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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRIGDEN FARM, PIONEER CHARTER SCHOOL - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 56-98U - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - PROJECT NARRATIVEARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES The Governing Board has committed to the highest performing building that they can financially support. The goal of this project is to learn from the recent success of the Poudre Schools, (Zach and Bacon Elementary) and incorporate similar high performance daylighting, building materials, construction techniques which subsequently produce the optimum learning environment for their students and staff. The Governing Board has committed to this project being a LEED certified project. Subsequently, significant amounts of windows, sunscreens, solar panels and other building materials are incorporated as a means to obtain this exceptional project goal. The proposed building materials, colors, scale and construction were selected to be compatible with the existing residential units to the east while at the same time intending to blend with proposed commercial development to the west. Sloped metal and/or asphalt shingle roofing will be provided. A combination of lighter wood or metal siding will be used as an accent on the upper level of the school to break up the scale of the building, with the base of the structure utilizing 'heavier' synthetic stucco and stone materials, Tinted insulating windows in natural earth tones will be included in the palette of exterior wall finishes. Accents of roof overhangs and timbered elements are included. Architectural elements include a variety of exterior forms to be a non -repetitive design but with attention to consistent design elements on all sides of building facades. Building materials, canopies, columns and detailed design elements will add to the differentiation but cohesiveness of the building architecture. e C ■ Ihyl C �/ 7 August 20, 2003 I potential neighborhood traffic conflicts while allowing for adequate queing of parent vehicles. Entering northbound from Minnesota will not be permitted at the peak A.M. and P.M. periods. The School will operate with staggered start and dismissal times for grades 7-9 and 10-12. A combination of student bicycle, walking, public bus usage and carpooling are currently being utilized, supported and encouraged by the School and parents alike. This would continue at their new facilities. Detached sidewalks (5') shall be provided along all street right-of-ways. Additionally, an 8' pedestrian and bike path, with a bridge connection to the school, shall be constructed and maintained through the entire site connecting on the east to the existing path and shall ultimately connected to future development to the west and extending to Timberline Road and the retail portion of the project. No other additional off -site improvements are required. PUBLIC UTILITIES All basic utilities required for this development are existing and/or available for extension to the property. Adequate capacity currently exists with the City utilities infrastructure to serve the project. WATER & SEWER City of Fort Collins STORM DRAINAGE City of Fort Collins ELECTRIC City of Fort Collins POLICE, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE City of Fort Collins FIRE Poudre Fire Authority NATURAL GAS Excel Energy TELEPHONE Qwest I�e1dl'e The project will be landscaped with regionally appropriate plant materials with special consideration to implement xeriscape principles including low water usage, soil amendments, like -needs grouping of plantings and low maintenance characteristics. In the north open space and detention areas a naturalistic approach shall be continued, primarily utilizing drought tolerant grass mixes. The drainage areas within the detention area will incorporate water quality attributes to enhance the quality of flows off - site and downstream. The areas along the bike path will include informal plantings of deciduous trees specifically provided for sun shade and to enhance the path. Within the developed southern half portion of the site a combination of berming, shrubs, coniferous and deciduous canopy trees will provide horticultural variety and add visual interest while providing significant buffers between from the building/parking areas to the public right of ways. Overall the Custer streetscape will be significantly enhanced along the south perimeter while maintaining the openness along the building facades for off -hours security purposes. All public R.O.W. tree and turf areas will be provided at the various street frontages. All site vegetation shall be planted, irrigated and maintained by the by Governing Board. The landscaping and irrigation of the street frontages shall be coordinated with City staff and be the obligation of the Governing Board. There is no existing vegetation on the site to be maintained. The exterior property grounds will be maintained in a clean and safe manner. The final landscape plan shall meet or exceed City landscape criteria. PIONEER CHARTER SCHOOL RIGDEN FARM, 1Oth FILING PROJECT NARRATIVE PROJECT DESCRIPTION The purpose of this project is to provide permanent facilities for the PIONEER Charter School, chartered by the Poudre R-1 School District. The current home for the school is the Cimarron Plaza retail center at Shields and Drake Roads, Fort Collins. The PIONEER Charter School is an ELOB, (Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound) program entering its third year with a charter extension proposed for 30 years. The school philosophy embraces an experiential curriculum, focused around whole project study through 'learning expeditions' that include significant service -learning and fieldwork components. The proposed facilities will provide for 360 total students, grades 7 through 12 with up to 30 staff members. The proposed parking and school building facilities would be located on the southern half of the block maintaining the north half of the lot for active recreation and open space. The original legal description is Tract E, 1 st Filing, Rigden Farm, Fort Collins. The site is the entire block, bounded by Custer Drive on the south, Kansas Drive on the west, Limon Drive on the north and Minnesota Drive on the east LAND USE The proposed PIONEER Charter School parcel consists of approximately 185,937 s.f. or 4.27 net acres. The site is currently undeveloped vacant land, zoned MMN - Medium Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood District, City of Fort Collins. The junior and senior high school is a permitted use. There is no re -zoning of the property being requested. The site is bordered on all sides by public streets and parcels within the City of Fort Collins. The proposed development is for a single structure in a one and partial two-story configuration totaling 26,255 s.f. of building area. The ground level coverage of the building is 16,155 s.f., (or approximately 9%) of the site, parking/walks/drives area of approximately 26% and open landscape areas over 489/o. The Governing Board of the PIONEER Charter School is committed to building a high quality school facility as a mixed - use complement to the overall Rigden Farm neighborhood. This will be the first facility of its kind constructed in the United States for an ELOB program. The project shall have two one-way access points, entering the site from the east side from Minnesota and exiting south, onto Custer. The Governing Board will actively support and encourage coordination of drop-off and pick-up traffic at the schools peak periods, to approach from Limon and southbound Minnesota directions eliminating