HomeMy WebLinkAboutPINECONE PUD FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 60 91B - CORRESPONDENCE - RESPONSE TO CITIZENcc:
City of Fort Collins
April 22, 1992
Mr. Dan Gould
623 West Mountain Avenue
Fort Collins, CO. 80521
Dear Mr. Gould:
Gro Bryne
T _ -Peterson.,
On behalf of the City Council, I would like to thank you for expressing your
concern regarding the planning process of the New Fort Collins High School. We
totally agree with your premise that alternative modes of transportation are an
important land use issue, and reducing reliance on the single occupant vehicle
is a primary goal.
To further this goal, the City Planning Department has been working with Poudre
R-1 School District, and its design consulting team, since last summer, before
the present site was even selected. Informal discussions between various levels
of City staff and District representatives have been ongoing on both a formal and
informal basis.
On February 24, 1992, Poudre R-1 formally entered the planning review process by
submitting a preliminary plan for review and comment to the City's Conceptual
Review Team. Based on these comments, the District then submitted a Site Plan,
and other supporting documents, on March 2, 1992, for evaluation based on -the
City's Comprehensive Plan. This seven -week review process is culminated by a
public hearing with the City of Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Board on April
21, 1992.
— The review process for the new Fort Collins High School has—been_comprehens.i.ve
with close coordination between the City of Fort Collins, Poudre R-1 School
District, Timberline Partners (owners of the surrounding 170 acres),
Architectural Horizons (architectural consultant), Cityscape Urban Design (land
planning consultant), and Matthew J. Delich (traffic engineering consultant).
In addition, all affected City departments have been closely involved in the
development review process.
One of the outcomes of this coordination is the formation of a committee made up
of the City of Fort Collins Transportation Department, the Poudre R-1 Central
Area Administrator, the three high school principals, and student representatives
of the three high schools. The purpose of this group is to explore areas of
reducing reliance on the single occupant vehicle at all three high schools, not
just the New Fort Collins High School.
Another outcome of the development review process is the decision to locate a
Transfort bus stop internal to the site that will serve both the new F.C..H.S. and
the 11-acre neighborhood shopping center located adjacent to the campus.
300 LaPorte Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80322-0380 • (303)221-t+;0;
Dan Gould
April 22, 1992
Page 2
Internal bus stops are considered more attractive to users as can be seen by the
increased ridership to C.S.U. based on the new facility between the Lory Student
Center and Morgan Library.
The City of Fort Collins Transportation Department has also identified six
bicycle routes from the high school service area to the new campus. This network
takes advantage of Spring Creek Trail, existing streets, signalized
intersections, and future capital improvements, to promote bicycle access from
the residenti.al areas to the north, west, and south of the new F.C.H.S.
Please recognize a design consideration that is not easily resolved. Poudre R-1
desires sufficient parking to handle not only faculty, staff and student needs,
but also for athletic and performing arts events. In addition, it is everyone's
desire not to have the level of spillover parking on surrounding residential
streets that causes friction between neighbors and the school.. The optimum
number of parking spaces will be based on data from Rocky Mountain High School,
and the City's policy of promoting alternative modes of transportation.
Your letter also indicates a concern about public involvement in the review
process. As part of a formal review, the City Planning Department has
facilitated two public information meetings, held out in the affected
neighborhoods.. The minutes from these meetings are available in either the City
Clerk's Office or the Planning Department. In addition, Poudre R-1 has held
numerous public meetings, at various locations around the City, since January of
1992. Of course, the Planning and Zoning Board meeting of April 27, 1992, in the
City Council Chambers, is also open to the public and comments are welcome.
Additional public comment will also be welcome when the Poudre R-I School Board
considers final design and construction items.
On a final note, please rest assured that the communication between the City and
Poudre R-1 has indeed been vigorous. It is perhaps unfortunate that this fact
was not conveyed by the article that you reference. Your interest and
involvement are to be commended and the City Council encourages you to take
advantage of the public input opportunities that are available regarding this
important project. -
Sincerely,
Susa"nKirk4patr-�)
Mayor
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