HomeMy WebLinkAboutIMPALA REDEVELOPMENT - PDP220005 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 5 - PROJECT NARRATIVE
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RIPLEY DESIGN, INC. | 419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 200 | Fort Collins, CO 80521
April 13th, 2022
Edited June 8th, 2022
Revised October 19th, 2022
Impala Redevelopment
Project Development Plan | Project Narrative
Preliminary Design Meeting Date: 3/9/2022
Neighborhood Meeting Date: 3/24/2022
Proposed Owners: Both properties are owned by Housing Catalyst Entities. 306 Impala Circle
ownership is held by the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Collins. 400 Impala ownership is
held by Villages LTD. Ultimately the ownership of both properties will be transferred into a
Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP) at the time of financial closing. Housing Catalyst will
maintain ownership interest as the General Partner in the to be formed LLP.
Existing Owners: Both properties are owned by Housing Catalyst Entities. 306 Impala Circle
ownership is held by the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Collins. 400 Impala ownership is
held by Villages LTD.
Overview:
The applicant, Housing Catalyst, is proposing to develop 62 new affordable dwelling
units on the properties of 306 and 400 Impala Circle to complement the 12 existing duplexes on
400 Impala. The goal of the new units is to provide housing to Fort Collins Residents ranging in
income from 30%-80% AMI with a target average of 55% AMI. The current zoning to remain is
Low Density Mixed-Use (LMN).
The two existing properties, 306- and 400 Impala, will be partially redeveloped and partially
renovated. The overall 7.19 acre included in the project boundary will be within the allowable
density and height and for affordable housing within the LMN zone district, adequate parking is
provided to accommodate requirements for the development as a whole. As with most
affordable infill housing projects modifications will be required. Five modifications have been
requested for (LUC 4.5 (E) (4)(a); LUC 4.5 (E) (4)(i); LUC 3.5.2 (D) (1); LUC 3.8.3 (C) (2); LUC
3.8.30 (D) (1) & LUC 3.8.30 (D) (2)). They are included in a separation package submitted with
this application.
Most of the major improvements are proposed on 306 Impala. To accommodate 56 new
affordable units on that site, the existing single-family homes on the property will be demolished
and residents relocated.
The layout for 306 Impala has been carefully organized to provide neighborhood compatibility.
All buildings fronting Impala Drive and Impala circle will be limited to two stories. A single 3-story
building is tucked behind the two-story buildings in the northeast corner. This puts the largest
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building farthest away from the adjacent single family residential. This is similar to another
successful site design approach Housing Catalyst used at their recent Village on Redwood
project.
On the 400 Impala site, a new 6-unit, two-story multifamily building is proposed along Mulberry.
The existing 2-story duplex will be removed to make room for the new residences. Interior and
exterior updating of the other 12 existing duplexes within 400 Impala are also anticipated as part
of the development proposal. Additionally, landscape enhancements around the detention
areas and an improved pedestrian/bicycle connection to Mulberry will happen on 400 Impala
Circle.
Housing Catalyst sees these two properties as a great opportunity to provide high quality
affordable housing units to our community. Bringing this community to life will meet the intended
goals of the City Plan (2019) and the affordable Housing Strategic Plan (2015-2019) by
increasing the affordable housing stock and leveraging the priorities and incentives outlined in
the Housing Strategic Plan (2021).
Current site conditions
306 Impala currently has 11 small single-family residences on it. They will be removed
for the new development. On 400 Impala, the existing 12 duplexes that are to remain will
receive important capital improvements and updates which will improve the accessibility and
energy efficiency of the homes (final scope is yet to be determined). The single duplex fronting
Mulberry will be removed and a new 6-unit, two-story building will be built there.
Site Access and Circulation
The site will be accessed off of Impala Drive and Mulberry Street. The application will
request the vacation of the Impala Circle right of way. This is needed to provide parking for the
56 units proposed on the 306 Impala Circle site. The access will be provided through a
public/emergency access and utility easement/ private drive rather than public right of way -
essentially acting as a public road while allowing more efficient parking.
The new 6-unit building along Mulberry will utilize the current access off of Mulberry Street. In
response to neighbor feedback, this proposal is providing 10 parking stalls directly adjacent to
the building, including 2 of which will be ADA. A detailed parking breakdown is provided with the
site plan package.
There is an existing walk connecting the duplex units at 400 Impala to Mulberry. The
development is proposing to widen and enhance that connection from the duplexes to the new
Mulberry units to a bicycle, pedestrian, and emergency vehicle connection.
Site Design
The site design for 306 Impala has buildings located along the local streets and private
roads. The buildings are designed such that units facing the streets have direct access to the
sidewalks. Main entries are oriented so that parking can be easily accessed by residents. This
allows for a nice open space interior to the site where site amenities will be programmed. The
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amenity spaces are central part of the vision for the property and will play crucial role in
fostering a vibrant community. Potential programming for the amenity areas includes large and
small gathering spaces, BBQ, shade structures, outdoor games, and a playground.
On 400 Impala, the site design will remain consistent with the current layout. The additions will
be the new building and revised parking (in same location as the existing duplex sits on
Mulberry) and the enhanced bicycle/ pedestrian connecting path between the existing duplexes
and the new 6-unit walk-up building. The area to the north of the existing duplexes (adjacent to
the high school sports fields) will serve as a detention area and will feature a soft trail for
resident enjoyment.
Bike parking facilities will be dispersed throughout the site. Enclosed and secure bike rooms are
provided within each walk-up building and surface bike parking spaces are equally distributed
throughout the property.
Architectural Design
The development at 306 Impala and 400 Impala will consist of a total of 62 new for-rent
residential units in four residential buildings. An approximately 2,100 SF clubhouse will be
integrated into the ground level of building A. All units will be designed as one-level “flats”. The
62 flats will consist of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units and be located in four “Walk-Up” style
buildings. Three of the builidngs wil be located on 306 impala, and one of the buildings will be
facing Mulberry Street.
Architecturally, the goal is to relate to, compliment, and enhance the scale and aesthetic of the
surrounding neighborhood as much as possible. Pitched roofs and exterior cladding materials
that complement the surrounding architectural character are used on every building so the
project fits in seamlessly with the adjacent neighborhood. All window and door sizes are easily
recognized as residential in nature. An effort has been made to place a majority of these
windows facing the public right-of-way to provide a transparent, safe, and active pedestrian
experience along the street.
At 306 Impala, the walk-up style buildings will vary in size and height, which will create
architectural interest throughout the project. The smaller, two-story walk-up buildings have
been located adjacent to the public streets to relate to the size and scale of the neighborhood,
and the three-story walk-up building has been located internal to the property to reduce the
visibility of the additional height. Buillding A, which faces South toward Impala Circle, will have
one-story massing on both the east and the west ends to further relate to the one-story buildings
in the adjacent neighborhood
The proposed 6-plex located along Mulberry Street is a one-and two-story building that has
been designed to reflect and respect the one-story historic house to the west by stepping down
the mass from two-stories to one-story on the west side of the building that faces the historic
house. The proposed design also has a centrally-located dormer on the west façade that
relates to the south facing, centrally-located dormer on the historic house. The south façade of
the proposed 6-plex that faces Mulberry Street has been articulated so that it reads as two
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smaller halves, instead of one, larger façade. Each half of the facade is similar in width to the
historic house.
The proposed materials will be of highly-durable fiber cement siding and asphalt shingles to
create a visual connection to the historic home. The 8” horizontal lap siding will reference the
size of the modular brick façade and stone window heads used on the historic home, and the
proposed brick orange color of the siding will further create a connection to the orange brick
used on the historic home. The horizontal shadow line cast by the proposed lap siding will relate
to the horizontal grout lines of the historic brick. Also, asphalt shingles are proposed on the new
building, which will relate to the asphalt shingles used on the historic home.
The proposed windows will be single-hung to match the historic home, and the proportion of
window to wall will be very similar to the more solid, load bearing brick of the historic home. The
proposed porch roof that faces Mulberry will continue the horizontal roof eave line of the historic
home, and the proposed white, two-story element will reflect the upper dormer of the historic
home that is facing Mulberry Street.
There are no fire sprinkler systems in the existing buildings, but all new buildings will be
equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Compatibility:
Careful consideration was given to the neighborhood context. Lower density two-story
buildings are proposed directly across Impala Drive and Impala Circle from existing single-family
residential. The highest density building (3-story multifamily building) is placed in the back of
306 Impala Circle site. The two-story building will help screen the 3-story buildings from the
homes to the south and to the west; and the adjacent single-family homes to the east are more
than 300’ away and buffered by the high school sports fields. Also, the buildings have been
designed with pitched roofs, exterior materials and colors, and residential architectural details
that are compatible with the surrounding homes. The building height, parking counts, and
density are in compliance with the Land Use Code.
The 6-unit walk-up along Mulberry is designed to be two-stories, and more than 25’ of
separation is provided to the single-family property line to the east. Parking and vehicular traffic
is mitigated to the extent feasible, and a bike/pedestrian transition zone is designed to alleviate
any potential conflicts along the driveway.
A traffic study was conducted as part of the PDP requirements, and no additional infrastructure
improvements are warranted. The average daily trip count is not significant increased from the
exiting site conditions.
Stormwater and Wastewater Strategy:
306 and 400 Impala will maintain historic drainage patterns, utilizing existing detention
facilities in their current locations. A new storm pipe will be installed from the existing manhole
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RIPLEY DESIGN, INC. | 419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 200 | Fort Collins, CO 80521
in Mulberry St and brought into the site to lower the bottom of detention facilities to create
additional volume required by the increase in imperviousness while maintaining the total site
release rate of 5.8 cfs per previous drainage reports. Low Impact Design (LID) features such as
rain gardens and/or permeable pavers will be installed to treat new or modified impervious
areas.
Sanitary sewer will be served by an existing main that runs through 400 Impala to 306 Impala or
along an existing main located in Impala Dr. Similarly, existing water mains in Impala Dr or
Impala Circle will service the proposed buildings on 306 Impala. Existing water and sewer
services to the existing house along Mulberry St that is a demo/build will serve the new building.
Neighborhood Meeting Discussion Points
A Neighborhood Meeting was held on March 24th, 2022. Some of the main concerns
discussed by attendees were traffic and parking provided by the redevelopment and interest in
the new building that is accessed off of Mulberry.
Regarding parking associated with 306 Impala Drive, all of the required vehicular parking will be
provided on-site. The parking requirements are broken down by bedroom and can adequately
be accommodated for the two walk-up buildings and townhomes in the north. As a whole, all the
new buildings and the existing duplexes are parked to code requirements. A TIS was conducted
and it is determined that traffic generated by the new development will not significantly increase
the average daily peak hours and no public facility improvements are warranted.
Based on feedback received both in meetings with neighbors and during the Neighborhood
Meeting, the number of parking stalls were reduced at the 6-unit walk-up along Mulberry from
14 spaces (at PDR) to 6 spaces (current). The intent with reducing the number of parking stalls
is to address the number of turns into the driveway, alleviate potential vehicle, pedestrian and
bicycle conflicts. The enhanced bike pedestrian connection to the cul-de-sac is also modified to
connect to the detached walk behind the parking and provide a transition area to enter the
driveway lane when traveling south towards Mulberry. The vehicular entry off of Mulberry has
also been modified to reflect a driveway standard.
Within the context of the City Plan & Framework Plans
As Identified within the context of the City Plan (2019), the Affordable Housing Strategic
Plan (2015-2019), and the Housing Strategic Plan (2021), the community need for affordable
housing is clear. The Impala Redevelopment proposal can substantially address an important
community need by providing 62 new units of affordable housing in a location where residents
can feel safe, foster community, access transit, and relieve educational barriers with Poudre
High School partnerships. The 49 net new units represent approximately one fifth of the
targeted annual goal of 282 units to meet 2040 inventory goals (Housing Strategic Plan).
This proposal also leverages specific priorities identified in the plan by requesting modifications
to the Land Use Code that are considered quick and low-cost wins:
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Have you previously submitted an application?
A Preliminary Design Review Application was submitted by the same applicant on 3/9/2022.
First Round PDP was submitted by the same applicant on 4/13/2022.