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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCIVIC CENTER PARKING STRUCTURE - PDP - 35-98 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVES• Employment Opportunities. O Employment for 60 to 80 persons is anticipated with full occupancy of the structure. • Design Assumptions and Choices. O The project has been designed to be consistent with the conclusions of the Downtown Civic Center Master Plan, and in conjunction with the joint efforts of the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County in planning the surrounding civic uses (Justice Center, future Transportation Center, Government Office Buildings, and the like). • Completion of Applicable Criteria. o The project has been planned to meet the criteria established in the Fort Collins Land Use Code. Applicable site design, engineering, environmental, building and transportation standards are met. The proposal includes a "Type 2" use (Parking Garage as a principal use) in the Old City Center sub -district as indicated in the criteria for the Downtown District in the Code. The range of uses anticipated to occupy the multi -tenant commercial space require only building permit review, and are not subject to "Type 1" or "Type 2" review processes. The project is designed to be consistent with the Land Use and Development standards described in the Downtown District. The building height does not exceed fifty-six (56) feet or four stories (the fifth parking level is on the rooftop). • Conflict Mitigation. o The primary area of potential conflict is between pedestrians and vehicles accessing the site. Clear delineation with signage, paving materials, and other streetscape elements are used to mitigate potential conflicts. • Neighborhood Meeting Concerns. o The concerns voiced at the neighborhood meeting that were relative to the Parking Structure involved administrative, management, and construction staging items rather than site design/planning items. City Facilities Staff addressed those concerns at the meeting. • Conceptual Review Comments. O The Civic Center Parking Structure was presented under the title "City of Fort Collins New Downtown Parking Structure" on November 24, 1997. Virtually all the parking structure related comments dealt with explanations of standard Code requirements that would be applicable. The project is being designed to address those standard requirements. The first floor of the building is currently designed to be elevated one foot above the 100-year water surface elevation. In the event that basin improvements are completed by the City's Storm Drainage utility, this floor elevation may be lowered in order to provide a more pedestrian oriented streetscape/building relationship. Safe pedestrian access - including a second floor pedestrian bridge - to the Opera Galleria is included in the plan. Evaluation of the potential impacts on the existing median in LaPorte Avenue are in progress. • Development Schedule. o The City of Fort Collins hopes to begin construction of the Civic Center Parking Structure in late 1998; and complete the project by mid 1999. CIVIC CENTER PARKING STRUCTURE STATEMENT OF PLANNING OBJECTIVES July 28, 1998 The civic center parking structure is a four story (5 parking level), t 904 space public parking structure with multi -tenant retail/commercial space integrated into the project at the Mason Street pedestrian level. The parking facility will provide parking for monthly parking customers as well as the general public. The structure is intended to accommodate parking for the future courthouse, existing public entities, as well as adjacent retail and business establishments. Maintaining the masonry building tradition of Fort Collins, the design incorporates several urban design elements such as: a recognizable base, appropriate scale, vertical window openings, staggered cornices etc. the 15,890 square foot commercial area will encourage pedestrian activity throughout the block. The design will accommodate specialty retail, food service, and/or other business establishments appropriate to the downtown civic center area. Pedestrian access to the "Opera Galleria" mall will also be provided. Upon completion, the Civic Center Parking Structure will fill a functional need for the city as well as contribute to the rich urban heritage of Fort Collins. Planning Objectives affecting the Civic Center Parking Structure include: • Consistency with the City Plan Principles and Policies. o The proposed plan is in conformance with appropriate Land Use Principles and Policies, including LU-1 (Compact Urban Form), LU-2.2 (Urban Design), T-5 (Pedestrian orientation), CAD-1.3 (Streetscape Design), CAD-2.1 (Civic Buildings), CAD-3.1 & 3.2 (Commercial Architecture), and CAD-6.3 (Art in Public Places). o The plan is particularly designed in harmony with the Principles and Policies related to the Downtown District and Principle DD-1 (encouraging mixed uses in character with the applicable sub -district). o The proposal make an appropriate transition between the Old City Center and Canyon Avenue sub -districts as planned with the Downtown Civic Center Master Plan. o The proposed plan is specifically consistent with Policy DD-5.6 (Parking Structure Facilities) in that: - Ground floor retail uses, awnings, signage, lighting, landscape and hardscape elements encourage pedestrian activity on the street; - Architectural elements are used to, establish human scale at the street level; - The architecture is designed to be compatible with adjacent buildings; - Auto entrances minimize pedestrian/traffic conflicts; and - A safe and secure environment is planned for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Intekrated Circulation, Landscaping, and Uses. o Landscaping, pedestrian circulation, and vehicular access are designed (as per Policy DD- 5.6) to integrate into the fabric of the Civic Center area and form a transition between the Old City Center and the Canyon Avenue sub -districts. o There are no wetlands or natural areas on the site or in the immediate vicinity. Controlled Ownership and Maintenance of Open Space Areas. o Given the urban setting, the open areas associated with the project comprise the streetscape elements along Mason and LaPorte. These features are anticipated to be owned and maintained by the adjacent property owner (the City of Fort Collins).