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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 07/13/2022 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting/1745 Hoffman Mill Road July 13, 2022 Members: Andrea Elson, Chair Vicky McLane, Member Ross Cunniff, Vice Chair Alycia Crall, Member Mike Weber, Member Elena Lopez, Member Denise Culver, Member Cole Kramer, Member Joe Piesman, Member 0 7 /13 /2019 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Vicky McLane, Alycia Crall, Mike Weber, Cole Kramer, Elena Lopez, Joe Piesman, Andrea Elson; Ross Cunniff Excused: Denise Culver NAD Staff: Alynn Karnes, Tawnya Ernst, Julia Feder, Jesse Green, Katie Donahue, Mary Boyts, Michelle Vattano 3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: Jay Wiebel, Sam Eliason, Ernie Crownover 4. AGENDA REVIEW: Chair Elson reviewed the agenda with no changes 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Kramer made a motion to approve the June LCSB meeting minutes. Member Cunniff seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7-0. Vicky McLane abstained from vote due to no attendance at the June meeting. 6. ACTION ITEMS: Katie Donahue prefaced the action item with a general outline of the Natural Areas Department role in the City’s easement application process. She stated that Natural Areas assists in the processing of the application by facilitating review before the Land Conservation & Stewardship Board for approval or denial. It is the goal of NAD staff to assess proposals, ensure no viable alternatives have been missed, and how we arrive at minimum impact to habitat in alignment with the department’s mission. Mem ber Cunniff expressed concerns regarding staff email to applicant as it appeared as though the department was advocating for the application and the process was corrupted. Member Cunniff agreed to continue the discussion around easement application process during Land Conservation update portion of the meeting. Nissan-KIA Drainage Easement Alynn Karnes, Land Conservation Specialist introduced a potential drainage easement to Fort Collins Nissan-KIA across the southeast corner of Redtail Grove DocuSign Envelope ID: E13D8F38-E699-49A7-96F2-A1A0951B105E Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 0 7 /13 /20 22 MINUTES Page 2 Natural Area. The Nissan-KIA dealership development plan requires that a drainage path be identified and formalized to mitigate their stormwater outfall from the development. This proposed easement path follows an existing natural drainage swale where stormwater already flows from the uphill Nissan-KIA property into Fossil Creek. Natural Areas staff were contacted in late 2021 with an easement request to address the additional volume of water anticipated from the proposed development and formalize the historic stormwater flows. Staff discussed alternative analyses for drainage and design options to mitigate the increased volume of stormwater into Fossil Creek with the developer, and the Utilities and Parks Departments. Alternative analyses included: laying a pipe under Nissan- KIA, private landowner, and Natural Areas properties to convey the stormwater directly to Fossil Creek, diverting a pipe up the northeasterly side of the Nissan -KIA property parallel to College Avenue and placing a storm sewer to drain to Fossi l Creek along a new drainage path, and piping the stormwater to the western side of the property to outfall into Lang Gulch. Upon assessment, these alternatives appeared to either require a higher level of disturbance and long-term maintenance to the natural area property or physically were not viable options. Alternative designs to the proposed drainage path included: a detention pond on the southeast corner of the property, or the installation or addition of a larger culvert underneath Fossil Creek Trail. In all alternative design scenarios, there would be significant damage done to the natural area vegetation and/or trail that would need to be mitigated for and restored. In all proposed alternative designs, the trail would need to be closed to the pub lic for approximately two weeks during construction. City staff collectively determined that Nissan-KIA’s proposed underground stormwater detention design on their property, with a slow release of drainage to Fossil Creek, protects the natural area more than the other options of granting a detention pond on the property or increasing the size or number of culverts that convey drainage under the trail. Discussion: The Board and NAD staff had an extensive discussion about the alternative options to include drainage, stormwater standards compliance, Fossil Creek water quality from the car lot runoff, monitoring of the water discharged, amount of runoff and additional cars on the car lot. Member Cunniff inquired about auto service drainage. The dealership uses a contained part cleaner and then a skimmer for oils and particulates that are then hauled off-site. Alynn expressed that most of the drainage will go into Lang’s Gulch. Member Cunniff made a motion to table the Nissan-KIA Drainage Easement indefinitely. Member Lopez seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved 8-0. DocuSign Envelope ID: E13D8F38-E699-49A7-96F2-A1A0951B105E Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 0 7 /13 /20 22 MINUTES Page 3 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Land Use Code Update Jesse Green, NAD Ranger presented proposed updates to the Natural Areas Municipal Code. The purpose is to close loopholes, add new definitions and add new regulations that protect the natural environment and promote visitor safety. NAD is working with City Attorney’s Office to look at the current Code to ensure alignment with the values and mission of the Fort Collins Natural Areas. Jesse reviewed the new definitions such as hunt, Natural Area, public safety agency and vessel. Jesse also reviewed proposed adjustments to the regulations to include clarifying terminology, clarifying different methods used for entering ice and waters that are prohibited and clarifying language about a wide range of prohibited activities. Jesse’s memorandum includes a recommendation to the Board that City Council approve the proposed updates and changes to the Natural Areas Municipal Code, however he will bring the issue back to the Board in August for an official recommendation. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Bicycle Advisory Committee Member Weber reported the BAC discussed annual bikes and pedestrians on the trails. This is typically done using volunteers, but due to a lack of volunteers they are having to cut back on counting. The e-bikes on trails evaluation included a six-day study. The study showed that e-bikes are averaging about 11.86 miles an hour on the paved trails and traditional bikes are traveling 11.79 miles on the paved trails. There’s virtually no difference between the two. Most people said they didn’t have any trouble with e-bikes on the trail. Surveys show that the highest users of e-bikes are in the 50- 59 age range. Lastly, the SPIN mobility program was discussed. They are talking about parking and where they are being left, code changes were discussed, they are talking with Streets about allowing parking on some of the roads without disrupting sidewalks. E-scooters are not allowed on roads, but they also don’t want them on sidewalks so there’s much discussion with Streets on alternative areas for e-scooters. Chair Elson asked the Board if they were in agreement with moving the last two items on the agenda, Potential Board Retreat and Future Agenda Items to the next meeting given the later hour and the Board agreed. Member Cunniff made a motion that the LCSB move into Executive Session to discuss potential real property and specific legal questions regarding such DocuSign Envelope ID: E13D8F38-E699-49A7-96F2-A1A0951B105E Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 0 7 /13 /20 22 MINUTES Page 4 property acquisitions. Member Weber seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved 8-0. The Board moved into Executive Session at 8:14 pm and reconvened the regular meeting at 8:50 pm. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm _________________________ ________________ Andrea Elson, Chair Date DocuSign Envelope ID: E13D8F38-E699-49A7-96F2-A1A0951B105E 8/15/2022