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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPOUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY SPECIAL REVIEW COUNTY REFERRAL - 44 91 - DECISION - MINUTES/NOTESPLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING MINUTES October 21,1991 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, Lloyd Walker, Jim Klataske, Joe Carroll, Laurie O'Dell, and Renee Clements -Cooney. Board member Jan Cottier was absent. Staff members present include Planning Director Tom Peterson, Assistant Planning Director Joe Frank, Sherry Albertson -Clark, Steve Olt, Kirsten Whetstone, Kerrie Ashbeck, Deputy City Attorney Paul Eckman, and City Transportation Director Rick Ensdorff, and Georgiana Taylor. Mr. Peterson presented the Consent Agenda which included: Item 1 -Minutes of the August 26, 1991 meeting; Item 2 - Helmshire House PUD, Amended Preliminary and Final, #30-83E; Item 3 - Fairbrooke PUD, 5th Filing, Amended Final, #65-82S; Item 4, which was pulled for discussion, PFA Special Review, County Referral, #44-91; Item 5, which was continued to the November meeting, PZ91-13, Vacation of Utility Easement; and Item 6 - PZ91-14 Vacation of Utility and Drainage Easement. Mr. Peterson presented the Discussion Agenda which consisted of: Item 7 - Country Club Corners PUD, Final, #72-84C; Item 8, which was continued to the November 18 meeting, East Side/West Side Rezonings; Item 9 - Recommendation to City Council on Adoption of Solar Orientation Standards and incentives In the Land Development Guidance System and Subdivision Regulations, #38-91,and; Item 10 -Fort Collins Area Transportation Plan, 045-91. Chairman Strom asked if there were any Consent items that the Board or members of the audience wished to pull for discussion. There were no items pulled for discussion. Member O'Dell moved to approve Consent Agenda items 1, 2, 3, and 6. Member Clements - Cooney seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 6-0. PFA SPECIAL REVIEW -COUNTY REFERRAL - #44-91 Sherry Albertson -Clark gave a description of the proposed special review recommending approval to Larimer County with the condition that no development or use of the property occur until the alignment problems of the Overland Trail/Vine Drive intersection, as identified in the Traffic Impact Analysis, are corrected. She distributed a letter from Ann Spetlick, a resident of West Vine Drive, who requested that a traffic signal be installed at that intersection. She stated that she also received a telephone call from an area resident who stated that they had concerns with the current traffic and safety situation at that intersection and they also requested a traffic signal. Member Walker asked Mr. Ensdorff to discuss the traffic situation at the Overland Trail/Vine Drive intersection and to give more detail on the alignment. Rick Ensdorff, City Transportation Director, stated that the northbound road and the east/west road at Overland Trail was offset which caused a safety problem. He stated that this was an existing problem and not brought about by this proposal. A traffic signal would assist east/west traffic problems but would not assist with the north/south problems. He stated that the best solution would be to realign the north/south and east/west roads. Member Walker asked if installing a light at that intersection would be a reasonable alternative. Mr. Ensdorff stated that this would deal with the north/south problem or the east/west problem but would not solve the problem without realigning the streets. Member Klataske asked if a four-way stop would alleviate the problem. Mr. Ensdorff replied that this would alleviate the problem at the intersection but would cause some drivers to run the stop sign. The four-way stop could be assisted by flashing lights warning of the stop. Currently a traffic signal was not warranted at this time. Chairman Strom asked if there was enough right-of-way there to physically install the realignment. Mr. Ensdorff stated that this would require a right-of-way acquisition and would be costly. Member O'Dell asked if the warranting for four-way stops entails site distance and site distance problems. Mr. Ensdorff stated that stop signs do entail site distance and site distance problems. The stop signs currently in place on Vine Drive for east/west traffic deal with the significant site distance problems. Gene Chantler, PFA Division Chief, 201 Remington, gave a brief history of the site for the training facility. He stated that in their discussion with the County Planning Department, the restriction that the facility could not be developed until the realignment was corrected presented significant problems for the Fire Department. The realignment had been denied twice for federal hazard elimination grants and was not in the County's five year plan. He stated that the traffic count had increased by 2,000 vehicles in the last two years. The solution that was offered at the County Planning Commission meeting was a light that could be controlled by the Fire Department because the site distance was so poor that there was significant concern as far as the safety of the fire department vehicles crossing Vine Drive. Member Carroll asked if it was alright for the PFA to install a light or was this the lesser of two evils. Mr. Chantler stated that the Fire Department's preference would be to have a light. He stated that their concern was for their safety and the safety of the community. Chairman Strom asked if a four-way stop would accomplish the same affect. Mr. Chantler stated that a four-way stop would also accommodate the situation. Member Klataske asked why the tower would be 68 feet high. Mr. Chantler stated that this would be five stories in height with a 10 foot penthouse. He stated that this construction would be practical for their training purposes. 2 Karen Gabler, 3116 Overland Trail, had concerns about the cost and traffic considerations recommended by the County Planning staff. She asked if the Traffic Engineering Department was attempting to use the training facility to substantiate and justify its twice rejected application for federal hazard elimination funds when there would be safer, more cost effective alternatives. She asked who would pay for the alignment. She stated that a traffic signal was warranted and more cost effective. She believed that a street realignment would not solve the speeding problem on Overland Trail, the intersection at LaPorte and Overland, nor the dangerous curves at Wagon Wheel and Bingham Hill. She believed that the realignment would encourage the existing speeding problem and increase the potential for an accident with Poudre Fire trucks entering onto the intersection. A traffic signal would also assist the children crossing the intersection. Member Walker asked for clarification of the recommendation by the County. Ms. Albertson -Clark stated that their recommendation was for a light. Mr. Ensdorff stated that the traffic signals installed within city limits would be at the city's expense. Traffic signals would cost about $30,000 to $40,000. A four-way stop would cost about $100 per sign. The added flashers would cost an additional $1,000 to $1,500 each. Member Walker asked why there currently was not signage indicating that there was a curve ahead in the road. Mr. Ensdorff stated that in that location, it would be difficult to give advance notice due to trees and vegetation. Cat -tracking would be a possibility. Member Clements -Cooney asked who would be financially responsible for the cost of a traffic signal, four-way stop or realignment. Ms. Albertson -Clark stated that since this was a recommendation to Larimer County, this would be afforded back to the Board of County Commissioners for a final decision and then they would have the ultimate say on what would be the condition and who would be responsible for the cost. The worst case scenario would be the Poudre Fire Authority would pay the cost or participate in some cost sharing with the County. Mr. Eckman stated that one of the factors involved would be the determination of whether this intersection was already in need of assistance or whether this proposed development would cause the intersection to require upgrading. He stated that if this development would be the cause of the problem, then it would be reasonable to expect the developer to pay for it. Member Walker stated that this intersection was troublesome and believed that this intersection had been ignored. He suggested that the speed be adjusted and, if a light were installed, it should not be controlled just by the Fire Authority but should have an auto detector or a walk signal. He believed that a four-way stop would be the simplest and cheapest way. He believed that this was an opportunity to address this intersection's problems. Chairman Strom believed that it would be unnecessarily burdensome to the Fire Authority to ask them to realign the intersection as a result of this project. Member O'Dell concurred with Chairman Strom and believed that it would be wrong for the Board to suggest that it must be a four-way stop. She commented that the site plan was well buffered. 3 n Member Walker moved to recommend approval of the PFA Special Review with the condition that the intersection of Overland Trail and Vine Drive be corrected as to, not only the problems created by the Poudre Fire Authority, but site distances, speeds and the jog. He suggested some combination of caution signal, striping, lights or stop signs. Member O'Dell seconded the motion. The motion to recommend approval carried 6-0. COUNTRY CLUB COR ERS P D FINAL - #72 84C Kirsten Whetstone gave a description of the proposed project. Staff recommended approval with the condition that the State Highway Department grant approval of a North College Avenue Access permit for this use. She stated that, as part of the condition, if the permit would not be granted, the project would have to take access from Willox Lane or Bristlecone Drive. She noted that in Section 5, under Transportation, of the Staff Report, the last sentence should be stricken and replaced with wording that would more accurately reflect the intersection agreement, which would be filed with this project. She stated that this was #2 on Page Two of the agreement, which stated: "That at such time as the Colorado Department of Highways and/or the City determines that said full access must in the interest of public health, safety and welfare, be reduced to a right -in right -out access intersection, that the intersection shall be modified by the owner or any responsible successor in interest, with such modification to be completed at the sole expense of the owner and within a reasonable time period as established by the State or the City for completion of such modification." Ric Hattman, Gefroh-Hattman Architects, briefly discussed the landscaping, berming and screening, architectural materials that will match the Union Colony Bank, pedestrian accesses, and future traffic accesses associated with the proposed Burger King restaurant. Member Walker asked how they would obtain the permit from the Colorado Department of Highways. Mr. Hattman stated that they had prepared and submitted additional information to the State and would discuss this information with them. There was no public input for this item. Member Clements -Cooney asked that if Burger King does not gain access off of College and has to access off of Willox and Bristlecone, where would the existing bank access from. Mr. Hattman stated that if this process would not be successful with the State, then the applicant would not build at that site and the bank's access would stay where it is. Member Walker asked if the intersection agreement would be part of this approval and asked if it should be included in the motion. Ms. Whetstone stated that this would be filed with this project and separately at the Courthouse. Member Carroll moved to approve the Country Club Corners PUD Final with the condition that a proposed North College access must be approved by the State Highway Department in the 4