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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPINECONE PUD FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 60 91B - CORRESPONDENCE - STAFF'S PROJECT COMMENTS , H �„•s�. Developm�_:t Services `� � �"' Planning Department City of Fort Collins � - t March 27, 1992 Mr. Bob Sutter Architectural Horizons 4730 South College Avenue, Suite 206 Fort Collins, CO. 80525 Dear Bob: I have taken the opportunity to summarize the notes from the meeting of Wednesday, March 25, 1992 regarding the New High School. The comments are as follows: 1. The Transportation Department recognizes the need for a Timberline Road southbound left turn into the shopping center. If this left turn is allowed, then the shopping center access off Horsetooth could be restricted to a right-in/right-out. More information would be neecled on traffic volume at this proposed curb cut, separation from Danfield, and whether left turn stacking is sufficient. 2 . Data from Rocky Mountain High School has been collected. The school has 1, 180 students and 90 faculty and staff. There are about 724 parking spaces. The parking lot is never ful'1, spaces are available. Based on these ratios, .and projected to a student population of 1,800 and 250 faculty and staff, it is estimated that the New H.S: will require about 1, 060 spaces. You are encouraged to look closely at the projected �- ""- � faculty/staff ratio for the new school. It appears high. 3 . Trip generation data from R.M.H.S. has also been obtained. The A.M. peak is from 7 : 00 to 8: 00 and there are approximately 600 inbound trips and 300 outbound trips. The P.M. peak is from 3 : 00 to 4 : 00 and there are about 350 inbound trips and 400 outbound trips. These volumes will help project trip generation for the new H.S. 4 . The proposed double left turn for southbound Timberline to. eastbound Horsetooth may be a problem for the City in obtaining extra right-of-way. It may be politically• and financially difficult to purchase the necessary. land area from the adj acent property owners to accommodate double left turns. Double lefts would not be needed in the near term. 5 . Left turn exits from Danfield/bus loop intersection with Timberline may be very difficult given the fact that speeds _ 281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (303) 221-6750 � will be 45 m.p.h. and volumes during peak hours may be heavy. Volumes and background traffic will certainly increase in 1997 or 1998 when Timberline is extended over the Poudre River. This intersection will be controlled by a stop sign and left turns during peak times will be "self-regulating" . Adding a ,, signal at this intersection is not planned. 6 . Input from Poudre R-1 Transportation will be very useful in evaluating the safety of buses exiting (left turns) onto to Timberline (major arterial) during peak times without the benefit of a signal. Perhaps this turn movement will be safe for the short .term, but probably not in the long run. The architect and traffic engineer are encouraged to consider Vermont as the primary access point for the bus loop, or, at least, the primary exit point. 7 . It is recommended that the westbound Horsetooth double left turns are not needed, a single left should be sufficient. 8 . The challenge on determining the number of parking spaces will be to provide enough parking for 1, 800 students and 250 faculty/staff, and yet still explore methods of reducing parkinq lot demand. It is recognized that demand management efforts are just underway. It is suggested that any progress in this area be reported to the Planning and Zoning Board at the hearing on April 27th. If, after the cooperative demand management effort, it is discovered that there is too much parking area, then these areas can be reduced. 9 . It is encouraged that student parking be monitored so that the commercial parking lot is not abused. This may require a sticker system and an enforcement mechanism. School officials are encouraged to promote the use of a car as a privilege, not a right, subject to following rules and_ regulations on parking. -------_LO..�The _City and the District must continue to work together to promote and encourage the use of off-str.eet -paths as an T_____---- - _..._ alternative to the automobile. At present, there are gaps in the path and sidewalk system that need to be completed. The Parks and Recreation Department has investigated the concept of providing a path along the Platte River Power Authority easement that runs north and south, about 1, 200 feet west of � Timberline Road. Another area that needs improvement is the bottleneck at Drake and the U.P.R.R. tracks. It is acknowledged that the City is a major participant in offsite path connections. , 11. The site plan does not indicate an area for bike racks or other bicycle amenities. These elements should be considered and included to encourage non-vehicular access. 12 . The phasing of public improvements must be considered. While detailed engineering plans do not have to be prepared, the . .. _, --- _ .. . _. .:�- j concepts should be presented to the Planning and Zoning Board. In particular, the extent of improvements along Timberline and Horsetooth should be resolved, in principle, at this time. 13 . .�•:,..For- storm drainaqe purposes, it will be important for school improvements to not cut off the commercial area. Drainage is from west to east. Storm flows from the commercial site must be conveyed to the detention ponds indicated on the east side of the site, west of the proposed street serving Pinecone Farm. 14 . The site is located in the Foothills Drainage Basin. Fees in this basin are $5, 024 per acre. 15. Downstream drainage facilities will be oversized by the City as a capital improvement project. Therefore, it will not be necessary to detain more than what is required. 16. The outfall from the proposed detention ponds leads into a 36 • inch diameter storm pipe to be located under the proposed � street. This improvement must be completed as part of the project and is eligible for repayment by the City Stormwater . Utility. If adjacent development is not imminent, then temporary solutions may be considered. 17 . It is recommended that an intergovernmental agreement be entered into to coordinate the offsite drainage improvements and the repay by the City to tfie District. 18 . Any permanent irrigation pond should be designed with enough freeboard to accommodate storm flows. It is anticipated that the ponds will be wide and shallow since the entire area is , generally very flat. 19 . It is recognized that detention will be shared by both the park and school properties. School athletic fields are not ` l-" being planned to accommodate storm drainage. The Department of Natural Resources and Stormwater Utility have recommendations on suitable ground cover for detention areas. 20 . The Parks and Recreation is concerned about the "spine" element. This spine should not split the park in such a manner as to make it difficult to provide play fields. Also, the spine should logically connect to a focal point that naturally draws interest. 21. Parks and Rec typically does not plan for specific functions in a neighborhood park until meetings are held with the surrounding neighborhood. Since residential development has not yet occurred, Parks and Rec must maintain some degree of flexibility as to what will qo into the park. Care should be taken that the spine, or any other school improvements, do not unnecessarily, inhibit the park planning process. � . _ . i 22. Parks and Rec is sympathetic to the formal role of the spine within the master plan objective. It is hoped that the spine promotes dynamic pedestrian/bicycle flow between the residential area and the school. Neighborhood access.to the park will be important. 23. An idea for a focal point along the spine is to provide public art, perhaps a sculpture, in the park. Such an element could tie into the art department at the new school. You are encouraged to contact Dave Siever, Director of Cultural Services, for additional ideas. 24. Joint development of the open space and irrigation will require an intergovernmental agreement between the City and the District. 25. Staff is concerned about the large parking lots and how best to mitigate expansive asphalt areas. Internal landscaping within islands at the end of parking rows is strongly encouraged. Six percent internal landscaping is a standard for commercial projects. Perimeter buffering will be necessary to define an edge. Such edges should be well- defined but penetrable to allow pedestrian short-cuts. 26. Efforts should be made to design perimeter buffering so.that headlights and grills are screened. Berms are encouraged where practical. Hedges and screen walls are also encouraged. 27. The parking lots should be illuminated with fixtures that do not cast light offsite. Direct cut-off, down directional fixtures are.encouraged. Short poles (16 feet) are preferred over tall poles (33 feet).to promote pedestrian scale and to protect adjacent residential development. A good example is Pace Warehouse where short poles were used on the perimeter to minimize the impact on residential properties. -28-: The-parking.lots should have a distinct sense of entry. For anyone not using the visitor parking-at--the-front entry,_the parking lots will be the sole source of entry. Entry should be defined,with vertical landscape elements to mitigate the horizontal plane of the parking surface. Directional signage should be considered and not exceed four square feet. 29. Each parking lot should have an area designated for plowed snow that will .not cause a sight distance problem, has southern exposure, and will drain without ponding and freezing. 30. The parking lots should promote pedestrian safety with crosswalks that are distinct from the parking lot surface. -31. Staff is concerned about the linkage between the plaza and the adjacent residential area. The "service area" seems to interrupt the natural flow and should be screened and v mitigated to the maximum possible extent. The path should be detached from the parking lot and separated by landscaping. The two 45 degree bends should be softened by longer sweeps. 32 . ,;The plaza should no.t interface. with Timberline Road. It is - suggested that landscaping be continued across the plaza to protect pedestrian space from 45 m.p.h. "major arterial" traffic. 33 . The bus stop serving the school and commercial area will be very important. This will be a "crossroads" for pedestrians using either the school or commercial area. Every . effort should be made to make this space attractive, illuminated, and protected from weather, in order to promote non-veh3cular transportation. 34 . The design team is encouraged to use paver materials to indicate pedestrian crossings. This may be especially important at the entry and the visitor parking loop. 35. As presently indicated, the "parking lot for 250" only has one access point. It is suggested that two points of access be provided to minimize a potential bottleneck. 36. Staff applauds the general layout, the "spine" element, the formal landscaping concept, and the plaza/commercial linkage. The one remaining concern, however, is the over-reliance to penetrate the parking lots in order to access the front entry of the school. (In the case of the north, two parking lots must be negotiated, either by vehicle or by foot, to gain access to the plaza entry. ) It is recognized that the surrounding streets are a major 'arterial and an arterial. If the vehicle, entering from the arterials, is to be the primary mode of transportation, then every effort should be made to promote a, strong linkage and dramatic sense of entry to the plaza from the parking lots. The pTaza entry should also -"�---------invite-_pedestrian access from nearby areas, and not cause barriers that promote• only vehicular usage,. ___._ . ' 37 . There are areas where continued cooperation between the City and District is vital. The process will continue long after the Planning and Zoning Board review on April 27th. It is suggested that a brief inemo of understanding be drafted outlining the areas that will need further refinement before plans are in final form. This memo can then be presented to the P & Z Board as evidence of cooperative ongoing activity. ' Areas to be addressed include, but are not limited to, offsite non-vehicular connections, joint irrigation, demand management techniques to reduce reliance on the single-occupant vehicle, drafting a development aqreement for public improvements, . offsite drainage improvements, and processing and review of utility plans. _ . . � � w 38 . You are encouraged to continue discussions with Ken Kirchhoff, Crime Prevention Officer, Community Affairs Division of Police Services regarding exterior security lighting systems. 39. Similarly, you are encouraged to continue discussions with Warren 'Jones, Fire Marshal, Fire Prevention Division, Poudre Fire Authority regarding water supply and fire access issues. 40. The Water and Wastewater Utility is concerned about the proximity of the proposed sewer line to the building. In order to allow a structure this close to a sewer line, an exclusive easement must be provided. The building should not be closer than 15 feet from the main. A report from a structural engineer may required stating that any repair work to the sewer line will not impact the building foundation. 41. Please consider the location of handicap parking stalls and handicap access ramps. � � This concludes Staff comments at this time. Please be reminded that the April 27th Planning and Zoning Board meeting requires the following items to be made part of the review packet: P.M.T. ' s ( 8 1/2 x il reductions) of the site plan and the elevations are due April 20, 1992 . 10 prints (folded) are due April 20, 1992 . One colored set of drawings (unfolded) are due April 20, 1992 . Sincerely: �� Ted Shepard — __Senior Planner xc: Sherry Albertson-Clark, Chief Planner � Mike Herzig, Development Engineering Manager � ,