HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARS LANDING - PDP190013 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PROJECT NARRATIVE5265 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Suite 210
Johnstown, CO 80534
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Memorandum
Preliminary Development Plan Project Narrative
Page 1 of 2
To:
Tenae Beane
Development Review Coordinator
City of Fort Collins
281 N College
Fort Collins, CO 80524
From:
Galloway & Company, Inc.
5265 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Suite 210
Johnstown, CO 80525
Date:
September 11, 2019
Re:
Mars Landing Preliminary Development Plan–PROJECT NARRATIVE
The Mars Landing project includes the proposed development of a 3.79 acre parcel located
at the southwest corner of Mars Drive and W Skyway Drive in Fort Collins. The property is
currently undeveloped. The proposed use is classified as Multi-family Dwellings with more
than 50 dwelling units, which is an approved use for the General Commercial zoning. The
high-density development is adjacent to an existing commercial use and is approximately 0.1
miles from the S College Avenue/US HWY 287 corridor. Development will consist of two
high-density, three-story apartment buildings with a total of 90 dwelling units; separated
garage buildings; a single-story clubhouse building; and associated drives, off-street parking,
and utilities. An application for Preliminary Design Review (PDR190007) was submitted to
Staff on July 3, 2019. The applicant and owner met with Staff on July 31, 2019 to review
comments for the PDR application. A neighborhood meeting for the Mars Landing project
was held on August 26, 2019. A previous Preliminary Design Review was submitted for the
project site titled Skyway Townhomes (PDR180003), April 2018. Comments were issued for
this review, however, this application was not pursued any further.
Vehicular access to the project site will be made via two drive-cuts from Mars Drive, which is
a public road. Per the comment letter issued for PDR180003, the northernmost drive-cut
may align with the existing access on the east side of Mars Drive that serves the South
College Storage Units. Connectivity to the surrounding neighborhood and developments will
be provided via access to Skyway Drive from Mars Drive. Mars Drive currently features a
temporary roundabout near the south property boundary of the project site. This project
proposes to demolish the temporary roundabout and extend Mars Drive south to the south
property boundary to allow for the installation of the second drive-cut. The future extension of
Mars Drive beyond the limits of the south property boundary will be done by others and is not
part of this project. There is an existing public sidewalk along Skyway Drive along the north
property boundary. The project proposes to connect to the existing sidewalk in Skyway and
install new public sidewalk along the west right-of-way of Mars Drive. Connections to the
proposed public sidewalk in Mars Drive will provide pedestrian access to the project site. As
part of the development agreement for the South College Storage Units on the east side of
Mars Drive, development of the Mars Landing parcel requires construction of certain South
College Avenue improvements adjacent to the project site. Per conversations with the City
engineering department, these improvements are limited to a 7’ detached sidewalk and
incidental construction relating to grading and existing utilities. Off-street parking will be
Goodwin Knight
Mars Landing
September 11, 2019
Preliminary Development Plan Project Narrative
Galloway & Company, Inc. Page 2 of 2
provided in a surface lot on the project site. There will also be parking available to tenants in
rentable garage spaces. The project proposes 140 surface parking spaces and 28 garage
parking spaces, for a total of 168 off-street parking spaces. Landscape provided for this
development will be consistent with City of Fort Collins xeric design standards. An evergreen
buffer will be provided along the western boundary of the property to screen the garages.
While ornamental plantings will be provided along the street frontages and at the clubhouse /
amenity area. Mitigation has been provided for existing trees that must be removed from the
site.
Under existing conditions, the project site generally drains overland from west to east. Runoff
generated by the project site is currently captured in an inlet at the northeast property corner
where it is conveyed via underground storm sewer and open channel flow to a culvert that
runs under South College Avenue. The Mars Landing development proposes to capture and
detain on-site generated flows in a pond at the northeast corner of the site prior to releasing
into the existing storm drain system as it does in the existing condition. Water quality
treatment of captured runoff will be achieved by implementation of an approved Low-Impact
Development strategy. Detention and water quality features will be designed to comply with
the City of Fort Collins Stormwater Criteria Manual and Fossil Creek Drainage Basin Master
Plan.
There are no designated natural features or wetlands on the project site. The proposed
occupiable buildings will be equipped with automatic fire sprinklers. An existing ditch bisects
the project site but has been recently been abandoned. Per correspondence with the North
Loudon Ditch Company, the ditch has been relocated and piped underground. A
development agreement exists for the property and is recorded under Larimer County Public
Records Doc. No. 20170069535.