HomeMy WebLinkAboutFORT COLLINS MONTESSORI SCHOOL - SPA190003 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PROJECT NARRATIVEPROJECT NARRATIVE
Fort Collins Montessori School
1109 W. Harmony Road
Fort Collins, Colorado 80538
Past Meeting Dates
The following meetings have been held regarding the proposed Fort Collins Montessori School:
Concept Review (CR) – 2019.05.30
Neighborhood Meeting – 2019.09.23
Fort Collins Montessori School
Fort Collins Montessori School is a public charter school within the Poudre School District providing a
classic Pre-K through 6th grade Montessori educational experience. The school offers whole-child, mixed-
age groupings in a setting that involves engaging the intellectual, physical, emotional, social, and
spiritual aspects of each child learning together in a community. The school currently operates out of
two lease spaces in Fort Collins, one at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church located at 1900 S. Taft Hill
Road, #1227 and the second at Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 1709 W. Elizabeth Street.
Fort Collins Montessori School intends on building a new school at the SW intersection of W. Harmony
Road and S. Shields Street in Fort Collins. The physical address is 1109 W. Harmony Road.
The Property and Zoning
The proposed site is located in the northeast quarter (NE ¼) of Section 3, Township 6, North, Range 69
West of the 6th P.M., City of Fort Collins, County of Larimer, State of Colorado. Specifically, the property
is located southwest of the intersection of West Harmony Road and South Shields Street. The property
address is 1109 West Harmony Road, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526. The site is 4.29 acres, currently
zoned as low-density mixed-use neighborhood district (LMN). The existing site consists of a residence,
detached garage, various outbuildings, gravel access drive and native vegetation. The site is bound by
Harmony Road to the north, Shields Street to the east, and residential lots to the south and west.
Renovations to the Property and Building
Fort Collins Montessori School intends to demolish the existing residence, detached garage and various
outbuildings with exception to one wood out building that they intend to keep as an open play structure
within the playground. They intend on removing and rebuilding a new wood privacy fence at the
perimeter of the playground. Fort Collins Montessori School intends to keep or relocate as many of the
existing site trees as possible, especially along the low density mixed used neighborhood bordering the
south and west property.
Proposed Use
Fort Collins Montessori School has proposed to build a wood framed school building. The proposed new
building will be a one-story structure with a total footprint of 14,757 square feet. The building will have
an Administration Office area of approximately 3,770 S.F., and a Primary Classroom Wing area of 10,987
S.F. The intended occupancy groups proposed for this building will be Business Group (B) and
Educational Group (E). The administration area will consist of Main Office, Business Manager Office,
Clinic, Conference Room, Staff Lounge, and Work Room. The Primary Classroom Wing will consist of
seven primary classrooms and one flex classroom, each at approximately 945 S.F. along with support
spaces. In addition, the school will place two temporary modular buildings adjacent to the school that
will house four elementary classrooms for a total of 12 classrooms for the school. The Primary school
will be considered Phase I and is anticipated to start construction in January 2020 and completed in
August 2020. Phase II will involve the removal of the modular buildings and the construction of an
approximately 11,000 S.F. Elementary Classroom Wing to the south of the primary building that will
provide for eight classrooms, each at approximately 945 S.F. Phase II is anticipated to be constructed by
2025. Phase III will consist of a 4,500 S.F. Multipurpose space that will tie the primary and elementary
classroom wings together. The anticipated construction of Phase III will be in 2030.
The property will be provided with two 24 foot wide curb cuts, one off W. Harmony Road and
one off S. Shield Street. A right turn lane will be constructed off S. Shields Street that will connect to a
double wide drop off queue lane and a drive through lane. An asphalt parking area is provided that will
serve a total of 48 parking spaces including three handicap accessible parking spaces. A bicycle rack will
be provided near the east facing main entry doors and near a connecting pedestrian sidewalk to W.
Harmony Road. Furthermore, a trash enclosure, new landscaping and site lighting are proposed. Two
playground spaces will be constructed on the south side of the Primary Classroom Wing and east of the
future Elementary Classroom Wing to serve both the primary aged children and the elementary age
children.
The building exterior finishes will be consistent with the residential properties to the south and
west with the use of stone veneer and fiber cement siding varying in pattern and color, asphalt roof
shingles, and fiberglass windows. The school intends that the form, scale, and design of the building and
other improvements to the property generally, will blend in and match the adjacent neighborhood.
Utilities
The building will be connected to the City of Loveland electrical services; water and sewer connections
to the Fort Collins – Loveland Water District. A new fire line will be installed for the building.
Fire Protection Plan
The proposed site has provided accommodations for fire rescue apparatus equipment to enter and exit
the site with both curb cuts off W. Harmony Road and S. Shield Street utilizing B-40 turning templates. A
new fire hydrant is proposed on site. The building will be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system.
The Fire Riser Room will be located at the north side of the building with the fire department connection
nearby facing W. Harmony Road. The knox box will be located in the same vicinity of the fire riser room.
Proposed Owner
Fort Collins Montessori School
(970) 631-8612
Contact: Paul Vincent
pvincent@focomontessori.org
Existing Owner
Mark Joseph Brophy
1109 W Harmony Road
Fort Collins, Colorado 80526