HomeMy WebLinkAboutMULBERRY AND LEMAY CROSSING - PRELIMINARY - PUD - 36-96B - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - Environmental Report Com.r ity Planning and Environmental_ervices
Natural Resources Department
City of Fort Collins
DATE: November 5, 1998 IJOV 5 �C'4
TO: Ted Shepard
Tom Vosburg '1
FROM: Brian Woodruff �j W
RE: Mulberry-Lemay Crossings PUD
This is to respond to the air quality analysis on pages 6-7 of the consultant's report
"Environmental Issues Regarding Mulberry/Lemay Crossings Project,"dated October 19,
1998. While I have not confirmed the details of the analysis, I generally concur with the
conclusion that, while air quality will deteriorate in the immediate vicinity of the
development, the overall air quality in the Fort Collins area should improve.
City Plan Policy ENV-1.6 calls for an area-wide approach to improving air quality, as
follows: "The City's primary approach to improving motor-vehicle-related air pollution
is to reduce total area-wide motor vehicle emissions over the long term. Any action that
increases short-term or localized emissions can be justified only if it is demonstrated that
long—term or area-wide emissions are decreased by the action, and if localized
concentrations do not rise to a level that violates National Ambient Air Quality
Standards."
The first demonstration has been met,because the report shows an area-wide decrease in
emissions attributable to the project, due to an expected reduction in vehicle miles of
travel (VMT). While I have not confirmed the range of VMT reduction cited, I do expect
some VMT reduction based on the principle that the project will reduce the distance that
northeast Fort Collins residents must drive to access similar shopping opportunities.
Also,the project is consistent with the City Plan Structure Plan and Zoning, which are
expected to help reduce area-wide VMT over the long term.
The second demonstration has not been met, because the report does not show that local
concentrations will be better than the air quality standards,although it does acknowledge
that local concentrations will increase. I do not,however, expect a violation of air quality
standards at the site, because traffic at the Mulberry/Lemay intersection is expected to be
similar to other Fort Collins intersections. Even worst-case intersections have pollution
levels that are better than the air quality standard, as evidenced by continuous carbon
monoxide monitoring at Laurel and Mason,which is representative of worst-case
locations in Fort Collins.
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