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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPOUDRE VALLEY PLAZA PUD - PRELIMINARY - 30-95A - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONSeptember 5, 1995 Planning and Zoning Board P. O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Attention: Steve Olt, City Planner Greetings:. We were not able to attend the Planning and Zoning public hearing on Monday, August 21, 1995 on First Amendment to Four Seasons Overal Development Plan, Parcel H-!, #30-95, and Poudre Valley Plaza PUD - Preliminary, #30-95A. We do, however, want to apprise you of our feelings on both of these proposals. First, we live one block west of Shields and nearly two blocks north of Horsetooth. Our access to the north and east of our home is from Casa Grande Blvd. onto Shields. This puts in close prox- imity of the proposed development. We object to the change in zoning. We see no need for a neighborhood shopping center in this location. Ten blocks east of this is all of the business district on Mason and College, ten blocks north are two shopping centers on Drake and Shields, and other shopping centers are close at hand at Taft Hill and Drake, and at Taft Hill and 38E. The developer has characterized the new shopping center as a neighborhood center close enough so people can walk to it. Has there been a study of the neighborhood consumers to determine their feelings? I have a strong feeling that this is unsubstantiated and in terms of the current neighborhood homes it could not be substantiat- ed. I also have a strong feeling that the developer characterized it in this fashion to wnts with the city in its grappling with the overabundance of car traffic. The fact needs to be sorted out from the fiction on this issue. I see no reason to change the zoning of this plot of ground. The need for houses is more important than the need for another neighborhood shopping center. Our main objection to both proposals is that of the traffic that would be generated on top of the serious traffic problem that already exists in connection with this area. The corner of Shields and Horsetooth is already one of the most heavily traveled in Fort Collins. The new apartment com- plex on the northeast comer of this intersection (125 units) is not yet fully occupied. The new day school just west of the corner will add substantially to the traffic when it is fully in use. The businesses on the northwest comer of the intersection have serious problems of getting vehicles off and on these two streets with the medians placed as they are. Shields, which carries substantial traffic to and from Loveland, narrows down to one lane south of Horsetooth, and Horsetooth narrows down to one lane west of Shields. So in busy times of the day the traffic already backs up as much as two blocks from this comer. We strongly object to this proposal on the basis that it is unwise to add to the traffic problems already in existence on the corner of Shields and Horsetooth. Despite the best effort of the developer, the addition of the neighborhood shopping center will in fact further complicate the traffic at this intersection. We also submit that the traffic study does not in fact well represent the traffic problem as it really exists,. We ask that both proposals be disapproved. Yours trul , l '