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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEAST VINE DRIVE STREETS FACILITY PUD PRELIMINARY SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - 30 91A - MINUTES/NOTES - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGSECOND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING MINUTES 0 PROJECT: Streets Facility - East Vine Drive (Old Sugar Beet Plant) DATE: May 6, 1991 LOCATION: Bethel Temple Spanish Assembly of God, 600 9th Street PROJECT MANAGER: Jon Ruiz, Streets Supervisor REPRESENTATIVES: Frank Vaught, Joe Frye, Matt Delich CITY STAFF: Rich Shannon, Utilities Director Larry Schneider, Streets Superintendent Jack Gianola, Special Projects Manager Ted Shepard, City Planner QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS 1. What are the plans for the three acre parcel along Linden? RESPONSE: There are no definate plans yet for this parcel. The Poudre Fire Authority has looked at this piece for a possible location for a fire station, but they are looking at other sites as well. There is a possibility that the City could hold this parcel and then sell it to a private concern to generate revenue to help offset the site development costs on the larger parcel. 2. The access off Lemay/Ninth, would this align with the local street in Andersonville? RESPONSE: Yes, this would align with San Cristo Street so there would not be an offset intersection. 3. Will there be any widening or other improvements to Lemay? RESPONSE: This is unknown at this time. Potential improvements` could be:a center left turn lane and right turn lane. On the other hand, if the Lemay Bypass gets funded, then there would be no improvements to Lemay since it would become a local street (Ninth) with a cul-de-sac at the railroad tracks. The traffic impact analysis will help determine the extent of the offsite improvements. I 4. Traffic on Lemay is bad during the peak times. The stacking at the stop sign at Vine prevents many of us from using our driveways. When trains block the intersection, the stacking is even worse. The lack of signal control is a major inconvenience for us. 5. We need the Lemay bypass now, not in the distant future. 6. The intersection of Buckingham and Ninth (Lemay) is not aligned properly. It is too narrow on the east side of Ninth. We have had many accidents at this intersection. Often, cars cannot negotiate the intersection and end up in the front lawn of the houses facing Ninth. This intersection needs improvements. 7. How many employees will there be? RESPONSE: The Streets Department has 35 full time employees. During the summer, about 20 to 25 temporaries are added to work on a full-time basis. The total is about 55 to 60 employees at the maximum. These employees work staggered shifts with starting times ranging from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. so the commuting traffic is not concentrated. 8. 'Why don't you locate your expanded facility over on Wood Street? Water and Sewer and Light and Power have recently expanded and there seems to be plenty of land available. Wouldn't you rather be over on Wood Street with the other utilities? RESPONSE: The primary need of the Streets Department is to take advantage of existing buildings to store material. The East Vine site has these buildings available. Otherwise, we would have to construct new buildings which adds a significant expense. 9. Blowing sand and gravel will be a problem. We'll have to keep our windows shut in the summer or have our houses filled with dust. RESPONSE: The fine particles (sand and salt) will be stored in the buildings to prevent exposure. The coarser material —(gravel) —will be stored outside but will not blow due to its density. Increased dust in the neighborhood should not be a problem. 10. As a neighborhood, we support the restoration of the property. The Sugar Beet Plant has an important history and is significant to our neighborhood. It is positive to see the City invest in this plant to keep the facility from deteriorating. 11. We think the City may make a good neighbor because there will be increased surveillance. The present warehouse/industrial users do not seem to care too much about security. 12. What is the zoning on the site and what are the uses allowed in that zone? a I I RESPONSE: The zoning is I-P, Industrial Park. This zone is for light industrial park areas containing controlled industrial uses. The I-P district is designed for industrial uses in proximity to areas zoned for residential use and along arterial streets. 13. The old buildings need to be renovated to upgrade the neighborhood. The dilapidated appearance is an eyesore. Our biggest concern is the increased traffic. 14. I would rather see the City take the property than have it develop as residential with a bunch of kids added to our neighborhood. 15. How will the project be reviewed? RESPONSE: Normally, under the I-P zone, it is required that a site plan be reviewed by the Planning Director. However, in the case of the Streets Facility, the City Council has determined that the project will be reviewed as if it were a planned unit development. This means the project must go through a rigorous public review including a formal public hearing in front of the Planning and Zoning Board. 16. I'm concerned about the heavy trucks associated with the Streets Department. With these heavy trucks rumbling through our neighborhood, our property values will go down. The trucks will be a nuisance. With lowered property values, our taxes will not go down so we will be hit twice. 17. Has the Streets Department investigated other sites? RESPONSE: Yes, other sites have been looked at but this site offers the primary advantage of having existing buildings in which to store the material. 18. The neighborhood would like the renovated facility to provide a community meeting room that would be available for the public. We have a real need -in the B.A.V.A. neighborhood for —meeting space that is conveniently located. Since there seems to be so much building available, could a meeting room be part of the plans? RESPONSE: This is an interesting comment and one that we have not considered. We certainly can investigate this and try to provide such a room. 19. Will the detention pond breed mosquitos? RESPONSE: Water will only be detained temporarily during and shortly after a major storm. Water will then be released. There will not be permanent water for mosquito breeding. 20. Is there any floodway or flood -fringe on the property? RESPONSE: Yes, there is a small portion of flood -fringe on the west end near the Poudre River. 21. Will there be any berms built to screen the operation? RESPONSE: Yes, berms will be built along Ninth Street. 22. The west end should have more trees planted to screen the truck operations. If the east end will not have trucks, then it should be left open. Concentrate the trees in the.area of the most traffic. 23. What is the purpose of the railroad spur on the property? Will material be received via rail? RESPONSE: The spur is not for material but for the possibility of receiving electrical transformers for the Light and Power Department. These transformers are often shipped by rail freight rather than by truck. 24. How often will there be rail delivery? RESPONSE: Not very often, perhaps once or twice per year. 25. Will the City be purchasing the railroad strip along Vine? RESPONSE: No, this strip.will be retained by the railroad. 26. How long will it be between phases? RESPONSE: This will depend on the budget available. At minimum, the east end will be cleaned up and revegetated with a seed mix. 27. For trucks heading to south and east Fort Collins, how will you keep them off Ninth Street? RESPONSE: Most of our -trucks will be exiting out to Linden, then west -on -Vine -to -College Avenue. For trucks.needing to go.south and east, they will exit out to Linden, 'then southwest to Riverside Drive for points south and east. The Ninth Street exit will be for employees only, not trucks or equipment. A major exception to this will be during snowstorms when it is very important to get our equipment to certain destinations very quickly. Only under these storm conditions will the Ninth Street exit be used. 28. Will land be required for a left turn bay on Ninth Street into the.site? If so, will our front yards be condemned? RESPONSE: It is undetermined whether a left turn bay is need on Ninth Street. If so, then the extra land required will probably come off the west side, not the front yards on the east side. •y 29. Question to the Neighborhood Group: The City is seeking an easement to exit the property due south, so trucks can use Buckingham to access Ninth Street. Is this a preferred alternative? RESPONSE: Yes, this would put the truck traffic on Ninth Street but far enough south so it'would not interfere with our access into our driveways. The City should pursue this option. 30. Will there be any access off Vine Drive? RESPONSE: No, the railroad tracks prevent this access. 31. Question to the Neighborhood Group: How would the neighborhood like to see the large open space area on the east end developed? What kind on improvements would you like to see in this area? RESPONSE: We like the kind of park next to City Hall (Washington Park). We like an area that would have picnic tables, basketball hoops, trees, and a quiet, passive setting. We do not want large active recreation like soccer or softball. These kinds of fields attract rowdy behavior. A passive area, well landscaped, would also benefit the City employees for lunch breaks. It is important that the area be available for families, and not drinking parties. 32. What about Milligan Lumber (Vine and Wood)? Can't the City put the material in that building to protect it from weather? RESPONSE: This possibility has not been fully explored but it seems that Milligan Lumber may not be large enough for our storage needs. 33. How much is the City paying for the site? RESPONSE: For the 32 acres and the buildings, between $950,000 and $1,-000,-000. - 34. What about the building at 906 West Vine? Wouldn't this building be able to handle the storage? RESPONSE: 906 West Vine is already taken by Water and Sewer and Light and Power. Also, the building does not have the storage capacity. 35. We talked last time about employment possibilities for neighborhood residents. Any progress or commitments on this? RESPONSE: Given the state and federal laws about fair hiring practices, it is not possible to guarantee employment in a City department based on residency in a certain neighborhood. There is a scholarship available that you should know about. The City Light and Power Department will provide a scholarship to .attend high voltage lineman training. The training is 10 months and in Grand Junction. The graduate gets a certificate and is guaranteed six months of full time employment with the City. All graduates have either become full time City employees or have become employed by other utilities. Please spread the word. f'I112y0 The major points of concern of the neighborhood are summarized as follows: 1. Traffic on Ninth must be mitigated. Andersonville is unique with homes and driveways fronting, on a busy street. 2. The Lemay Bypass is needed now. The intersection of Vine and Lemay, along with the tracks, combine to cause stacking problems in front of our homes. 3. The intersection of Buckingham and Ninth is substandard. Improvements must be made. 4. A community meeting room within the renovated building should be provided and made available to residents of B.A.V.A.1