffic impact from the proposed development, and would
like to summarize these for your consideration.
1. Traffic problems could easily develop at the corner of Poudre River Drive and Lemay Avenue due to
current and future development, even without the additional burden of approximately 100 cars per day
anticipated by this project. Southbound exits from Poudre River Drive onto Lemay will remain a traffic
engineering problem, due in part to the proximity of the rail crossing and the Riverside Avenue signal.
2. Truck traffic on Hoffman Mill Road is already quite heavy due to the City recycling operation. My
understanding is that Hoffman Mill Road cannot be brought up to current City street standards because it
meanders into the railroad right-of-way over much of its length. Additionally, easement and road width
issues are complicated by a proposed bike path along the North side of the right-of-way, and by houses
that are located quite near the tracks.
3. City planners have recently given serious thought to returning parts of Hoffman Mill Road to private
ownership. This in itself would seem to argue against making it the main entrance to the proposed
development.
Ot a more general note, I wonder if the public interest in a visible, accountable and accessible Natural
Resources Department is well served by this plan. Since the proposed access to this publicly -funded facility is (for
all practical purposes) so hidden, it may be difficult for members of the general public to even find this facility, as
it is currently being considered.
A simple solution exists. Development of the existing road that joins Timberline would provide visible
access, signage, and possibly even parking areas for bike path users. I understand the City already owns this land,
and that an unpaved access road to the farmhouse is already available for fire department use. Suggestions that
such a road would not be "natural enough" are somewhat suspect, to say the least.
Thank you for considering these comments. Overall, this development project seems quite worthwhile, and
we hope to be kept informed as it moves forward.
Sincerely,
Charles Hatchette, M.D.
Copies: Elmer Schneider 2334 West Ridgecrest Road
Dave Hill 3500 JFK Parkway
Michael Lynch, Ph.D., D.O. 1100 Poudre River Drive
Robert Homberg, M.D. 1100 Poudre River Drive
David Abbey, M.D. 1100 Poudre River Drive
William Harrison, M.D. 1100 Poudre River Drive
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