HomeMy WebLinkAboutGEICO OFFICE BUILDING - PDP - PDP130039 - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATION (4)Jason Holland
From: darlene.mace@lpl.com
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2014 6:53 PM
To: Jason Holland
Subject: RE: Geico Office Building Project
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
Jason, many thanks for your efforts. Taking the time to update me is greatly appreciated.
On Thu Apr 17 21:11, Jason Holland <1Holland@fceov.com> wrote:
Darlene,
Thanks for reaching out and voicing your concerns. I would be happy to print your email in letter format and provide a
hard copy to the Hearing Officer.
It might help to explain that staff is recommending approval of the modification request to reduce the landscape setback
because the project has only 88 feet of buildable depth for new structures, parking and circulation. The strict
application of the 80 foot setback standard within this remaining 88 foot project depth would render the site infeasible
for development. Essentially, the 80 foot setback takes up the majority of the site.
We have required that the remaining 27 feet of landscape area be enhanced by providing a wide shrub bed that
includes berms and landscape boulders, with the intent of providing an enhanced, higher quality landscape edge to
compensate for the reduction in setback depth from 80 feet to 27 feet. As part of this enhancement, turf areas are kept
to a minimum so that trees and shrubs can be placed in more naturalistic groupings, contributing to an attractive
landscape edge that appears spacious and provides design continuity along the Harmony Road frontage. Also,
regardless of any landscape setback distance, we have site distance requirements at all intersections in the City to
ensure safe view corridors. The project meets these site distance requirements.
We consider the 80 foot setback to be a very important component of the Harmony Road corridor, but unfortunately it
doesn't work at this location. Reductions cannot be supported unless there's a strong case for needing a
reduction. Thankfully this appears to be the only area of the corridor that is restricted, and the vast majority of the
corridor has accommodated the 80 setback. The bar is set high for development standards along Harmony and we'll
continue to push for high quality.
I hope this explanation helps.
Thanks,
Jason
Jason Holland, PLA I City Planner
City of Fort Collins
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.224.6126
ihollandCiD.fcaov. com