HomeMy WebLinkAboutMAPLE HILL AMENDED FIRST REPLAT - PDP - 29-00H - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONPage 3
The neighborhood agreement with the developer of KB Homes was for the developer
to build this frontage road prior to the issuance of the 201$` building permit for his
development. We do not believe the City has reasonably protected the interests of
our neighborhood on the issue of a frontage road. In earlier discussions, the City
assured us that the issuance of 200 building permits would be the trigger for such
action. Now we are faced with construction of two additional major subdivisions.
The question remains when is the City going to build this frontage road. Our
neighborhood bears all the adverse effects if this frontage road is not built in a timely
manner. We would ask that the Maple Hill Subdivision not be able to tie into
Turnberry Road (NCR 11) until the road has been relocated.
We appreciate the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed replat and ask
that this letter be made a part of the hearing file. It is our fervent hope that we can
successfully work with the City, the developers, and other parties to promptly achieve
a timely, reasonable, and equitable plan to resolve the issues raised. Please feel free
to contact me if I can provide any assistance.
Sincerely,
Joseph W. Bleicher
For Homeowners in the Country Club Heights Subdivision
cc: Mayor Ray Martinez
Mayor Pro Tern Bill Bertschy
Council Member Eric Hamrick
Council Member Kurt Kastein
Council Member Marty Tharp
Council Member David Roy
Council Member Karen Weitkunat
Commissioner Kathay Rennels
Commissioner Tom Bender
Commissioner Glenn Gibson
Mr. Ted Shepard
Mr. Brad Lenz
Page 2
We are a neighborhood of county residents who have been long term homeowners,
some for over 30 years, in a beautiful neighborhood of custom homes on large lots
bordering on the Fort Collins Country Club. As we have seen the city come to the
country, we have taken a responsible, reasonable, and proactive approach. Since
1996, we have actively tried to work cooperatively with the City, the developer, and
other parties in an effort to mitigate the adverse effects of development and to
preserve our neighborhood integrity, quality of life, safety, and home values. At
meetings and hearings, we have provided extensive written and oral comments which
have clearly shown our neighborhood concerns.
For the past four years, we have seen construction in our immediate neighborhood
from KB Homes directly to our north (up to 682 units) and also faced the issue of
development directly from our east from Maple Hill (up to 667 units) and from our
northeast from Centex (up to 775 units). Since the March 2, 2004, hearing on the
earlier proposed Maple Hill replats, we have now seen work begin on the
infrastructure for both the Maple Hill and Centex developments and construction of
homes will be coming soon.
Both the Maple Hill and Centex developments are under the framework of the 1997
City Plan. The KB Homes development to our north was under the earlier
development guidance. In response to neighborhood concerns, the developer
provided mirror sized large lots on which comparable homes are being built, thus
protecting the neighborhood integrity of the homeowners on Richards Lake Road.
The developer of Maple Hill should not be able to do whatever he wants as long as he
meets the dwelling units/acre requirement; the City should require the developer to
mitigate the effects on the distinct character of our neighborhood. Further, the City
should require adequate protection of the interests of existing homeowners. The net
effect of the City approving the developer's request is the effective "taking" of our
property by drastically reducing its value.
Further, our neighborhood has to suffer from all the adverse effects on quality of life,
safety, and home values that result from the greatly increased traffic from
development. And we have been extremely frustrated with our efforts to make
meaningful progress in achieving a timely implementation of a frontage road for our
homes along Turnber y Road (NCR11) between Country Club Road and Richards
Lake Road. Our neighborhood has worked since 1996 to obtain a bermed and
landscaped frontage road which would provide homes with limited, consolidated
access to the ultimate road to the east rather than backing directly out onto an arterial
road. The landscaped separation area moves north and southbound traffic further
away from our homes and would help mitigate the noise and visual effects of the
greatly increased traffic we are already experiencing from development.
Joseph W. Bleicher
2509 Turnberry Road
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone (970) 407-0531
August 17, 2004
Mr. Cameron Gloss
Planning Director
City of Fort Collins
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Mr. Gloss:
Our neighborhood, the Country Club Heights Subdivision, appreciates the
opportunity to provide written comments on the Maple Hill Amended First Replat,
#29-OOH. The Maple Hill Amended First Replat proposes changes along Tumberry
Road (NCR 11) to Block 1 (10 duplex lots are reduced in width by five feet and one
single family lot added) and Block 2 (10 duplex lots are reduced in width by five feet
and one single family lot is eliminated so that two new duplex lots are added).
On March 2, 2004, we provided written comments on the initial first and second
replats which are now being canceled by the new owner, J2 Development. Because
of the distance from our homes, we saw the changes as having only minimal impact
on our neighborhood, and we therefore had no specific comments regarding these two
proposed replats. Our written comments noted again our neighborhood's continuing
concerns with the adverse effects of ongoing and future developments on our
neighborhood integrity, quality of life, safety, and home values. Further, we made
oral comments that our neighborhood was very concerned about the homes in the
development which would be closest to our existing homes.
The Amended First Replat clearly is a major concern for us since these homes are
directly across from our existing homes and will be highly visible. The replat would
result in smaller lot sizes and smaller duplexes which would be even less compatible
with our existing large homes which are on 150 foot wide lots with large spacing
between the homes. We have met informally with the developer to try to resolve our
concerns, but our efforts have been rebuffed. Therefore, we would strongly oppose
this change for those duplexes which would be closest to our homes.