HomeMy WebLinkAboutFOOTHILLS MALL REDEVELOPMENT - PDP - PDP120036 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - VARIANCE REQUEST98 Spruce Street, Suite 201 | Denver Colorado 80230
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Foothills Mall Redevelopment
Requests for Known Engineering Variances
LUC 3.2.2(C)(7) Off-Site Access to Pedestrian and Bicycle Destinations
LUC 3.6.4 Transportation Level of Service Requirements
LCUASS 16.6.4 Maximum Crosswalk Length Fort Collins
The Larimer County Urban Area Street Standard 16.6.4 requires the use of a pedestrian refuge
for any pedestrian crossing greater than 56-feet. The existing pedestrian crossings on the
College Avenue intersections with Monroe Drive, Foothills Parkway, and Swallow Road - as
well as at the north/south movement across Monroe Drive on the east side of College Avenue –
all exceed 56 feet. A variance request has been submitted regarding this issue.
This standard is infeasible on this project for the College Avenue and Monroe Drive crossings,
as adding pedestrian refuge islands requires rebuilding all the identified intersections, which
would cause much disruption and multiple lane shifts through the corridor. Additionally, given
the 40-mph speed limit on College at this location, it may not be a good idea to encourage
pedestrians to stand in the median to wait for the next light cycle to finish crossing the street.
To achieve the same goal as the standard - to help ensure pedestrians do not find themselves
still crossing the street when the traffic light changes – we propose replacement of the existing
man / hand pedestrian signal heads with countdown heads, and the restriping of the existing
crossings. Through the use of the pedestrian countdown timers, pedestrians will be able to
estimate if there will be enough time to cross the roads before the signal changes.
Our understanding from the city traffic engineer is that traffic lights are timed such that
pedestrians are given adequate time to completely cross all streets, including streets over 56-
feet wide. This type of timing, along with the pedestrian countdown timers, negates the need
for pedestrian refuge.
The proposed alternate design will meet the intent of the standard - to help ensure pedestrians
do not find themselves still crossing the street when the traffic light changes – without the
negative consequences of the reconstruction of College Avenue and Monroe Drive as
previously stated.
LUC 3.6.4 Transportation Level of Service Requirements
The City has requested that the Foothills Developer install westbound right turn lanes at the
intersection of Horsetooth Road with Stanford Road as well as the intersection with John F
Kennedy Parkway.
Foothills Mall Redevelopment
Requests for Known Engineering Variances
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These turn lanes were analyzed in the Project Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) report prepared for
the project. The TIA concludes that turn lanes are warranted at the subject intersections for the
existing condition as well as the proposed conditions. It is noted that the proposed
development is not the “Trigger” for warranting these turn lanes.
The project team intends to apply for a variance regarding these requested right turn lanes –
requesting that they do not have to be installed - for the following reasons:
1. At JFK Parkway, the adjacent building is relatively close to the existing road (about 30-
feet), and the building’s monument signage even closer, so the addition of a right turn
lane would greatly impact the adjacent business.
2. At Stanford Avenue there exists a physical constraint to the construction of the
westbound turn lane. A large underground storm water vault (16’x16’x27’) with triple
36” equivalent elliptical pipes, all with very little cover, exists under the location where
the turn lane would have to be constructed. Construction of a westbound right turn lane
on Horsetooth Road would most likely require the relocation of the underground vault
and the storm sewer pipes across Stanford Avenue and Horsetooth Road, requiring
reconstruction of a great deal of the intersection and causing much disruption to the
public.