HomeMy WebLinkAboutRUNNING DEER NATURAL AREA - REZONING - 38-04 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTRunning Deer Natural Area Rezoning
November 18, 2004 P & Z Meeting
Page 4
development solutions. The proposed amendment results in a
zone district that is more compatible with these development
issues.
3. Request for POL — Public Open Lands District Zoning
The applicant filed a rezoning petition with the City on October 26, 2004. The
request is to rezone Running Deer Natural Area, excluding the roughly 14.828
acres currently under lease, from T — Transition and RC — River Conservation to
POL — Public Open Lands. This creates a rezoned district of more or less
243.213 acres in size.
The purpose of this request is to rezone the natural area to a POL Zone District
that is more compatible with the use and the uniqueness of the site and its
surrounding uses.
FINDINGS OF FACT/CONCLUSIONS
After reviewing the Running Deer Natural Areas rezoning, File # -04, staff
makes the following findings of fact and conclusions as explained above:
A. The subject property for the Running Deer Natural Area Rezoning is
designated on the City Structure Plan as Public Open Lands District. The
rezoning request to Public Open Lands is consistent with the City of Fort
Collins Structure Plan map.
B. The subject property is developing to provide public access and is require
to be rezoned.
C. Rezoning the subject property unifies the surrounding zoning districts, as
well as with the Poudre River Corridor.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Board recommend that City
Council adopt the Running Deer Natural Area Rezoning # -04, Amendment to
the Zoning Map from T — Transition and RC — River Conservation to POL —
Public Open Lands District.
Running Deer Natural Area Rezoning
November 18, 2004 P & Z Meeting
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Areas Program to meet objectives to provide appropriate adequate public
access to the natural area.
B. Warranted by change in the neighborhood surrounding and
including the subject property:
The majority of the properties surrounding the site are also publicly -owned
open space.
C. Additional Consideration for Quasi -Judicial Rezonings:
In determining whether to recommend approval of any such proposed
zoning amendment, the Planning and Zoning Board and City Council may
consider the following additional factors:
1. Whether and the extent to which the proposed amendment is
compatible with existing and proposed uses surrounding the
subject land and is the appropriate zone district for the land:
This area is primarily comprised of publicly owned open space and
is zoned as such. This amendment unifies not only the surrounding
zoning districts, but helps to provide compatibility with the natural
character found along the Poudre River Corridor.
2. Whether and the extent to which the proposed amendment would
result in significantly adverse impacts on the natural environment,
including but not limited to water, noise, air, stormwater
management wildlife vegetation, wetlands and the natural
functioning of the environment.
Running Deer Natural Area was acquired to protect the natural
environment found through out the property. The proposed
amendment better protects these environmental features through
the more restrictive POL zoning.
3. Whether and the extent to which the proposed amendment would
result in a logical and orderly development pattern.
The area has a number of stormwater and natural resource issues,
which restricts development. These restrictions lead to more limit
Running Deer Natural Area Rezoning
November 18, 2004 P & Z Meeting
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designation rather than inclusion in an adjoining neighborhood or other District
designation.
The T- Transition Zone District is intended for properties for which there are no
specific and immediate plans for development. The only permitted uses are
those existing a t t he date the property was p laced i nto the district. S ince t he
Natural Areas Program plans to construct a parking lot and a trailhead to provide
public access to this property, this results in the requirement to rezone the
property.
There are roughly 14.828 acres ob the northern end of the property which are
currently being by the City to an adjacent business. This area is not included in
the rezoning request and will remain within the T — Transition Zone District until
the future use of the property has been determined.
FINDINGS and ANALYSIS
Background:
A. The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows:
N: FA, R, T, CCR; undeveloped, residential, composting facility
S: CSU, FA1; environmental learning center, mining
E: CSU; environmental learning center
W: POL; open land
The property was annexed June 7, 1988.
2. Quasi -Judicial Rezoninq:
The property included within the rezoning petition is less than 640 acres, and is
therefore, considered a Quasi -Judicial Rezoning. In order for the Planning and
Zoning Board to recommend approval of a rezoning to the City Council, the
following criteria shall be met:
A. Consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan:
This parcel is designated as Public Open Lands District on the City of Fort
Collins Structure Plan. The existing Transition and River Conservation
zoning is not consistent with the Structure Plan and limits the Natural
ITEM NO. 5
MEETING DATE 11/18/04
STAFF Doug Moore
Citv of Fort Collins PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD
STAFF REPORT
PROJECT: Running Deer Natural Area Rezoning, File #38A-04
APPLICANT: Doug Moore
City of Fort Collins
Natural Resources
281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
OWNERS: City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Program
1745 Hoffman Mill Road
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This is a request to rezone a City -owned Natural Area located at 3301 East
Prospect Road from T — Transition and RC — River Conservation Districts to POL
— Public Open Lands District. The property is located along the south side of East
Prospect Road, west of South Summit View Drive. The property borders
Colorado State University's Environmental Learning Center to the west and The
City's Resources Recovery Farm to the east and is approximately 243.213 acres.
The Natural Area Program is proposing to construct a parking lot; parking lots are
not a permitted use within the T — Transition District, triggering the need to
rezone this property.
RECOMMENDATION
Approval.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The rezoning request is consistent with the City of Fort Collins Structure Plan
designation as "Public Open Lands District." The Public Open Lands District is for
large publicly owned parks and open lands that have a community -wide
emphasis or other characteristics which warrant inclusion under this separate
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 (970) 221-6750
PLANNING DEPARTMENT