Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2016 03 10

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 11, 2016 Page 4 of 18 new Coal Creek Station development and the extension of Kaylix through the Kestrel development, which includes the middle portion of Kaylix. The northern portion extends through the RV Storage currently there. The City has an easement through the Christopher Plaza development that would be turned into a full street. Currently, the road at Steel Street goes into the North Main Apartments as a right -in. Staff is proposing some modifications of the Main Street intersection to turn it into a right -in / right -out. Drivers can get from Steel Ranch to South Boulder Road without going out to Highway 42. There are dash lines which represent connections that may not be public streets but private streets or public easements through existing or new developments. They create an opportunity to move through the corridor easier to get to these developments. o Trail Improvements. Staff suggests new trails and sidewalk improvements which include widening or improving the sidewalk along South Boulder Road and Highway 42 where there is room. In some places, there is no room, especially along the south side. Staff is proposing a new trail connection parallel to South Boulder Road. For people not comfortable walking or riding a bike along South Boulder Road, there will be a parallel connection to move east to west through the corridor without having to be on South Boulder Road. Staff is proposing three underpasses. Two are already planned; one on Highway 42 at the Kestrel/North End development north of Hecla and one under the railroad at Bullhead Gulch connecting Centennial Drive to Steel Ranch. A new third underpass is proposed at Via Appia and Cottonwood Park to create a better connection across South Boulder Road. Staff has looked at other places because the public mentioned better crossings of South Boulder Road. The only place one would work was at Main Street which involved the realignment of Main Street to line up with Centennial. City Council directed Staff to not pursue this any further. Without the Main Street realignment, there was no room to put in an underpass. o Roadway Improvements. Staff is proposing to take out acceleration/deceleration lanes and make other geometric improvements. We are putting in pedestrian refuges in the center island to make it safer, easier, and more comfortable to cross South Boulder Road. The Santilli property located the far southeast portion of South Boulder Road is currently zoned commercial, and the plan has it remaining commercial. It is long, narrow, and separated from other developments in town, so it is not a great site for commercial development. I spoke with the Open Space Advisory Board (OSAB) last night and brought this item up. They said it does have potential for public land, whether as open space, other park space, or some utility use with drainage improvements. OSAB will consider putting it on their priority acquisition list. This South Boulder Road Plan says to consider this land for open space acquisition if and when it becomes available based on comments from OSAB last night. o Building Heights. Three alternatives were 1 story, 2 story, and 3 story. The public said they don't like the idea of 3 story buildings along South Boulder Road and Highway 42. Staff is proposing 1 story buildings fronting the street with the option of going to 2 stories if they meet certain conditions such as not creating additional shadows on adjoining properties, not blocking views, meeting fiscal performance requirements, and additional benefits to the public realm and design benefits. o Urban Design Elements. Staff presents a conceptual diagram of Village Shopping Center showing what redevelopment could look like under the proposed guidelines. Staff proposes a variety of building types and styles, active pedestrian plazas, 10-20 foot setbacks, parking between buildings, views into the development, wide sidewalks with landscaping, no consistent street wall, and a mix of hard and soft landscaping. Staff presents a conceptual diagram of