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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPINECONE PUD FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 60 91B - CORRESPONDENCE - OTHER JURISDICTIONSCity M. February 4, 1992 Dr. David F. Hendrix Superintendent Poudre R-1 School District 2407 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 Dear Dave: Attached is a memorandum prepared by our Planning staff in response to City Council's request for information on the process and issues on the new high school development. Please share this with your staff. I think we should meet with our key staff people to discuss with them our expectations on this cooperative project. Sue Houseal from my office will call to coordinate a time when we can all get together. Sincere , Steven C. Burkett City Manager Attachment bcc: Ureg Byrne Tom Peterson Ted Shepard',.. 7,00 LoPoite :A%chic • P.O. BOV 3SO . Fort Collins, CO SO-i22-Ih�tiU IG € i W OUT�l •�� j e` I Z U �r ♦♦ ��- �a� so mass J I■ n ° ■■ \q r I i won �,I� (( •■ ■ if —DRAKE ROAD I ■■■■a - - 77 ' y a -" MORSETOOTM ROAD �L rn I - �E RLP RL f.. �■ � It _� I y�-r rr71. ;■ PINECONE OVERALL ITEM: DEVELOPMENT PLAN' 'Includes New High School Site T 1 L. NEW HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING - DESIGN - CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE (DISTRICT SCHEDULE) 1. Land Acquisition, Purchase Contract Review *Formal action by Board of Education, February 10, 1992. 2. Schematic Design Approval * Formal action by the Poudre R-1 School Board, February or March of 1992. * Authorization to enter into a final architectural design contract, March or April, 1992 3. Concept Review and P & Z Submittal * March of 1992 * Plan review process March through April, 1992 * Submitted in coordination with Pine Cone Farm Amended * Includes neighborhood meetings for citizen input 4. Final Design * Formal action by the Poudre R-1 School Board * Fall of 1992 4. Construction Documents. Bidding, Selection * Formal action by Poudre R-1 School Board * Fall/Winter of 1992 5. Construction * 21 month time frame - 1993 to 1995 6. End Construction * May of 1995 7. occupation * Fall of 1995 NEW FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZEN INPUT (DISTRICT SCHEDULE) 1. Tuesday, February 4, 1992: Time: 5:30 p.m. Location: Fort Collins High School Student Center (detached building on Lake Street) Topic: Open Discussion - Community Meeting Host: Fort Collins High School Principal 2. Wednesday, February 5, 1992: Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Fort Collins High School Student Center Topic: Architecture and Design . Host: New High School Central Design Committee 3. Thursday, February 6, 1992: 4. 5. [in Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: PR-1 Administration Building, 2407 LaPorte Avenue Topic: Land and Purchase Contracts, Raw Water Contracts, Preliminary Covenants Between Landowners Host: Board of Education Monday. February 10, 1992: Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: PR-1 Administration Building, 2407 LaPorte Avenue Topic: Regular School Board Meeting, Agenda Item Relating to Matters of the New High School -- Host: Board of Education Tuesday, February 11, 1992: Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Fort Collins High School Student Center Topic: Open Discussion - Community Meeting Host: Board of Education Second & Fourth Monday of every Month, 7:30 P.M. It is anticipated that a High School related agenda item will appear on a regular basis on the bi-monthly School Board agenda. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING MINUTES PROJECT: Pine Cone Farm Amended Overall Development Plan (includes New High School site) DATE: January 29, 1992 LOCATION: Public Service Company APPLICANT: Timberline Partners (G.T. Land Colorado, Inc. and W.W. Reynolds Company) REPRESENTATIVES: Eldon Ward, Cityscape Urban Design Kirk Douglas, Consultant for PR-1 District PROJECT PLANNER: Ted Shepard QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS 1. The area designated as Parcel A is the commercial corner of, Timberline and Horsetooth. How does this affect the approved neighborhood convenience shopping center across the street on Mr. Tiley's ground? Response: One does not preclude the other. The Fox Meadows Business Park is planned for multi -family, convenience and gasoline sales, support retail, and daycare. The northeast corner of Timberline and Horsetooth, however, is planned to be a neighborhood shopping center on 11 acres with about 100,000 square feet of retail. (By way of example, Toddy's is located in a 12 acre center.) This retail would be divided between about 70,000 square feet for a grocery store anchor, and 30,000 square feet for support retail. Each corner is planned to stand on its own. 2. What are the proposed collector streets into Pine Cone Farm? Response: The proposed collector 'off Timberline would be an extension of Vermont, and the collector off Horsetooth would be a new street located at the midpoint between Arctic Fox and Caribou. While not located within Pine Cone Farm, the likely collector off Drake into the section would be a road that divides the C.S.U. property from Spring Creek Farms. This road is located at the midpoint of the section. 3. Besides the collectors, what are the other proposed access points? i Response: The other access points would be classified as local streets, not collectors. It is proposed that the commercial corner have two access points, one off Timberline and one off Horsetooth. It is proposed that the school's southerly parking lot take access from an extension of Arctic Fox. The school's northerly parking lot would take access off Vermont. In front of the school along Timberline, there would be a separate access point for busses only into a turn -around loop. Also along Timberline, there would be an access point into boulevard that would lead to the building's "front door" or "focal point" which would serve as visitor parking. Finally, a new local street is planned between Custer and Sagebrush. It should be mentioned that all access points will be fully analyzed in a traffic impact study and must be approved by the City of Fort Collins. It.is likely that some access points will have restricted turn movements (right-in/right-out only). 4. What is a "focal point"? _ Response: At this early stage, the discussion has centered around a tower as a carry over tradition from the present school. 5. Will two collectors be sufficient for a high school and staff? Response: It is believed that two collectors will be able to handle the traffic and feed the two adjacent arterials at signalized intersections. The exact timing of the installation of traffic signals, however, is not known at this stage. 6. Will Horsetooth Road be widened? Response: Yes, Horsetooth Road will be widened to full arterial standards in front of the school and commercial property. 7. Will Timberline Road be widened? Response: Yes, Timberline Road will also be widened to full arterial standards, as an interim improvement. Since Timberline is classified as a "major arterial" (Horsetooth is an "arterial") it will not be widened to major arterial standards until it is warranted by traffic volumes. This is not expected in the near future as the arterial standard is considered sufficient. 8. Would the Horsetooth access into the commercial corner line up with the access point on the Tiley property. (Fox Meadows Business Park)? Response: Yes, offsetting streets within close proximity would not be allowed. 2 9. Will the proposed neighborhood park east of Linton Elementary be delayed due to the proposed neighborhood park next to high school's athletic fields? Response: No. Parks and Rec is actively pursuing land acquisition from two landowners for the Linton/Sunstone neighborhood park. 10. I've heard a rumor that the high school is trying to acquire raw water to irrigate the athletic fields versus using treated City water. Is this true? Response: Yes. Negotiations are underway with local irrigation companies to secure water rights and distribution facilities so that treated City water would not have to be purchased. 11. What are the City's right to review a new school facility versus an overall development plan? Response: Since the School District is apolitical subdivision of the state, and not a private developer, the City's right to review is found in state statutes. These statutes allow for the Planning and Zoning Board to conduct an advisory review on the "location, character, and extent thereof" of new school facilities. This is the same review process that has been used for the last several elementary schools and Webber Junior High. Under these statutes; any decision of the Planning and Zoning Board may be overturned by the Board of Education by no less than a two-thirds vote. Pine Cone Farm Amended Overall Development Plan, however, is considered a private application and will be reviewed by the criteria of the adopted Land Use Policy Plan under the full authority of the Planning and Zoning Board. 12. What happened at last Monday's (January 27, 1992) Board of Education meeting? Response: At their regular meeting, the School Board voted to —enter-into-an--opt ion contract with Timberline Partners-for-ari area -- of land not less than 62 acres and not more than 80 acres. 13. How was this particular site selected and was this the most expensive site? Response: A site selection committee investigated 18 sites east of College Avenue and south of Drake Road. The list was narrowed down to three for acquisition. This site was in the middle of the three in price. 14. Will the commercial corner be reviewed as a P.U.D.? Response: Yes. J 15. Will PR-1 own the corner? Response: No, but PR-1 will, by covenant agreement with W.W. Reynolds, have the ability to enforce school rules on the commercial property. These covenants will run with the land in case W.W. Reynolds sells the property. 16. How flexible are the plans on the New High School? Are the plans locked -in? Response: This is a good question. In terms of site planning, the location of an existing sanitary sewer and storm drainage channel determines, to a large extent, the building envelope. Within this envelope, the architectural design and character of the building is very flexible. Please be aware that the schematic design of the building has not yet been approved by the School Board. 17. Will there be additional public meetings on the design of the new building? Response: Yes, there will be meetings the week of February 3rd to gather citizen input on the schematic design. These meetings will be advertised in the Coloradoan. 18. Will there be a lighted football field like French Field? Response: No, the football field will be for practice only. It will not be a district -wide facility. There will be no lights. 19. I've heard rumors that the District and Timberline Partners will be able to economize on capital construction costs by doing this joint school/commercial venture. Is this true? Response: Yes, preliminary estimates are that joint development could save between $250,000 and $500,000 in lar-1 development and capital construction. ---Does the Overall Development Plan contain any multi -family? Response: Yes, Parcel D, north of Vermont, is about 15 acres and is designated as a multi -family parcel. An estimate is that this parcel could contain about 200 dwelling units. 21. Which residential areas will develop first and what is the estimated time frame for development? Response: The residential portion will develop from south to north to take advantage of the existing sewer line in Horsetooth Road. These residential areas will wrap around the school athletic facilities and the potential City neighborhood park. An estimated time frame is that it could take ten years to reach build -out. 4 22. Who are the other owners in the section? Response: Harold Webster owns the large parcel in the southeast corner of the section. Spring Creek Farms owns the large parcel in the northwest corner. C.S.U. owns the everything between Webster and Spring Creek Farms that is not owned by Timberline Partners. The U.S. Department of Agriculture owns the five acre parcel along Timberline Road across from Sagebrush Drive. 23. What will be the impact on the property values of the homes located on the cul-de-sacs that open up to Horsetooth Road in Fox Meadows? Response: This is difficult to predict given the number of variables that determine a property's value. Recent experience is that schools act as magnets to certain areas and neighborhoods but cause and effect data on the relationship between new schools and property values is not available. 24. What is the likely future land use on the five acre U.S.D.A. parcel? Response: It is likely that with major arterial frontage that it will not be residential. Depending on market conditions, this parcel could develop as multi -family or office. 25. What kind of housing will be built? Will there be modulars? Response: It is premature to anticipate what kind of housing will be built within Pine Cone Farm. It is also unknown if modulars will be built. It is not uncommon to lack these kinds of specifics at the Overall Development Plan stage. 26. It is widely accepted that Fort Collins is growing to the southeast and that this area will continue to attract residential construction. Will 11 acres be large enough to accommodate a grocery store and support retail/services over the long-term? - -- Response: Recent history has shown that larger centers tend to carry vacancies. The trend now is toward smaller centers. Keep in mind that Fox Meadows Business Park will provide retail and services, and that Sunstone Village has commercial area at the -:orner of Timberline and Caribou. Also, there is retail and commercial area that has been approved, at the Overall Development Plan level, at the corner of Timberline and Harmony Road. Therefore, it appears the southeast area will be well served. 5 J A 27. When will the New High School open? Response: With a 21.month construction schedule, the opening is planned for the Fall of 1995. 28. Will there be boundary changes or open enrollment throughout the District? Response: Boundary questions and enrollment policies are best directed towards the other District officials. Mr. Carol Agee is the District's school boundary specialist and he can be reached by calling the Poudre R-1 School District. 6 s Fort Collins High School Planning Timeline Feb. 12 !March 1 Feb. Begin alternative transportation discussion with three high schools March 23 AprW 24 Second reading: Planning & schematic design 1 Zoning meeting 214/92 Developnk,,A Services Planning Department January 30, 1992 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council Members i THRU: Greg Byrne, Development ervices Director FM: Tom Peterson, Pla or Ted Shepard, Senior City Planner RE: Response to the Council Request Regarding Process and Issues on New High School Development - Pinecone Farm City Council has asked for an outline of the process for consideration of the new High School. I. Identification of Parties in Interest: By way of background, the parties in interest are identified as follows: A. G.T. Land Colorado, Inc. Owner of the Pinecone Farm, a 238 acre parcel located, generally, at the northeast corner of Timberline and Horsetooth Roads. This parcel is larger than one -quarter of Section 29. G.T. Land Colorado, Inc. is the co - applicant for the request to amend the Pinecone Farm _Overall Development Plan. The principal contac-t is Peter Kast. B. W.W. Reynolds Company The W.W. Reynolds Company is a partner with G.T. Land (Timberline Partners) to develop the Pinecone Farm and is a co -applicant in the request to amend the overall Development Plan. The principal contact is Libby Glass. C. Cityscape Urban Design Cityscape Urban Design is the consulting firm retained by the G.T. Land/W.W. Reynolds partnership to provide land planning and design services in the development of Pinecone Farm. Principal contact is Eldon Ward. 281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box �80 • Fort Collins, CO 80;22-0;80 • (303) 221-07;0 A COMMITMENT TO PARTNERSHIP POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1 AND THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS 1. Partners represent the other constructively and/or positively at all times. 2. Partners meet each others' required needs. 3. Required needs are based on clearly understood rationale. 4. Partnerships mean priority; as such partners receive immediate consideration, and exemplary customer service. 5. Partners maintain master (long range) plans which include mutual participation. 6. Partners reach agreement and direct our staff to "make it work." 7. Partners recognize and respect each other for their expertise. 8. Our partnership promotes efficiencies for our mutual customers by considering the overall impact of a project rather than the cost to only one party. 9. Partners are the first to know and be involved in important issues. 10. Being a partner means complying with each others' legitimate needs: from the School's standpoint this means following growth and conforming to City codes, standards and infrastructure requirements; from the City's standpoint this means understanding and accommodating time schedules and service needs. Steven C. Burkett hvid Hendrix City Manager Superintendent of Schoo s New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January.29, 1992 Page 2 D. Poudre R-1 School District The District has entered into an option contract for an area defined to be not more than 80 acres and not less than 62 acres to develop and construct a new high school. The high school is the replacement for Fort Collins High and is being designed for an total enrollment of 1,800 students. Estimated cost is $30 million to be funded out of the $107 million bond issue passed by the voters in 1990. Scheduled completion: Fall 1995. The principal contacts are: Keith Dixon - Project Administrator - (490-3101) George Galida - Project Manager Ed Holder - Construction Manager Kirk Douglas - Real Estate Consultant Bob Sutter - Architectural Coordinator E. City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Department The Parks and Rec Department is working closely with PR-1 and the G.T. Land/W.W. Reynolds partnership to locate a neighborhood park adjacent to the high school play fields. The principal contact is Randy Balok (221-6364). F. City of Fort Collins Planning Department The Planning Department is processing and coordinating the review of the request to amend Pinecone Farm Overall Development Plan and the Advisory Review for the New High School in accordance with state statutes, by the City of Fort -Collins Planning and Zoning Board. The principal contact is Tom Peterson. Ted Shepard is the assigned— — project planner. We can be reached at 221-6750. II. Summary of the Ouestion/Issue: At the January 14, 1992 City Council worksession, Staff was requested by,City Council to provide answers to the following: A. What is the City approval process and time frame for the new high school? B. What are the District's and City -sponsored opportunities for citizen input? C. Under state statute,.what is the extent of the City's ability to comment and review on the development aspects of the new school? New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January 29, 1992 Page 3 D. What are the design and development related issues that are considered important by the City? E. What are the opportunities of influencing the development and design of the new school, in order to promote the adopted plans and policies of the City, that may fall outside or beyond the legal framework allowed under state statutes? (i.e. the City as potentially affected interest) III. What is the City Approval Process and Time Frame of Development? r.V YEAR City Approval Process The new high school will be processed and reviewed, according to state statutes, as an "Advisory Review" with a formal public hearing by the Planning and Zoning Board. This is the same review process used for recent new school projects such as: 1986 Werner Elementary 5400 Mail Creek Lane 1987 Johnson Elementary 4101 Seneca Street 1987 Webber Jr. High 4201 Seneca Street 1988 Linton Elementary 4100 Caribou Drive 1989 Olander Elementary 3401 Auntie Stone Street Southwest Elementary 4700 South Hinsdale Dr. 1991 1991 Southeast Elementary 4400 South McMurry The planning review and approval process is similar to that of a Final Planned Unit Development: * Mandatory Conceptual Review prior to submittal. * Neighborhood Information Meeting prior to submittal. * Submittal on the first Monday of any month. * Planning and Zoning Board hearing on the fourth Monday of the following month. New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January 29, 1992 Page 4 The district is not only following the requirements of state statutes ,for facility review, but is an active participant in our development review procedure. Attached, for your information, please find the tentative planning, design and construction schedule for the New High School as proposed the District. IV. What Are the District's and City -sponsored Opportunities for Citizen Input? A. School District: Within the next two weeks, there are five meetings and events, sponsored by the School District, to gain citizen input. These meetings, along with their time, date, location, and specific topic are listed in an attachment. B. City: 1. Development Services: The City has already held one neighborhood information m3st;•g for the Pine Cone Farm Amended Overall Development Plan. This meeting was held January 29, 1992 for the affected property owners in Meadows East, Fox Meadows, and Sunstone Village subdivisions. Minutes of this meeting are attached. This information meeting featured representatives from Timberline Partners and Poudre R-1. The meeting was held in anticipation of a formal submittal to the Planning and Zoning Board for a request to amend the Pine Cone Farm Overall Development Plan to accommodate a 60 to 80 acre high school site and a new -`-street circulation system. Besides the traditional neighborhood meeting, there are a variety of other opportunities for citizens to be involved in the City's development review process. Input can be made to the Planning Department throughout the entire process via phone calls, letters, and meetings with the project planner. Ad hoc meetings between Staff, the developers, and other interested citizens can also be arranged. If the situation warrants, additional neighborhood information meetings may be held, after submittal, as issues become more refined. Finally, citizen input is encouraged as part of the formal deliberation of the Planning and Zoning Board at their regular monthly meeting. New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January 29, 1992 Page 5 2. Parks and Recreation: At the regular City Council meeting on February.18, 1992, the Council will consider an item by the Parks and Recreation Department regarding the direction of the potential neighborhood park located adjacent to the New High School's athletic fields. Council will be updated and asked how to proceed on acquisition, design, development, and maintenance sharing. Citizen input will be available at this meeting of the City Council. V. Under State Statute, What Is the Extent of the City's Ability to Comment and Review on the Development Aspects of the New School? The City's right to conduct an advisory review of school facilities can be found in two sections of Colorado Revised Statues: A. Section 22-32-124, C.R.S., as amended, addresses the right of the school district to construct schools within a municipality and location or manner of construction of such schools. The statute specifically limits the municipalities' participation in the process to a limited right of review and appeal to the Board of Education. In addition, Section 22-32-124 C.R.S. calls .for the Planning and Zoning Board to review and comment upon the site development plan for the proposed school site and, if it desires, "...request a public hearing before the Board of Education relating to the proposed site .location or site development plan" prior to any construction of structures or buildings. Also, the Planning and Zoning Board may review the details of the site development plan itself. B. Section 31-23-209'C.R.S. provides that no public building shall be constructed or authorized in a city until the "...location, character, and extent thereof" has been submitted for approval by the Planning and Zoning Board. In the case of disapproval, the Planning and Zoning Board shall communicate its findings to the School District. The disapproval of the Planning and Zoning Board may be overruled by the School Board by a vote of not less than two-thirds its membership. Under Section 31-23-209 C.R.S., the Planning and Zoning Board should make a finding as to the location, New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January 29, 1992 Page 6 character, and extent of the public building and structures relative to the adopted Master Plan of the City. Such findings help ensure that the proposed site and structures conform to the adopted plan of the community. VI. What Are the Design and Development Related Issues that Are Considered Important by the City? The City has two areas'of concern: process and site design. A. Process Issues 1. The Pine Cone Farm Amended Overall Development Plan and the proposed High School site are related. Having been through Conceptual Review and been the subject of one Neighborhood Meeting, Pine Cone Farm is scheduled for consideration by the P & Z Board on April 27, 1992. The site plan for the new school has not yet been conceptually submitted to the City for review. We have had several fruitful meetings with the District and expect a coordinated O.D.P. and High School site plan. 2. The Amended Pine Cone O.D.P. under discussion reflects specific agreements between G.T. Land/W.W. Reynolds and PR-1. The New High School is major component of the 238 acre O.D.P., and its site consideration will impact the entire square mile section. Based on our considerations and meetings with the District, we anticipate our on -site and - -- - off -site issues will be addressed in detail. B. Site Design Issues 1. At this early stage in the review discussion, there are concerns regarding the overall circulation plan. The District has been quite willing to cooperate to resolve these design issues and a traffic engineering consultant has been retained to investigate site access issues. 2. The number and location of the curb cuts on the two arterials has not been fully resolved. It is likely that the closest curb cuts to the intersection will be restricted to right-in/right- out turn movements. New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January 29, 1992 Page 7 3. Potential bicycle path connections have not been fully explored. The District recognizes that access to adjacent areas may benefit from improved on -street and off-street paths. 4. Final details on parking lot management and parking demand have not been worked out. The District and the City's Transportation Department have agreed to work with the student councils at all three high schools to develop incentives to reduce reliance upon the single occupant vehicle. In conclusion, the process and design related issues are in their infancy. Given the School District's demonstrated desire to move this project through the planning and design stages. The problems identified take on an added significance and could have long term consequences for the community in general. We anticipate that both the District and the City will cooperatively attempt to address them. VII. What Are the Opportunities for Influencing the Development and Design of the New High School? Recent projects have demonstrated the parameters for review allowed by the two state statutes are broad in scope. Certainly, "...location, character, and extent thereof" are sufficient to allow City staff to use the review criteria found in the Land Development Guidance System and the Land Use Policies Plan in order to evaluate the proposal. it is important to note that the District has agreed -to -follow ---- the City's development review process as closely as possible. They have been quite receptive and helpful in working through issues as well as providing opportunities for citizen participation. However, the District may override, by a two-thirds vote, any decision by the Planning and Zoning Board or appeal to City Council. While the City review may be thorough, the School Board may, upon following due process, choose to modify or reject City concerns. As with any project, the design issues must be discussed, understood, evaluated, and mitigated between the City and the District as set forth in the "Partnership Agreement". The City itself is in a dual role: first, that of plan processor, reviewer, and Planning and Zoning Board arbiter, New High School Development - Pine Cone Farm January 29, 1992 Page 8 and, second, that of an affected public interest. We believe that the review process will be comprehensive. The final decision, will however, rest with the School Board. Attached please find a copy of the District's schedule for the New High School, including District -sponsored opportunities for citizen input. Also attached are recent articles from the Denver Post and the Coloradoah regarding the potential relationship between the New High School and the neighborhood shopping center. As you can see from the attachments, there will be ample opportunities for public input. If you have any questions please give us a call. ,