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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSHIELDS & ELIZABETH STREETS UNDERPASS - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - SPA160002 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTS (9)Facilities Services Center North Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-6030 970.491.0162 970.491.0105 - fax Public Process to Date: The public process May 2511 neighborhood public meeting has been followed by two subsequent neighborhood open houses and two presentations to the Stadium Advisory Group (SAG). The Stadium Advisory Group is a requirement of the Stadium IGA; its members are jointly appointed by the City manager and President of CSU. The open houses and presentations have primarily been joint City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University efforts. The intent of the project is to provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection and to mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility, and congestion. The project attempts to accomplish this intent by providing a minimum 12-foot-wide underpass and associated ramps for bicyclists and pedestrians under Shields Street. Design Modifications resulting from public comment: The initial concept design for the project was the result of a Feasibility Study by a consultant to CSU, which addressed the IGA requirement for additional or ongoing study of a grade separated crossing between Bennett Court and Laurel. The Feasibility Study indicated that an underpass at Shields and Elizabeth could be feasibly built in such a way to overcome technical constraints, including groundwater, existing utility infrastructure, and the floodplain in which the project is suggested. The Feasibility Study also suggested a ramp and underpass alignment that addressed parking, and the movements of bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles through the intersection. This design had three primary technical design negatives based on feedback: 1. The amount of parking loss from the Campus West Shops. 2. A conflict zone between bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles at the primary vehicle access to Campus West from Elizabeth Street. 3. The loss of a full turning movement from Elizabeth Street to the Campus West Shops on the south side of the street. These and other concerns expressed in the public meetings and open houses have been mitigated in the design contained within this Voluntary SPAR submittal. The project addresses the Character, Location and Extent requirements of pertinent State Statute and City of Fort Collins SPAR requirements in the following ways: Character: The project will conform to the landscape, site furnishing, and lighting standards spelled out in the CSU Aesthetic Guidelines. Location: A grade separated facility at this location will provide benefit based on the vehicle traffic volumes and known conflicts between bicycles, vehicles, and pedestrians at this intersection. Extent: A grade separated facility will provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection and will mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility, and congestion. Sincerely, Fred Haberecht, Assistant Director, Landscape and Planning KOf 0r. Office of Facilities Management Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-6030 6030 Campus Delivery September 26, 2016 Jason Holland Current Planning Development Review Center 281 North College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 RE: Shield Street Underpass Dear Jason, The Shields Street Underpass project is being submitted to the City of Fort Collins as a Voluntary SPAR. Colorado State University is submitting this project as Voluntary SPAR because both the City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University see the need for a public approval process for this highly impactful project. This a voluntary submittal, not a regular SPAR submittal because the project is one third contained on University property not subject to the SPAR process, and two thirds within right-of-way to be dedicated to the City of Fort Collins. Existing Site Context: The project is proposed for the south side of Elizabeth Street between the Campus West Shops building that contains Jim's Wings on the west, and the CSU Woman's NCAA Softball complex on the west. The east (CSU) side of the project is characterized by an existing parking lot, large sign announcing CSU athletics, and mature spruce trees. The west side of the project is contained within public right of way and the parking lot of Campus West Shops. The site context is dominated by the vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic navigating the intersection of Shields and Elizabeth streets. Prior Planning Studies and the requirement of the Stadium IGA: A grade separated facility and/or intersection improvements at the Shields and Elizabeth intersection are recommended in a number of City of Fort Collins adopted planning documents, including the West Central Area Plan, Bike Master Plan, and Arterial Intersection Prioritization Study. Likewise, the pertinent planning documents of Colorado State University suggest a grade separated improvement at this intersection. The Stadium IGA requires at grade improvements at Shields and Elizabeth and additional or ongoing study for a grade separated crossing between Bennett Court and Laurel Street. The Proposed Project: The intent of the project is to provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection and to mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility, and congestion. The project attempts to accomplish this intent by providing a minimum 12-foot-wide underpass and associated ramps for bicyclists and pedestrians under Shields Street.