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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 MSP Narrative 12-4-2020 1 www.norris-design.com Northwest Crossing Master Site Plan Narrative September 24, 2019, REV for Resubmittal 12-4-20 Northwest Crossing (“NWX”) is a unique and vibrant 160-acre newly planned community located in northwest Bozeman. This community provides a diverse mix of housing and commercial uses designed around a system of pedestrian pathways and interconnected parks which highlight the natural amenities created by the two watercourses which traverse the site. NWX is intended to help stimulate the vitality of the Northwest Bozeman area through implementing a variety of housing opportunities and commercial uses. A mixed-use / commercial corner that is integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood will provide opportunities and services to local residents living in and near NWX, as well as residents and visitors participating in events at the Bozeman Sports Park; students, faculty and families of Bozeman Gallatin High School; and the overall surrounding community. The commercial center is strategically located at the intersection of S. Cottonwood Road and W. Oak Street, which are two primary corridors in this popular and evolving area at the western edge of the City. From the commercial center, uses seamlessly transition from higher density multi-family to the west, attached homes to the north, and then lower density residential throughout the remainder of the community. NWX focuses on unifying traditional neighborhood design with current market demands for community design and lifestyle preferences, while creating a distinctive sense of place within the City of Bozeman. Future residents and visitors will enjoy a variety of features generally not found in other traditional suburban neighborhoods in this area of Bozeman. NWX will provide a series of well-connected streets and trails which allow residents and visitors to easily and safely move throughout the various areas found within the neighborhood, while tying together multiple nodes consisting of parks, open spaces, and the commercial center. A key feature in NWX is Homestead Park. This park, which is central to NWX, runs north-south along the Baxter Ditch corridor. The watercourse and wetlands will be significantly enhanced to improve their biological functions as well as provide a unified park system for the use and enjoyment of the residents, visitors, and surrounding community. After establishing Homestead Park as a primary natural amenity, NWX was designed to incorporate pedestrian connections to Homestead Park from all neighborhoods within NWX, other NWX neighborhood parks, and the commercial center. This system of connectivity allows residents and visitors to enjoy ease of access and connectivity to natural amenities on site, as well as adjacent parks, schools and other destinations. The range of land uses centered on multi-modal connectivity allows residents of and visitors to NWX to comfortably live, work, and enjoy amenities within the neighborhood and surrounding region. Master Site Plan Purpose The NWX Master Site Plan serves as the vision for the community and the guide for development of each phase. This Master Site Plan generally establishes the areas designated for the commercial and residential uses, the primary road network, the location of primary parks, the interconnected trail system, and utilities. NWX is designed so that the commercial uses are located within walking and biking distance of the residential areas. The commercial center is also within walking and biking distance of residential neighborhoods surrounding NWX, Bozeman Sports Park and Bozeman Gallatin High School. The physical design of all elements within NWX promotes a vibrant, safe, and comfortable neighborhood with a clear identity and sense of place. NWX will be built in multiple phases over several years, based on market demand and logical extensions of supporting infrastructure. The Master Site Plan ensures that, with each phase, the vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian pathways are constructed to facilitate seamless connections throughout the community, and to the important natural and park areas which serve as focal features for recreation and social interactions. The Master Site Plan serves as the guiding document to assure that: • phased development maintains an appropriate level of enhanced multi-modal connectivity; 2 www.norris-design.com • NWX remains pedestrian oriented; • NWX provides housing opportunities to meet a wide range of needs over time; and, • each new phase will be compatible with, complement and enhance existing phases. Flexibility in the final plans for each phase is key to the success of NWX. Thus, the Master Site Plan identifies the most significant connections that should be maintained. However, within each future phase, flexibility is supported to maximize the potential for each area in regard to the following: • achieve the appropriate housing types to support the demand and needs of the community at the timing of the market, and • encourage viable commercial, retail and office opportunities which incorporate ample public spaces, high quality design, and promote NWX as a desirable place to shop, dine, and socialize. Accordingly, build-out of the proposed new neighborhood will occur over a period of several years, and specific uses will be determined based on market conditions and logical extension of infrastructure. The NWX Phasing Plan shows the intent of infrastructure improvements associated with the development of each parcel. However, because development will occur based on market demands, it is difficult to estimate at this time a sequential order of improvements. Rather, all required infrastructure will be constructed in accordance with City requirements with each phase of development. Access, grading, drainage, utilities, and snow storage required for each parcel or subdivided lot will be subject to the City regulations, and to meeting the intent of the NWX Master Site Plan. Master Developer The Master Developer for Northwest Crossing, NWX, LLC or assigns, will retain control of ensuring development of future parcels meets the intent of the NWX Master Site Plan and the NWX Site and Commercial/ Multifamily Building Design Guidelines prior to the submittal of an application to the City. Separate from City requirements or submittals, the NWX Bylaws and Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions will be established by NWX, LLC or assigns to set forth the internal review and compliance process and the administration and enforcement of said documents. Project Location NWX is bordered by future Cottonwood Street to the east, Baxter Lane to the north, future Laurel Parkway to the west and West Oak Street to the south. Bozeman Sports Park borders the site to the east. Bozeman Gallatin High School Meadowlark Elementary School are located southeast and Chief Joseph Middle School to the northeast of the proposed new neighborhood. Along with the parks and schools located directly adjacent to the site, NWX is proximate and well connected to other nearby parks and schools and other community destinations. The site’s surrounding context, plus the additional uses proposed within the new neighborhood makes NWX a prime area for future residents and visitors to live, work, gather and recreate within the City of Bozeman. Master Site Plan Proposed Land Uses The vision for NWX centers on the two underlying zoning districts; “Community Business -Mixed” (B-2M) located in the southeastern area of the community and the “Residential Emphasis Mixed-Use” (REMU) zoning district designated across the remainder of the property. NWX is designed to meet the standards of these two underlying zoning designations. The range of land uses permitted under REMU and B2-M allows for a dynamic mix of homes and businesses at NWX. The B-2M area will function as a vibrant mixed-use district to accommodate substantial growth and enhance the character of the city. The area will have a range of commercial and office uses that serve the immediate area and City as a whole and will include the integration of multi-family residential structures as a secondary use. The area will be designed to emphasize pedestrian-oriented design with enhanced pedestrian connections. 3 www.norris-design.com The REMU district will be mixed-use in character and will provide options for a variety of housing, employment, retail and neighborhood service opportunities. Residential uses, with varying product types and densities will be the primary use in this area. The neighborhoods in NWX are planned to be compact and walkable, which promotes a healthy lifestyle and social interactions. Compliance with the Underlying REMU and B2-M Zoning Standards As specified herein and in the NWX Master Site Plan and the NWX Site and Building Design Guidelines, all new development in NWX will meet the development standards of the underlying zoning district. With future development, should any modifications or variances to these standards be necessary to achieve better design or to meet the intent of the Master Site Plan, then such requests will be addressed through the applicable City review process. Development of properties zoned REMU will meet the standards set forth within the City of Bozeman Unified Development Code (UDC). All new streets will be complete streets that accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, and snow storage. It is anticipated that any current or future collector streets located along the perimeter of the site will also accommodate buses, per City standards. These complete streets create an interconnected and vibrant community. Public Land Dedication The NWX park areas serve as the backbone of the community. The natural amenities found along the newly established Homestead Park will serve as the key focal points for community recreation and social interaction. The Residential areas and streets are designed to preserve and focus on the natural areas, and to create active and passive park areas and well-connected pedestrian corridors throughout the neighborhood. Homestead Park will be the heart of the newly planned NWX community with its well-established connected network of park areas and natural amenities. Homestead Park will be constructed on both sides of Baxter Ditch. The ditch and its associated wetlands will be significantly enhanced with improvements to the overall natural habitat through the planting of native plants. The wetlands and zone 1 wetland setbacks serve as the natural amenities to this integrated park system, while active and passive recreation is intended within the zone 2 wetland setback areas and the upland areas, including an integrated network of trails. Examples of opportunities for the programming of each park area are shown on the “Homestead Park Vision Plan”. Administration of Public Land Dedication Requirements (REV 12/4/20) NWX is planned for approximately 550 detached and attached residential dwelling units and 150-250 multi-family residential units which are subject to meeting the City’s Public Land Dedication (PLD) requirements. Considering the substantial improvements planned within Homestead Park incorporating the more natural Baxter Ditch corridor as a key natural amenity is will add value and size to the overall publicly dedicated space. All of the parks will be improved to meet or exceed the minimum City standards as set forth in 38.420.080.A of the UDC. Additionally, many of the parks will be further improved with amenities such as shelters, play structures, activity lawns, sport courts, exercise stations, and other similar improvements. Thus, these improvements are planned to further exceed the minimum park dedication requirements. Park construction and related improvements will be phased in NWX as parcels are further subdivided and developed. This phased approach is integral to the overall flexibility in the build-out of NWX so that new development will be able to respond to the market demands at the time of construction. Each phase of residential development will be subject to satisfying the Public Land Dedication requirements in accordance with the City requirements and through coordination with the “Master Developer” for allocation of an appropriate amount of improved parkland within Homestead Park. With each subdivision application, each parcel will be developed in coordination with the with intent of the NWX Parks plan. Should the number of units in the subdivision exceed the amount of dedicated parkland, then the parkland requirement may be met by improvements to the in-parcel park, Homestead Park or 4 www.norris-design.com other nearby parks subject to review and approval by the City. Any parkland established within this Master Site Plan intended to satisfy the public land dedication in excess of the minimum requirement may also be used to offset any deficit of park land dedication for an individual parcel. The applicant intends to dedicate required easements and land per the City’s requirements. However, the details of these easements and dedications will be more specifically determined during the subdivision application process. Affordable Housing Affordable housing will be considered with the future subdivision and site plan applications. Mail Delivery Mail delivery will be incorporated into several locations throughout the community, as appropriate, so that residents enjoy the ease of accessing mail near their home. In working with the US Postal Service, these locations will be identified through the subdivision review process and generally located in areas with on-street parking. Zoning Boundary Change For simplicity in future review of land use application at NWX, concurrent with this Master Site Plan application, a minor adjustment of less than one acre to the zoning boundary between the B2-M and REMU zoning districts is requested to align zoning boundaries with Master Site Plan parcel / street boundaries. Subsequent to the determination of the road layout in the southwest corner of NWX where the zoning designations are adjacent, it was determined that a minor adjustment, as depicted on Sheet C110, will facilitate a better road connection and intersection design which will serve to define the boundaries between these zoning designations. Master Site Plan Organization The NWX Master Site Plan elements are established on a set of plans and in the NWX Site and Commercial/ Multifamily Building Design Guidelines which serve to: • clarify the varying components of the proposed development, • establish the vision of the community, and • demonstrate compliance with the City’s applicable development standards and land use policies. The guiding policies of each element in the Master Site Plan are included on the plan sheets and in the NWX Site and Building Design Guidelines. While it is intended that future development generally meets the intent of the underlying zone districts and the intent of the Master Site Plan, flexibility in the application of these standards is encouraged to meet the evolving needs and desires of the community over time as each phase is planned and constructed.