HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRAILHEAD - PDP - 43-02A - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE REQUESTimpossible to have met the strict application of the solar lot standard, with
north -south lots and east -west streets. We feel that the site was designed as
efficiently as possible given the design constraints; it fosters and increases
connectivity and continuity, preserves natural existing conditions on the site
and provides direct access to destinations within the project such as the
Neighborhood Park and Neighborhood Center.
For the reasons outlined above, the applicant believes that the proposed plan
meets the review criteria equal to or better than an alternative layout.
VI=Flipl`iyASSOCIATES INC
Lantlscape Architecture Urban Design Planning
December 23, 2003
Cameron Gloss
Fort Collins Planning Department
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
RE: Alternative Compliance Request for Solar Lots - Trailhead
Project Development Plan (PDP).
This is an Alternative Compliance Request to Section 3.2.3 of the City's Land
Use Code, which addresses Solar Access, Orientation, Shading specifically to
Section 3.2.3(B) Solar- Oriented Residential Lots which states "At least sixty-five
(65) percent of the lots less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet in area in
single -and two-family residential developments must conform to the definition of
`solar -orientated' in order to preserve the potential for solar energy usage."
The site has a total of 222 residential lots. The total number of technically
complying solar lots are 74, which constitutes 33 percent of the total.
We are requesting approval for an alternative site layout that we feel meets the
standard equally well or better than a plan which complies with the standards.
Reasons supporting the request include:
The property has many design constraints. The site is bisected along the
north property line by the existing railroad tracks and the Larimer and Weld
Canal. Additionally, there are existing evergreen trees that are to be
preserved, a high-pressure gas line running east -west through the site, and a
proposed arterial street running north -south, connecting Vine Drive to the
northeast (shown on the Master Street Plan). The site was designed on a
gridded street layout with lots oriented to be parallel and perpendicular to the
arterial street. The street connectivity was established by following the
LCUASS standards for street intersection spacing requirements and block
standards. Therefore, we feel that it would have been very challenging, if not
Phone 970.224.5828 Fax 970.224.1662
401 West Mountain Ave. Suite 201
Fort Collins, CO 80521-2604
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