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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPINECONE PUD FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 60 91B - MEDIA - CORRESPONDENCESchool design proposal marked by 74foot tower By STEVE PORTER 3 - 3 - OQ, The Coloradoan A 74-foot tower would mark the cam- pus of a new Fort Collins High Sohool if a proposed design is adopted by the Pou- dre R-1 Board of Education. The tower, a symbol of the existing school at 1400 Remington St., is.a nod toward the tradition of the 68-year-old high school that will be replaced when the new school opens in 1995. ' . Bob Sutter, one of the project's archi- tects, said the tower will be impressive. "You'll be able to find the school's front door, probably from Loveland," Sutter said jokingly at a special board work session on the new school's pro- posed design Monday night., Sutter said the tower, which will also be functional by providing microwave and satellite capabilities to the school, would provide "a strong response to one of the traditional concepts of the older school." What's next? The Poudre R-1 Board of Education will have its first formal discussion of the proposed Fort Collins High School schematic design at its regu- lar meeting March 9. The board is expected to take a final vote March 23. The public is invited to attend both meetings and make comments. Feb. 19, the school district closed the deal on, the site, which is adjacent to a separate 10-acre business area just south of the school. The proposed school design calls for a long glass "spine" or hallway running north and south through the school. On the north end is a music area and a the- ater capable of seating up to 750 people. Sutter said the theater's size fills a need in Fort Collins. "Seven -fifty fills a high demand niche in the city, so it could be a place where we can share with the community," he Board member Jerry Dunn said he said. was glad planners were. being sensitive The Lincoln Center's main auditorium to the school's traditions'. seats about 1,200 and its mini -theater "The more you can do to emphasize seats about 250. that, the better," Dunn said.. The new school also features a 3,000- The new high school will be built on a seat gymnasium and three, two-story 65-acre site near the northeast intersec- academic wings. Each of the academic tion of Timberline and East Horsetooth wings includes its own technology cen- roads in east Fort Collins. The $30 mil- ter 'where state-of-the-art equipment lion school is set to open in fall 1995. could be made available for student learning. About 800 parking spaces are designed for the school's 1,800 students. Sutter said a bus stop on the site would serve the school and the adjacent busi- ness area. Sutter said the proposed design is based on future flexibility. "It's possible to blow out virtually every wall in this building," he said. "It makes it very easy to expand.", Board members said they were gener- ally pleased with what they saw. "I'm really impressed with the atten- tion to function," said Daryl Knoblock, board vice president. Lisa Paschall, a city resident i came to criticize the design, said s..o was pleasantly surprised by what she heard. "I came here thinking I would hate this plan, but I do like what I see," she said. "It's turned out really well. I'm amazed." It's official: New FCHS linked to commercial plaza, By STEVE PORTER Feb. 20� I fta . ;'I think it's a good deal," ' he said. "It The Coloradoan : School, plaza may share waIIlA6 protects both sides' interests." The covenants governing what busi- But building a, high school next to a nesses will be allowed next to the new. commercial area has been criticized by Fort Collins High School were revealed ., The covenants also specifically state a number of people in. recent public Wednesday. what kinds of businesses are allowed.to meetings. Ann Ostrye-Macdonald, a res- Poudre R-1 School District officials „locate in the, commercial. area: Those ident of nearby, Sunstone � subdivision, signed an agreement Wednesday.�•,to ,>.include.food. stones; medical and, dental ' said she's worried about the proximity locate the high school on a 68-acre site in ,offices and mostretail establishments.' -' of a commercial zone. east Fort Collins. • • Businesses that will be automatically "'If it looks like.:Scotch. Pines (another The agreement also locks the district _ excluded, include video :arcades, adult shopping plaza• on the eity's east side), into a relationship with a 10-acre busi- book stores, liquor stores, tobacco that's fine,' but I thtnk'there's still too ness area just south of the school.'Both shops, tattocr. parlors and. other busi-' many distractions for high school kids," sites are on the- northeast -, corner '.of ,,nesses consic19rgd.,to_be ''an annoyance' annoyance ' ,. she,sald �. ,. Timberline and East Horsetooth:roads: ; or nuisances :r �.: - People from the' ";whole area are The deal Includes a' set of 'covenants':„ An • architeciural review committee going to hang out there:"'"ti' designed to give the district control over will review' all' applications for space'in The.covenants have a 20'year lifespan what happens: on the commercial site . the commercial area.'' and may. be extended on:aryearly basis That includes.both student behavior and,,;John - Brzeinski, Fort Collins High ' by mutual consent. 'They; 'give the dis- the kinds of businesses allowed to ope4=-'s<School principal,' said the covenants trict "the right but not the obligation to ate there. " .:.were carefully developed.' enforce all school behavior policies, rules, codes of conduct or guidelines on any person enrolled in district schools..' Business owners woulcj be obligated to enforce proper behavior for those peo- ple who are not PR-1 students, Brzeinski said. The principal said he thought tl., arrangement would result in a better situation than at the current high school at 1400 Remington St., where dropouts and others congregate in a public park. across the street. "I think it'll be less of a problem than we currently have," he said. "If we'd adopted the island approach, we would have no ability to deal with it. At least now we have a chance to make it bet- ter." ' The new, school is expected to open in fall 1995.