HomeMy WebLinkAboutBREEZE THRU HEADQUARTERS - PDP - PDP180013 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - VARIANCE REQUESTOctober 23, 2018
City of Fort Collins
Director of Utilities
C/O Tyler Siegmund
222 Laporte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80522
RE: Request for Variance from Fort Collins Municipal Code Section 26-464(b)
Breeze Thru Headquarters – 6464 So. College Ave.
PDP180013
Introduction
The owner of the vacant building (Aka Hair Dynamics) located at 6464 So. College is working on a second-
round submittal for his Project Development Plan. The request is to remodel the existing building to
support a mixed use of office, training and 10 apartments for the Breeze Thru Car Wash Company. The
apartments will be used exclusively for workforce housing for Breeze Thru employees. The 2-story building
is 16,826 SF in size, and is situated on a 1.56-acre parcel. The proposed project is within the General
Commercial (CG) zone district and is subject to Type 1 administrative review.
Request
The owner hereby requests a variance from municipal code section 26-464(b), to allow for a master electric
meter for the apartments, rather than installation of individual meters for each apartment. The result will
be a reduction in initial construction costs that will contribute to the overall affordability of the workforce
housing component of the project.
City of Fort Collins Municipal Code (section 26-464) states:
“(b) Applicability. This schedule applies to residential customers for all domestic uses in single-family
dwellings, individually metered apartments and home occupations as defined in Article 5 of the Land
Use Code. This schedule may also be applied to existing master metered residential buildings served
under this schedule prior to January 1, 1980. Master metering is not available for new or remodeled
residential buildings with more than one (1) dwelling unit unless authorized by the Utilities Executive
Director. “
Discussion
1. The owner recognizes affordable workforce housing is in short supply. The proposed apartments
will be constructed exclusively for employees of Breeze Thru Car Wash. The owner will continue to own
the apartments (it will not be a condominium plat) and wishes to lease them to employees with a lease
agreement that will include utilities paid by the owner. Installation of a single master meter will reduce
the overall construction costs by as much as $5,000 per housing unit, or $50,000 for the overall project.
Approval of this request is an important step towards supporting efforts for affordable housing, as
discussed in the City of Fort Collins Affordable Housing Strategic Plan.
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Variance Request - Master Meter.doc
2. Installation of solar panels was suggested as a means to allow a master meter. The owner and the
consultant team reviewed the documentation provided by the City of Fort Collins through their
Integrated Design Assistance Program (IDAP). The project is farther along in the design process to
realize the full benefits of the program. The owner is certainly committed to long term energy
efficiency, but is not prepared to install solar panels on the building at this time.
3. Affordable workforce housing is the goal for this installation. The majority of the Breeze Thru work
force are considered low-wage earners, and therefore in need of affordable housing. The owner and
the consultant team met with Sue Beck-Ferkiss to discuss affordable housing incentives for this project.
The C-Pace program was also considered. The owner understands the incentives that are offered and
though here is no doubt the rents he will charge will be far less than market rate in Fort Collins, he is
hesitant to place a 20-year deed restriction on the units.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. If you have questions or need further explanation, feel
free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Deanne Frederickson, RLA
Client Consultant