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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/01/1998i MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. JULY 1,1998 For Reference: Phil Murphy, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Susie Gordon, Staff Liaison - 221-6265 Board Members Present Phil Friedman, Bill Miller, Randy Fischer, Phil Murphy, Jan Behunek Board Members Absent Kelly Ohlson, Don Rodriguez Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Susie Gordon, Terry Klahn and Lucinda Smith Utilities: Susan Duba Hayes Advance Plannine: Clark Mapes Guests Sally Craig, Planning and Zoning Board Richard Harness The meeting was called to order at 6:05 Agenda Review Add: Black -footed ferret memo Announcements Fire at Cottonwood Glen • Children playing with fireworks set hayfield on fire • Farmer lost a couple hundred bales of hay • Several Cottonwood trees along Spring Creek channel were severely damaged • News article mentioned loss to farmer but no mention of damage to natural area • Parents may be responsible for restitution to farmer • Maybe City should receive restitution for trees as well, at least a statement regarding non -conforming use of City property • Staff will check into city policy and/or stand on this issue Natural Resources Advise. , Board 07/22/98 Page 2 Review and Approval of Minutes • The minutes of the June 3, 1998 regular meeting were approved with the following changes: Announcements: Phil Friedman distributed pictures of the "Wind Power Farm", instead of Wind Powered program farm. • The minutes of the June 17, 1998 special meeting were approved with the following changes: Master Trails Plan, Item 3: Change "find landowners willing to give a little more land" to "find landowners willing to cede a little more land". Poudre River Drainage Plan: Susan Duba Hayes, Utilities ISSUE • Create a master plan to promote responsible stormwater management in the river corridor within the urban growth area of Fort Collins • Technical analysis of 1996 is complete and still valid • Consider existing and potential uses of river corridor • Identify both damaged and eroded areas • Flood Damage Funding - 3 Alternatives 1. Direct Benefit Approach 2. Combination Approach 3. Standard Utility Approach DISCUSSION • How much flood plain is owned by the city? There are 858 acres ofpublic land. • What is the impact of the Timberline bridge on Riverbend Ponds? No impact. • Do people understand ramifications of development; anytime you stabilize one section you have opportunity to cause erosion in another place. Some do and some don't. • In regard to structural solutions, how are we going to reconcile this Plan with the message that we don't want to do a lot (because of causing problems elsewhere)? There will be a lot ofpicking and choosing, to decide which type ofsolutions to apply to which problems. • So, it will be an integrated approach? Yes, we will be trying to adopt a base program and implement solutions in small pieces. • Since the flood there's a new level of public awareness concerning the need to limit development in the flood plain. • In addition to being skeptical about the benefits of structural improvements, building them sets a precedent for other people demanding similar protection. • Good language to include would be: The purpose of this master plan is not to protect future floodplain development, but is to protect existing areas. • Plan should go to Council sometime in Fall. Natural Resources Advisory Board • 07/22/98 Page 3 Mountain Vista Subarea Plan: Clark Mapes, Advance Planning ISSUE Lucinda Smith, Natural Resources Assess design elements for incorporation into the selected plan alternative. Integration of transportation network with land uses and open land - what is best fit? DISCUSSION • City Structure Plan calls for significant development in the northeast area with new neighborhoods anchored by a commercial district, community park and medium and low density mixed use neighborhoods. • There are 3 plan alternatives proposed. • A component in each alternative is the enhanced travel corridor, which is ultimately intended for high frequency transit use. • The Transportation Department is doing a truck route study parallel with this plan to determine the best way for trucks coming into Fort Collins to get to Hwy 287. A new truck route will be identified, and it will definitely affect this area, but the land use will drive the Truck Route plan. • What was the favored alternative at the workshop? Residents were fairly positive, talked about alternatives, but they don't much want City services close to them. • Are employment and industrial areas bigger in one plan? Yes, in the third plan. It hasn't been measured and balanced yet, but a lot of people think that it looks like too much. • How does this plan treat I-25? No one has really talked about what to do about land use areas there. There is a special study scheduled in a couple years that will deal with land use of the I-25 corridor. • What is the difference between industrial and employment use? Industrial is a wide open workplace geared toward trucks and manufacturing with more noise and heavy use. Employment is usually indoors (offices). • It looks like there is a huge amount of employment clustered in certain areas; what would fill all that space? Many different things; shopping centers, day care and even housing would be permitted. • Are there opportunities for natural areas? None targeted as high priority, but that doesn't preclude it, just aren't any identified yet. • It would be useful for the Board to tell staff what they'd like to see the green links look like, i.e., provide bike trails or a more natural area for walking? • The Dry Creek basin may have a significant ground water issue that complicates development. • Don't think it's ok to have a major road going through the community park. Better to have a major road skirt the back of the park and incorporate a lane going through the park. Natural Resources Advise. Board 07/22/98 Page 4 • Plan I has a more linear look, not as appealing. Plans 2 and 3 are less conducive to that type of strip mall development. Work Plan The mid -year review of the 1998 Work Plan will be postponed until the two new members are in attendance. Committee Reports Growth Management • The Growth Management committee worked with staff members Tom Vosburg and Rob Wilkinson to address NRAB's land use code change recommendations. The committee distributed a handout detailing the list of concerns and actions. Memo: Support for Black -footed Ferret Conservation Center • Randy Fischer moved to support a proposal to sell 20-30 acres of the city's Meadow Spring Ranch to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to build a Black -footed ferret conservation center. • Motion passed unanimously. Memo: Feed Lot Pollution of Prospect Ponds Natural Area • The Board reviewed a memo to be sent to City Council expressing concern about pollution from feed lots. Review Action Log Add: Review new natural areas regulations Select new chair for solid waste reduction committee Social gathering and dinner at Coyote Ridge: August 19 at 4:30 p.m. for family, staff and NRAB staff liaison Enhance congruency between Natural Areas Management Plan and the Master Drainage plan Schedule Meadow Springs tour for September 19. Review Future Agenda Items: July 15, 1998: Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Kingfisher Point Restoration Plan Changes in Land Use Code Preble's jumping mouse update August 5, 1998: Work Plan Review ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.