A development project praised for its environmentally friendly design and sustainability this week gained initial approval from city council and is headed for a public hearing later this month.
The Modern West concept plan did not gain the backing of Councilmember Joan Peck, who fears the energy-efficient homes and businesses on the 16-acre site would be too close to the flight path of Vance Brand Municipal Airport.
“I totally agree this is an incredible development but I do not want to put any more residents in that flight zone,” said Peck, who wants more assurances the Modern West development sticks to Federal Aviation Administration standards.
Longmont’s Planning and Zoning Commission in December recommended approval of the development’s concept plan amendment — which calls for light industrial, commercial and higher density residential use. Commission member Michael Polan voted against the recommendation, voicing concerns about its proximity to the airport.
The site is north of Nelson Road, south of Rogers Road, and adjacent to self-storage buildings.
Architect Erin Bagnall, in a letter to council, stated Modern West will be developed with a focus on sustainability and the promotion of the arts and will be a “blueprint for the future.”
The site is being built in partnership with the National Research Energy Laboratory, or NREL, and Rocky Mountain Institute. Modern West is being included as a case study in NREL’s “Guidebook to Sustainable Development,” Bagnall stated in the letter.
Buildings will be placed with an east-to-west orientation when possible to allow for passive solar opportunities throughout the site, specifically for residential uses, Bagnall said. Greenhouses on rooftops will support urban farms, she stated in her letter.
There will be a mix of market rate housing and deed restricted affordable housing. Pedestrian traffic will also be emphasized, Bagnall stated.
Modern West will exist within the Airport Influence Zone, and developers have taken special consideration for Vance Brand’s runway and associated air traffic, Bagnall stated.
“Non-residential uses have been placed along the northern boundary as a buffer,” she stated in the letter. “The height of those northern structures will be minimized, and all structures throughout the site will comply with all FAA rules and regulations regarding the airport approach.”
A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26, after which council will make its final decision on the development.
