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Home My WebLink AboutGATEWAY APARTMENTS - PDP230001 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PROJECT NARRATIVE 244 North College Ave, #130 I Fort Collins, CO 80524 www.norris-design.com January 4, 2023 City of Fort Collins – Planning & Development Services Attn: Clark Mapes – City Planner 281 North College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 Re: Gateway at Prospect Multi-Family: PDP and Subdivision Plat Application Dear Mr. Mapes, On behalf of the Applicant, Rockefeller Group, we are pleased to provide to the City of Fort Collins the Project Development Plan (PDP) and Subdivision Plat application materials for the project known as Gateway at Prospect Apartments generally located to the west-northwest of the intersection of Prospect and Interstate HWY 25, along the western bank of Boxelder Creek within the City of Fort Collins. The following information provides additional application details as required by City of Fort Collins. • Project Title: Gateway at Prospect Apartments • Past Meeting Dates: o Concept Review Meeting: July 14, 2022 o Neighborhood Meeting: October 13, 2022 • General Information: • Proposed is a 276-unit multi-family residential comprised of studio, 1-, 2-, & 3- bedroom units on approximately 13 acres at a gross density of ~21.7 du/ac. As part of the new community, street-like private drives are proposed, multiple amenity spaces, and trail connectivity internally and regionally. The property is surrounded by the following uses: o North – Proposed Employment District and Low-Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood uses as part of the Overall Development Plan site. Nothing has been developed on the overall site to the north of this PDP site. o East – Boxelder Creek and Proposed Commercial uses as a part of the Overall Development Plan site. Nothing has been developed on the overall site to the east of this PDP site. o South – Prospect Road and the Colorado Welcome Center o West – Existing Low-Density Residential and Agricultural uses The property is zoned Medium Density Mixed Use Neighborhood and the multi-family residential uses proposed are permitted within this zoning district. • Owner: Gateway at Prospect Apartments LLC • Transportation Improvements Transportation external to the site proposed here will largely be constructed as part of the Gateway Infrastructure Plan for the overall development site. Widening of Prospect Rd. per the City of Fort Collins capital improvements plans will help to alleviate traffic demand from the development of this site and the adjacent developable areas listed above. 244 North College Ave, #130 I Fort Collins, CO 80524 www.norris-design.com • Neighborhood Meeting Follow-Up The neighborhood meeting held on October 13, 2022, was attended by approximately a dozen members of the community plus several members of Fort Collins Staff and the applicant team. At the meeting, Staff and the applicant team explained the approval process, shared the Gateway ODP, and presented the proposal for this site as a piece of that development. The questions centered, almost exclusively, around the potential for adverse traffic impacts on Prospect Road, and what if any connections were planned toward Boxelder Estates to the west. The applicant team explained that traffic impacts will be studied as part of the approval process by City Staff and any additional future improvements, if necessary, would be identified and determined at the time of PDP review. In addressing the comment about impacts on the surrounding neighborhood, it was explained that this new development will not include direct connectivity to Boxelder Estates, however, indirect pedestrian connectivity will be provided via public sidewalks and a regional trail extension along the southeast property line of the project site. Onsite private amenities and services will also be provided to residents of the future development. The applicant and owner will continue to be available to answer questions of the community as needed, and advocate for high quality connectivity to the site. • Site Design The thirteen-acre proposed development site, Parcel J in the Gateway ODP, is bounded by Prospect Road to the south, internal connectivity and infrastructure to the overall development to the north and west, and a meandering boundary formed by Boxelder Creek and its required buffer area to the east. We believe the application presented works to address the challenges posed by the shape of the developable area and provide an attractive transition from the I-25 and Prospect corridors toward lower density development to the north and west. This site will bring 276 residential dwelling units to the market and aims to meet the comprehensive plan’s goal of linking the developed neighborhoods of Fort Collins with the I-25 corridor. A total of 10 two and three story buildings, showcasing varied architectural design and massing are proposed. These buildings have been oriented toward adjacent right-of-way or internal street-like private drive as appropriate. The site is designed to meet required setbacks and provide buffering along the perimeter where appropriate. The natural border created by Boxelder Creek encourages active open space, passive open space and amenity areas along the southeastern boundary of the property. This design facilitates connectivity to a regional trail, which shall run adjacent to the property, and create visual interest by engaging with the existing geography and ecological resources. The regional trail connectivity will encourage recreation and create an attractive, safe, and convenient environment for multi-modal transportation to and from the site. Landscape character along the site exterior provides appropriate transitions to roadways and natural conditions. Native and compatible plantings are used throughout to tie the site into the existing ecology. Community architecture consists of varying materials, rooflines, colors, and articulation to provide visual interest and variation between the building types. The architecture used will help set the design standard for The Gateway ODP and the entrance to Fort Collins as a whole. Vehicular access will connect to the street infrastructure provided by the overall development plan and channeled to Prospect Road. Vehicular and bicycle parking provided on-site will meet the standards set forth in the updated to the Fort Collins Land Development Code as approved by City Council November 1, 2022. An alternative compliance request is included with this application due to a petition to delay the effective date of the LDC. 244 North College Ave, #130 I Fort Collins, CO 80524 www.norris-design.com • Impacts on Natural Habitats As denoted in the included Environmental Characterization Study, impacts to the existing natural features of the project site are minimal. A minimum 100’ buffer has been provided adjacent to Boxelder Creek. This site will be landscaped in accordance with Fort Collins standards and any adverse impacts are minimal. The applicant team has met with Staff to review and identify any potential concerns and all detrimental impacts have been mitigated wherever possible. No mature trees have been identified on the subject property, and as reflected in the materials associated with the overall project. • Development Phasing At this time, the entire Gateway at Prospect Apartments project is anticipated to be developed in a single phase. • Alternative Compliance - Parking An alternative compliance memo has been attached as a supplement to this application. This project is seeking relief from the minimum parking requirement for multi-family residential development in the Land Use Code. A Parking Impact Study is included per Section 3.2.2 (K) of the Land Use Code to support the request for alternative compliance. We are excited to bring this project to the City of Fort Collins and look forward to working with you and the City throughout this process. Please feel free to reach out to me at 970.409.3414 or rmcbreen@norris-design.com with any questions or comments Sincerely, Norris Design Ryan F. McBreen Principal