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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNIX FARM NATURAL AREAS FACILITY - MAJOR AMENDMENT - MJA160004 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESARCHITECTURE WEST, LLC 160 PALMER DRIVE FORT COLLINS, CO 80525 (970) 207-0424 Steve@ArchitectureWestLLC.com LEED *Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design USGBC Lot 1, Nix Farm Natural Areas Facility Major Amendment City of Fort Collins STATEMENT OF PLANNING OBJECTIVES Description of Project The project site is located north of Riverside, south of Mulberry and the Poudre River, west of Riverside and east of Lemay Avenue, located at 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, (parcel # 87181-40-901). The subject site is approximately 27.48 acres including a combination of historical farm buildings, operations facilities for the Natural Areas Department and dedicated open space and zoned Public Open Lands, natural areas. The request is to expand facilities towards the entry to the west and south, towards the Railroad R.O.W. boundary. The current conservation easement will be amended accordingly. Ownership City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Department, Nix Farm John Stokes, Natural Areas Director P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO. 80522 Project Narrative The proposed site plan shows areas for a 1,200 sf. expansion of the existing Maintenance shop space, new 5,000 sf. Vehicle/storage garage (single-story) and new fleet parking areas. A ‘Future Expansion Plan’ accompanies this Major Amendment, proposing possible growth of Staff Offices/ administration uses and fleet facilities operations. An ECS was provided with the application which discusses the natural features of the site. Most of the wildlife concentration is to the north and east of the site, nearest the Poudre River and ponds to the far, east. Native re-vegetation and new native landscaping will be provided. Current employee counts are 60# FTE Staff with an anticipated growth of one person, annually. The Consultant Team has submitted the applicable criteria, as provided in the Pre-App. Planning meeting, for a (Project Development Plan) Major Amendment application. Responses to the Conceptual Review Staff comments, have been provided. The current buildings and new expansions will accommodate on-site Administrative Office Staff while also serving as fleet facilities for remote Open Space lands management, including spaces for NAD Rangers, education, open lands maintenance, storage and other programming needs. The site is effectively developed into 3 sub-sections of use; 1.) – Historical buildings, (no development - low intensity storage in the Barn and loafing sheds), northeast center area; 2.) - Maintenance/fleet storage and Administrative office uses to the south - center of the site; 3.) - Open space / Natural areas, north Poudre and east Ponds areas. ARCHITECTURE WEST, LLC 160 PALMER DRIVE FORT COLLINS, CO 80525 (970) 207-0424 Steve@ArchitectureWestLLC.com LEED *Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design USGBC Nix Farm Natural Areas Facility The future development is expected to occur west, at the entry to the site, (Lemay access) and south towards the railroad tracks and adjacent industrial/commercial development. The ‘Future Expansion Plan’ was created to provide a ‘road-map’ for future growth, minimizing site conflicts, reducing wildlife and natural areas impacts and allowing for mitigation of any site disturbances issues. Development was specifically located/proposed towards the public street (entry) to the west, dryland grass areas (previous farmland) and heavily developed properties to the south. The proposed expansions should have no or negligible effect on the open space portions of the property. There were no Neighborhood meeting attendees nor any issues raised. There would be no impacts to adjacent sites or users. Traffic is not expected to increase with this initial expansion. A parking site data table has been provided, showing existing and proposed spaces. The project will comply with the maximum LUC parking ratios of General Office @ 3#/Ksf, Vehicle service/maintenance @ 5#/Ksf. Both Staff and visitor needs will be accommodated with all parking being provided on-site. A campus wide (shared) parking approach is being utilized. Additionally, the site is serviced with a Transfort bus stop at Lemay and a paved trail along the Poudre River, allowing for pedestrian and bicycle access to the site. A previous planning application was completed, Lot 1, Nix Farm Natural Areas Facility - Major Amendment, in 2013. END of NARRATIVE - 10.5.16