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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMULBERRY LEMAY CROSSINGS, LOT ONE, FILING ONE - FINAL PUD - 36-96D - CORRESPONDENCE - TRAFFIC STUDY (4)j Ted Shgpard - Re. Mulberry/Lemay Croy Questions Pa e 3 1., enforce the code as stated in criteria 2.1? I would like Paul or Steve to comment on this at the hearing. 5. 1 would like a summary statement from Eric regarding the applicant's contention that this project would result in a significant reduction in VMT and that the traffic congestion in South Ft. Collins would be significantly lessoned by this project. What I heard on Friday was that there would be "minimal" improvements to traffic in the south. 6. Impact of large retail developments - this project has been portrayed by some as being an all or nothing proposition. That is, this retail project or none at all in North Ft. Collins. I would like someone from staff (perhaps Bob) to be prepared to discuss the impact of a regional shopping center versus other alternatives which could meet the discount retail needs of the citizens of North Ft. Collins without causing such large traffic impacts. Compare and contrast this project with a smaller, less intense development at this location (perhaps 150,000 sq ft or so with an 80,000 sq ft. discount retailer and 70,000 square feet of other retail)? How about smaller retail on North College? Were other alternatives discussed with the developer with less impact to the transportation system? Were transportation infrastructure limitations ever discussed with the developer? What is the impact of a large regional shopping center like this versus smaller, dispersed shopping centers closer to where people live? In summary, because this project was given preliminary approval by voters who probably are not familiar with the LDGS and the LUPP it is necessary that we address how this project meets the applicable criteria at the final review. I also want to get relevant facts out on the table for both the boards and the public's information. Thank you for helping to answer these important questions. I'm sure you agree that it is important to get all the questions answered regarding such an important project as this. Regards, Glen Ted Shepard - Re: Mulberry/Lemay Cros, , Questions Page 2 packet for the final review. Has there been a new analysis? Has anything been done to address these concerns beyond the fact that the applicant is "donating" $200,000 toward the construction of the pedestrian/bicycle path over the Poudre River? What is the level of service for Lemay and Mulberry, Lincoln and Lemay, Lemay and Vine today, 5 years out, and in the long term. How are the new members on the board supposed to make informed decisions in this area without the TIA? The applicant has volunteered to give interested board members a copy of their three inch thick binder before the meeting. As of Tuesday morning I don't have a copy yet. I asked for a summary of the report at the work session and was told there wasn't one. I think this is unacceptable. Board members should not have to wade through a 3" binder to get information required to make their decision. I would like to have a summary analysis in the normal LDGS format (showing current, short term, and long term traffic counts and LOS), or preferably in the format we use for the LUC (bicycle, pedestrian, vehicular). I would also like a summary of what has changed in the project from the preliminary. I would like each P&Z member to get this by Wednesday. 2. Lemay/Vine intersection - staff stated at Friday's work session that the Lemay/Vine intersection is currently at LOS B, will immediately go to LOS D with this project, and will fall below acceptable LOS in 2004. 1 would like this information verified . If this is true, what is the rational for the staff recommend of approval of this project? How does staff reconcile failure of this intersection with criteria A2.1 which states "can the additional traffic (vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic) generated by the land uses within the project be incorporated into the neighborhood and community transportation network without creating safety problems? Can impacts from the additional vehicular traffic meet city traffic flow delay policies?" The overpass included in the master street plan is expected to cost $20M. Where is this money coming from? What is the timeframe for putting in the overpass? How do we explain a failing intersection caused by this project to the citizens that traverse N. Lemay every day? At what point would staff recommend a denial of a project based on a failing intersection? 3. Pedestrian safety - I want to know how many pedestrians will be walking to the project from Lincoln west of Lemay, Lemay north of Lincoln, and Lincoln east of the Buffallo Run complex. What sort of sidewalk system exists for these pedestrians? How safe is it for pedestrians to walk along busy streets with no sidewalk? How does staff reconcile the situation on these roads with criteria 2.1 mentioned above? I am also very concerned about the lack of a pedestrian connection to Buffallo Run 4. When I ask questions 2 and 3, 1 get the response that "these are existing deficiencies and we can't ask the developer to pay for them. We have been told that they will be fixed through future (undefined and without any date certain) capitalimprovement projects". Why doesn't staff require offsite improvements or other mitigation for these situations? Even if we can't charge the developer, does that mean we shouldn't or can't !Ted Shepard - Re: Mulberry/Lemay Cros• Questions Page 1 From: Eric Bracke To: "glen_colton@agilent. com"@FC1.GWIA, "jerry_gavald... Date: Tue, Jan 18, 2000 10:40 AM Subject: Re: Mulberry/Lemay Crossing Questions Hi Glen, Hopefully I will be able to answer some of your questions in this response, but keep in mind that the next two days are quite busy for me in regards to the roundabout. However, I'll do my best to answer the big issues. Item #2: The Lemay and Vine intersection was not even considered in the original TIS. Under the LDGS process, it was typically to go no further than'/2 mile from the project site. The WalMart project is approximately 3/4 mile away from the intersection. However, the intersection has been analyzed in the recent TIS (submitted 10/1999). I came in yesterday to do the additional analysis you requested concerning this intersection. I was able to get significancy better LOS that the Walmart consultant. In the year 2000, 1 can maintain LOS B with the Walmart project. With the Walmart project, in the year 2007 the intersection will be at LOS E, which is failing by our standards. Without the Walmart project, and continued growth in the area, the intersection will be at LOS C. Without the Walmart, and continued growth in the northeast, the intersection is projected to go to LOS E in the year 2015. It is important to remember that the intersection in question goes away under the Master Street Plan. Item #5: Please keep in mind that showing a VMT reduction is not part of our guidelines for a TIS - under the LDGS or the LUC. However, the Walmart consultants did prepare a brief analysis showing that having the facility in the north would result in a VMT reduction. I can neither support or argue the validity of the VMT study. The methodology they used is reasonable. The actual words they used are substantial rather than significant reduction. The estimate is a range from 0.6% to 1.9% reduction. These numbers are minimal from a perspective that this range would not be noticeable to the average citizen nor will it eliminate congestion on College Ave. Please keep in mind that no one solution to the VMT problem is going to happen. It will take a large number of very small solutions, such as land use, trip reductions, telecommuting, carpooling, etc.... to solve the problem. see you Thursday Kind Regards, Eric L. Bracke, P.E. Traffic Engineer City of Fort Collins email:ebracke@ci.fort-collins.co.us >>> "COLTON,GLEN (HP-FtCollins,ex2)" <glen_colton@agilent.com> 01/18 8:31 AM >>> Hi folks, I wanted to put in writing some of my questions and concerns regarding the Mulberry-Lemay Crossing project that I brought up at the work session on Friday. My main concern is that the P&Z board has not been provided with the facts on transportation necessary to make an informed decision. Point number 1 summarizes my concerns and requests in this area. The other questions are ones that I will want answered at the hearing. 1. No Transportation Impact Analysis in the staff report - at the preliminary hearing there were significant concerns over traffic, transportation infrastructure, and pedestrian access and safety. In fact, these were the major grounds for denying the project at preliminary. I find in inexcusable that no analysis was included in our