The Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 21 approved the Prospect Ridge multifamily project development plan (PDP230015), a multi‑building residential proposal for Lot 1 of the Rudolph Farm subdivision at the Prospect Road/I‑25 interchange.

Project summary: The proposal includes 226 multifamily units in six buildings with four‑story massing, outdoor amenities (pool, fitness, dog area), an internal street and multiple pedestrian connections to the city’s planned regional trail network. The applicant and staff described the lot as roughly six acres, located at the northeast corner of the Prospect Road/Interstate 25 interchange; the project is in the general commercial zone within an activity‑center overlay created by the I‑25 Subarea Plan.

Staff and applicant presentations emphasized plan consistency with adopted corridor and subarea guidance. City planner Kai Klier summarized relevant policy documents — the Prospect Road Streetscape Program, the I‑25 corridor design standards and the I‑25 subarea plan — that informed building placement, landscape buffers and lighting controls. "This area is part of an activity center overlay and is designated by the I‑25 subarea plan," Klier said; staff and the applicant said the site meets the ODP and infrastructure commitments associated with the Rudolph Farm approvals.

Traffic, connectivity and public‑realm elements were a major focus. The applicant’s civil and traffic team described roadway improvements constructed or planned as part of the overall development, including Prospect Road widening, new signals at Carriage Parkway and pedestrian crossing enhancements. Traffic modeling presented with the PDP showed the proposed 226 units generate fewer vehicle trips than the overall development plan had anticipated; the applicant reported 291 parking spaces on site (about 1.29 spaces per unit) and 401 bike parking spaces.

Design and compatibility: Commissioners spent significant time on architectural compatibility and street‑facing design. The applicant presented building elevations showing a palette of buff masonry, lap siding and wood‑accent elements intended to echo the interchange character and the nearby school while forming a cohesive community identity. Commissioners asked for clarity about where masonry/stone veneer would be applied and how entries would be differentiated. The applicant agreed to refine the treatment of street‑ and trail‑facing primary entrances so they are distinctive while remaining architecturally coordinated. "If we need to make some enhancements to the public way, I think that we can accept that, and we could work with Kai to do that as we progress the drawing," the applicant said.

Why it matters: The site sits at a major interchange and within a designated activity center; approvals here will shape how the northern portion of the Prospect interchange redevelops and how multimodal connections operate between neighborhoods, the school campus and regional trails.

Action taken: The commission voted to approve PDP230015 by roll call. Staff will continue to review final plans, and the development must meet detailed infrastructure, stormwater and building‑permit requirements before construction.

Next steps and implementation points: The larger infrastructure plan for Rudolph Farm includes trail connections, an 80‑foot I‑25 buffer landscape, and roadway improvements that will be constructed and maintained by the development’s metro district. Commissioners requested additional attention to the project’s street‑facing entrances and noted stormwater and lighting compliance will be enforced during final plan and building permit review. The applicant also committed to cooperate with staff on compatibility and landscaping details.

Ending: With conditions discussed in the public hearing and a unanimous vote, the Prospect Ridge multifamily PDP advances to final plan work and permitting; commissioners highlighted the need for clear wayfinding, durable materials and robust pedestrian and bike connections to adjacent neighborhoods and the regional trail network.