HomeMy WebLinkAboutRIDGEWOOD HILLS AMENDMENT TRACT B - MA210028 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 3 - MODIFICATION REQUESTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | PLANNING
TFG Design, LLC
P.O. Box 78
Loveland, Colorado 80539
david@fronterra.design |970.235.1039
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Kai Kleer, City Planner
City of Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
RE: Ridgewood Hills 5th Filing Minor Amendment – Modification of Standard Request Letter
In conjunction with the Ridgewood Hills Fifth Filing Minor Amendment a request is hereby made for a
Modification of Standard to City of Fort Collins Land Use Code Section 3.8.30 (C – Access to a Park, Central
Feature or Gathering Place). More specifically the request is related to park location standards which state,
"Such parks shall be highly visible, secure settings formed by the street layout and pattern of lots and easily
observed from the streets. Rear facades and rear yards of dwellings shall not abut more than two (2) sides or
more than fifty (50) percent of the perimeter frontage of the park." This standard requires the park to be located
near to and framed by public streets. In this case the adjacent streets are Triangle Drive and Avondale Road.
Background History: The first submittal of this Minor Amendment proposed a private clubhouse and pool for the
tenants of Ridgewood Hills. After our first round was reviewed, the clubhouse and pool were removed to mitigate
recent and ongoing escalating construction costs, along with long-term pool maintenance costs that would impact
the leasing rates. After preliminary discussions with planning staff, the 2 nd round of plans included a central
park with suggested enhanced amenities, in lieu of the clubhouse and pool. Although a splash park and a
meeting room with wet bar and restrooms were also suggested, the costs associated with construction and
maintenance of such amenities are prohibitive. We estimate it would cost approximately $80,000 for the meeting
room, alone. The amenities proposed with the 2nd round submittal documents included a dog park, a sport court,
a tot-lot, a shade structure, and benches. The sport court could also be used as a pickle ball court or half-court
basketball.
This Modification of Standard request would allow the park to remain in its current location, which is not framed
by either Triangle Drive or Avondale Road. We, in fact, consider this location to be a security enhancement.
Replacing the previously planned private clubhouse with an outdoor park space with the enhanced amenities
listed above and adding a soft trail connection between Triangle Drive and Avondale Road provides inclusive
outdoor activities, and, while not located adjacent to the well-traveled streets, the park is easily accessible and is
visible from the public streets. By providing amenities such as a sport court, a playground, a dog park, a soft
trail, a shade shelter, and benches, the park creates a space that promotes community well-being and fosters
social cohesion. Here are the key arguments supporting this modification request:
·Accessibility and visibility: A park accessible to all residents of the apartment complex, as well as those
in the surrounding neighborhood would increase opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities. The proposed
site plan amendment includes (4) four direct concrete sidewalk connections to the park. At (2) two of
the walk connections, directional signage to the park will be provided for neighborhood guests. Near
2
the roundabout, a third sign map will be provided. See attached exhibit for reference. This sign will be
an overall map of the project to show where the park and soft trail are located and how to access them.
The two sidewalk connections with directional signage also provide a direct visual connection to the
park from both Triangle Drive and Avondale Road. These two sidewalks are also directly linked to each
other within the park.
·Inclusivity: Unlike a private clubhouse and pool, which use of which would be limited to tenants only, a
park would be accessible to the community, creating a sense of belonging and shared ownership among
residents. It would be a gathering place for people of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic
statuses, fostering diversity and strengthening social ties. Children living at Ridgewood Hills
Apartments would have a year-round outdoor space to share with other neighborhood friends.
·Well-being: Access to green spaces has been consistently linked to improved mental health and well-
being. This park would serve as a refuge within the community, offering a serene environment for
relaxation, reflection, and stress relief. By providing a park that is buffered from two busy streets, the
project would contribute to the mental well-being of residents and promote a happier, healthier
community. Placing the park away from neighborhood streets can help mitigate noise and disturbance
issues. Traffic and street noise near the park area may adversely affect the user experience, especially
for activities that require concentration or tranquility, such as reading, relaxation, or meditation. By
locating the park in the interior, residents can enjoy a more peaceful and serene environment for
recreational purposes.
·Safety and Security: Placing the park in the interior of the development minimizes direct exposure to
neighborhood streets, thereby reducing the risk of accidents involving pedestrians, particularly children
who may be playing near the road. By having separation between the park and the streets, the
likelihood of incidents related to vehicular traffic decreases, making the park a safer environment for
users. With most of the users being residents of Ridgewood Hills, the central park would provide
enhanced supervision from all the apartment units.
In conclusion, the modification request offers numerous advantages to both apartment residents and the broader
community. The park would promote inclusivity, physical and mental health, social interaction, and community
bonding in an outdoor setting, while keeping rents affordable for current and future tenants. If you have any
questions, please feel free to call.
Sincerely,
The FronTerra Group
David Kasprzak – PLA + LEED AP
Principal Landscape Architect
Enclosures:
Modification of Standard Exhibit.pdf
STEEL EDGER,
(TYP)
BIKE RACK,
(TYP)
T
R
I
A
N
G
L
E
D
R
I
V
E
AVONDALE ROADTURFTRASH
ENCLOSURE,
(TYP)
'SPORT COURT'
(PICKLEBALL & HALF-COURT
BASKETBALL)
TOT-LOT
A
(6-UNIT)
B
(6-UNIT)
C
(8-UNIT)
D
(8-UNIT)
E
(8-UNIT)
F
(6-UNIT)
UPPER RAIN GARDEN
LOWER
RAIN GARDEN
DOG
PARK
PICNIC
SHELTER
WOODR
O
W
DRIVE
PROPOSED 5'
WIDE SOFT TRAILBENCH
EXISTING CONCRETE WALK
TO OPEN SPACE AREA
(SHENANDOAH PARK)
EXISTING CONCRETE
WALK CONNECTION
(COYOTE RIDGE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL)
TFG Design, LLCP.O. Box 178Loveland CO 80539(970) 669.3737
SHEET OF
SHEET NUMBER:
SHEET TITLE:
REVISIONS:
PROJECT INFORMATION:
OWNER:
PROJECT NUMBER:
DATE:
PHASE:
www.tfgdesign.com
THIS DRAWING, AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SERVICE, IS ANDSHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF TFG DESIGN, LLC. - THEFRONTERRA GROUP AND SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED,PUBLISHED OR USED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THEPERMISSION OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
EX 1.0
11
PRIVATE PARK ANDSOFT TRAIL ACCESSEXHIBIT
111-2001FC
MAY 30, 2023
Bill TimmM. Timm Development
233 Carillo Street
Santa Barbara, California 93101
805.963.0358
btimm@mtimm.com
david@fronterra.design
RIDGEWOOD HILLSFIFTH FILINGMINOR AMENDMENTAVONDALE RD & TRIANGLE DRFORT COLLINS, COLORADO LARIMER COUNTY COUNTYNORTH
0
SCALE:1" = 30'
15' 30'60'90'
LEGEND:
OVERALL WAY FINDING
SIGNAGE FOR PRIVATE PARK
AND SOFT TRAIL ACCESS
B
B
A
A
DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE
TO PRIVATE PARKB