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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMULBERRY LEMAY CROSSINGS, LOT ONE, FILING ONE - FINAL PUD - 36-96D - MEDIA - CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONProject a 1 CO-00 What is the true cost to the taxpayers with Mulber- ry/Lemay Crossings? What has really changed with the Mulberry/Lemay Crossings development since the preliminary hearing on the plan? An expensive elec- tion has taken place, which was a waste of time, energy and money because the vote had no legal authority to de- cide what is in the best in- terest for the city. Only the City Council has that final say, while following the City Charter, all applicable codes, proper procedures and due process under the law. This is a land -use decision that will greatly shape the future of Fort Collins. Flood - plain development, pollu- tion, access and transporta- tion standards all need to be scrutinized carefully. The money for a few more side- walks and traffic signals has been conveniently found, but pedestrian and bicycle ac- cess is still in question at Mulberry and Lemay and will place people at risk. A revision of the traffic study was performed, with even more unrealistic results! vill cost taxpayers too much What has really changed other than more "win- dow dress- ing?" The project Connie still can- not be in- 0 h Is o n corporated Soapbox � ninto the eighbor- hood and community transportation network without causing safety problems. It is coun- cil's duty to look very hard at the long-term impacts and burdens to the community . the cost to the taxpayers for the necessary improve- ments to support such a huge development that threatens their health and safety. I challenge the staff opin- ion that the PUD is feasible from a traffic operations standpoint. This "Regional Shopping District" will at- tract twice the amount of traffic currently at the site, which is already gridlocked many times through out the day. The level -of -service traf- fic studies are based on a for- mula of questionable predic- tions and assumptions that are unsupported and biased. It is also highly presumptu- ous to think we residents on the north side of town will not have to travel to the south any more and that southern residents will not drive north, once the mas- sive Super Wal-Mart (twice the size of any current retail building in the city) is built. The largest questions re- main: Why would we want to make the intersection of Mulberry and Lemay the busiest intersection in town, creating a whole new pletho- ra of problems in an already dangerous and congested area? How can a decision even be made until the com- plete and final traffic and in- frastructure plans have been worked out? Are we going to trust the developer's designs or are we going to gamble with construction of the largest roundabout in the state? The need to even sug- gest such a radical, un- proven alternative shows the difficulty the traffic engi- neers are having in accom- modating not only the in- creased thousands of vehi- Iles this development will attract, but also providing safe access for bikes and pedestrians. What will be the cost and where will the money come from? I will continue to contest the inappropriate magni- tude of development for this site. Problems with traffic bottlenecks, pollution, flood - plain issues, as well as safe- ty and proper access for emergency vehicles, pedes- trians and bicycles, all affect- ing the surrounding estab- lished neighborhoods, the hospital and businesses have still not been adequate- ly addressed. What is the price for safety and conven- ience and the true cost to the taxpayers? Common sense, seeing the Big Picture and deciding what is best for the community, is the purpose and responsibility of the Planning & Zoning Board and City Council, and not city staff I ask City Council to see through the `window dress- ing" and visualize a better future for our Choice City and vote no on this project. Connie Ohlson lives in Fort Collins.