Commission approves Touchmark Fort Collins long-term care plan with gated street modification

The Planning and Zoning Commission on June 25 approved the Touchmark Fort Collins project development plan, clearing a proposal for a 246-unit, mixed long-term care community (memory care, assisted living, independent living) on a site in the Harmony Corridor.

City planner Kai Clear summarized the proposal as a parcel served by existing stormwater facilities and bound by Sinkwafoil, Lafever Drive and the Fossil Creek Reservoir inlet canal. The project calls for a multi-building campus: a central 1- to 4-story building containing memory-care and assisted- and independent-living units and peripheral single-unit and attached cottages and villas. "They put a really big emphasis on providing an active lifestyle for the residents," said Sam Coutts of Ripley Design, the applicant's land-planning consultant, describing Touchmark's focus on walkability and on-site amenities.

Because of the site's configuration and the project's resident population, the applicant asked for two modifications to allow gated access at three perimeter points (gates on private streets at Lafever Drive and Cincofoil Lane, and on private drives along Cincofoil). Staff and the applicant said the gates would remain open during daytime hours (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and be closed at night to reduce risk of wandering by residents; emergency access procedures and a 24/7 concierge/call-box arrangement were described. "After hours, we have a 24/7 concierge at the front desk, and we have a call box on the gates," said Ryan Benson, the owner's representative.

Staff recommended approval of the gate modification and of the PDP, with conditions covering the build-to exceptions for certain perimeter units, a trash-collection approach for the villa courts, and final engineering and administrative reviews. Commissioners and staff discussed alternative mitigation for an off-site intersection (Harmony/Ladymun), trail connectivity, bike-rack design and prairie-dog/burrowing-owl protections. The applicant agreed to expand the natural habitat buffer along the east property line and to construct trail connections and other on-site amenities.

In two separate motions, the commission first approved the gate modification and then approved the PDP with conditions. Commissioners cited the city's housing and planning goals and the project's scale and design as reasons to approve the project; votes were unanimous. Commissioners noted that any future change of use or subdivision would require review, and staff said additional administrative approvals are required before building permits are issued.

The commission record lists multiple conditions and technical requirements that the applicant must satisfy in final plan submissions, including confirmation of emergency-vehicle access, finalization of trash-collection procedures for the villa courts, finalized bike-rack specifications, and execution of required easements for regional-trail connections. Touchmark's representatives said they will continue to coordinate with city review teams during final engineering and permitting.