HomeMy WebLinkAboutMAPLE HOLLOW PARK (FORMERLY MAPLE HILL PARK) - BASIC DEVELOPMENT REVIEW - BDR170002 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESStatement of Planning Objectives Page 1 of 3
Statement of Planning Objectives
Maple Hill Park
February 21, 2017
Introduction
The Maple Hill neighborhood is a newly established neighborhood in northeast Fort Collins. The
design of the community includes a 7 acre parcel designated as a future neighborhood park to
be built and maintained by the City of Fort Collins. This application for development contains
the submittal for the Basic Development Review of the park.
Planned Project
The Maple Hill Neighborhood Park is consistent with the level of service that the Fort Collins
Park Planning has provided for similar neighborhoods. This park, however, is the first park that
the department will develop in northeastern Fort Collins, and will bring its own set of unique
challenges.
The park programming includes unprogrammed open turf space, a restroom, shade shelter,
playground and basketball court. There will also be an irrigation pond that will receive raw
water from the Baker lateral irrigation ditch. A pump house will take water from the pond and
pressurize it for the irrigation system.
As all Fort Collins parks have unique restrooms and shade structures, this one is no different.
The restroom Is built into the hillside and offers a lookout at the top that invites users to gain
elevation and take in the expansive views to the west. With the grade falling from west to east,
the restroom looks more like an extended plane of the landscape rather than an underground
building. This form is repeated with large berms that contain the parks core area where the
playground sets.
As mentioned before, the development of the water delivery system has revealed the
challenges that come with using raw ditch water for irrigation. Filling the pond will be
determined by when the ditch releases water to users, so a sophisticated irrigation system is
needed to provide needed irrigation during the shoulder months when the ditch is not in
service.
Overall the park aims to provide the same level of service for park facilities that are established
in neighborhood parks throughout Fort Collins. This drives the park to have the unique
structures and playgrounds that are prevalent in the world class park system that Fort Collins
offers.
(i) Statement of appropriate City Plan Principles and Policies achieved by the proposed plan.
The proposed project is consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan as per the following
The neighborhood park will provide the adequate level of service to the Fort Collins
community for park related facilities. The uses are allowed in the current zone district.
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(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.
Open Space:
The park connects acts as a connector to adjacent open spaces and a thoroughfare for
the regional trail connection.
Buffering:
Ample native vegetation buffers the park users from the adjacent houses.
Landscaping:
Landscaping will be consistent with the City’s parks that are cognizant of long term
maintenance needs.
Circulation:
The park contains internal circulation routes as well as connecting the regional trail that
currently runs through the neighborhood.
Wetlands and Natural Areas:
There are no wetlands or natural areas on the site.
(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 park will be owned and maintained by the Fort Collins Parks Department
(v) Description of rationale behind the assumptions and choices made by the applicant.
This project will comply with applicable city standards.
(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.
No variances are anticipated for the development of the project.
(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 no wetlands or natural areas on the site.
(viii) Written narrative addressing each concern/issue raised at the neighborhood meeting(s),
if a meeting has been held.
A neighborhood meeting was held on December 15, 2017. The Parks Planning
Department has notes on the questions and answers discussed. The key points raised
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concerned traffic concerns, namely the speed of traffic on Bar Harbor and Maple Hill Drive.
The Park Planning and Traffic departments are aware of these concerns