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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLOOM - PHASE 1 - PDP210014 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PROJECT NARRATIVE Phase 1 – Project Narrative Fort Collins, CO | August 18, 2021 Phase 1 – Project Narrative • Project Title: Bloom – Phase 1 • Past Meeting Dates: o Concept Review Meeting: July 8, 2021 o Neighborhood Meeting: July 22, 2021 • General Information: The Plat included with this application will subdivide the entirety of the Bloom neighborhood, but the Phase 1 PDP only includes the first phase of this neighborhood. Other tracts/lots/rights- of-way created with this plat but not included as part of Bloom – Phase 1 will be subject to future development applications and subsequent processes, as appropriate . Bloom is a new mixed-use residential community designed to create harmony between the modern world and the beauty of nature. The vision is to share a unique view of the world through colorful art, unique shapes, diverse patterns, and unexpected designs, bringing people, homes, plants, art, and programming together with dynamic, highly experiential spaces. The intimacy of an urban community is infused with choiceful biophilia that instills a deeper connection to the surrounding environment: natural materials are used in novel ways, art installations depict natural beauty, and walls and walkways are ingratiated by plants and soft, comforting materials. A lush living gallery ties the mixed-use commercial district in the south to a variety of medium- to-low density residential traveling north, featuring a wide streetscape, diverse plant palette, linear rain gardens, integrated sustainable features, and signature design elements with beautiful irregularities to create a one-of-a-kind walk through the neighborhood. Small ponds will be used to irrigate common-area landscapes in this corridor, with pump houses activated as recreational amenities that give people a place to work or relax outside. Every wall becomes a canvas for colorful expressions, complimenting pollinator gardens and nature- inspired ground-plane features to create a community that truly feels alive. The underlying zoning of the overall Bloom neighborhood includes LMN, MMN, Employment, General – Commercial, and Neighborhood Commercial with the Mulberry & Greenfields PUD overlay (presently under concurrent review). The residential uses proposed are permitted and all applicable standards are met with these applications. • Owners: Springer-Fisher Inc PO Box 86 Timnath, CO 80547 Whitham Farms LLC 816 Ptarmigan Run Loveland, CO 80538 • Transportation Improvements Transportation improvements will be included as follows as part of the Bloom – Phase 1 PDP. Phase 1 – Project Narrative • Right of way for Greenfields Drive from Mulberry Road north to intersection with Sykes Avenue. • Right of Way for Sykes Drive from intersection with Greenfields Drive to west property line and tie into existing Sykes Drive right-of-way. • Right of Way for International Boulevard from Greenfields Drive west to property line and connection to Delozier Drive. • Internal Local Roads and Alley roads as necessary to serve the planned residential units. The entirety of the following rights-of-way (collector and arterial level) will be platted as part of this application. (though not necessarily constructed as part of this Bloom – Phase 1 PDP) • Greenfields Drive • Sykes Drive • International Boulevard • Street A (name TBD) • Street B (name TBD) All roads are planned to meet recently updated LCUASS standards for the City of Fort Collins with the exception of a turn radius variance request where International Boulevard and Delozier Drive come together. Please see included narrative for further details on this request. • Neighborhood Meeting Follow-Up The neighborhood meeting held on July 22, 2021, was attended by approximately 10-15 members of the community. After Fort Collins Staff and the Applicant presented the proposed project, a majority of the questions centered around street connections to Mosaic, traffic, and affordable housing within the project. The following encompass the majority of the comments/questions: Question: how will the streets in this project connect to our Mosaic neighborhood? Answer: International Blvd. will extend east to Greenfields Drive from Delozier Drive. Other proposed local street connections to Mosaic include Sykes, Conquest and Barnstormer Street stub-outs. Question: Will Greenfields Court be part of this project? Answer: Yes, Greenfields Court currently south of Mulberry Street, will be extended north as part of this project to link to Sykes Drive, providing a second point of access to an arterial street for Mosaic neighborhood. This new arterial street extension will be called Greenfields Drive, with future plans to connect it to East Vine Drive. Question: Will there be a traffic study with this project? Answer: Yes, the PUD Master Plan will include an overall traffic study and this PDP will include a more specific traffic study to assess project impacts and mitigation for all modes of travel on and off-site. Relevant Capital projects in the area include the Vine/Lemay overpass (currently in construction), and the Timberline/Vine intersection signal in 2022. Question: are there any plans to widen East Vine Drive? Phase 1 – Project Narrative Answer: (Response from the City) The Master Street Plan does not include future widening. A new full arterial street will parallel Vine extending from College to Timberline called Suniga Road. Question: Will the construction impacts with truck traffic be mitigated in neighborhood? Answer: Yes, the timing and duration of construction for phase 1 will be planned and scheduled for reducing impacts in area including truck traffic, noise dust and erosion control. Question: Will this project include any affordable housing? Answer: This PDP representing phase 1 will not include any deed restricted affordable housing. This project will include a variety of small lot sizes and housing choices that reflect a range of attainable home price points. The future phase to the south in Parcel B will include restricted affordable housing. Question: Will Bloom have an HOA? Answer: Yes, it will include an HOA and Metro District. • Site Design The application accompanying this narrative details the first phase of a well-thought out and exciting mixed-use neighborhood that will further enhance the high quality lifestyle that Fort Collins has become known for. Proposed within the PDP is the first phase of the new Bloom master planned neighborhood which will be comprised of 271 units of the following housing types: o Single-Family Detached (front load) o Single-Family Detached (small alley load) o Single-Family Detached (cottage) o Accessory Dwelling Units Phase one residential will generally be located in the area north of International Boulevard, west of Greenfields Drive, and south-southwest of the existing railroad right-of-way. Anchoring this first phase is the highly amenitized pedestrian parkway of which the section from Sykes Drive to International Boulevard will be designed and constructed as part of this first phase. This extra- wide corridor will be amenitized with seating and gathering nodes, wide walkways, extensive landscaping, including rain gardens, that set the precedent for the overall design and them of Bloom. Ultimately this pedestrian parkway will connect the entire Bloom neighborhood from the planned neighborhood park on the north to the commercial/mixed-use area on the south, adjacent to Mulberry Road and become the spine for the neighborhood encouraging easy movement throughout the community and tying the neighborhood together. Additionally, the first phase of the neighborhood park is included with this first phase and will include a pond (for recreation and raw/re-use water storage), picnic facilities, trails, and native landscaping. Future phases of the park are planned and intended to include more active and passive recreational opportunities as well as a pool and clubhouse for Bloom residents. This park will serve as the northern terminus of the aforementioned pedestrian parkway. This first phase also establishes the beginnings of an extensive trail network that will connect the entire Bloom neighborhood both internally and externally with the greater Fort Collins community. Phase 1 – Project Narrative Landscape character for the Bloom neighborhood is established with this first phase and includes the extensive use of native and adapted plants that will thrive with less water yet still provide an extensive variety and attractive palette. A mix of formal and informal design is provided that blends the formality and structure of the more urban layout with natural areas that permeate this part of the City. An extensive integration of rain gardens as well as pollinator habitat further diversify the overall design for the neighborhood, doing their part to be more sustainable and further blur the lines between the natural and manmade environment. Vehicular access for the phase will come through continuing Greenfields Drive north from Mulberry Road, as well as connecting to existing stubs in the Mosaic neighborhood to the west. Future phases will add in additionally offsite connection points as well. As part of the approval of the establishment of a Metropolitan District for this property a Public Benefits Agreement (PBA) was created that established standards and required elements be provided or considered as part of the development of Bloom. This Bloom – Phase 1 PDP & Plat meets the following PBA requirements: (Section B. Public Benefits Secured) o The plat is establishing a tract (Tract JJ) that is currently under contract to an affordable housing developer which will soon be coming with an affordable housing application. (B.1)  This PDP also creates the necessary roadway and utility infrastructure to serve this site. o This plat dedicates the right-of-way for Greenfields Drive to Vine Drive, locating the future proposed crossing of the railroad right-of-way. (B.2.a) o As part of this first phase the roundabout at Greenfields Drive and Mulberry Frontage Road will be constructed (B.2.b) o Contribution for the community gateway. (B.2.e) o PDP and Plat include high quality smart growth elements, including, but not limited to: (B.3)  Increased density (B.3.i)  Increased residential alley access (B.3.ii)  Added utility services and raw water dedication (B.3.iii)  Enhanced pedestrian crossings (B.3.iv)  Establishment of a central pedestrian-oriented greenway spine (B.3.v)  Establishment of neighborhood parks and pocket parks (B.3) o Water conservation through non-potable irrigation system (B.4.b) o Sustainable landscape design (B.4.c) o Improvements to the Cooper Slough to reduce runoff and lower peak flows through upstream planting and mitigation . (B.4.d.i) o Enhanced community resiliency including landscape architecture designed to support the flight distance and migration patterns of applicable pollinators. (B.4.d.iii) • Impacts on Natural Habitats An ECS has been submitted as part of this application. There are minimal impacts to the natural habitat within this Bloom – Phase 1 PDP area. Phase 1 – Project Narrative • Transition Techniques o North – To the north of this first phase is the existing railroad right of way which will remain. A minimum 50’ landscape and trail corridor is planned in this area to buffer from this use and provide trail connectivity for the neighborhood. o East – Greenfields Drive (an arterial) comprises the east boundary of this first phase. Appropriate setbacks and enhanced landscaping are provided in this area to provide buffering between this ROW and the proposed residential uses. o South – International Boulevard (an arterial) comprises the southern boundary of this first phase. Appropriate setbacks and enhanced landscaping are provided in this area to provide buffering between this ROW and the proposed residential uses. o West – To the west of this first phase is the existing Mosaic community. Connections to the existing roadway stubs provided by this community are provided. There are several easements running north-south along this shared property line and for provide for ample buffering and landscape opportunities. Additionally, the homes proposed within Bloom in this adjoining area are similar in nature (single-family detached) to those in Mosaic. We believe a compatible and seamless transitions between the neighborhoods will be achieved with this application. • Development Phasing As the name suggests, this is just the first of several anticipated phases for the Bloom neighborhood. This particular phase is intended to develop all necessary infrastructure to support this phase at one time, and then bring homes on as market conditions dictate.