HomeMy WebLinkAboutOVERLAND HILLS WEST RF SITE PLAN REVIEW - 38 90D - REPORTS - CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONCity of Fort Collins
Planning Department
10/26/92
To Whom it Concerns and the Planning and Zoning Board:
I'm writing concerning the Silver Oaks, Overland Hills and Overland
Hills West developments. I've attended part one neighborhood
meeting and have read the informational mailings from your
department. Planners Steve Olt and Ted Shepard have been named as
planners involved in these projects. My concerns relate to
traffic, foothills trail access, school impact, and
environmental/quality of life issues.
Regarding traffic, it seems to me that Tafthill currently is
inadequate to handle the traffic from recent developments and the
proposed developments would make the situation intolerable. The
road should be widened to a four lane arterial from Drake South
with lights at 38E and Harmony Road. Horsetooth Road should be
widened at side streets and intersections to allow for turn lanes
East of Taft and the same for Harmony Road. 38E should have turn
lanes West of Taft. The Silver Oaks development should have direct
egress to Taft separate from Horsetooth, and the Overland
developments should have egress to 38E via an extension of their
service road, and/or connection with Platte or Highlands West.
Even with these traffic routing improvements, the combined density
of these developments raises concerns regarding intrusions upon the
environment and quality of life for existing residents and the
people of the city. The foothills is a unique and special area and
impacts from these developments and a rumored arterial serving the
CSU stadium need to be carefully considered. An extension of
Overland Trail South would make the stadium arterial closer to
reality, and therefore shouldn't be done.
—The-Overland Hills developments encroach upon an existing trail
which extends from the end of Horsetooth Road west-up--over—the
hogbacks and connects with a trail heading North and South beneath
the resevoir. The city and county really need to get together to
preserve as much of this open space as possible and to develop a
trail system such as Boulder has. The Overland Hills West
development is to be East of the Pine Ridge Open Space, but what is
the public access to this proposed city open space? How will the
trail, public parking, housing and streets be integrated?
These are my concerns, and I would appreciate some response
regarding how and if they are being addressed. Also, information
on what other steps I may take to forward my concerns, if
necessary, would be appreciated. Thank you,
Eric Busch
Springfield Homeowner
TO: Mr. Steve Olt
FROM: Mr. and Mrs. Tan Beecher, 2418 Dalton Drive
DATE: July 22, 1992
SUBJECT: Proposed Silver Oaks Development
Recently my husband and I received copies of letters from the City
of Fort Collins Co munity Planning and Environmental Services Planning
Department from the president of our home owner's association. One letter
was dated June 26, 1992, announcing a July 7 meeting to discuss Silver Oaks
and the other letter dated July 9, 1992, announcing the July 22 meeting
for the development adjacent to Overland Hills. Below you will find my
husbands and my reasons for being against future developments in either
of these areas.
1.) Currently there is a bad problem with speeders and unsafe drivers
using Horsetooth road west of Taft Hill. My husband and I often are
forced to listen to squealing tires, people slamming on brakes, and
people spinning out in the gravel. Although the noise of this is
annoying, we fear for the safety of the many children who cross the
road to go to school or to use the playground. We feel that if either
of these areas are developed, this type of traffic pattern will increase
greatly and might possibly end with tragic, unnecessary deaths of
children.
2.) Taft Hill road between Drake and Horsetooth already suffers from high
traffic use. If either of these developments came about, there would
be a high increase of traffic accidents as well-as-traf-f-ic-being backed_
up even further than it has (we have often seen traffic backed up from
Drake road to Devonshire on an average day). We feel that before the
City approves these developments, they need to first address the current
traffic problems before approving measures which will only add to the
problems.
3.) It was recently brought to our attention that Olander Elementary is
currently at capacity. If this is the case, where will children who
will be coming into the area go to school? What about the Blevins
Junior High - can they handle an increase in Jr. High students? Will
Poudre R-1 be able to accommodate these students without raising our
taxes (we don't want to have to pay additional to build a school for
a development that we feel will take away from the area, rather than
3). cont. benefit the neighborhood)? Also, is the city prepared to pay
for safety measures to insure that the children living south of
Horsetooth Road can get to school safely without the fear of the
increased traffic?
4.) We don't think that Taft Hill Road and Overland Trail should be joined
by Horsetooth Road. Our reason is that the current location of an
elementary on this road would just make this road a very dangerous
road. Besides the increase in traffic due to these two proposed
developments, many people who live on the west side of town, and co mute
will find this as a convenient road to meet up with Overland Trail,
and a road that they will be able to ignore speedlimits on.
If either of these developments are approved, is the City and/or County
prepared to fund the many improvements that will be necessary before either
of these developments are ccmpleted, to ensure everyone's safety? Some
of the things that cane to mind are: Taft Hill would have to be widened
from Co. Rd. 38E; to Drake Road with at least four lanes with a muddle turn
o-
lane; Horsetooth road would also need to become a four lane road between
Taft Hill and Overland Trail; many stoplights would need to be installed
both on Taft Hill as well as on Horsetooth Road; there would need to be
street lights installed on both these road since with more people canes
more crime; and finally, with the City Police and Larimer County Sheriff's
Department facing budget problems, will they be able to add the additional
staff that will be necessary to patrol these areas, answer to calls, and
fill out all the reports (recently we had to call the Sheriff's department
about a prowler and it took 50 minutes for them_to respond)._ we -feel that
until all the questions can be resolved without taxing the citizens more
than they already are, neither of these developments should receive approval.
Sincerely,
f9/.DLO • ��� ��� .
Mr. Tan Beecher and
Mrs. Mary Beecher
City of Fort
Planning and
c/o Planning
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins,
221-6750
Dear MR. Olt;
Collins
Zoning Board
Dept.
C�i�:Z�b'fxa
3909 Highlands West Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80526
July 21, 1992
This letter concerns the proposed Horsetooth West/Silver Oaks
Development and a letter from Jim Kelley, President, Springfield HOA
dated July 15, 1992 (attached).
In the attached letter, Mr. Kelley indicated that he is speaking for
the whole of Springfield HOA. While there is currently a dispute
regarding the inclusion of Highlands West in Springfield HOA, I believe
that Mr. Kelley would state that I am part of the group he is speaking
for.
First, I feel that Mr. Kelley is overstepping his bounds as president
of the HOA in speaking for all us without asking our opinions first.
Second, I feel that the first concern raised by Mr. Kelley is valid for
the people who have properties which connect with Horsetooth Road.
This includes Mr. Kelley and 10 to 15 other members of the HOA (less
than 15% of the Association).
Third, the second concern raised is a very valid concern, Olander
Elementary and PR-1 are not equipped to handle the children associated
with the 144 new houses in Silver Oaks and the 64 new house in the
Overland Hills, 3rd filing. However, I would expect the Board of
Education to be addressing these concerns and, given the time required
to -build --roads and homes, I would expect a_ solution to be implemented
prior to the problem becoming serious. This is not a concern for -the- -
Planning and Zoning Board.
Fourth, the last issue Mr. Kelley enumerated is not represented
properly. Since the Overland Trail extension has already been approved
this is a non -issue today. When this extension is complete it should
actually reduce the amount of traffic in the area represented by the
current Association since many drivers and bikers drive through
Springfield and Highlands West to get from Horsetooth Road and Taft
Road to the reservoir. These people will be able to use the main roads
and not cut through our streets. I do understand Mr. Kelley's concern
because his property is on Horsetooth Road. But, this is his concern,
not the concern of the Association.
Finally, the issue which was re -iterated in closing in Mr. Kelley's
letter is also a personal issue and not an issue of the. Association.
If Mr. Kelley believed that the planning board could reliably predict
that the Horsetooth-Overland connection would not be completed in the
near future, he was being naive.
In summary, I would ask that you not take Mr. Kelley's letter to be the
opinion of anyone but James J. Kelley himself. He does not speak for
me on these issues and I do not feel he has the right to speak for the
other members of the Springfield HOA.
While I can not attend the full meeting on July 22nd, I would like to
go on record by recommending that the Planning and Zoning board approve
the residential and open space request associated with Overland Hills,
3rd Filing. I would also recommend that the board review the situation
with regards to stop lights and traffic situations on Taft Hill Road
and Auntie Stone Street. Problems in these areas can be resolved by
proper planning and civil engineering. In addition, I would recommend
that the Planning and Zoning board inform the PR-1 board of the results
of the decision on this subject so the school board can react quickly
to the concerns associated with adding over 200 homes in this part of
Fort Collins. The PR-1 board should have ample time to respond to
growth in this area if they are notified soon.
I see no reason to delay approval of this development at this time.
Sincerely,
Lee E. Huffman
James J. Kelley
President Springfield Homeowners Association
3601 Platte Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80526
July 15, 1992
Dear Mr. Olt,
I am responding to a letter dated July 9, 1992 regarding a
proposed development near our subdivision. The proposal is for 62
single family residential lots and a proposed connection of
Overland Trail and Horsetooth Rd. The letter states access to the
new development would be from the extension of these two streets.
We would like to let it be known that members of Springfield
Subdivision strongly recommend the city not approve this proposal
for the following reasons:
1. Connecting Horsetooth to Overland -
This is our primary concern. These two streets are already
very high volume traffic areas and the connection of the two would
cause a congested thoroughfare. I personally spoke with members of
both the city and county planning departments prior to purchasing
my lot in April of 1991. Both your office and the county assured
me a Horsetooth/Overland connection was at least 10-15 years in the
future. I know I am not the only person who was given this
information from the planning departments.
2. Olander Elementary -
PR-1 has no way to accommodate the children of this proposed
development, and especially the combination of this proposal and
the proposal of Horsetooth West/Silver Oaks Development.
3. Preserving Foothills base -
To date, the only busy road in the foothills above Fort
Collins is 38E which leads to the reservoir. If Horsetooth and
Overland were to be connected it quite possibly could become the
busiest road in town, spoiling the peacefulness and beauty of the
Fort Collins foothills.- - --------
In closing, I wish to re -iterate the two roads are not
designed for this volume of traffic and the quiet, peaceful
neighborhood would suffer as a result of any hasty decisions to
approve this proposal. As stated in your letter, your planning
staff considers our inputs as current residents "an extremely
important element in the city's review of this proposal."
Having been told (in person) Horsetooth-Overland was not a
likely possibility for many years I feel I have purchased my
property based on mis-information from the city planning office.
I believe the 500+ residents of our homeowner's association will
prevail in seeing this proposal is denied at this time.
Sincerely,
mKelley
Anne Thompson
4028 Highlands W. Dr.
Ft. Collins, CO 80526
Mr. Steve Olt
Planning Review Dept.
City of Fort Collins
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Ref: Overland Trail Extension/Housing Development
I was unable to attend the planning review meeting for the area around Olander elementary
school. I would like to add my comments at this time though. I am diametrically opposed
with the extension of Overland Trail to Horsetooth at this time. I have several reasons for
this.
1) I do not believe Horsetooth as presently designed can withstand - the traffic.
2) 1 believe there are other projects more pressing. For instance, Horsetooth
between Shields and Taft, Prospect between Shields and Taft.
3) Property owners, and I am one of them, called the City Planning Office as to
the status of the Overland extension prior to purchasing their property. We
were assured this was not in the immediate future and was a minimum 10-15
years down the road.
It is my opinion that by allowing the Overland extension, the City is again backing down to
the wishes of the developer. I thought the "Choice City" had made a committment to
-- control this. - We, the affected community, do not want this roadway at this time!
Also, what are the plans for Overland to CR 38E. How does this tie in with the Harmony
Road redesign. I understand that the new development at Taft and Harmony has a street
also named Harmony running through it. I would appreciate a response and status report
on these projects. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Anne Thompson