HomeMy WebLinkAboutHARMONY TECH. PARK 3RD AMENDED ODP - 12-97F - CORRESPONDENCE - RESPONSE TO APPLICANTCommt. _cy Planning and Environmental .ervices
Current Planning
City of Fort Collins
Mrs. Angie Milewski
B.H.A. Design
4803 Innovation Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
RE: Harmony Technology Park O.D.P. Third Amendment
Dear Angie:
July 20, 2005
Staff has reviewed the request for Harmony Tech Park O.D.P. Third Amendment
to convert Parcel M from primary to secondary use as defined by the Harmony
Corridor Plan Standards and Guidelines (pp. 52 — 53) and the Land Use Code
Section 4.21 (D)(2). The purpose of the proposed Amendment is to allow
Morningside Village to undertake another residential phase on the subject 10
acres.
Staff is concerned about the loss of 10 acres of land designated for primary uses.
This concern is particularly acute in the Harmony Corridor which is considered a
prestigious area for future employers.
According to the City's Buildable Lands Inventory, there is roughly 1,300 vacant
acres of land designated for employment or industrial uses. This includes the
land owned by Anheuser-Busch (which may be preserved as a buffer) and the
Lifestyle Center (which is allowed by the Harmony Corridor Plan to be a retail
center). This supply is estimated to provide approximately 14 years of
availability.
One idea that Staff could support is if the resulting loss of 10 acres of primary
use on Parcel M could be offset by a 10 acre gain in primary use elsewhere
within the O.D.P. Thus, there would be no net loss of primary use acreage.
Staff understands the logic of using Parcel M to finish out Momingside Village
project and how multi -family housing acts as a transitional land use between
Harmony Road and Observatory Village. Staff remains concerned, however,
about the long range opportunity cost of reducing primary use land on a
community -wide basis.
Sincerely,
i-
Ted Shepard
Chief Planner
281 North College Avenue • PO. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6750 • FAX (970) 416-2020