HomeMy WebLinkAboutCENTRE FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 23RD, LOT 2 OFFICE BUILDING - PDP/FDP - FDP150007 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTS (5)February 25, 2015
Centre For Advanced Technology 23rd
Filing, Lot 2 Office Building
Statement of Planning Objectives
This proposal is for a new office building to be located on Lot 2 of the Centre For Advanced
Technology 23rd Filing. The project location is at the corner of Rolland Moore Drive, between
Perennial Lane and Centre Avenue. The surrounding infrastructure, utilities, street paving, and
parking are all in place from the construction of the Grove.
Uses surrounding the property consist of the following:
South: The Grove parking lot, Zoned E
West: The Grove apartment buildings, Zoned E
North: Sunshine House Day Care, Zoned E
East: NRRC Research Campus, CSU
This building will be designed as a multi-tenant office building. It will have 2 stories fully
above grade plus a lower, walk-out garden level. The building footprint is approx. 12,070
sq.ft. with total area for all 3 levels approx. 31,070 sq.ft. Architectural style will be
contemporary with multiple building masses accentuated by changes in plane and/or
materials. Elevations feature a mix of punched openings and larger, multi-story openings
framed with aluminum storefront and curtainwall systems. Roofs will be a combination of flat
single membrane roofs with extended parapet walls and sloping roofs with standing seam
prefinished metal. Exterior wall finish materials will be primarily brick and stucco.
Main access to the site is provided from Perennial Lane, which serves the lower parking
area, containing parking for 89 cars for employees and visitors. Access to the upper parking
area will utilize an existing entrance off of Rolland Moore Drive, which currently aligns with
the existing parking lot for the Grove. 12 parking spaces will be provided for visitors.
The 1.88-acre site is in the E- Employment zoning district. The area surrounding the
proposed office building contains a mix of single and multi-family, government buildings,
office parks, a senior living campus and community gardens. The site is ideal for this type of
use as it provides a high-quality office building in a vacant infill site in Fort Collins. The
proposed project is located within walking and biking distance to neighborhoods,
restaurants, employment, and shopping centers. There is an existing transit stop directly
across Centre Avenue and there is a new pad for a stop on the west side of Centre. There
are bike lanes in Centre Avenue and the Spring Creek Bike Trail is close to the site. In
addition, there are ample resources for the office building’s employees to tap into, such as
the Gardens on Spring Creek, numerous bike trails, Rolland Moore Park and the MAX bus
route.
Page 1
(i) Statement of appropriate City Plan Principles and Policies achieved by
the proposed plan:
This proposal meets the following applicable City Plan Principles and
Policies:
Environmental Health
Principle ENV 19: The City will pursue opportunities to protect and
restore the natural function of the community’s urban watersheds and
streams as a key component of minimizing flood risk, reducing urban
runoff pollution, and improving the ecological health of urban streams.
Policy ENV 19.2 – Pursue Low Impact Development
The project is implementing LID by incorporating grass swales and pervious
pavement, which will treat runoff from the new building.
Community and Neighborhood Livability
Principle LIV 38: Employment Districts will be the major employment
centers in the community, and will also include a variety of
complementary uses to meet the needs of employees. By design, they
will be accessible to the City’s multimodal transportation system and
encourage walking, bicycling, car and van pooling, and transit use.
Policy LIV 38.1 - Mix of Uses
Policy LIV 38.5 – Coordinate District Design
Policy LIV 38.7 – Address Parking
Policy LIV 38.8 – Provide Walkways and Bikeways
Policy LIV 38.10 – Link to Transit
The proposed office building is a primary use located in rapidly developing
area. The area surrounding the site contains a mix of residential, institutional,
employment, office and retail. The visual impacts of the parking lot have
been reduced by placing the parking to the side of the building and enhancing
with landscaping. Centre Avenue, the Spring Creek trail and the nearby MAX
BRT all will help promote and encourage the use of multi-modal
transportation.
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
The location of this office building will support active lifestyles by utilizing on-
street sidewalks, designated bike lanes, bike and walking trails and transit.
Page 2
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
The project is located within walking distance to the MAX Bus Rapid Transit.
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
There are existing transit stops on Centre Avenue, very close to the site.
Principle T11: Bicycling will be a safe, easy, and convenient mobility
option for all ages and abilities
The location of the office building will promote and support the idea of the
employees and clients to utilize alternative modes of transportation
(walking/biking) or public transportation. There are bike lanes and sidewalks
on all of the public streets.
(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, due to the proximity to the existing Larimer County Canal
No. 2 irrigation ditch, an ECS letter has been provided.
(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 facility will be constructed and owned by CSURF.
(iv) Estimate of number of employees for business, commercial, and
industrial uses.
45 - 60
(v) Description of rationale behind the assumptions and choices made by
the applicant.
Our assumptions are based on the following rationale for the proposed office
use:
The motivation behind the new building was to provide Class A office space
for lease. The site has been vacant for many years and the improvements
will create an attractive corner presence at the intersection of two busy
streets.
(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,
Page 3
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.
At this time the project is not proposing any variance from the City of Fort
Collins criteria.
(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.
There are not existing wetlands, natural habitats or features currently located
on site. See above.
(viii) Written narrative addressing each concern/issue raised at the
neighborhood meeting(s), if a meeting has been held.
There was no neighborhood meeting held.
(ix) Name of the project as well as any previous name the project may have
had during Conceptual Review.
The project is called CAT 3rd Lot 2 Office Building. The project was called
Centre For Advanced Technology - Office at Conceptual Review.
Page 4