February 17, 2016 Sara Ullman Planner I City of Aurora Planning Department Re: Mrachek Middle School Replacement (#1116704)/Response Initial Submission Review Dear Ms. Ullman, Thank you for your assistance in the Advisory Site Plan process of The Mrachek Middle School Replacement. Attached, please find our team s response to the comments in the Planning Commission Hearing Results provided by the Planning Department,, Dated September 16, 2016. Sincerley, Chris Brueckner, ASLA, PLA The HCM/RB+B Architects Team (Attachment 1 of 1)
1. Community Questions Comments and Concerns 1A. Understood. 2. Completeness and Clarity of the Application 2A. Understood. 2B. Color elevations were provided at the Planning Commission hearing. 3. Zoning and Land Use Comments 3A. No response necessary. 4. Waivers Requested or Required 4A. No response necessary. 5. Traffic and Street Layout Issues 5A. Additional striping and signage is now shown on the plans to help clarify. 5B. Additional striping and signage has been added to clarify direction of travel. 5C. Noted, TIS has been uploaded. 5D. Access point was determined to be acceptable in the current location. 5E. Existing curb alignment is now shown on the plans. 5F. See APS school plans and TIS. 6. Street and Pedestrian Issues 6A. Due to site constraints, a detached walk is not feasible along Telluride Street. 7. Parking 7A. The project is being built and parked to APS education specifications. It is not anticipated additional parking necessary for assemblies is necessary, however if the situation arises additional parking will be coordinated with Rangeview High School. 7B. Noted, parking adheres to this requirement. 8. Open Space and Recreational Amenities 8A. No response necessary. 9. Landscape Design Issues 9A. While public schools are except from cities landscape requirements by state statute, every attempt was made to incorporate the City of Aurora s landscape comments. 1. Site Design Comments Legend symbols modified to match plan. Hatch area modified to match plan. Specialty concrete removed. Fence added to deter unwanted pedestrian travel, refer to landscape plans. Slope of field area now shown with 2% slopes. 2
Ball field delineation lines have been removed, layout to be determined by APS. The one way is now changed to a dual direction. TOW and BOW s are now shown on the plan. Grades and curb ramps match ADA guidelines 2. Landscaping Sheet L0.1/Landscape Notes Buffer table removed Duplicate building elevation landscaping information is removed. Table has been revised Existing trees have been incorporated into the TOW table and 3 proposed trees have been relocated on the plan to Evans Ave., and 12 proposed trees have been relocated on the plan to Telluride St. Landscape note 8 has been updated. Landscape note 13 typos have been corrected. Gro-Low is now appropriately sized on the plan and is kept a minimum of 72 from edge of concrete paths. Sheet L4.0/Overall Landscape Plan North Tree has been relocated. Spruce trees have been separated and are drawn at a more realistic diameter. Sidewalk widths are dimensioned properly. Existing contours are dashed Typical fence heights are noted in legend. Any variation in height is noted on the plan. Contours are labeled Field is to be multi-purpose lawn. Ball field line work has been removed. APS communication tower is to be removed from the site. Circle has been removed. A wood estate fence was added along the length of the visitor parking along Telluride to provide screening and prevent pedestrian movement midblock and across the parking. Due to the narrow area remaining between the parking and fence and fence and sidewalk, trees were omitted from this area of the ROW. Every attempt was made to incorporate further suggested tree locations into the plan. Understood. Sheet L4.1/Overall Landscape Plan South A wood estate fence was added along the length of the visitor parking along Telluride to provide screening and prevent pedestrian movement midblock and across the parking. Due to the narrow area remaining between the parking and fence and fence and sidewalk, trees were omitted from this area of the ROW. Every attempt was made to incorporate further suggested tree locations into the plan. Two trees were added along Evans Ave. Sheet L4.2/Planting Plan Enlargement: Parking Lot and Play Surface Tree has been relocated. QBI have been moved and AGL have been placed on the west side of the play court. Grading and drainage have been updated. 3
Landscape has been adjusted APS has elected not to add additional parking islands due to snow removal concerns. Pole has been relocated. Sheet L4.3/ Planting Plan Enlargement: Parking Lot and Play Surface Linework has been updated Concrete seat wall is noted. Linework has been updated. Gro-Low Sumac has been removed from the monument sign location The estate fence used as screening and fall protection at retaining wall has been extended to prevent pedestrians crossing the entry drive where buses will travel. Consideration taken, mow band has been moved to align. TOW and BOW have been added to the plan Tree has been removed from flagpole location. Edger is now named mow-band. Seat wall has been added to legend. Sheet L4.4/ Planting Plan Enlargement: North Outdoor Classrooms Wall is labeled. Landscaping is added. Trees have been changed to shade trees. Paving is labeled The Phillips 66 easement allows only seeded grass mix planting. Sheet L4.5/ Planting Plan Enlargement: South Outdoor Classrooms Trees were not added. Geotechnical report determined planting should be kept a minimum of 8 feet from the building foundation. Adding trees to this area would encroach on this zone. The Phillips 66 easement allows only seeded grass mix planting. Sheet A2.1/ Monument Sign Details Fence and wall details have been added. Enhanced concrete paving has been removed from the project due to APS maintenance concerns. Standard gray concrete is used throughout the project. 10. Architectural and Urban Design Issues 10A. Heights have been provided on building elevations. 10B. Color elevations were provided at the Planning Commission hearing. 10C. Thank you! 11. Signage Issues 11A. Monument Sign is APS standard. No change was incorporated. 12. Environmental Issues 12A. Understood. 4
13. Other Site Planning and Technical Issues 13A. Understood. 14. Building Department 14A. Understood. 15. Civil and Traffic Engineering 15A. 15B. a. Stop signs are shown on Sheet C300. b. Pavement arrows are shown on Sheet C300. c. Do Not Enter signs are shown on C300. d. Directional ramps are now shown per updated CoA details. e. Existing curb and gutter now shown on plans. f. Ramps have been shifted out of pan. g. Sight triangles shown on Sheet C300. a. Notes updated. b. RE: Sheet A2.3 c. Pavement type shown on Sheet C300. d. Plans have been adjusted to improve clarity and readability. e. Grading issues clarified. f. This is a private pond maintained by APS. No easement is necessary for the pond. g. Drive exit adjusted to have a 4% max slope. h. Existing and proposed sidewalks shown on Sheet C300. i. TOW and BOW shown on Sheet C100. j. Noted. k. East Asbury Drive now shown. l. Signs shown on Sheet C300. m. Sidewalk dimension added to Sheet C300. 16. Colorado DOT 16A. Understood. 17. Fire Department 17A. Understood. 18. Life Safety 18A. Note #4 has been updated. 18B. Note #9 has been updated. 18C. Note #17 has been updated. 5
18D. Sign package has been removed. 18E. Location of riser room now shown on Sheet C100. 18F. FDC and Knox Box now shown on Sheet C100. 18G. Fire lane access easement to be dedicated as shown on Sheet C300. All curb and gutter on site is mountable curb, no curb cut is necessary. Signage will be added to depict lane and limits, striping has been modified for no parking/drop off at fire access. 19. Parks Department 19A. Understood. 20. Real Property 20A. Noted. 20B. Property line modified as requested. 20C. Detention pond and storm drain is all private and will be maintained by APS, no easement necessary. 20D. Noted. 20F. Right-of-way widths shown as requested. 20G. Easement information now shown on Sheet C300. 21. Utilities Department 21A. map is edited. 21B. Existing fire hydrant to be removed with construction of the new school, see Sheet C002. Existing 4 fire service line to be demo d with demolition of existing school, per separate plans. 21C. Cut patch is shown at 90 degrees to main. 21D. See sheets C002 and C100 for demolition and utility information. 21E. See Sheet C100 for location of existing utilities. 21F. Easement widened to accommodate bypass line. 21G. Manholes now labeled. 21H. Taps now shown perpendicular to main. 21I. Labels and lines now shown on plans. 21J. Label updated as recommended. 21K. Easement removed from private fire line. 21L. Label updated as recommended. 21M. Manhole added as recommended. 22. Xcel Energy Public Service Company Understood 6