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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHE OVERLOOK - PDP - PDP160011 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTS (32)1 Jason Holland From: Huston Morse <morse.huston@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2016 11:50 AM To: Ali Recio Cc: CCSL; Ray Martinez; Jason Holland; Ted Shepard; Laurie Kadrich; Tom Leeson; Seth Lorson; Cameron Gloss; Jeff Mihelich Subject: Re: Overlook Project (Council SAR #33378) All, Thank you so much for this response! I am glad to see that the small things residents care about (like the shadow effect) are considered as part of this process! I genuinely feel heard, and appreciate being included on future announcements related to this project. In fact, I can honestly say that because these seemingly "smaller priority" items I am concerned about seem to be getting addressed, I am slightly more in support of this type of project. I am happy to know that the developer is also considering these types of things, because it shows that they care about our community as a whole are not just their bottom line. Thank you so much for your time and consideration, I will look forward to future developments about the project! On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 11:32 AM, Ali Recio <arecio@fcgov.com> wrote: Dear Mr. Morse, Thank you for your email to Councilmember Ray Martinez regarding the Overland Project. Please see the following response provided by Jason Holland, City Planner, on Councilmember Martinez’ behalf. Sincerely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ali Recio Administrative Support II City of Fort Collins arecio@fcgov.com 2 Click here to tell me about my service…I want to know! Dear Huston, Thank you for writing and letting me know your concerns. The proposal is currently in the initial stages of review. Staff is looking at the plans for the first round of review this week, so it has taken some time to evaluate their initial plans and get back to you. While the zoning does allow their proposed use and building height, I share many of the same concerns as you regarding their transition to the existing homes and property to the east. I have communicated your concerns to the developer and they will be making changes to the plans to address privacy concerns. I have asked that they provide much more detail to show their design intent and to provide a high quality transition. They will be providing cross sections and perspective views so that staff and neighbors can evaluate the proposed design and the elements they will be using to screen and transition their development. Changes to the building design and parking locations are also being discussed. They are also required to provide a buffer along the ditch, and the embankments that you mentioned will not be affected. They are actually off- site to the south of their property line. The updated design will also show more detail in this area and buffer plantings. They will also be providing a shadow analysis. The stormwater detention areas will need to remain in their current locations, and we will be looking at their design to make sure that they provide a reasonable grade transition. We also require that water be released from detention areas after a storm, so that that stagnate water cannot remain in the area for mosquitoes. As for the approval process, the project will need to go through several more rounds of review. The proposal will then be required to go to a public hearing. I will add you to the mailing list so that you receive the letter with the time/date of the hearing. It's hard for me to say when the hearing could happen. My guess is late summer at the earliest. Once I get updated plans that show the revised design, I'll send them to you. Please feel free to call me and we can discuss their revised design. Here is more information on the review process: http://www.fcgov.com/developmentreview/citizenreview.php http://www.fcgov.com/drg/ Feel free to call me if you have questions. Thanks, Jason Jason Holland, PLA | City Planner City of Fort Collins 281 North College Avenue 3 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.224.6126 jholland@fcgov.com Original Request From: Ray Martinez Date: Friday, April 15, 2016 at 5:14 PM To: Huston Morse Cc: Darin Atteberry Subject: Re: The Overlook Project in District Thank you and I can appreciate your concern. If this plan has already been submitted obviously I can't comment on it because it becomes a quasi-judicial matter. But you as a neighboring resident would have a right to public hearings that will be coming up regarding this project and you could even appeal it through the appeal process. You should be getting notices about this project eventually as it goes through the development review process. For some of your questions in your email I'll ask our City Manager to have someone respond to your concerns. Ray Martinez, councilor for the City of Ft. Collins www.Raymartinez.com. / www.fcgov.com 970.690.3686 With limited exceptions, emails and any files transmitted with them are subject to public disclosure under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). To promote transparency, emails will be visible in an online archive, unless the sender puts #PRIVATE in the subject line of the email. However, the City of Fort Collins can’t guarantee that any email to or from Council will remain private under CORA. ___________________________________________ ------ Original message------ From: Huston Morse Date: Fri, Apr 15, 2016 4:49 PM To: Ray Martinez; Cc: Subject: The Overlook Project in District Council member Martinez, Hope you are well! I am e-mailing you today to be one of those people. I am sorry upfront. I am emailing to express my opinion on the Overlook Project currently under City review for JFK Parkway and Horsetooth Rd. See, I live in one of the current 4-plex units that back right up against this 3.3 acre lot. I have lived here for two years, and just renewed for another 12 month period. Let me also say this: I work in Property Management, and my company is a local General Contractor that has built other multi-family projects, and mixed use projects throughout Fort Collins. I understand the development that the City of Fort Collins is going through, and I understand the need for housing. 4 I think this project is obscene. 3.3 acres is A LOT of space, and so many other projects have been built with significantly less space (heck College 830 currently under construction is basically being built on a napkin). I do not believe the way the current plans are drawn is necessary. Why do they need to be so close to our wonderful Larimer NO. 2 Canal? I think this is my biggest concern with the current layout. It's simply too close. That land slopes drastically upwards, so I fear that the canal embankments would be pulled out and then how would that affect the canal? How does this "promote healthy and active lifestyles?" It's currently used by The Landings Apartments, The Wharf and Warren Lake residents QUITE often. You can tell if you go walk it, it has not been mowed in months and yet, a very clear walkway has been created. Second, I think this project is WAY TOO CLOSE to the existing units along Landings Dr. The plans show detention ponds separating the project and the preexisting homes - really? So those of us who have been there will have to live next to mosquito invested, trash filled detention ponds while that is far away from the Overlook tenants? Next, the Overlook is a great name, but an ironic one, as the building will be blocking the current units sun, and views. I know this is not a priority but I would like to argue for the sake of the sun exposure. The East side of our units (Specifically between buildings E and F) don't see a lot of sun during a typical day, so when it snows, we have ice and snow for a while after everything else melts. With the Wing 1 building being so close to two preexisting buildings (D & F) this is going to create an area that is permanent snow and ice (including the Wing 1 South parking lot so the Overlook Tenants will be affected). If the Wing 1 building could just be pushed a little more North on the lot, this could help this issue - as well as back up off the No. 2 canal! Lastly, I would like to request that some sort of aesthetically pleasant barrier be put between the South end of the parking lot, and the current Wharf parking lot. The Overlook parking spots will be slightly higher than The Wharf parking spots, so headlights on headlights will actually be headlights into eyeballs. Plus, our development is separate, and I have no doubt that our current condo owners, renters, and association would like to make that distinction clear. With the 5' path leading Overlook residents right into the parking spots in front of building F, I would imagine Overlook tenants will try to park here. Overall though, the applicant thinks that this project is needed. I disagree completely. There are something like 400 units being built across Horsetooth at the mall for Pete's sake! Plus there is a vacant lot on the West side of College off Manhattan that would be closer to the Max Bus, the Carmike, etc.! Also, do we really need more "mixed use" buildings with vacancies? Look at how long it took the Prospect Station tenant to move in? There is a for lease sign at Flats at the Oval on Laurel, and Lokal on W. Plum St. These types of spaces are NOT being filled! Yet there are little to no vacancies in true retail areas. Why do we keep trying to make them mixed use? I hope that some of this input is helpful, and heard. I am saddened that the City is so quick to throw out the zoning that has already been in place just to fit yet another "luxury" apartment complex in a crevice of our community, but I get that this is a reality of the time of change Fort Collins is in. Realistically, I won't always live at 3737 Landings Dr either. I probably would not have renewed had I know this wonderful open space was to become a construction zone 2 months into my 12 month lease, and had I seen what would be right outside my kitchen window once the project is complete. If possible though, feel free to require the applicant to convince my landlord to remove the juniper bushes in front of our buildings to free up more grassy area now that our big field will be gone. I live in the three buildings (grey) managed by All Property Services that will be most affected by this project. I do not expect this to actually happen, but hey, a girl can ask right? 5 Also, can you give me any more additional information on this project as it pertains to the approval process and what kind of specific timeline they are looking at (start dates, completion timeline, etc?) I am having a hard time understanding what phase of review/approval this project is in. Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this novel, and considering my feedback, Huston Morse (831) 207-2493 morse.huston@gmail.com -- Huston Morse (831) 207-2493 morse.huston@gmail.com