The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutFORT COLLINS DISCOVERY MUSEUM - PDP - 6-10 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - MODIFICATION REQUESTI rnl {Ii5 9ixM I� DISCOVERY SCIENCE MUSEUM BEING A PORTION OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 11, TOWNSHIP 7 NORTH, RANGE 69 WEST OF THE 6Tli PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COUNTY OF LARIMER, STATE OF COLORADO xaouwaa,a �g T�'r M.mumua IOROVY ITI+ 1i11 �YW.el1M • .OwOr1,MRli .......... ...._._I_ exception y of section 3.5.3 (B) (2) (d) which allows for a deviation from the build to line standard because of the easements. In summary, the easements and parameters outlined above present limited options with regard to building placement on the site, and prevent the opportunity for our project to comply with LUC section 3.5.3 (B) (2). We are requesting relief from this requirement on all street frontages based on the exceptions listed above. Because of the situations outlined above, this request appears to bejustifiable under LUC section 2.8.2 (H) (3) which cites "exceptional physical conditions or other extraordinary and exceptional situations, unique to such property" that cause the strict application of the standard to cause "unusual and exceptional practical difficulties, or exceptional or undue hardship upon the owner of such property". Sincerely, I 'O�po ;cni re 4 David Schafer AIA, LEED AP Principal March 1, 2010 Steve Olt City Project Planner City of Fort Collins Soo LaPorte Ave Fort Collins, CO 80522 Reference: Modification of Standard request: Fort Collins Discovery Museum Steve, As we have discussed in prior meetings, the easements and other constraints on the site for the Fort Collins �- Museum are not conducive to compliance with the city standard 3.5.3 (B) 2 which requires that street front buildings be oriented to build to lines. This letter is submitted to document the rationale behind our building's placement on the site relative to this requirement, and to request a modification of standard to allow this configuration pursuant to the LUC section 2.8.2. Our site has a relationship with three streets: College Street to the east, Cherry Street to the south, and Mason Street to the west. This document will address each street and its associated challenges separately. A reduced scale copy of the plat has been included for ease of reference related to the discussions below. College Street: College street is a 4 lane major arterial roadway to the east of our site. The museum site is physically separated from this street by the railroad right of way and a strip of commercial land that fronts College. Based on LUC 3.5.3 (B) (d) 4, exceptions are permitted to the build to line when a "larger or otherwise noncompliant front yard area is required by the city to continue an established drainage channel or access drive, or other easement". Because our property is separated from College by the railroad right of way, it is our position that this exception would apply, and therefore the build to line requirement would not be required along this roadway. Cherry Street: Cherry street is a 2 lane collector roadway to the south of our site. The southern end of the museum site contains a variety of easements and rights of way. There is a 24" north weld transmission line right of way crossing the site in an east -west direction, a railroad right of way crossing diagonally across the southeast comer of the site, and a utility easement roughly paralleling this railroad right of way. All of these easements prevent placement of the building in accordance with the build to line requirements of 3.5.3 (B) 2. Similar to the approach to College outlined above, it is our position that exception 4 of section 3.5.3 (B) (2) (d) would allow for a deviation from the build to line standard because of the easements. Mason Street: Mason is a two lane minor arterial roadway to the west of our site. Our site engages Mason Street for a limited distance at the southwestern corner. Due to the easements described in the above paragraphs, this is the only street that can be used for vehicular access to our site. The vehicular access is limited by the need to maintain a safe distance from the Cherry/Mason intersection, which limits the available street frontage for our building. This requirement, when coupled with the easements that exist in this region of the site prohibit any development of a street frontage along Mason with our building. Again, we contend that this is subject to 3.:.2oa Pa9e10f2 9izw2g;8oavz-x fort coliins rmrseumlarchiveP:x;m pdp sebm�tt�i�ss�pporinq documentsiaomzh request for mc3hficaCwl of s;a�alard.dx BOULDER PHONE: 303.449.8900 1805 29TH STREET, SUITE 2054 FAX: 303.449.3986 DENVER BOULDER COLORADO SPRINGS LAS VEGAS LAKE TAHOE BOULDER, COLORADO 80301 WWW.OZARCH.COM