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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLAKEVIEW - PDP - PDP130026 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESLAKEVIEW – Fort Collins, CO Statement of Planning Objectives 8-27-2013 i. City Plan Principles and Policies Lakeview is an infill neighborhood primarily surrounded by a residential community. The parcel is zoned Residential–Low (R-L) which is in character with the neighborhood. The proposal is in compliance with the City’s vision as outlined in the City Plan’s principals and policies as summarized below: a. Economic Health: (EH 4.2) Appropriate infill development is encouraged by the City. The proposal is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. New residents will support local businesses and contribute to the City’s fiscal sustainability. b. Environmental Health and Sustainability: (LIV 10, 14) There are several existing trees on site that were planted by the land owner. All trees except one are proposed to be preserved and incorporated in the landscape plan. The landscape plan has been designed using xeriscape principles therefore contributing to water conservation. (LIV 9, 14) The homes will incorporate many energy conservation methods such as energy star appliances and low water use lavatory fixtures. Approximately half of the homes are oriented to maximize solar exposure. c. Community and Neighborhood Livability: (LIV 6.1, 6.2) The City Plan encourages the addition of new dwellings on undeveloped parcels surrounded by existing residential development. In accordance with the Plan, Lakeview is planned as a compatible, high-quality neighborhood. (LIV 10.2) The streetscape is planned with detached sidewalks, tree lawns, and street trees to enhance the neighborhood walking experience and to provide shade. (LIV 10.3) Specialty downcast streetlights are proposed to provide pedestrian safety without spreading light glare into the adjacent homes. (LIV 14) The landscaping has been designed to enhance the neighborhood. Many of the existing trees have been incorporated into the buffer adjacent to E. Drake Road. Landscape areas adjacent to the homes and streetscape have a more manicured landscape whereas the stormwater detention area is more natural. The plan has been designed Page 2 of 4 Lakeview – Statement of Planning Objectives based on hydrozones for water conservation. Maintenance considerations were incorporated and will be implemented through soil preparation, irrigation, mulch, selection of plant materials, etc. (LIV 21) The proposed neighborhood is an integral part of the broader surrounding community structure. The small size of the neighborhood limits the ability to provide on-site facilities, however the residents will be connected to other community members through the use of nearby community services, schools, recreational facilities, cultural and social facilities, and places of worship which aids in creating the Community vision of connectivity. d. Safety and Wellness (SW 1) The neighborhood has been designed to be safe for the residents. The private streets will be safe for both the motorists and pedestrian through interconnectivity that provides for a sense of neighborhood. The access and street network meets the criteria of the emergency services providers. e. Culture, Parks and Recreation (CPR) Although these facilities are not provided on-site, the Community and Neighborhood Parkland Capital Expansion fees paid to the City will aid the City in continuing to provide these valuable resources and amenities that lead to a healthy community. f. High Performing Community (HI 2) Lakeview provides a new neighborhood with new residents that will become involved in the community contributing to make Ft. Collins an attractive place to live and raise a family. g. Transportation Plan (T4) As an infill parcel, Lakeview has been designed with private streets that will be maintained by the homeowner’s association. The streets connect with the church parcel to the west and to E. Drake Road to the north, but no access is available into the adjacent neighborhoods to the south and east. The proposed private streets provide an attractive environment that is safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers as well as having a well-designed streetscape which includes detached sidewalks. ii. Open Space, Natural Features and buffers A 30’-70’ landscape buffer, which includes several mature trees, along E. Drake Road will be maintained. The proposed landscaping consists primarily of street trees located within the tree lawns, shrubs along the top and bottom of the proposed detention pond and shrubs and trees within Tract C which is located at the intersection of proposed Bluebonnet Lane and Feathergrass Drive. The proposed detention pond is proposed as a natural area to Page 3 of 4 Lakeview – Statement of Planning Objectives maximize the stormwater quality aspect of the pond, minimize maintenance, and conserve irrigation water. iii. Ownership and Maintenance of open space areas All common areas will be owned and maintained by the homeowner’s association. iv. Rationale behind the assumptions and choices made by the developer. The developer has selected this site due to its central location in the City of Fort Collins. The proposed single family detached homes are compatible with the adjacent neighborhood. We propose 105’ deep lots adjacent to the existing residences along the east property line and a slight reduction in front setbacks (see attached Modification of Standard Request) to maximize the distance between existing adjacent neighbors. We propose detached sidewalks and tree lawns, upgraded/downcast street lights, and enhanced landscape buffers around the perimeter of the project to enhance the livability and aesthetics of the neighborhood. v. Compliance with applicable criteria The subdivision has been designed in accordance with the City of Ft. Collins regulations and design criteria as evidenced by the attached plans and reports. A Modification of Standard is proposed for a 15’ front setback to a front porch, living area portion of the house, or side-load garage, which is included with this application. In the buffer area adjacent to E. Drake Road (Tract A), we propose alternate compliance to the 150’ lot depth required by the Code 3.6.2(G) for lots that back to an arterial street by providing lot depths between 100’ – 115’ in conjunction with a buffer depth between 30’ – 70’. Considered together, the average combined lot depth and buffer depth exceeds 150’. We feel this is the best method to buffer the proposed homes from the arterial street in that we are able to preserve the several mature trees on top of the existing berm and provide common area landscape in the approximately 30’-70’ Tract A as a developer installed, HOA maintained landscape buffer. This would also allow the rear fences of the northernmost Lots 1-7 to be setback from E. Drake Road and not run directly adjacent to the existing sidewalk along Drake Road. Our proposal accomplishes the purpose of the Code subsection 3.6.2(G) as it screens and protects the lots adjacent to the arterial street from noise, light and other negative impacts of the arterial street better than a plan which complies with the standard of this subsection by preserving the berm height and existing mature trees on top of the berm. Page 4 of 4 Lakeview – Statement of Planning Objectives For the ranch model home 5030 (see attached Architectural Elevations), we propose an alternative to 3.5.2(E)(1) specific to this model. Instead of having the street facing garage doors set back a minimum 4’ behind the “front façade of the ground floor living area portion of the dwelling or a covered porch,” we propose that the street facing garage doors be setback a minimum of 10’ behind the front façade of the side-load garage, which has residential features such as windows, masonry, and/or other features complementary to the front facade. We believe that given the architectural treatments on the front façade of the side load garage portion of the house, along with the 10’ setback from the side-load garage, our proposal meets the intent of the Land Use Code to “line streets with active living spaces, create pedestrian-oriented streetscapes, and provide variety and visual interest in the exterior design of residential buildings.” We will meet the standard code for recessed garage doors for the other 3 home models. vi. Interface between land use and natural features Lakeview is an infill parcel with single family detached residential neighborhoods to the east and south, and Christ Center Community Church to the West. E. Drake Road forms the northern boundary of the site. North of the road are Williams Lake and single family detached residential neighborhoods. The proposed single family detached residential neighborhood is similar in character to the surrounding existing neighborhoods. Given no access is proposed into these neighborhoods, no conflicts are anticipated. The proposed home sites are served by an internal loop street that accesses a shared drive (Feathergrass Drive) between the neighborhood and existing church. The homes either back or side on Feathergrass Drive which increases compatibility between the two uses and creates a sense of neighborhood by engaging the fronts of the homes with the rest of the neighbors. There are no natural features on the site to mitigate. vii. Neighborhood Meeting discussions See attached summary and response to questions raised at the Neighborhood Meeting held on May 6, 2013. Attachments: Modification of Standard Request Conceptual Review Letter with Applicant Responses