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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFRONT RANGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY BUILDING - SPAR - SPA130006 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING1 NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION MEETING PROJECT: Front Range Community College (FRCC) Expansion DATE: October 2, 2013 LOCATION: Front Range Community College APPLICANT: Front Range Community College CITY PLANNER: Seth Lorson Seth Lorson opened the meeting by introducing himself and Laurie Kadrich, Director of Community Development and Neighborhood Services; Sarah Burnett, Neighborhood Development Review Liaison; and Lindsay Ex, Senior Environmental Planner and by providing an explanation of the Site Plan Advisory Review process as well as an overview of the neighborhood meeting agenda. The project will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board Andy Dorsey, President of FRCC, presented information about FRCC’s growth over the years and its proposed master plan. The master plan includes three major changes: (1) replacement of the existing integrated technology building from the 1970’s with a one- story, 28,000 square foot integrated technology building on the east side of Starflower Dr., (2) addition of a 465 space parking lot on the south side of Westbury Dr. near Shields St., and (3) addition of a three-story, 30,000 square foot allied health building at the northwest corner of the site. The allied health building is planned for a few years from now; the integrated technology building and the parking lot would be implemented in the near future. Additional information about the integrated technology building: • Major functions of the building are proposed as follows: welding program (east side), auto program (south side), classrooms (west side), and offices (north side). • Materials would match the existing campus and have similar horizontal banding • Outdoor work and storage will be reduced by 99%; no welding will occur outdoors. • An eight-foot fence with opaque metal panels will be placed along the south side • Welding exhaust is on the north side; FRCC is working with an acoustic consultant • City staff has recommended examining rotating the building to reduce its impact on the neighboring homes in the Coventry neighborhood; FRCC is actively considering this option. 2 Additional information about the parking lot: • FRCC has not yet purchased the parcel from the existing owner, a local church • Parking will be developed in two phases; only the first phase is funded. Development is planned on the northern part of the parcel at this time. • Lot will be gated, unlit in the summer, and open 30 weeks per year • No access will be provided from the parcel onto Clarendon Hills Dr. • FRCC has met with the Clarendon Hills HOA; there are deed restrictions on the parcel that require Clarendon Hills HOA review of development on the parcel. Seth Lorson then opened the meeting for questions. QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS AND RESPONSES: 1. Comment: (Citizen) I’m interested to hear what residents of Coventry, Westbury and others have to say. I’m glad FRCC is going through the Site Plan Advisory Review process. The site plan has much surface parking, and wonder if FRCC would consider more transit strategies, including MAX, as an alternative to more surface parking. 2. Question: (Citizen) Where is MAX located and where are connections to public transportation? Response: (City) MAX is just under one mile to the east. Existing transit stops were pointed out (on Shields and near intersection of Westbury and Starflower). Some changes may occur in the future. Response: (Applicant) We have tried at all our schools to encourage students to use public transit. It is difficult for students to use public transit because of school, work, and bus schedules. Transfort service is not very frequent. With Phase 1, we will have the same number of parking spaces as now. We do not expect a huge increase in our welding and automotive programs (perhaps 20 more to the existing 700 per quarter). 3. Question: (Citizen) I’m a resident of Clarendon Hills and am concerned about traffic safety at intersections. My 12-year old daughter was hit on her bicycle at Clarendon Hills & Shields by a FRCC student; others have been hit as well. The exit at Harmony Library is unsafe as is. I’m concerned about safety for kids going to Harmony Library and Webber Middle School. Response: (Applicant) We were unaware of accidents involving FRCC students and neighborhood children, and are concerned. We can explore providing additional info to our students. 3 Response: (City) The City keeps statistics on accidents, and can look at the design of the intersection as well as facilitating education and information to FRCC students. 4. Question: (Citizen) What is the plan if this doesn’t go through? I’m concerned that you are providing setbacks and elevation drawings for the parking lot, but not for the integrated technology building, where the berms are small. I’m concerned about impacts on special needs kids (asthma). Why not place the offices on the east, and point the auto bays toward the interior of campus? Will additional water be channeled onto Harmony? I’m concerned about the abandoned cars near the current building (circulated pictures), and that they will be placed near the neighbors of the new building as well. I’m concerned about a potential 70% increase in traffic. Response: (Applicant) We will be channeling water to a detention pond at the northeast corner of the site. All welding activities will take place inside. There will be building filtration on the northwest edge of the building, and we are addressing the acoustic impacts of this filtration system. Response: (City) This proposal does not increase student enrollment. Traffic impacts would be examined with the next project or the master plan. 5. Comment: (Citizen) I live in Clarendon Hills and would like to thank FRCC for their work with the neighborhood to buffer the parking, to not provide access to the parking lot from Clarendon Hills Drive, and to continue to work to mitigate the impacts on neighbors. 6. Question: (Citizen) What happens to the gray area at the bottom of the map (southern part of the property currently owned by church)? Response: (Clarendon Hills resident) The warranty deed survives the purchase of the property, so any plans for development would be required to be submitted to the Clarendon Hills architectural review committee. Response: (Applicant) We do not have a plan for the area south of the canal. Initially we looked at placing the integrated technology building on the parcel, but we stopped consideration of this because of our meetings with Clarendon Hills. The eight-acre parcel is owned by a church; the entire parcel requires Clarendon Hills HOA architectural review. 7. Question: (Citizen) I believe you will need to re-engineer the intersection on Shields with the additional parking near that intersection. What are the hours of operation? The integrated technology building appears to be a “square peg” that is not friendly to the community on the east. 4 Response: (Applicant) The building was initially designed for the eastern location, and was planned for the eastern side until the church land came up for sale. At that point, we considered placing it on the church parcel, but when this concept was rejected by Clarendon Hills, we shifted it back to the east. 8. Question: (Citizen) I understand the need to expand, but how much might FRCC grow beyond estimates? The plans seem inward looking vs. outward looking (considering neighbors). Why is FRCC locating automotive and welding programs next to a residential area rather than an area zoned for light industrial uses? Is there another area in Fort Collins that would be more appropriate? 9. Comment: (Citizen) I’m a former student and instructor at FRCC. The integrated technology building in that location is unacceptable; it doesn’t belong in a residential area. I believe it should be located in an area zoned for this use. 10. Comment: (Citizen) The pictures of the existing building show FRCC is not being a good neighbor. The motorcycle classes have also been moved closer to the neighborhood. This proposal increases the impact. 11. Question: (Citizen) I support FRCC’s mission in educating people in our community. Might there be a location in the Mason Corridor where quasi- industrial uses like this? Could underground parking be considered? For shielding, I’d like to see berms, not just plants. How large are the trees and shrubs? Size might make a big difference. 12. Comment: (Citizen) What type of EPA rating do you have for the automotive shop? Response: (Applicant) Exact EPA rating is not known, but we have about 30 gallons of used oil that is pumped out monthly. 13. Comment: (Citizen) Is there a filter bag for the welding shop? Response: (Applicant) There are individual hoods at each welding station; the air is cleaned and blown back in to the building. 14. Question: (Citizen) Will there be an increase in students with the new building? Response: (Applicant) This expansion not intended to increase enrollment, but to service the present enrollment properly. Currently, we have seven car bays. The new building would have six tandem bays (six doors but twelve stations), and about 30% more space overall for the automotive program. Waste should not increase. 5 15. Question: (Citizen) How often do state inspectors come in to inspect the stormwater drainage, and is there a public review of the stormwater plan? Response: (Staff) We will provide information in the neighborhood meeting notes. Response: (Staff, post-meeting) The City, at some point, will be audited by the State and they will look at one or more of our stormwater facilities. The State is behind on auditing MS4 programs but that is just a part of the audit process. They will look at whether it was designed and built according to our standards, that it has not been altered unless planned and approved, and that it is functioning as designed. They will also look at our inspection and enforcement program to see that we are ensuring these things, as well. The City Council requires updates every year and has been reviewing our plans in more detail the last couple of years under what they call “Stormwater repurposing”. There has been numerous special sessions and hearings with City Council. Plus Stormwater puts out brochures and has open houses for every project and every master plan update for public comment. Also last year we switched from our own manual to using the Urban Drainage manual which is constantly updated. We had public input on the criteria manual from citizens and local engineering firms besides all the boards and commissions reviewed and commented on them. Staff contacts for further questions: Glen Schlueter, Stormwater Engineer, 970-224-6065, gschlueter@fcgov.com Susan Strong, Environmental Regulatory Specialist, 970-416- 2325, strong@fcgov.com 16. Response to several questions about relocating the integrated technology programs to an off-campus location: (Applicant) We have looked at off-site alternatives, but they are much more expensive and more difficult to manage. The integrated technology programs are a training environment, not a production/industrial environment. 17. Comment: (Citizen) I’m concerned about Phase 2 and Phase 3. I’m concerned about a Wal-Mart-type parking lot and buildings with many students. I think FRCC may need to go elsewhere for future expansions, as it is landlocked where it is. 6 18. Question: (Citizen) I would like to see more development off of the main FRCC campus as the campus becomes full. I would like to express my concern about the irrigation ditch, as is a wildlife corridor and a drainage basin. I’m particularly concerned about Phase 2, if the parking lot is expanded to the south. Response: (Staff) There are regulations for ditches that serve as wildlife corridors. An environmental characterization study (ECS) will be required because the ditch has been identified as a wildlife corridor. 19. Comment: (Citizen) I would like to note that there is a dedicated irrigation ditch (some of it underground) that runs behind Coventry. This canal is used to water city parks as well as other uses. Response: (Staff) The City process will require a buffer from the irrigation ditch, and provides regulations about plantings and maintenance. 20. Question: (Citizen) I am a new resident, live very close to the proposed building, and am not happy about the plans. You mention that you plan to build a new building just because renovating the old one is too disruptive. What happens to the old building? Response: (Applicant) The vacated building will be used to expand the art program, which is currently underserved. Renovating the existing auto/welding building cannot be done in the same footprint, and the area is constrained around it. Also, students in the program would miss a year while renovation occurred. 21. Comment: (Citizen) I live in Coventry, and am a former student. When I walked past the integrated technology building as a student, the facility smelled (like eggs). I’m concerned about possible odors for Coventry neighbors if the facility is moved to the east. If it is not ok for Clarendon, why it is ok for Coventry? I would suggest placing the nursing program next to the housing, and put the automotive use on the northwest corner of campus. 22. Comment: (Citizen) I teach wildlife biology at CSU. FRCC offers good programs, and some have run out of space. CSU has brought its less impactful programs to the edge of campus. Why can’t FRCC do the same to reduce its impact on its neighbors? 23. Comment: (Citizen) I’m concerned about the location of the auto/welding building, and the noise that will go toward Coventry. Could the offices and classrooms be placed to the east? Also, please keep in mind kids biking to the library and to Webber – you will be shifting traffic from the north entrance to the west entrance of campus. 7 24. Comment: (Citizen) I work for FRCC; it provides an excellent education, but is now maxed out. The new building would provide indoor storage. 25. Comment: (Citizen) I live in Coventry. FRCC has seen remarkable growth, and just about maxed out. I thought FRCC would buy the northwest corner of Harmony and Shields, where there is lots of acreage. My son attended Wyoming Tech, which has uses such as this in an industrial area. 26. Comment: (Citizen) I am an electrical engineer, and would like to note that welding causes electromagnetic interference with electronics. The interference should be examined. Also, could the building be placed on the pie-shaped parking area on the west side of campus, away from Coventry and Clarendon Hills? 27. Comment: (Applicant) I am a welding instructor, and we are concerned about separating the program from campus. The ability to access the library, clubs, etc. would be harmed with an off-campus location.