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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCENTRE FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 22ND FILING, COMMUNITY HORTICULTURE CENTER - PDP - 53-85AV - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT`� CI'EM NO. MEETING DATE 12/05/O1 STAFF SteVe Olt City of Fort Collins HEARING OFFICER STAFF REPORT PROJECT: APPLICANT: Centre for Advanced Technology, 22"� Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan -#53-85AV City of Fort Collins c/a Jim Clark 281 North College Avenue Fort Collins, CO. 80524 OWNER: City of Fort Collins 281 North College Avenue Fort Collins, CO. 80�24 PR9JECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for a(public) community horticulture center and public park on approximately 18 acres located on the west side of Centre Avenue, east of the Windtrail residential neighbofiood, south of Spring Creek, and north of the proposed Rolland Moore Drive street extension. The facility will include one main conservatory building, two accessory outbuildings, a parking lot for approximately 75 vehicles, gazebo and bandstand, gardens, bicycle/pedestrian trails, and a small (1 to 2 acres) neighborhood park. The property is in the E— Employment Zoning District. REC�MMENDATI4N: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This PDP complies with the applicable requirements of the Land l�se Code LUC , more specifically: the process located in Division 2.2 - Common Development Review Procedures for Development Applications of ARTICLE 2- ADMINISTRATION; standards located in Division 3.2 - Site Planning and Design Standards, Division 3.3 — Engineering Standards, Division 3.4 — Environmental, Natural Area, Recreational and Cultural Resource COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRQNMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 5$0 Fort Colhns. CO 80522-0580 (970) 221-67i0 � I'LANh'lNG DEPARTMENT � C.A.T., 22"d Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan, #53-85AV December 5, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 2 Protection Standards, and Division 3.5 - Building Standards of ARTIC�E 3- GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS; and the proposed use of a community horticulture center, being a public facility, is permitted in Division 4.22 Employment District (E} of ARTfCLE 4— DISTRICTS, subject to an administrative revlew. The proposed use of a neighborhood park is permitted in the E District, subject to a building permit review. Public facilities are permitted in the E— Employment Zoning District, subject to administrative (Type I) review. Neighborhood parks are permitted in the E District, subject to a building permit review. The purpose of the E District is: Intended to provide locations for a variety of workplaces including light industrial uses, research and development activities, offices and institutions. This District also is intended to accommodate secondary uses that complement or support the primary workplace uses, such as hotels, restaurants, convenience shopping, child care and housing. Additionally, the Employment District is intended to encourage the development of planned office and business parks; to promote excellence in the design and construction of buildings, outdoor spaces, transportation facilities and streetscapes; to direct the development of workptaces consistent with the availability of pubfic facilities and services; and to continue the vitality and quality of life in adjacent residential neighborhoods. This proposal complies with the purpose of the E District as it is a public community horticulture center and small neighborhood park, with a community- wide emphasis and intended service. COMMENTS: 1. Background The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: E; undeveloped land (Centre for Advanced Technology) S: E; undeveloped land (Centre for Advanced Technology) E: E; existing office uses (NRRC) W: RL; existing residential (VNindtrail) ,,� C.A.T., 22"d Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan, #53-85AV December 5, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 3 The property was annexed in September, 1965 as part of the Fourth College Annexation. The property is part of the Center for Advanced Technology Overall Development Plan that was approved by the Planning and Zoning Board in Septernber, 1983 for recreational uses. The property has not been previously platted or planned. 2. Division 4.22 of the Land Use Code, Employment Zone District The proposed community horticulture center, a public facility, is permitted in the E— Employment Zoning District, subject to administrative (Type I) review. The proposed neighborhood park, being an integral part of the facility, is permitted in the E District, subject to a building permit review. This proposal complies with the purpose of the E District as it is a public community horticulture center and small neighborhood park, with a community-wide emphasis and intended service. 3. Article 3 of the Land Use Code — General Development Standards The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable General Development Standards as follows: A. Division 3.2, Site Planning and Design Standards 1. Section 3.2.1, Landscaping and Tree Protection a. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(D)(1)(c) in that it provides "full tree stocking" within 50' of the main conservatory building, according to the standards set forth in this section. b. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(D)(2)(a) in that canopy shade (street) trees are provided at a 40' spacing in the parkways along Centre Avenue and Rolland Moore Drive. c. The proposa! complies with Section 3.2.1(D)(3} in that no one species of the proposed new trees on the development plan exceeds 15% of the total trees on-site. C.A.T., 22nd Filing, #53-85AV December 5, 2001 Page 4 Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan, Administrative Hearing d. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(E)(4)(a) in that trees are provided at a ratio of at least 1 tree per 25 lineal feet along Centre Avenue adjacent to the parking lot. e. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(E)(4)(b) in that the on- site parking area will be screened from Centre Avenue to the east with deciduous and evergreen trees and shrub plantings that will block at least 75% of the vehicle headlights and extend along at least 70% of the street frontage along the parking area. f. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.1(E)(5) in that it provides at least 6% interior landscaping in the parking areas, satisfying the minimum requirement. 2. Section 3.2.2, Access� Circulation and Parking a. The proposal complies with Section 3.22(C)(4)(a) in that it provides secure and conveniently located bicycle parking in the amount of 20% of the total number of automobile parking spaces on-site, satisfying the minimum requirement of 5%. b. The proposal complies with Section 3.2.2(C)(5) in that it provides direct, safe, and continuous walkways and bicycle connections to major pedestrian and bicycle destinations in the surrounding area. c. The praposal complies with Section 3.2.2(D) in that it provides for safe, convenient, and efficient bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular movement to and through the site. Vehicular access will occur via a curb cut from Centre Avenue to the public parking area and a curb cut from Rolland Moore Drive to the maintenance area only. B. Division 3.3, Engineering Standards 1. Section 3.3.1, Plat Standards The proposal complies with the general plat requirements as set forth in this section. 4 � C.A.T., 22"d Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan, #53-85AV December 5, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 5 2. Section 3.3.5, Engineering Design Standards The proposal complies with the design standards, requirements, and specifications for the services as set forth in this section. D. Division 3.4, Environmental, Natural Area, Recreational and Cultural Resource Protection Standards 1. Section 3.4.1, Natural Habitats and Features The proposed community horticulture center PDP provides for adequate setbacks and buffer zones between the proposed development and Spring Creek. 2. Section 3.4.8, Parks and Trails The proposal complies with Section 3.4.8(B) in that it provides for trails within the development plan, connecting to off-site trails in the area, and incorporates a small neighbofiood park in conformance with the City's adopted West Central Neighborhood Plan. C. Division 3.5, Building Standards 1. Section 3.5.1, Building and Project Compatibility The proposed community horticulture center and neighborhood park contains a total of 4 buildings. They include the main conservatory building, a gazebo/bandstand, a hoop house, and a pump house. The buildings are somewhat intemal to the site and relate to the horticulture center activities. They are unique to the specific community horticulture center theme. 2. Section 3.5.3, Mixed Use, Institutional and Commercial Buildings The proposed public buildings in this community horticufture center and neighbofiood park are situated intemal to the site and relate to the various activities within the facifity. The main conservatory building meets the "build-to" line standards because it provides a courtyard/plaza and gardens between the building and the public sidewalks on Centre Avenue and Rolland Moore Drive. This C.A.T., 22nd Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Developmen+ Plan, #53-85AV December 5, 2001 Administrative Hearing Page 6 satisfies the permitted exception as set forth in Section 3.5.3(B)(2)(d)1 of the Land Use Code. 4. Neiqhborhood Information Meetina The C.A.T., 22"d Filing, Community Horticulture Center, PDP contains proposed land uses that are permitted as Building Permit and Type I uses, subject to an administrative review. The proposed uses are a public community horticulture center and a neighborhood park. The ,L�CJ does not require that a neighbofiood meeting be held for a Type I development proposal and a City-facilitated neighborhood meeting was not held to discuss this proposal. FINDINGS OF FACT/CONCLUSIONS After reviewing the Centre for Advanced Technology, 22"� Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan -#53-85AV, staff makes the following findings of fact and conclusions: 1. The proposed land uses are permitted in the E— Employment Zone District. 2. The Project Development Plan cornplies with all applicable General Development Standards contained in Article 3 of the Land Use Code. 3. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable Land Use and Development Standards contained in Article 4, Division 4.22 of the Land Use Code. RECOMMENDATtON: J Staff recommends approval of the Centre for Advanced Technoiogy, 22"d Filing, Community Horticulture Center - Project Development Plan -#53-85AV.