Planning commission approves Prospect Plaza site plan advisory review for CSU Strata redevelopment

FORT COLLINS, Colorado — The Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 5 approved a site plan advisory review (SPAR) for Prospect Plaza, a proposed five‑story student housing redevelopment by CSU Strata near Colorado State University, voting 5‑2 to forward the project to the Colorado State University Board of Governors.

The commission's approval covers the location, character and extent of the redevelopment at the block bounded by Lake Street, Prospect Road, Center Avenue and College Avenue. The applicant proposes replacing 11 older residential buildings with a 225‑unit building offering about 696 bedrooms, structured and surface parking, new transit stop infrastructure and on‑site stormwater improvements. The commission's decision will be communicated to the CSU Board of Governors, which may overrule a local disapproval by a two‑thirds recorded vote under state law.

The project matters because it replaces aging housing close to campus, would add hundreds of student beds, and sits within a CSU‑regulated floodplain and the city's transit‑oriented overlay. Commissioners praised the design but raised concerns about long, unarticulated facade bays on the east and Lake Street frontages and asked the applicant to continue refining streetscaping along Prospect Road and other pedestrian elements. Public comment emphasized student affordability and tenant displacement during construction.

Arlo (city planner) told the commission the site is zoned High‑Density Mixed Use (HMN), lies in the West Central Neighborhoods subarea plan and is within the city's transit‑oriented development overlay. He reviewed SPAR deadlines and process requirements and summarized staff comments, including that lighting be…