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Home My WebLink AboutHAMPSHIRE COURT FINAL SUBDIVISION - 31 92A - CORRESPONDENCE - STAFF'S PROJECT COMMENTS (2)Commi y Planning and Environmenta.? rvices Planning Department C : y of Fort Collins July 10, 1992 Rich Storck Storck Development Corporation P.O. Box 8368 Fort Collins, CO. 80524 Dear Rich, City staff has reviewed the revisions for the Hampshire Court Subdivision - Final, and would like to offer the following comments: 1. The preliminary plat was approved with a 201_ wide utility & trail access easement on Lots 10 & 11 (10' on each lot) at the west end of Hampshire Court. This easement will provide public access to the existing trail and open space along the Pleasant Valley & Lake Canal. The final plat and landscape plan do not presently include this easement. The easement was an element of preliminary approval and the City still feels that it is an important part of this development. This correction should be made. 2. There are off -site drainage issues involving the vacant Children's World day care center., and associated with the detention pond at the northeast corner of this development, that must be resolved prior to this request going to the Planning and Zoning Board for final approval. 3. The streetscapes and Tract 'A' (detention pond) treatment and maintenance is still a concern that must be addressed prior to final approval. You have indicated that there will be a Homeowner's Association and that it will be responsible for maintenance of the detention pond and the landscaping in the street rights -of -way. Several questions arise: * How will this be accomplished? * Will there be an on -going association with each homeowner paying a monthly fee for an outside maintenance contractor to do the work? * Will the individual homeowners be responsible for watering and grass cutting? 281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (303) 221-6750 * If individual homeowners are responsible, how will they access the areas to be maintained? Would gates be provided through the fence? It is .important to firm. up the mechanism for landscape maintenance, and the City will want to review an association document. 4. After lengthy deliberation amongst staff and discussion with the City Forester it has been determined that the cobblestone groundcover is not appropriate in large masses as proposed along this arterial street. This position had previously been expressed by City staff and supported by the Planning and Zoning Board. Additionally, the Board attached a condition to the preliminary approval stating that IlSome additional landscaping be shown at Final on the streetscape. Some landscaping in between the trees as the applicant proposed, between the sidewalk and the fence, of low maintenance that will become established in two years. %eriscape that will break up the canyon effect of the streetscape and wall.1' The twelve Table Top Junipers in groupings of three and spaced 160 feet apart, up against the fence, does not fulfil the intent of the Board's condition. The City staff's position, as had previously been stated, is that a turf grass groundcover under ornamental street trees is a much preferred treatment over what is proposed and shown on the landscape plan (cobblestone groundcover). The dryland grass mix shown on the plan is acceptable in the street rights -of -way and is relatively easy to establish. The best time to plant this grass is around the 1st of September, with intensive watering for about a two week period. An alternative time would be around the 15th of April, taking advantage of natural spring moisture. Once established, proper mowing will be the key to the appearance of the area. This alternative will actually be less maintenance -intensive and more cost effective in the long run. 5. The City forester has said that the two trees proposed in the street parkway, the Amur Chokecherry and the Toba Hawthorn, have a relatively high mortality rate. The City will not plant these trees in an unprotected area like this. The recommendation is to use Radiant and Spring Snow Crabapples, 1-3/411. caliper, ball & burlapped. Also, the trees would be more appropriately located between the sidewalk and the fence, in the 7' strip of land. The.5' parkway is a little too tight for trees along an. arterial. Alternating these two varieties, spaced at 30' on -center over the length of the development (numbering 18 trees), will create a good visual appearance along the streetscape. A method of assuring establishment, of the trees over a 3 to 5 year period will be necessary. This means providing some form of adequate watering. With this landscape concept (ornamental trees over a well maintained drought -tolerant turf grass groundcover) shrubs will not be necessary in the 7' strip behind the sidewalk and definitely not encouraged in the parkway, for maintenance reasons. V 6. Note 2 at the right-hand side of the Landscape Plan is incorrect. The City will not assume responsibility for the landscaping in the street rights -of -way. The Homeowner's Association will be responsible. Also, notes 5 & 6 at the top of the plan, relating to acceptance by the City, are incorrect. 7. Note 3 at the top of the Landscape Plan should be changed to require individual irrigation of the trees for three growing seasons (minimum), instead of two. 8. Attached are two tree planting details that should be included on the Landscape Plan. These are especially important in areas where dryland grasses, with limited irrigation, are being used. Please contact me at 221-6750 with any questions or concerns you might have about these comments. S' rely, t olt Project Planner. xc,: Stormwater Utility Kerrie Ashbeck Sherry Albertson -Clark Stewart & Associates file/Project Planner 0 DO NOT CUT LEADER p CORRECTIVE PRUNING (DEAD OR DAMAGED WOOD) TO BE COMPLETED IMMEDIATELY_. AFTER PRUNING �I Fn o o WRAP TRUNK FOR FIRST WINTER REMOVE IN SPRING CANVAS WEBBING OR APPROVED EQUAL 1010 GUY WIRE; ATTACH TO GROMMETS IN STRAPS ol STEEL POSTS OR APPROVED EQUAL REMOVE GUY WIRES AND POSTS AFTER ONE GROWING SEASON EXCAVATE A 4'x4' BASIN 6" /— DEEP FOR PLANTS IN LOW WATER WATER ZONES 3-4" ORGANIC MULCH .��---- ROUGHEN SIDES OF PLANTING PIT {I�{ SPECIFIED BACKFILL MIX REMOVE ALL TWINE AROUND TRUNK AND WIRE FROM THE ROOT BALL �— UNDISTURBED SOIL B&B OR CONTAINER TREE PLANTING IN DRYLAND AREAS LLLI �b DO NOT CUT LEADER p CORRECTIVE PRUN12IG (DEAD OR DAMAGED WOOD) TO BE COMPLETED IMMEDIATELY_ n AFTER PRUNING WRAP TRUNK FOR FIRST WINTER REMOVE IN SPRING C LWAS WEBBING OR APPROVED EQUAL 4710 GUY WIRE; ATTACH TO //�_GROM24ETS IN STRAPS STEEL POSTS OR APPROVED EQUAL REMOVE GUY WIRES AND POSTS AFTER ONE GROWING SEASON EXCAVATE A 41x4' BASIN 6" DEEP FOR PLANTS IN LOW WATER WATER ZONES 3-4" ORGANIC MULCH ROUGHEN SIDES OF PLANTING PIT SPECIFIED BACKFILL MIX REMOVE ALL TWINE AROUND TRUNK AND WIRE FROM THE ROOT BALL �— UNDISTURBED SOIL B&B OR CONTAINER TREE PLANTING IN DRYLAND AREAS