HomeMy WebLinkAboutPINECONE PUD FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 60 91B - DECISION - MINUTES/NOTESPLANNING AND ZONING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
April 27, 1992
Council Liaison: Gerry Horak
Staff Liaison: Tom Peterson
The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board began at 6:35 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. Board members
present included Chairman Bernie Strom, Vice -Chairman Lloyd Walker, Joe Carroll, Jim
Klataske, Laurie O'Dell, Jan Cottier, and Rene Clements -Cooney.
Staff members present included Planning Director Tom Peterson, Deputy City Attorney Paul
Eckman, Sherry Albertson -Clark, Kirsten Whetstone, Steve Olt, Ted Shepard, Kerrie Ashbeck,
Mike Herzig, Rick Ensdorff, and Patti Schneeberger.
Member Cottier moved to approve Consent Agenda Items 1-3, 69 8-109 13-159 17 and 18.
Member Clements -Cooney seconded the motion. The motion for approval passed 7-0.
along the ditch. Member Walker seconded the motion.
PINECONE PUD FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL, Advisory Review, Case €{60-91 B
Chairman Strom asked that a brief summary be presented to the Board in regard to what type
of authority they might have on this issue.
Mr. Eckman stated the authority of the Board was limited to state statutes regarding this type
of issue. The reason this project was not listed in the Overall Development Plan was because
the School District wanted to make clear that there was not any implication this project would
come through as a Planned Unit Development or subject to the City's zoning ordinances. The
Planning and Zoning Board's authority comes from Colorado's revised statutes 22-32-124, which
requires the Board of Education to submit a site development plan for review and comment to
the Planning and Zoning Board prior to construction of any structure or building. The Planning
and Zoning Board may request a public hearing before the Board of Education relating to the
proposed site development plan, but nothing in the statute shall be construed to limit the
authority of the Board of Education to finally determine the location of public schools within the
district and erect any necessary buildings and structures. Basically, the statute authorizes you
to review the site development plan and make comments on it.
Ted Shepard stated that this project was a site plan advisory review for the new Fort Collins
High School which is to be constructed on 68 acres adjacent to the Pinecone Overall
Development Plan. The site is located on the east side of Timberline Road between Vermont
and Horsetooth Road.
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April 27, 1992
Page 10
library in the area and having outside walls it would be easy to add on to and accommodate that
need in the future.
There are two facets in energy conservation that relate to economics in terms of what you save
from energy and what you pay to put in(capital costs). The spine area is a fully sky lighted area
that creates potential to reclaim heat in the winter time; and to dispel heat in the spring/summer
through the ventilation system and pull natural ventilation through the school.
In terms of security they are working with the Police Department at this point in time.
Mr. Sutter presented that lighting the school up at night like day time they are looking at
providing a lower wattage, or ambient lighting to present a nice glow to the building and
consume less energy. Motion detector lights are being considered in order to conserve energy.
Motion detector lights also serve the purpose of being a good security device. The light turns
on when there is motion in the area which alerts a patrol car or passerby that there is unwanted
motion in the area. At that time the police department should be notified. There are some
problems though that come with motion detector lights, such as, they may be set off by high
winds, blowing snow, or bunny rabbits.
The District is also looking at potential partnerships with industry, in terms of the school
becoming a Beta site. This allows for some testing of energy types of things. Those kinds of
concepts are more on the wish list though, but hopefully in the future would become a reality.
He stated that during school hours, indirect lighting would be used. There will probably be us
of indirect lighting in the school which basically requires a little more wattage in terms of per
fixture thing to get the reflection off of the ceiling, but on the other hand it requires less lamps
so you end up with an overall benefit.
All of those items are being considered in the overall package for the school. He felt that
ensuing those areas in the future there would be economy cycles placed on mechanical units,
some sort of night setback will be provided as a minimum, although we would like to consider
computer controlled systems that set temperature levels within the building. He pointed out that
the building itself would have a lot of mass built into it, so we are going to gain a lot of benefit
just from the flexibility requirements from this building with all the concrete floors, walls and
steel structure to support those kinds of things. There is no way to analyze the direct benefit
due to it being built with the building.
Day lighting was a very, very important consideration to the District as a whole as much for the
positive psychological effects on the teaching environment as now it gives the potential to look
at day lighting techniques. The types of things we are looking at are photocell control that
automatically dims systems down based on the light coming in from the outside to basically
teacher control. The District has had varying degrees and Districts all over the country have
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April 27, 1992
Page 11
had varying degrees of success with those systems depending upon how well they are
implemented and how well you can educate the staff in terms of how they are used. Another
thing that can be looked at which is again a computer oriented thing and again plays into the cost
factor is the fact that there are lighting systems out now that when your system is in high energy
mode ie. alot of heating; however in this case the building will not be initially cooled when it
is open but will provide for and economic addition of that in the future as the community
demands a whole year round school; basically when all those compressors kick in to pull up the
air conditioning the lighting in the whole building would all at once drop by 10 footcandles. The
psychological studies and the impact studies on that show that basically there is no visual effect
if all the lights were to be dimmed at once, but if you have a light go out here and there then
everybody all of a sudden senses that loss of light. We are honestly looking at those types of
modern thinking, looking types of things and the things that we want to be able to consider. As
we go through the process we will be taking a shopping list to the School District themselves
and giving them some choices in terms of the economics of the project on how some of these
systems would be implemented. That should give a general idea and quick over view.
Member Carroll stated that what he is hearing throughout the community and here tonight is that
the transportation issues are becoming perhaps the one negative about the plan. He has hear no
negatives but many positives concerning the building and felt some of the concerns regarding
the commercial areas have died away and that the concerns remain about the transportation
factors. The all development criteria requires the Board to look at adverse traffic impact, air
quality, and noise. Several things vary between the current school and the new school such as,
population of the new school when it opens would be in the area of 1500 hundred students which
is bigger than the current high school.
One of the things he thinks is important is the location of the school. He personally felt it is
unfortunate that we don't have 40 acres at the present Fort Collins High so we could rebuild
there but it is a fact of life we don't. This school being located two miles from College Avenue
and on Horsetooth puts the many destinations for students much further away than the old Fort
Collins High did. Basically there will not be very much development to the east of this site do
to the Poudre River, so this high school will be toward the easterly and northerly side of the
area it serves, somewhat unlike the old Fort Collins High.
The access to the school will be limited to Timberline and Horsetooth where at the old school
and Rocky there are various ways to approach it. With that in mind he is somewhat
disappointed that the District has not addressed nor has suggestions been made about controlling
the transportation other than reeducating the students. He doesn't see anything wrong with that,
but the District could go quite a bit further rather than an education. His understanding is that
the present Fort Collins High has outgrown itself so the capacity of keeping all the students in
the high school at one time no longer exist. This particular high school has lots of amenities
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April 27, 1992
Page 12
that the present Fort Collins High does not have, including the commercial center, the park and
the facility itself which is much more modern and attuned to students needs.
The first issue he felt the District should address is if there any particular reasons why students
should have to leave the campus in a car during the day except of course to work, doctor
appointments, etc. The students who would be leaving during lunch would be traveling quite
a bit further to Taco Bell, Burger King, and McDonald's. This situation can be controlled by
closing the parking lots. He felt that would eliminate all of the day trips directly except for
those students who have to go to work or the doctor etc. With a permit situation he felt that
method would be fairly easy to accomplish. If that can't be done for what ever reason then he
suggested that the parking be used as some type of a motivation to influence people to use
alternate transportation. One suggestion he heard in the community is simply that sophomores
can't drive and that the parking lots available for juniors and seniors. He thought that if
individuals realize that they only are driving to the school in the morning and driving home in
the afternoon, he felt that they might be somewhat encouraged to use alternate forms of
transportation because they don't need to leave at 10:30 am and at 1:00 or 2:00 pm.
Getting back to the parking, again one could limit parking close in to people who do not leave
during the day, people who don't leave the school until 2:30 or 3:00 would have close in parking
and those folks who felt it was necessary to come and go during the day would be required to
park further out. He also agrees with the phase in of the parking and thinks that the School
District should look at these things which do somewhat more than encourage people to use
alternate forms of transportation and discourage the day trips in and out. Again he thinks that
the high school is excellent and appreciated Mr. Knobloch, Mr. Dixon and other Poudre R-1
officials coming down tonight when they are having their own meeting.
Member O'Dell felt that the Board has given the School District a lot to think about
transportation and asked if the tower is made of some material that is unscaleable?
Mr. Sutter stated that is certainly a requirement in the construction of the tower so that the kids
could not get up there.
Mr. Sutter pointed out that all the major elements of the building are oriented in an east/west
access which is the most efficient for a commercial building that you can have because it gives
you the best control of sunlight. Another example is that the gymnasium has been opened up
substantially to north light which is the easiest to control. The elevations on the other side of
the gymnasium are aloud little slit windows on that side that actually keeps direct sunlight from
hitting the floor of the gym and also keep direct sunlight from bringing that energy into that
building and making it too hot.
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April 27, 1992
Page 13
Chairman Strom stated that in looking at the building and reading about some of the discussions
that are going on in the community and attending some of the earlier meetings on the design that
there are vocal interest in repeating the sense of old Fort Collins High School. One of his
thoughts in looking at the layout is that with so many different things going on in so many
different areas that it may be difficult to get a sense of the place of entry and the sense of place
for the building and as you approach the building where does it invite you in? He knows that
the tower is an attempt to do part of that and hope that it is carried into the entryway to. So that
as people drive up to the building that there is a sense of knowing without having to read a road
map where it is they are going to and how to get into the place.
He felt tremendously encouraged by the progress he has seen in the cooperation between the City
and the School Board in the six years he has sat on the Board. He felt that when he first was
appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board every time a school came in it was a sense of "Oh
no here we go again" and does not have that sense at all now. He felt that there is a much
stronger sense of cooperation between the School Board, City Council and respective staffs
realizing that we basically are all dealing from the same pool of tax dollars and for us to fight
about what goes on from which particular point it is not that important as long as the job gets
done in an efficient way.
Secondly, the interaction between the school site and the commercial site would work very
effectively with the mixed uses for that area. The overall approach to this design for Fort
Collins High School is tremendous and has a great deal of potential for being just as much of
a landmark for Fort Collins as the old high school has been.
Mr. Peterson stated that essentially what the Board is doing is making an advisory review to the
Board of Education and what has been done historically is a resolution has been made advising
the School District of your findings in terms of the particular application before you. In terms
of the location and character of the facility that is being proposed in front of you and whether
or not it conforms to the elements of the Fort Collins Comprehensive Plan.
Member Carroll noted CRS 31-23-209 which indicates that the Planning and Zoning Board make
a finding as to the location and character in extent of the public buildings and structures relative
to the adopted master plan of the City and it should help that the structures conform to the
adopted plan of the City.
Member Carroll moved to adopt a resolution stating the facts which were presented to the
Planning and Zoning Board on the location, character and extent of Fort Collins High do
agree with the Master Plan of the City and they do conform to the adopted plan of the
Community; and that the School Board consider the comments for which were presented
at this meeting. Member O'Dell seconded the motion. The motion to adopt carried 6-0.
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April 27, 1992
Page 2
The new facility will be approximately 285,000 square feet and will serve, at maximum,
approximately 1,800 students. The campus includes a main school building, a theater complex,
gymnasium, cafeteria, athletic fields, parking lot, bus loop, a transfort bus stop (located adjacent
in the Overall Development Plan), and there is an architectural tower feature. The facility is
being designed in conjunction with the Pinecone Overall Development Plan with special
consideration for integration with a city neighborhood park and a private commercial center.
The property has two zones on it BP (Planned Business) and RP (Planned Residential).
The City Planning Department has been working closely both with the School District and
Timberline Partners as with the Overall Development Plan. Although the this project was not
included in the Overall Development Plan.
Mr. Eckman stated that statute 31-23-209 that provides that no public building or structure shall
be constructed or authorized in the City until the location, character, and extent there of has
been submitted for approval by the Planning and Zoning Board. In that context the Board is
more focused on location, character, and extent of the public building.
Mr. Peterson stated that a bit high school review was a bit unusual, but it is indicative of the
partnership that both the School District and the City have entered into over the past couple of
years. Mr. Knobloch, Vice President of the School District, would like to address the Board
before they get into there formal presentation of the Fort Collins High School.
Mr. Darrell Knobloch, Vice President of the School Board, wanted to come to the meeting for
two reasons and one is to emphasize the degree for which the District and the City have been
working together on this project as well as others and that the improvement in that working
relationship. He stated that for the last 2 years a liaison committee has been set up and that a
few on both sides have taken it as a strong initiative to bring the two groups together to work
jointly in deciding how to work for the tax payers rather than separately. He stated the School
District had regular discussions both at the Council and Board level, as well as the level of the
Staffs of the two organization in planning the new High School and felt a lot of innovative ideas
had from those discussions.
Not only has the School District worked through the discussions, but the District has already put
in place a master plan that has been available for review and discussion, not just of this school
but other schools and felt that the City was looking for that for a long time. He stated that the
School District was also working towards a joint government agreement that would really guide
the kind of relationships and put a little more form and format between the District and the City.
Mr. Knobloch pointed out that the District has been very much involved in working with the
City to make sure that the plans are jointly agreed upon and felt that led the City staff to give
a recommendation. He stated that the District will continue to plan to keep involved after this
vote in working with the City to make sure that the plans go jointly and go well.
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April 27, 1992
Page 3
Mr. Knobloch stated that the second reason is to emphasize, by his presence, the importance to
the Board of Education of this process in your vote. He felt they have been lacking this in the
past in not doing that and basically letting this process occur without their involvement and us
making decisions independent of that later on if they want to reverse the decision. He felt it was
important that they are involved and felt his presence indicates that this process is being taken
seriously. He will be personally taking back comments like the one Mr. Carroll made earlier
about potentially looking at the northern site and take those back to the Board of Education for
discussion. However, it is a little difficult for them to be here because this is the night the
Board of Education meeting, so he is missing that Board to appear here. But it is important to
him to understand the role that the Planning and Zoning Board plays and use your review as an
important step in their process.
Mr. Bob Sutter, Architectural Horizons, stated that the high school sits on approximately 68
acres of property, when netted out after dedications of right-of-ways and that sort of thing, the
site will end up with about 64 of net property usable for the school. It is broken down into 3
or 4 major segments, that being naturally the school building. To answer the question about
going outside to get to any part of the school, the answer is no it is one school building
regardless of the fact it looks like several different segments. He will get into that in terms of
the community concepts behind the school. The parking lot has been divided into a couple of
major areas and one of the larger lots was broken up substantially with landscaping or tried to
do that for a couple of reason. One to break down significantly large paved areas into smaller
areas and reduce the impact on the project as well as to address students from this part of the
community and students from other parts of the community.
Basically, the site was set up and organized around a central circulation spine, which pulls the
3 major elements of a PUD process together. He introduced the basic access points as being
a major parking lot on the north, that purposely had brought the major traffic to a
lighted/controlled intersection to discourage the students or provide a safer access for students
and staff as Timberline develops over the next 20 to 30 year. A main visitor/bus access point
has been developed with the idea that busses would make a circular route. Also looking at in
the future, after the year 2010, left turning movements are going to become a questionable
capability at the schools access point. Consequently, they have provided a future access point
that would come through the parking lot and provide that left turn movement at a lighted
intersection. This is to avoid jeopardizing the safety of people coming to the site.
In terms of site circulation, he felt they have made significant effort to work with the City and
both the developer to provide some significant circulation paths across the schools property to
encourage access to the site by the pedestrian as well as the bicycle. Naturally, there will be
the normal arterial connection points that will tie into the bike/pedestrian systems that develop
along the arterials. The arterial streets will be designed for the long term future of a six lane
road, although four lanes will be built at the same time the high school is constructed.
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April 27, 1992
Page 4
In addition there have been major bicycle paths that cross the property, one of which provides
major access to the commercial area and/or the school site itself. They have provided major
bicycle parking areas both in the plaza area on the southeast side of the school and another major
parking area on the northeast side of the school.
Mr. Sutter stated that depending on the school population projection in 1995, the 1105 stalls of
parking may not be needed. On the other hand, for special event parking the school does have
the capacity to provide or to need that kind of on -site parking to provide for any events that may
occur at the school. The proposal being viewed is to do something similar to what the City has
done at Rolland Moore Park. That would be to provide recreation area in some of the parking
lots at this point in time that could be dedicated to extra tennis courts or basketball goal stops.
The play fields consist of a soccer field, a regulation high school baseball diamond, a football
practice field with a track around it, eight tennis courts, softball/baseball field and that there
would also be one field built in the park that would meet both little league and regulation softball
standards. All of the park and play fields will be accessible to the City when not in use by the
school. As one could see there is not much difference of the property line between the school
and the city park.
Member Carroll asked if the estimated 1800 student population was correct?
Mr. Sutter stated that was a correct figure.
Member Carroll pointed out that the school would not be phased in according to school
population.
Mr. Sutter replied that the school would be built at that capacity from day 1.
Member Carroll asked if the initial population was around 1100?
Mr. Sutter stated that the projected student population for 1995 would be 1500.
Member Carroll then clarified that the school would have some initial empty space.
Mr. Sutter agreed.
Member O'Dell asked how many bicycle parking spaces are you anticipating going in there?
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April 27, 1992
Page 5
Mr. Sutter stated that the space which was allocated for the bicycles was around 150-200 stalls.
However, there would be the ability to build more stalls as the need is developed. He also
stated that there is not data to tell them what to plan for and the best way to answer the question
is to say that we want to encourage bike traffic.
Member Walker felt that alternative modes of transportation was the main concern and should
be encouraged. He wanted to know if any program was being developed between the School
District and Transfort?
Mr. Sutter felt that at this point in time there are on going discussions between the committee
that has been set up especially around Fort Collins High School but has been broadened to
encompass the entire district to address driving and parking at all of the high schools and look
at alternative means of transportation. Also what can be done to encourage children and any
other participant at the site to use those alternative systems. At this point in time there has been
a public transportation point located right on the visitor circulation route. When the commercial
develops it may be more appropriate for that space to be located more in tune with the
commercial site.
Mr. Keith Dixon stated that transportation was a major concern and issue with the School
District as well as with the City, and that alternative modes of transportation have been seriously
considered. The District recognizes the values of the students and society to encourage those
types of alternatives to take place. The committees which are in place now have noticed that
several students are concerned about transportation, environment, and recycling. As this issue
is approached by the District it is seen as a long-term issue and that there are no real immediate
solutions and know that everyone is going to have to continue to work together. The district has
looked into constructing a similar system like the system at CSU. The students have expressed
views on the old yellow school bus as a single dimensional form of transportation and do not
hold the same views on Transfort system because the school bus serves one thing and that is to
transport them to and from school whereas Transfort is viewed as a way to transport them to
other kinds of things besides school. For example students could be transported to work,
shopping, doctor appointments etc. whereas the school bus can not provide that.
Mr. Dixon stated that they are continually working with the Pinecone PUD and have on site
different encouraging transportation systems such as the park process and the trails within the
environment. He did not suggest that it is going to be an easy process but that they are
committed to working with the students and the staff in terms of some shifts in values. There
is alot of working being done in terms of earth week and what that means; and trying to attempt
to educating the students in regards for the need of other forms of transportation.
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April 27, 1992
Page 6
Mr. Knobloch stated that transportation is a top issue with the District and felt that as a good
relationship is formed between the two organizations that joint control or joint participation of
transportation in how Transfort specifically can be integrated in how we get our students to and
from school.
PUBLIC INPUT
Gina Janette, Citizen Planners/City Air Quality Task Force, stated that one noticeable point
when near a high school is the amount of students in one car because not all of them own their
own cars. Therefore, some of us would call that carpooling, however students would not
conceive that's what they are doing, but they are and we need to enforce that. She stated that
positive rewards and one suggestion is that in designing the parking, you have close in reserved
parking for carpools. Students are very good enforcers also and if they see a car pulling in with
two people and the rule is three there is going to be a problem. That peer pressure would be
very useful. The close in parking should also be for faculty and staff to carpool as well. Put
the parking for students driving by themselves at the most distant part of the parking lot. You
could do this with a permit system if you choose.
The other concept is a carpool drop off area. You have a bus loop down here and has the
District anticipated parents dropping off students or carpool drop offs in the same bus circulation
area? This area would also benefit for handicapped people. Additionally, the concept of having
a one way exit from that loop to take traffic over to the traffic light would be very desirable and
that could be a oneway out only. The City has a commuter pool/carpool matching service and
CSU is working on having computers on site to do instant matching; so there is no reason that
could not occur at the school.
Parking historically has been a way that City's and other places get people out of their cars and
into alternative modes. The highest amount of walking and alternative mode use are places
where parking is at a premium or very expansive. The Air Quality Task Force is encouraging
the School District to have some sort of permit system for parking in order to try to limit the
amount of cars generating into the parking lots. One way to do that is to provide more carpool
parking permits than single occupant permits which is an operational thing that the school would
need to consider.
She strongly encouraged the parking lot construction be phased in as needed as to building it all
up front. Down the road there will be an economic incentive to not build that next phase and
to think of other ways of getting people there and it is our hope in the air quality community that
this is the future, which is less driving. The City's transportation plan shows population growth
going about 54 percent over the next 20 years and travel growth being 75 percent.
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April 27, 1992
Page 7
One other problem with parking is that students have the tendency to park on residential streets
which generates lots of complaints. Other locations have developed a permit system where that
the people who live there get a permit on there cars in order to permit them to park for 8 hours
in front of their house, whereas students or others would only be able to park there for an hour
without being ticketed. It is a way to segregate who parks where. She felt that system would
also work well around CSU.
Ms. Janette felt that the closed/covered walkway would present a problem for people riding their
bikes into that area if the building was closed it would create quite a detour to reach the other
side.
She appreciated that the school is working with the City in regard to transportation issues and
hopes that participation with each other will continue well after the school opens.
Mr. Scott Mason, Citizen Planners, felt that Poudre R-1 was trying to be futuristic and forward
looking in the implementation of some technologies and in land use issues regarding the new
Fort Collins High School. Citizen Planners thinks that Poudre R-1 should also be forward
looking when addressing transportation issues.
One of the major environmental issue facing Fort Collins is air quality. Over 80 percent of the
carbon monoxide in the Fort Collins air comes from automobiles. Yet, Poudre R-1 is counting
on the expansion of Timberline and Horsetooth Roads, and a site design that includes over 1100
parking spaces to address the Fort Collins High School transportation needs. Citizen Planners
recommends a more futuristic and forward looking design. He felt that we are not moving
towards solutions to our air quality problems when the tax payers build our young people more
parking spaces. Poudre R-l's core business is education and the question we have to ask are
what lessons are we teaching our young people when we spend tax dollars on widening roads
around their high school and then to accommodate them with parking spaces. Rocky Mountain
High School parking facility should not be used as our baseline. This high school was built in
the 70's and he felt a new design was needed for the year 2000 and beyond.
The City of Fort Collins has a good plan for bicycle and pedestrian access to the new high
school; however, more emphasis needs to be placed on Poudre R-1 buses and Transfort. He
stated that he understands funding for these alternate modes are scarce and currently under
attack. He felt that spending money on large parking lot is the cheap and easy solution. The
parking lot solution to transportation, shifts the transportation burden and cost to the students
and parents, but lacks the commitment to the Fort Collins environment.
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April 27, 1992
Page 8
Citizen Planners suggests a two part solution to the transportation problem at the new Fort
Collins High School as well as Rocky Mountain and Poudre. First, provide alternative modes
of transportation including safe bike and pedestrian access, Poudre R-1 bus service and/or
Transfort bus service, and carpooling/ride sharing programs. Second, restrict single occupant
vehicle parking spaces to students holding jobs or those students with special needs. Using a
permit system similar to that perhaps that is being used at CSU and the downtown area. Lets
remind ourselves of the current Land Use Policies Plan that says the City shall promote
alternative modes of transportation. The City's Land Use Policies Plan shall be directed toward
minimizing the use of private automobiles, and toward alleviating and mitigating the air quality
impacts of concentrated use of automobiles.
The Planning and Zoning Board understands these Land Use Policies as well as the new Area
Wide Transportation Plan that calls for the reduction of single occupant vehicle miles and
promote alternative modes of transportation. We encourage the School District to review these
documents that reflect community wide goals and policies. Citizen Planners will be working
with a task force from the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce to review these transportation
and air quality issues regarding the Fort Collins High School and are looking forward to working
with Keith Dixon and his staff during the site design and development process.
To conclude he asks the Planning and Zoning Board to recommend and advise the Poudre R-1
Board to reduce the size and the number of parking lots on the existing site plan.
Chairman Strom closed the public input portion of the meeting at this time.
Member Clements -Cooney suggested that parking spaces should be allocated through a permit
system, seniority, academic achievement, disability, or priority for those who carpool. She felt
that parking should also be phased in and should not be developed all at once. In the 1990's we
are trying to reduce single occupant vehicle trips and building over 1100 parking spaces doesn't
send that message. She felt that education information should be provided and would like the
School Board to take a look at the comments which were prepared by the Air Quality Task
Force, because they deal with parking, providing information, carpooling, Transfort and school
buses, bicycles and pedestrians.
Member Cottier felt that parking was the chief way of being responsive to some environmental
concerns. She agreed with Citizen Planners and the Air Quality Task Force in that phasing
parking into the site is essential and the number of spaces which are built would be the number
of spaces that are filled from day 1. If the School Board is truly interested and committed to
developing and stimulating alternative transportation modes, she felt that they should start -off
with smaller number of parking spaces and create alternative uses for the additional space in the
event that all of the spaces will not be needed. She would also hope that no student parking
would be allowed on the neighborhood residential streets and would be enforced through the
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April 27, 1992
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District governments agreement. Because if students are aloud to park on the residential streets
they will fill them up and would become just an extension of the school parking lots. Other than
that, she thinks that it is a very exciting school concept and is very interested in the
philosophical tie to the commercial area and what it brings to the school and what it offers the
community.
Member Walker felt that traffic and parking are the major concerns in regard to the new high
school site. He stated that the open campus concept with several facilities in the school plan,
the layout with the City park, the ball fields, and the commercial development would satisfy any
retail needs by the students. However, he suggests that unnecessary trips off of the campus be
discouraged somehow. For example, just because it is lunch time, doesn't mean the
students/faculty have to leave campus. He hopes that through the integrated concept between
the school and park encourages the students to realize that all of their activities could take place
on site and minimize the need for leaving campus.
Chairman Strom asked Mr. Sutter how much of this is conceptual and how close is this project
to getting an actual building footprint? What are some energy conservation issues and
environmental concerns from that prospective?
Mr. Sutter stated that the footprint of the building should change very little between now and
when the building is built. They have not determined what exact materials on the outside of the
building are going to be and what the finishes on the building were going to be. The outside
of the building has been fairly well fixed.
Chairman Strom then stated that basically the outside is pretty firm.
He pointed out that there are 750 seats in the theater not only to accommodate the school but
to accommodate the community as well. Theater space as you know from a community that is
struggling with the Lincoln Center and it is very expensive to build and consequently 750 was
decided on just as much of the fact that there has been a cry from within the community for the
last two or three years for a theater of approximately that size. So the District is trying very
hard to meet that need and the needs and educational requirement for the school. In addition
there is a black box theater behind for even smaller groups which will serve more as a daily
classroom.
Mr. Sutter went onto point out the different areas of the building on the plan. This structure has
been designed to serve two events at one time at the school and not limited to some degree as
Rocky Mountain High School is where ever thing comes off of one central access area. Also
in looking at the media center a very important requirement for it was to be located on the
outside of the building in hopes that it might meet with the City's future need for a branch