HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLOCK 103 210 WEST MAGNOLIA STREET URBAN LIVING LOFTS AT MAGNOLIA - Filed GC-GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - 2007-12-13North Star
�Aft., design, inc.
June 28, 2005
Katie Moore
City of Fort Collins Engineering
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, Colorado 50522-0580
Re: Request for Variance #1 —Drive Widths
Proj: 247-01
Dear Katie:
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The following is a request for variance from Drawing 7-29B Standard Driveway Approach in
the "Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards, March 2001". This variance is requested the
Urban Living Lofts at Magnolia for the proposed access from Magnolia Street into the garage.
The width for this drive is proposed to be approximately 15' which necessitates a variance from
the required 28' width.
The access serves the Urban Living Lofts and the Edwards House. There is no through access
and the speed of the traffic is anticipated to be very low. The amount of traffic is also anticipated
to be low. The width of the access would accommodate two cars approaching at low speeds to
meet in the private drive and pass without incident. The owners of the properties would be
required to monitor traffic speeds and restrict the speeds as necessary to meet the safety threshold.
This variance from the above Standard, with proper monitoring by the owners, will not be
detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. Because the private drive is a dead end; it is
anticipated that only residents will be present on this drive. Speeds should be low (because of the
short length of the drive) and because of the tight layout of the drive and parking, residents will
need to be cautious when driving in the drive and parking areas. There will be very little traffic
on the private drive, so the narrow drive should not pose any dramatic tie-ups in the public right
of way. The proposed 15' drive width does allow for two cars to pass and larger vehicles may
need to wait for traffic to clear.
Please call me with any questions or additional information that you may need for the approval of
these variances.
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Sincere m\iG� Y 0�A�9�z
VAL
700 Automation Drive, Unit I Windsor, Colorado 80550
970-686-6939 Phone 0 970-686-1 1 88 Fax
Transportation Services
Engineering Department
Development Review Engineering
July 15, 2005
Ms. Patricia Kroetch, PE
North Star Design Inc.
700 Automation Drive, Unit 1
Windsor. CO 80550
Re: Variance request for driveway width for 210 212 West Magnolia Street, Urban Living Lofts at
Magnolia
Dear Ms. Kroetch,
This letter is in response to your request for a variance to the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards
(LCUASS) for minimum driveway width for a multifamily project with 16 dwelling units. The variance
request to reduce the minimum width of the driveway from 28 feet to 16 feet has been denied.
The minimum width set forth for a driveway for this intensity of use is 28 feet for a distance of 20-25 feet
from the back of curb on the street. This width is required to accommodate a larger volume of traffic than
is encountered with single-family or small multi -family developments, to allow room for cars entering and
exiting the street to easily pass each other on the drive approach to the street, in order to prevent conflicts
created by vehicles waiting in the street for vehicles to exit the driveway.
The argument in the variance request that there will be little traffic on the private drive is incongruous with
the number of units taking access off the drive. Stating that the narrowness of the drive should not pose
any "dramatic" conflicts in the public right-of-way also goes against the requirement for variances to not
pose any detriment to public health, safety, and welfare. In order to approve a variance request, the City
needs to know that the approved variance will not cause any problems or need monitoring by public or
private parties.
The possibility for reducing the driveway width below the standard of 28 feet is still open, but a new
variance request for a less extreme reduction with appropriate justification will need to be submitted.
Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact this office.
Sinc rely,
Katie Moore
Project Engineer
City of Fort Collins
cc: file
Anne Aspen
281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (97u) M-bbus • r �n piu� �i-ooi o
www.fcgov.com