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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKINARD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - 42-04 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTPoudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 8 8. Neighborhood Meeting: A City -sponsored neighborhood meeting was held on November 10, 2004. The project was well -received by those in attendance. 9. Findings of Fact/Conclusion: In evaluating the request, Staff makes the following findings of fact: A. The request is a Site Plan Advisory Review for recommendation to the Poudre School District Board of Education. The request is not a Project Development Plan or Subdivision. B. The location of the facility complies with the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan and the land use is in compliance with the future zoning designation of Low Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood, in accordance with the City's Structure Plan map. C. The project complies with the applicable standards of Article Three. D. The extent and timing of public improvements are being reviewed by the appropriate City departments and agencies for compliance with utility and engineering standards. E. A neighborhood meeting was held on November 10, 2004. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Board approve the location, character and extent of the proposed Kinard Junior High School, #42-04, based on the finding that it is appropriate and conforms to the elements relative to the adopted master plan (City Plan) of the City. Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 7 Second, there will be an access off Trilby Road, as extended east from its current alignment. This will connect to the parent drop-off/pick-up loop and visitor parking lot. C. Short Range Future The short range future is defined as year 2007 with Kinard in operation and. annual increases in background traffic. In the short range, key intersections are expected to operate acceptably. In particular, the Ziegler/Kechter intersection will continue to operate as an all -way stop. In addition, Trilby Road will not need to connect to the west to Westchase subdivision. D. Long Range Future The long range is defined as year 2025. By this time, the Ziegler/Kechter intersection is to be expected to be signalized and Trilby Road extended to the west to connect into the Westchase subdivision. E. Pedestrian Levels of Service Within one mile of the site, there are a variety of vacant parcels interspersed among developed subdivisions. Currently, there are no sidewalks along these vacant sites. It is expected that as these parcels develop, a complete sidewalk system will start to take shape. In the interim period, however, the City will continue to work with Poudre School District on pedestrian safety through the Safe Route to Schools program. Temporary sidewalks, in combination with crossing guards, may be the interim solution. F. Bicycle Levels of Service There are bike lanes on both Ziegler and Kechter Roads. This will tie Kinard Junior High School with Fossil Ridge High School and the future City community park. G. Future Public Improvements Within the Growth Management Area, public improvements will be constructed in accordance with the City's urban standards. This includes proper dedication of public right-of-way, detached sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, curbs, gutters and travel lanes to the proper width. Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 6 7. Transportation: A. Background As mentioned, the site is located in the rapidly -developing southeast quadrant of the City. It is within one-half mile of Harvest Park, Sage Creek, The Timbers Townhomes, Westchase and Fossil Lake Ranch. Observatory Village is between'/< and one mile to the east. As a district -wide school of choice, students may attend from anywhere. There are four elementary schools, however, that currently feature the core knowledge curriculum and will likely act as logical feeder schools. Two of these schools are in the north, O'Dea and Moore. Two are in the south, Traut and Zach. For the two northern schools, buses will stage at the elementary schools for transport to Kinard. It is expected that four -to -five buses will be provided. For the two southern schools, Traut is approximately one mile and Zach approximately one-half mile distant from Kinard. Bussing is planned for those students living within the Fossil Ridge High School attendance area who must cross an arterial street. The primary streets, and their Master Street Plan designation, are as follows: • Ziegler Road is a two-lane arterial north of Kechter Road and a collector south of Kechter Road. • Kechter Road is a two-lane arterial. • Trilby Road is a collector. Trilby would be extended from the east to serve the site. B. Primary Access There are two access points to the site. First, there will be an access off Ziegler that will align with Shallow Pond Drive in Fossil Lake Ranch. This will provide access to the faculty and staff parking lot and the bus loop. The emergency second point of access for Hearthside (County subdivision) to the north will connect to this access. Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 5 D. Architecture The building will feature the same general palette of building materials as found on Fossil Ridge High School and Bacon Elementary School, both of which are practically within site of Kinard Junior High School. The building consists of a south -facing entrance that leads to the administrative core with a large vestibule. Academic classrooms form the core of the building with the media center (library) anchoring the east wing and the gymnasium/cafeteria/music rooms forming the west wing. The auxiliary gym is raised above the main gym and can open up and double as a stage. The second floor features six science labs and academic classrooms. The exterior materials are a combination of brick, cultured stone/split-face block and synthetic stucco/metal panels. (There will be no "gasket' material siding as found on Zach Elementary.) The combination of materials, color and texture, are placed in a repeating pattern and found on all four elevations. In addition, there is generous use of glass for day -lighting offices and classrooms. Windows are varied based on function. The combination of view windows and clerestory windows adds variety to the elevations. The gymnasium roof is raised in order to allow a bank of windows for day -lighting.. 6. Energy Conservation and Sustainable Design: The building and site include the following features to promote energy conservation and sustainability: • Generous use of glass for day -lighting; • Solar tubes for day -lighting the interior spaces; • Bio-swales for treatment of stormwater; • Roof drains tied into bio-swales; • Underground heat pump system for air heating and cooling; • Provision for future installation of solar photo -voltaic panels. The District design team has worked closely with the City Light and Power Department on promoting energy conservation features to reduce electrical consumption. Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 4 4. Land Use: As mentioned, the site is contained within the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan. The junior high school parcel is designated as "Low Density Mixed -Use Residential Neighborhood." Upon completion of the annexation process, the zoning will match this sub -area designation. Since schools are a permitted use within this zone district, the proposed junior high school conforms to the adopted sub -area plan. 5. Design: A. Site Plan Kinard Junior High School will be a 115,000 square foot, two-story building. As with all junior high schools, there will be specific areas devoted to academic classrooms, performing arts, athletics, administration, technology labs, media center (library) and common areas. There will be a separate parking lot, with 28 spaces, for bus drop-off, faculty and staff located on the north side of the building with access gained via Ziegler Road. There will be separate parking lot, with a total of 92 spaces, on the south side of the building with a parent drop-off loop and parking for visitors and staff. Access to this southerly lot is gained via the extension of Trilby Road. The main entrance faces south. There will be a soccer/track facility, baseball field, two softball fields/soccer field and two outdoor basketball courts. None of these fields or courts will be illuminated. The tennis courts are planned for future construction. The soccer/track facility will feature synthetic turf, the only junior high in the District to do so. B. Building Height The highest point of the building is the two-story classrooms at 36 feet. The L-M- N zone district allows non-residential buildings to achieve a height of 2.5 stories and that up to 25 feet may be allocated per story for a total of 62.5 feet. C. Landscaping The landscaping is intended to be sustainable and drought -tolerant. Street trees will be planted along Ziegler and Trilby Roads. The parking lots will feature trees within landscape islands. Trees will also be planted along the south elevation to minimize heat gain. Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 3 2. Context Within the Section: The campus lies within the northeast quarter of a section bounded by Kechter Road on the north, Ziegler Road on the east, Fossil Creek Reservoir on the south, and Timberline Road on the west. This is a rapidly developing area and includes such new developments as Westchase Subdivision, The Timbers Townhomes and Bacon Elementary School. In addition, two large -lot County subdivisions border the site to the north: The Homestead and Hearthside. The Kechter Farm features Mail Creek running in a west to east direction. The school site is north of this creek. Unlike Preston and Webber Junior High Schools, the City Parks and Recreation Department will not acquire any park land adjacent to the site due to the area already being served by existing and proposed parks. There is a 50-acre community park site south of Fossil Ridge High School and a 10-acre neighborhood park next to Zach Elementary School. Both of these parks are within one-half mile of the Kinard site and are sufficient to serve the area. 3. Right of Advisory Review: Colorado Revised Statutes provide two specific references which allow the City to review the planning and location of school sites. A. Section 22-32-124, C.R.S., as amended, addresses the right of the School District to construct schools within a municipality and the location or manner of construction of such schools. The statutes specifically limit the municipalities' participation in the process to a limited right of review and appeal to the Board of Education. B. Section 31-23-209, C.R.S. provides that no public building shall be constructed or authorized in a city until the "location, character and extent thereof' has been submitted for approval by the Planning and Zoning Board. In the case of disapproval, the Planning and Zoning Board shall communicate its findings to the School District. The disapproval of the P & Z Board may be overruled by the School Board by a vote of not less than two-thirds of its membership. Under Section 31-23-209, C.R.S., the Planning and Zoning Board should make a finding as to the location, character, and extent of the public building relative to the adopted Master Plan (City Plan) of the City. Such findings help ensure that the proposed project conforms to the adopted plan of the City of Fort Collins. Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 December 2, 2004 P & Z Meeting Page 2 B. The site is presently in Larimer County and within the jointly adopted Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan and eligible for annexation into the City. The City's Structure Plan calls for placement into the Low Density Mixed - Use Neighborhood zone district. The land use complies with both the sub- area plan and the future zone district. C. The project complies with the applicable standards of Article Three. D. The extent and timing of the necessary public improvements are being reviewed by the appropriate City departments and agencies. E. A neighborhood meeting was held on November 10, 2004. COMMENTS: 1. Background: The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: FA-1 (County); Hearthside and Homestead County Subdivisions S: FA-1 (County); Agricultural E: L-M-N; Residential (Fossil Lake Ranch) W: FA-1 (County); Agricultural W: L-M-N; Residential (Westchase and The Timbers) The junior high campus is in the northeastern portion of the 300-acre Kechter Farm. The entire farm is located within the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan. The 27-acre school site is expected to proceed through the annexation and zoning process either separately or in conjunction with a larger development. The City's Structure Plan calls for the northern portion of the Kechter Farm, including the school site, to be zoned L-M-N. The Kechter Farm continues to be farmed by direct descendants of the original settlers in the Harmony Agricultural District. Kechter Road (formerly County Road 36) was renamed to honor the contributions of this family. ITEM NO. 3 A(Ift MEETING DATE 12/2/04 STAFF_ Ted 8hepnrd City of Fort Collins PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD STAFF REPORT PROJECT: Poudre School District Kinard Junior High School, Site Plan Advisory Review, #42-04 APPLICANT: Poudre School District Planning, Design and Construction Department 2407 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 OWNER: Same PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for a Site Plan Advisory Review for Kinard Junior High School. The 27 acre site is located on the west.side of Ziegler Road and north of Trilby Road (extended). This site is presently located in Larimer County and within the Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan, a sub -area plan jointly adopted by the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County in 1998. The two-story school will serve grades 7, 8 and 9 with a design capacity of 750 students containing 115,000 square feet. (By way of comparison, Preston and Webber Junior High Schools were designed for 900 students with approximately 127,000 square feet.) Kinard is a school of choice offering the core knowledge . curriculum exclusively. There is no attendance boundary. Classes will begin in August of 2006. Funding is derived from the 2000 Bond Issue. The campus will include athletic fields, two separate parking lots and a stormwater detention pond. Bus circulation and staff parking are separated from the parent drop-off loop and visitor parking. A second point of access is provided to the County subdivision to the north for required fire protection. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A. The request is a Site Plan Advisory Review for recommendation to the Poudre School District Board of Education. The request is not a Project Development Plan or Subdivision. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. PO. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT