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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWOODWARD TECHNOLOGY CENTER (FORMERLY LINK-N-GREENS) - PDP - PDP130001 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTS (29)Link‐N‐Greens P.D.P. Neighborhood Meeting November 7, 2012 Development Review Overview: Q: Where in the process are we right now? A: Between steps 2 and 3; neighborhood meeting. Opportunity to provide input, ask questions. After neighborhood meeting, formal development review submittal. Anticipating this in late December. Best ways to provide input/feedback is to send written comments via letters, e‐mail, phone. Written communication is part of the public record and presented to the Planning & Zoning Board. Q: Will the notes be available? A: Notes not generally sent out, but available for anyone that requests them or other information involved with the project. Q: Can the neighborhood notes be posted on the website? A: Yes. Neighborhood Meeting: Q: Has Woodward announced they will locate in the project or not? A: Not made a final decision. Production business they have to meet a schedule for; if it becomes uncertain they may relocate. Not a given. Q: How many do you anticipate working there? A: Hard to say – currently have about 700 employees but this is a larger facility. Potential through 2025 could be 1300 or 1400 people; too early for exact number. Ultimate decisions about where we do work still being made. Q: Where is the entrance? A: Magnolia is the primary entrance at the signalized light for Home Depot/Wal‐Mart. Additional access points along Lemay, and two on Lincoln. Q: Is there any noise involved in the process? A: similar questions asked in previous meeting. Woodward’s noise level not noticeable to those living adjacent to the property. Not a silent operation. Q: What kind of manufacturing will be performed? A: In the Energy & Aerospace Business. Industrial turbine/engine groups in Colorado. Smaller pieces (valves) that go on engines. Perform machining, milling, assembly, testing. Q: Does this currently go on at the Drake/Lemay plant? A: Yes. Engine test center in Loveland; farmland when it was built and people moved around it. Engines group has found a way to soften noise. Q: Is Lincoln going to be widened? A: No plan to widen Lincoln. Undetermined what the end‐design of Lincoln will be. This project has launched the need for a study to be done, kicking off soon to examine road sections in the area. Q: What is public property, what is private property? What will keep us on the trail? A: Woodward internally determining whether the property will be secured. Plan is to continue public access along the trail. Q: Any provision to improve water quality in the river itself? Looks like a large area of land dedicated to habitat that could involve itself in the Poudre River processes. A: Costs a lot of money. Within the City have several teams working on issues surrounding the river. Intent is to have some area along the river that improves the habitat and would allow the river to over‐top. Multiple departments including natural resource department working to determine what this will look like. Q: Intersection at main entrance has a really nice view interrupted by red/white cautionary sign. Rooflines, will they be tucked below at existing grade? Will it be pretty? A: Woodward known for its attractive existing site and planning an attractive site for the community; their corporate headquarters. Will have a chance to view these in the coming design process. Q: Views along Brewery Rd, lots of outdoor seating, views should be a consideration. A: Competing interests but trying to do what is aesthetically appealing within the campus environment. Woodward focused on the site. Q: How far will the facility be in relation to the current facility? A: If you combine a manufacturing and office block, approximately 80% of the square footage of the existing facility. Both blocks combined about 262,000 sq. ft. Site about half the size of existing facility. Q: Is this area called the Lincoln Triangle? A: City developing a Master Plan for an area called the Lincoln Triangle which will include this site and north to Vine and from Lemay to College Ave and back towards Riverside. Council needs to approve budget and if approved launch the study next year. Q: Might Lincoln be considered a 4‐lane arterial? A: No – a review done about 2 years ago for Lincoln. At that time the City’s transportation master plan showed Lincoln as 2‐lane. Intent at this point is not to be a 4‐lane arterial. Potential/idea for a large median and to look like Mountain Ave. Q: This site is important for the Lincoln Triangle. Is this the best use for the site? How many good uses are there, are we making a meaningful contribution to the Lincoln Triangle with this project? A: Planning & Zoning Board to make determination on. It fits within the context of the planning gone before it. Overall Development Plan already approved before the Planning & Zoning Board. Don’t mandate uses when someone owns the land. Q: Question about the irrigation canal? Q: What is happening with New Belgium Brewery? Potential for office across from the brewery? A: Direct question towards New Belgium. Appears New Belgium will not be moving forward with this. There are development review signs adjacent to the New Belgium site. Q: When Wal‐Mart was put in, beneficial things put in, will there be similar items put in with this project? A: Working with neighborhood to see what is important to them. Worked to preserve historical nature of the area. May do something on the property to accommodate historic nature. Narrowing in on where this may be located and then get into specific discussion what will go there. Q: Is there any adaptive reuse considered for the historic buildings? A: Not sure if they can be re‐used, still evaluating. Definitely will be preserved. Worked with Carol Turner and smaller subset of things important along the river. Q: What other locations are in consideration for Woodward? What can we do to make favorable conditions for Woodward to stay? A: Focus is to have them locate in Fort Collins; unsure other locations. Supportive comments can be sent to Jason, registering what you like about the project or support. Q: Will there be multiple shifts? A: In planning. Plan for two shifts but if there is a lot of business may go to 3. May be periods of times where the number of shifts varies. Q: Will this site replace/supersede other sites? A: Not looking at this yet. Q: What is the black, dotted lines along the bottom near the River? Does this mean no construction? A: That is a line of the Poudre River 300 foot buffer line. Within 300’ buffer, essentially no improvements; just vegetation and natural areas. A: Looking to complete project to trade some land/open space. As you get close to the state highway with lots of congestion/noise, not great for habitat. Looking to increase areas near better habitat areas. Q: Is part of the 300’ buffer part of the floodplain? A: Some is and some is not. CEO very interested in the open area. There may be a possibility under Woodward stewardship and look at interpretation sites, vegetation, history as an amenity for the community. Very high interest in making it as attractive to members and the community. Enrich the trail system with wildlife, heritage, honor the river. Q: Can you make a left turn off Lemay onto Magnolia? A: Yes. Q: Will the shift workers come in off Lemay or Lincoln, how much extra traffic for Lincoln? A: Do not know yet scientifically; depends where people live. Most people will likely be coming from the south rather than the north. Q: What is the difference between primary and secondary access? What will determine who comes in from Lincoln? A: More than likely convenience. Entrance at Lemay/Magnolia a substantial entry with signal access which encourages access for people. Q: Will the offices put on the south as a buffer for noise? A: Part of the office siting has to do with views. Also looked at maximizing collaboration/work spaces. Like to have engineers close to where the work is being performed, having conversations, improves quality. Looking at lots of natural light, maybe solar on top. Spending a lot of time on what goes on in the inside to be a globally competitive workspace. Woodward’s obligation and in the community’s interest to make it competitive. Q: What is the building technology center? A: Testing. Q: Could there be more noise reduction through landscaping? A: A healthy amount of landscaping. Q: Is the commercial owned by Woodward? A: A joint relationship with Woodward. Looking for uses that are valuable to members; conducted a survey to see what is useful for them and gathering input on how to use the space. Q: Access and shipping (semis). Route off Lincoln? A: Can get to shipping area from other areas. Left access off Lemay; Truck traffic likely to use Mulberry off the freeway and then onto Lemay. Truck drivers make their own decisions. Q: Can you require what entrance is used? A: Do not see a reason to do this; never thought about it. Operationally no way to get a truck driver to do what you say; setting yourself up for failure. Some parts only make 50 of per year. Low‐volume, high value/specialized . Q: Woodward always seemed like a garden spot. A: If this works will be adding about 25 acres to the garden spot.