|
Downloads
|
 Proposed Framework Plan Map
|
|
Transportation Context Map
|
|
1999 Framework Plan Map
|
|
Schedule
|
|
Land Demand Summary
|
|
Land Demand Analysis
|
|
Greenhouse Gas & Air Quality Impacts
|
|
Traffic Noise Evalution Report
|
Most documents, maps and reports are in PDF format, requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or download. Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's website.
|
1. What opportunities are available for the public to provide input and how is that input integrated into the decision-making process?
The City encourages your input and there are several ways to share your comments and suggestions. Project planners are available during normal business hours and can be reached by phone, fax, mail or email. For contact info, please visit the contact page.
The public is also invited to attend any open houses scheduled throughout the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan (MVSP) update process. Open houses are an informal way to view project information and to meet and discuss your comments with the project planners. For more focused attention to planning details, we'll have meetings with area homeowner associations, local citizens' groups and primary property owners. Plus, the public is welcome to attend Planning & Zoning Board and/or City Council meetings where this plan is on the agenda. Though certain meetings don't allow public comment, citizens are welcome to contact staff afterwards and share their ideas. To see a list of upcoming events, visit the fcgov.com/mountainvista.
Your comments are documented by staff. Your ideas and suggestions play an important role in shaping choices, actions and goals. Ultimately, your comments will be compiled and presented with this plan for City Council to consider at a worksession and adoption hearing.
2. What type of data and input is collected and how is it used in the decision making process?
Information is collected from multiple sources including public comments, transportation modeling, market analyses, and coordination with other public agencies. This information is used by City staff and the project consultants weight the positive and negative aspects of each element of this plan. All viewpoints are considered as part of the decision-making process.
Ultimately, the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan is reviewed by the City Council for formal adoption. If adopted, the plan elements are then incorporated into other City plans, policies and regulations including City Plan, Structure Plan, Zoning Map, and Master Street Plan.
3. Why does the City need to update the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan?
The Mountain Vista Subarea Plan was adopted in 1999. Since adoption, staff has responded to numerous requests for changes. With approximately 1,500 acres of vacant land, this plan area is projected to accommodate a significant portion of Fort Collins' growth. While the City's Structure Plan, Master Street Plan, and current Zoning establish a foundation and direction for future development decisions, the time to reevaluate the 1999 plan to assess potential changes is now.
At the end of the update process, armed with new information, the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan area and its residents, businesses and land owners will gain an updated vision, goals and policies for land use, streets, drainage ways, parks, open lands and trails. This plan will also relook at what actions are needed achieve these new ideas, what planners refer to as implementation or implementation actions. The MVSP update began in March 2008, with an anticipated completion in early June, 2009.
4. How is the MVSP Framework Plan and Map different than the City Structure Plan and Zoning Maps?
At the center of the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan is its Framework Map, a map attempting to show all the new ideas for the area. The Framework Map represents an integrated pattern of existing and future land use, streets, trails and network or open lands - establishing a guide for growth in this northeast part of Fort Collins.
The Framework Plan explains the more detailed policy directives, than what is described in the City's overall Structure Plan. In comparison, the Structure Plan represents a community-wide vision for Fort Collins' long-term growth as a policy directive. The Structure Plan is more "broad brush" in its delineation of existing and future land use, streets and open lands, while MVSP's Framework Map is more specific to the area.
Key building blocks incorporated into the Framework Map, include new residential neighborhoods, schools, parks, commercial center, employment and industrial districts. These destinations are linked by a system of transportation corridors serving vehicular, transit, bicycle and pedestrian travel to provide a high level of connectivity, internally and to other destinations throughout the community.
The plan area includes several existing ditch and canal drainage ways. Existing drainage will be integrated with future drainage corridors to accommodate surface drainage from development and long-term flood plain mitigation. This network of green drainage corridors, natural areas and wetlands, and detention ponds will be identified to represent a collective network of open lands.
The Framework Plan map, in conjunction with the City Structure Plan map, provides a policy guideline in determining future zoning in the City. The Zoning Map reflects all adopted zoning classifications inside municipal boundaries.
5. What assumptions are used as part of the transportation network modeling?
See LSA document (pending)
6. How will the proposed streets look and function?
City of Fort Collins, City of Loveland, and Larimer County adopted a set of uniform street standards in 2001, last updated in 2007. These standards include street cross-sections with sidewalks, parkways and medians, bicycle lanes, and automotive lanes. The illustrations below depict the various types of streets including collectors and arterials.
Four Lane Arterial Street
|
Two-Lane Arterial Street
|
Major Collector Street (no parking)
|
Minor Collector Street (on-street parking)
|
Connector streets not shown on the alternative framework plan maps are constructed at the time of development. These streets may serve different uses (i.e. commercial, residential, industrial), but all have pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile facilities similar to arterial and collector streets.
7. Why is the City proposing to realign East Vine Drive?
Based on northeast Fort Collins' proposed land uses and projected traffic, we anticipate Vine Drive will eventually be widened to four lanes between College Avenue and Timberline Road.
The original 1999 Mountain Vista Subarea Plan recommended a four-lane Vine Drive with a partial realignment from the Vine and Lemay intersection west to College Avenue. Due to the location of the BNSF railroad tracks and switching yard immediately south of the existing alignment, any expansion must occur northward. This would impact the Alta Vista and Andersonville neighborhoods, the Plummer School (an historical landmark), and other existing residential developments. There would also be financial costs to acquire additional right-of-way and demolish structures. The magnitude of these existing conditions and input from area property owners provides support for staff to analyze a realignment of this important east/west street connection.
8. Would East Vine Drive become a truck route?
Both City of Fort Collins and Larimer County have studied this issue many times over the years. The Mountain Vista Subarea Plan is not a truck bypass study. The project team is not considering designating or advocating for East Vine Drive to become a state highway or a truck route.
The realigned East Vine Drive is proposed as a local four-lane arterial. The current designated truck route follows State Highway 287, aligned with North College Avenue, Jefferson Street, Riverside Drive, and Mulberry Street. Mulberry Street is designated as SH 14 and a future six-lane arterial in the Master Street Plan. This designation provides a convenient route from I-25 to SH 287 (College Avenue). The benefits of this route include constant maximum vehicle weight allowances for local, regional, and long-haul traffic, higher travel speeds, and access control for improved safety.
9. What type of grade-separated crossings are being considered?
Any future expansion of Lemay Avenue, Timberline Drive, and Mountain Vista Drive would not be permitted as at-grade crossings by the BNSF Railroad Company. The type of crossing (overpass or underpass) would be identified as development occurs or as street widening is warranted. This analysis would not only study the cost of both types of crossings, but also the visual, noise, and economic impacts.
The preliminary cost estimate for all three grade separated crossings is $51 million. This figure does not differentiate between an underpass and an overpass. Refined numbers will be prepared as part of the planning process.
10. When would new streets and other infrastructure be constructed?
Infrastructure is typically installed at the time of development. The City requires that adequate public facilities are available to serve new development. This includes transportation, stormwater, electric, water and wastewater, and fire and emergency services. A building permit will not be approved unless the standards in Section 3.7.3 of the City Land Use Code are met at the time of development.
|
