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Home My WebLink AboutFOSSIL CREEK COMMUNITY PARK - PDP ..... FIRST ADMIN. HEARING - 44-00 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTSnow Sep 13 01 08:46a BHA DESIGN (870)223-1827 P.1 4E03 lnnOv3tiOn Drive, pert COIGns, CO 80525 Tol 970-223-7577. Fax 970-223-1827 Fax design �t�d� Oaf To: Date: Company: 'PAJ/ 4127j Pf Project: Fax: `T7/ir "GCl U� Subiect:P%%%� From: As Requested ❑ For Review • Comments: A No. of Pages (Including Cover): ❑ Please Comment ❑ Please Reply IU crosses under both Fossil Creek Parkway and Lemay Avenue thereby establishing a safe and convenient link to other parts of the community. A transit stop is proposed on Lemay Avenue just south of the park entrance. Pedestrian connections are provided to the adjacent neighborhoods as well a potential pedestrian signal at the intersection of Murfield and Lemay just north of the site. This signal will allow people to cross Lemay Avenue safely. Bicycle racks are conveniently located near most of the activity areas within the park. The majority of the park is barrier free and accessible. Automobiles can easily access the site from Lemay Avenue and from Fossil Creek Parkway. The park amenities are intended to provide activities for a wide range of the population. The uses range from passive to specific programmed recreational activities. The design is sensitive to the surrounding neighborhoods and uses, with lighted facilities and the higher noise generating uses generally located internally to the site. Fossil Creek and the ponds within the park site provide attractive and generous buffers to the adjacent uses. The park is designed with a cohesive "Fossil' theme that is apparent in the architecture, the landscape, and within the various play elements in the park. The forms are intended to be playful, inspirational, educational and inviting. Plants have been selected that convey feelings and imagery for the various elements of the park. What a fantastic piece of land this is. The existing site features (such as the topography, Fossil Creek, wetland, and the ponds) have been carefully integrated into the park design. We believe this will be an exciting new adventure for the people of Fort Collins to discover. Fossil Creek Park Statement of Planning Objectives Project Description Fossil Creek Park is one of the most exciting projects to be developed as a community benefit in Fort Collins in some time. This park is planned as a Community Park that represents one of the best opportunities to create a truly meaningful outdoor space for the residents of Fort Collins. Our city's parks are community treasures and are some of the most popular recreation areas in the city. The park will function as the social center in southern Fort Collins. The park program includes the following design elements: • Trail System (including Fossil Creek Trail) • The Oval Green w/ 2 Soccer Fields • 5 Lighted Tennis Courts • 2 Lighted Basket Ball Courts • 2 Large Pavilions w/ Restrooms • 1 Small Pavilion • 2 Lighted Ball Diamonds • The "Tar Pits" Playgrounds • Roller Hockey Rink • Skate Park • Adventure Island • Dog Park • Interactive Water Feature • Wetlands • 3 Ponds • "Natural" Areas • Park Maintenance Facility • Lemay Trail Underpass (to be constructed with Lemay realignment) • Recreation Center (future phase) • Water Play Area (future phase) • Ice Skating Area (future phase) • Parking Areas Fossil Creek Park is located within the Public Open Lands (POL) zone district. "The Public Open Lands district is for large publicly owned parks and open lands which have a community -wide emphasis". Parks, recreation and open lands are permitted uses within this district Fossil Creek Park will serve the entire community so it must be inviting and accessible. Automobile, bicycle, pedestrian and transit amenities are incorporated in the plan to support these modes of transportation. Fossil Creek Trail extends through the park and No Text Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan, #44-00 September 13, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 5 2. Section 3.5.3, Mixed Use, Institutional and Commercial Buildings The proposed public buildings in this community park are situated internal to the site and relate to the various activities within the park. Although it is infeasible for the buildings to meet the "build -to" line standards there is a network of pedestrian trails within the park that provide direct access from the buildings to adjacent street sidewalks and into the surrounding neighborhoods without having to make many driveway crossings. 4. Neighborhood Information Meetin The Fossil Creek Community Park, PDP contains a proposed land use that is permitted as a Type I use, subject to an administrative review. The proposed use is a community park. The LUC does not require that a neighborhood meeting be held for a Type I development proposal and a City -facilitated neighborhood meeting was not held to discuss this proposal. However, the City's planning/design consultants from the private sector did conduct several open houses and public outreach meetings. FINDINGS OF FACT/CONCLUSIONS After reviewing the Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan, staff makes the following findings of fact and conclusions: 1. The proposed land use is permitted in the POL — Public Open Lands zone district. 2. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable General Development Standards contained in Article 3 of the Land Use Code. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan - #44-00. Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan, #44-00 September 13, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 4 and extend along at least 70% of the street frontage along the parking area. f. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(E)(5) in that it provides at least 10% interior landscaping in the parking areas, satisfying the minimum requirement. 2. Section 3.2.2, Access, Circulation and Parking a. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.2(C)(4)(a) in that it provides secure and conveniently located bicycle parking in the amount of 5.7% of the total number of automobile parking spaces on -site, satisfying the minimum requirement of 5%. b. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.2(C)(5) in that it provides direct, safe, and continuous walkways and bicycle connections to major pedestrian and bicycle destinations in the surrounding area. c. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.2(D) in that it provides for safe, convenient, and efficient bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular movement to and through the site. Vehicular access will occur via a curb cut from South Lemay Avenue and a curb cut from Fossil Creek Parkway. B. Division 3.3, Engineering Standards 1, Section 3.3.5, Engineering Design Standards The proposal complies with the design standards, requirements, and specifications for the services as set forth in this section. C. Division 3.5, Building Standards 1. Section 3.5.1, Building and Project Compatibility The proposed community park contains a total of 4 buildings. They include 2 pavilions, the ballfield concession/restroom structure, and the park's maintenance structure. These buildings are internal to the 95 acre park site and relate to the various park activities. They are unique to the specific park theme. Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan, #44-00 September 13, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 3 The property has not been previously platted. 2. Division 4.10 of the Land Use Code, Public Open Lands Zone District The proposed use of a community park is permitted in the POL zone district subject to an administrative review. This proposal complies with the purpose of the POL District as it is a public community park, with a community -wide emphasis and intended service, which warrants inclusion in the POL District rather than in the surrounding RL — Low Density Residential or LMN — Low Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood Districts. 3. Article 3 of the Land Use Code — General Development Standards The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable General Development Standards as follows: A. Division 3.2, Site Planning and Design Standards 1. Section 3.2.1, Landscaping and Tree Protection a. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(D)(1)(c) in that it provides "full tree stocking" within 50' of the pavilion, concession/restroom, and maintenance buildings, according to the standards set forth in this section. b. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(D)(2)(a) in that canopy shade (street) trees are provided at a 40' spacing in the parkways along South Lemay Avenue and Fossil Creek Parkway. c. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(D)(3) in that no one species of the proposed new trees on the development plan exceeds 15% of the total of 1132 trees on -site. d. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(E)(4)(a) in that trees are provided at a ratio of at least 1 tree per 25 lineal feet along South Lemay Avenue adjacent to the parking lot. e. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(E)(4)(b) in that the on - site parking area will be screened from South Lemay Avenue to the east with deciduous and evergreen trees and shrub plantings that will block at least 75% of the vehicle headlights Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan, #44-00 September 13, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 2 the proposed use of a community park is permitted in Division 4.10 Public Open Lands (POL) of ARTICLE 4 — DISTRICTS, subject to an administrative review. Parks (except neighborhood parks) are permitted in the POL — Public Open Lands Zoning District, subject to administrative (Type 1) review. The purpose is: The Public Open Lands District is for large publicly owned parks and open lands which have a community -wide emphasis or other characteristics which warrant inclusion under this separate designation rather than inclusion in an adjoining neighborhood or other District designation. This proposal complies with the purpose of the POL District as it is a public community park, with a community -wide emphasis and intended service, which warrants inclusion in the POL District rather than in the surrounding RL — Low Density Residential or LMN — Low Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood Districts. COMMENTS: 1. Background The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: RL, LMN; existing and planned residential (Huntington Hills and Miramont) S: RL; existing residential (Huntington Hills) E: POL; existing golf course (Southridge Greens) W: RL, LMN; existing and planned residential (Huntington Hills) The property was annexed in January, 1981 as part of the Huntington Mews Annexation. The property is part of the original Huntington Hills PUD Overall Development Plan that was approved by Larimer County for single family residential, multi -family residential, and a neighborhood park on 296 acres. This occurred sometime in the late 1970's. The property is shown on, but is not part of, the Huntington Hills PUD Overall Development Plan that was approved by the Planning and Zoning Board in February, 1994 for single family residential, multi -family residential, and a neighborhood park on 150 acres. ITEM NO. MEETING DATE ��Q� STAFF_ GL(�� Citv of Fort Collins HEARING OFFICER STAFF REPORT PROJECT: Fossil Creek Community Park, Project Development Plan - #44-00 APPLICANT: BHA Design, Inc. c/o Roger Sherman 4803 Innovation Drive Fort Collins, CO. 80525 OWNER: City of Fort Collins Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services 215 North Mason Street Fort Collins, CO. 80521 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for a 95 acre public community park to be owned, constructed, and operated by the City of Fort Collins. The park will include 2 pavilions, a maintenance building and yard, lighted ballfields, soccer fields and multi -purpose play area, lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, roller hockey and skateboard park, a playground, a dog park, water features, and associated parking areas. The site is located on the west side of South Lemay Avenue between Southridge Greens Boulevard and Fossil Creek Parkway. The property is in the POL — Public Open Lands Zoning District. RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This PDP complies with the applicable requirements of the Land Use Code L( UC), more specifically: the process located in Division 2.2 - Common Development Review Procedures for Development Applications of ARTICLE 2 - ADMINISTRATION; standards located in Division 3.2 - Site Planning and Design Standards and Division 3.5 - Building Standards of ARTICLE 3 - GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS; and COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT