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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLANDMARK APARTMENTS EXPANSION - PDP - PDP160013 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESPage 1 April 5, 2016 Landmark Apartments Expansion Statement of Planning Objectives The proposed use for the site is 72 multi-family apartments in 5 buildings. The intent of the MMN district is to be a setting for concentrated housing within easy walking distance of transit and a commercial district, and to form a transition and a link between surrounding neighborhoods and the commercial core. The project will serve as an extension of the existing Landmark Apartments and will utilize existing vehicular and pedestrian connections to provide a congruent site plan that integrates with the adjacent parcels to the west, east and south. Additionally, this extension of the Landmark Apartments will serve as an effective transition between the NC zoned parcel to the south and the existing Sheely neighborhood to the east. The design team is currently working with representatives from the Sheely neighborhood to create a compatible project to the Historic designation. Vehicular access for the project will be off the main circulation system of the existing Landmark Apartment site and Hobbit Street. Pedestrian access will be accessed off of Prospect, Wallenberg, and Hobbit. The site design will incorporate pedestrian access and connectivity. It will utilize landscaping to enhance the buffers between buildings and the surrounding neighborhoods and allow the current wetlands area to remain a feature in the site. The building architecture will respond to the architectural character found throughout the adjacent neighborhoods, and will pay significant attention to the adjacent historical Sheely neighborhood to the east. Proposed structures will be a traditional 2 and 3 story, walk-up style buildings with internal stairs allowing tenant access to units. The topography of the site drops significantly from the north to south. It is our intent to utilize this grade to reduce the scale at the uphill side of the buildings by providing partial garden level units. Uses surrounding the property consist of the following: South: vacant land owned by Blue Ocean West: The existing Landmark Apartments development North: Prospect Road East: The existing Sheely neighborhood The project will be designed to be compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods as required by the City Code. Architectural compatibility will be achieved by incorporating design elements from the surrounding neighborhood such as building materials, horizontal elements, fenestration and roof lines. The proposed building materials will consist of horizontal and vertical lap siding in contrasting colors with brick veneer accents. The roofs will consist of asphalt shingles. Page 2 (i) Statement of appropriate City Plan Principles and Policies achieved by the proposed plan: The Landmark Apartments Expansion meets the following applicable City Plan Principles and Policies: Economic Health Principle EH 4: The City will encourage the redevelopment of strategic areas within the community as defined in the Community and Neighborhood Livability and Neighborhood Principles and Policies. Policy EH 4.2 – Reduce Barriers to Infill Development and Redevelopment The project, although not in a Targeted Redevelopment Area, will provide a compact urban redevelopment project that is in an ideal location and is within walking distance to many destinations. Environmental Health Principle ENV 8: Continually improve Fort Collins’ air quality The residents of the Landmark Apartments Expansion are expected to utilize alternative transportation and public transportation for the majority of their daily trips. Community and Neighborhood Livability Principle LIV 6: A variety of housing types and densities for all income levels shall be available throughout the Growth Management Area. Policy LIV 6.1 – Types of Infill and Redevelopment in Residential Areas Policy LIV 6.2 – Seek Compatibility with Neighborhoods The project provides an opportunity for redevelopment of an existing underutilized site and the design of the building will be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Principle LIV 7: A variety of housing types and densities for all income levels shall be available throughout the Growth Management Area. Policy LIV 7.1 – Encourage Variety in Housing Types and Locations Policy LIV 7.4 – Maximize Land for Residential Development Policy LIV 7.7 – Accommodate the Student Population The Landmark Apartments Expansion provides housing targeted towards young professionals. The residents of this project will utilize the existing bus system and the nearby Spring Creek Trail and the Mason Street Corridor/MAX for transportation to and from destinations in the City. In addition, the City promotes higher density housing near public transportation, shopping, and in designated neighborhood and districts. Principle LIV 10: The city’s streetscapes will be designed with consideration to the visual character and the experience of users and adjacent properties. Together, the layout of the street network and the Page 3 streets themselves will contribute to the character, form, and scale of the city. Policy LIV 10.2 – Incorporate Street Trees The project will provide an attractive streetscape with street trees and detached sidewalks. Principle LIV 29: Medium Density Mixed-Use Neighborhoods include a mix of medium-density housing types, providing a transition and link between lower density neighborhoods and a Neighborhood, Community Commercial or Employment District. Policy LIV 29.1 – Density Policy LIV 29.4 – Mix of Housing Types The Landmark Apartments Expansion has a density of 19.35 d.u./acre, which meets the minimum density. The project provides a mix of housing types within the overall neighborhood context, which contains single family, townhomes, commercial, and a church. The residential apartments provide a lower cost housing choice for Fort Collins. Principle LIV 43: Enhanced Travel Corridors will be strategic and specialized Transportation Corridors that contain amenities and designs that specifically promote walking, the use of mass transit, and bicycling. Enhanced Travel Corridors will provide high frequency/ high efficiency travel opportunities for all modes linking major activity centers and districts in the city. Policy LIV 43.1 – Integrate Land Use and Transportation Decisions Policy LIV 43.3 – Support Transit-Supportive Development Patterns The project is located right on Prospect Road, an enhanced travel corridor. Residents will be able to take advantage of the high frequency transit. Transportation Principle T 8: Transportation that provides opportunities for residents to lead healthy and active lifestyles will be promoted. Policy T 8.1 – Support Active Transportation Policy T 8.2 – Design for Active Living Principle T 9: Enhanced Travel Corridors will contain amenities and designs that specifically promote walking, the use of mass transit, and bicycling. Policy T 9.1 – Locating Enhanced Travel Corridors Principle T10: Using transit will be a safe, affordable, easy, and convenient mobility option for all ages and abilities. Policy T 10.1 – Transit Stops Policy T 10.6 – High Frequency Transit Service Principle T11: Bicycling will be a safe, easy, and convenient mobility option for all ages and abilities Page 4 The location of this project at the south end of campus, near Midtown and its proximity to the Mason Street Corridor will promote and support the idea of a predominance of the daily trips of the residents of this project utilizing alternative modes of transportation (walking/biking) or public transportation. The Spring Creek Trail bike path will help to encourage safe cycling. It is visualized that residents of this project could sustain a lifestyle without the use of an automobile. In addition, there is an existing bus stop at the corner of Shields and Prospect. (ii) Description of proposed open space, wetlands, natural habitats and features, landscaping, circulation, transition areas, and associated buffering on site and in the general vicinity of the project. There are no wetlands or significant natural habitats within the boundaries of the site. However, there is a wetland located on the City-owned property that has been determined to be of ecological value. There are portions of some of the buildings that encroach within the 50’ buffer. In order to mitigate the encroachment, the developer will install enhanced native plantings located along the edge of the channel within the buffer enhancement zone. The uplands will further enhance the channel and compliment the established wetlands. The plants have been selected to provide habitat diversity, year- around greenery and winter cover. (iii) Statement of proposed ownership and maintenance of public and private open space areas; applicant's intentions with regard to future ownership of all or portions of the project development plan. The residential units will be owned by the building developer/owner and will be for rent units. (iv) Estimate of number of employees for business, commercial, and industrial uses. n/a (v) Description of rationale behind the assumptions and choices made by the applicant. The rationale behind the project is to prove a for-rent project that the market desires. (vi) The applicant shall submit as evidence of successful completion of the applicable criteria, the completed documents pursuant to these regulations for each proposed use. The planning Director may require, or the applicant may choose to submit, evidence that is beyond what is required in that section. Any variance from the criteria shall be described. The submitted documents reflect the applicable criteria for the proposed apartment use. There are no variances proposed at this time. (vii) Narrative description of how conflicts between land uses or disturbances to wetlands, natural habitats and features and or wildlife are being avoided to the maximum extent feasible or are mitigated. See (ii) above. Page 5 (viii) Written narrative addressing each concern/issue raised at the neighborhood meeting(s), if a meeting has been held. The neighborhood meeting was held on March 3, 2016. (ix) Name of the project as well as any previous name the project may have had during Conceptual Review. The project is called Landmark Apartments Expansion. The project was referred to as Landmark Apartments Expansion - Preliminary Design Review, PDR150024.