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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGGIE VILLAGE NORTH REDEVELOPMENT - SPAR - SPA130005 - DECISION - MINUTES/NOTESPlanning & Zoning Board January 9, 2014 Page 13 Board Discussion Member Heinz stated that she believes this is a beautiful project and she supports it. Member Kirkpatrick agreed and added that she believes the project has a high quality of design and adequately accomplishes both CSU's and the City's master plans. Member Schneider made a motion to approve the Aggie Village North SPA#13005 as presented with the findings of facts and recommendations. Member Kirkpatrick seconded the motion. Member Hansen commented that he believes that the traffic concerns have been well -mitigated. Regarding the parking situation, he believes that CSU's vast infrastructure to accommodate parking needs can take on that challenge. Chair Carpenter agreed with this assessment. The motion was passed 7-0. Mr. Haberecht thanked the Board and expressed his gratitude. Member Kirkpatrick complimented the Traffic Impact Study that was prepared for this project. Other Business None. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25pm. Laurie Kadrich, CDNS Director Jennifer Carpenter, Chair Planning & Zoning Board January 9, 2014 Page 12 Board Questions Member Hobbs asked what the contingencies are if the assumptions about the demographics of car usage end up false and the number of cars is more than anticipated. Mr. Haberecht responded that the location of this project is imbedded into the campus system, so he doesn't believe students will be commuting across the street. In addition, the campus has an inventory of parking stock that is offered to any resident of this facility. Member Hobbs questioned whether allowing students to park far away from their residence could be a problem. Mr. Haberecht responded that he is comfortable that students can park at several lots that are still within the campus boundary, in addition to the imminent implementation of a campus shuttle. Ms. Mathews also added that CSU can flex their parking stock as campus changes. The campus has a parking commitment to commuter students as well as residential students. Member Hobbs asked about future parking concerns if a similar redevelopment plan for South Aggie Village is proposed. Mr. Haberecht responded that the master plan shows a 450-lot parking garage to be located south of the Hilton, which would be in support of such an expansion. In addition, an allotment of land at Prospect would be the location of an underpass to provide another way for students to access campus at Centre and Prospect, which is a heavily -used access point for students. Member Hart stated that this project is only part of the overall campus development plan. He suggested that it would be easier to understand the campus plan if the Board could see the "bigger picture" rather than just the current plans. Mr. Haberecht responded that CSU is in the process of updating the campus master plan, which is due to the state by the end of 2014. He suggested that they could present something to the Board around September. Chair Carpenter also suggested that it might be a topic for a future work session. Ms. Mathews confirmed that there is no timeline for redevelopment of Aggie Village South at this time. Member Heinz asked how parking spaces are assigned. Mr. Haberecht responded that they are purchased by students, and prices change based on location. Member Heinz also asked what role CSU would be willing to play in widening Prospect Road. Mr. Haberecht responded that it would depend on the location and purpose of future projects. Member Schneider asked if the sidewalk internal to the property would be a connection along Prospect, would there need to be security, or is the proposed fence enough. Mr. Haberecht responded that they are not receptive to having that sidewalk being publicly accessible; rather it would be a bypass through the facility. The three private courtyards are facing that sidewalk, which would allow public access, and they are loading up a lot of their bike parking through that same corridor. They do not want to open up the back side of the project to general public circulation. Member Hansen clarified that they don't want it to serve as the public sidewalk. Mr. Haberecht responded that public access might diminish the project. Member Kirkpatrick stated that it appears that there is flexibility within that space to provide a sidewalk at some point in time. Mr. Haberecht responded that there are a lot of considerations in bringing a new sidewalk up to grade. Planning & Zoning Board January 9, 2014 Page 11 Project: Aggie Village North - Site Plan Advisory Review #SPA130005 Project Description: This is a request to deconstruct the Aggie Village North Apartments and replace them with 408,000 square feet of new student apartments. The new facility includes 1,000 beds within 480 apartment units, dispersed within a variety of unit types, from studio units to four -bedroom configurations. Buildings will be staggered, ranging between 3 and 5 stories in height. The Aggie Village North site is 8.7 acres in size is not zoned. Recommendation: Approval Hearing Testimony, Written Comments and Other Evidence Planning Manager Gloss gave a project overview, which consists of deconstructing existing apartments and replacing them with new student apartments. Fred Haberecht, Campus Planner for Colorado State University (CSU) and Christie Mathews, Director of University Apartments at CSU, gave a short presentation of this project. This residence hall is designed to supplement the existing residence halls on campus. Ms. Mathews explained that this apartment complex will primarily house an upper-class undergraduate community of 500 students who are interested in an intercultural experience, another 250 upper-class undergraduate students who want an apartment -style living arrangement, and another 250 post -doctorate and visiting scholars who come to campus for a short amount of time. Mr. Haberecht stated that the neighborhood meeting was very positive, because it meets the student housing action plan by providing student housing on campus. This plan requires the university to provide 25% of the housing needs of the resident student population. This project also attempts to recapture some apartment needs that have been recently lost. The neighborhood was concerned with a possible spill -over of CSU into the adjacent neighborhood and whether there will be adequate parking. Mr. Haberecht also stated that, although there will only be 250 parking spaces onsite, a parking permit will be available to all residents, making other parking lots accessible as well. Another issue is the desire for a detached sidewalk along Prospect Road. The last sidewalk improvement, which occurred about 15 years ago, was a joint effort between CSU and the City of Ft. Collins. He does not currently know the right of way guidelines for Prospect. He stated that he has had many positive comments about this project. One of the reasons that there isn't more parking in this project is because amenity space has been given a higher priority. Ms. Mathews also added that they are trying to protect the trees along Prospect Road by leaving the sidewalk alone. It has been her experience that they serve about 70% international students; generally only 1 in 4 international students will have a car on campus, plus there are transportation options provided for students on campus. Public Input None. Planning & Zoning Board January 9, 2014 Page 2 Consent Agenda: 1. Minutes from November 21 and December 12, 2013 2. Scott Plaza PDP#130032 3. 2013 P&Z Annual Report 4. CargillODP#130005 5. Narcanon Fence PDP/FDP #120023 Member Hansen recused himself at 6:05 pm due to a personal conflict of interest with several items on the Consent agenda. Member Hart made a motion to approve the January 9, 2014, Consent agenda as stated, including minutes from the November 21 and December 12, 2013, hearings, Scott Plaza PDP#130032, 2013 P&Z Annual Report, Cargill ODP#130005, and Narcanon Fence PDP/FDP #120023. Member Schneider seconded. The motion passed 6:0. Member Hansen rejoined the group at 6:09 pm. Discussion Agenda: 6. Item was removed for further staff review. 7. Global Village Academy SPAR #13007 8. Aggie Village North SPAR #130005 Project: Global Village Academy SPAR #13007 Project Description: This is a request to develop the vacant ground located at the northwest corner of West Horsetooth Road and South Taft Hill Road for a public charter school that would serve an estimated 500 students ranging from pre-school through eighth grade. The building would be approximately 24,000 square feet in size and two stories in height and include 47 parking spaces. Also, future additions of 8,200 square feet and 24,100 square feet are proposed in case of an increase in enrollment or to serve high school age students. The site is 5.02 acres and is zoned L-M-N, Low Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood. Recommendation: Approval Planner Shepard gave an overview of the project. Terry Gogerty, Chief Development Officer of Global Network Academies, gave a presentation of the Global Village Academy (GVA) project. He reviewed the current site selection and the reasons for selecting Ft. Collins. GVA programs will be a unique, proven program, especially for English language learners. He reviewed the operation factors, including bus usage. He stated that GVA is willing to offset their school schedule to accommodate Olander Elementary School to reduce traffic issues. Their expansion will only occur to meet increased enrollment demand for this K-8 school; GVA does not currently plan to have a high school on the site. At most, GVA would eventually add some administrative offices and a gym. He stated that the success of GVA's program is due to language immersion, which begins in Kindergarten at 100% immersion and then decreases each year after that. Adele Wilson, with Slater Paul Architects, spoke as a representative of the Design Team. She discussed the access points to the new school, located off of Bronson and Silver Trails Drive, future expansion and Chair Carpenter called the meeting to order at 6:OOp.m. Roll Call: Carpenter, Hansen, Hart, Heinz, Hobbs, Kirkpatrick, and Schneider Absent: None Staff Present: Kadrich, Vidergar, Ex, Shepard, Lorson, Gloss, Beals, Burnett, and Cosmas Agenda Review Member Carpenter provided background on the board's role and what the audience could expect as to the order of business. She described the following processes: • While the City staff provides comprehensive information about each project under consideration, citizen input is valued and appreciated. • The Board is here to listen to citizen comments. Each citizen may address the Board once for each item. • Decisions on development projects are based on compliance or non-compliance with city Land Use Code. • Should a citizen wish to address the Board on items other than what is on the agenda, time will be allowed for that as well. • This is a legal hearing, and the Chair will moderate for the usual civility and fairness to ensure that everyone who wishes to speak can be heard. Director Laurie Kadrich reviewed the items on both the Consent and Discussion agendas. She clarified that item #6 had been removed from the agenda (Historic Preservation code changes) in order for staff to further review and make future recommendations. Election of Officers: Member Hart nominated Member Carpenter to be the Chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission for 2014-15. Member Kirkpatrick seconded the motion. Vote: 7:0 in favor. Member Heinz nominated Member Kirkpatrick to be the Vice Chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission for 2014-15. Member Hobbs seconded. Vote: 7:0 in favor. Public Input: None.