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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/17/1998MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. JUNE 17,1998 AMENDED July 2,1998 For Reference: Phil Murphy, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Susie Gordon, Staff Liaison - 221-6265 Board Members Present Ed Secor, Kelly Ohlson, Bill Miller, Randy Fischer, Phil Murphy and Don Rodriguez Board Members Absent Jan Behunek, Phil Friedman and Craig McGee Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Sally Maggart, Susie Gordon, Tom Shoemaker and Terry Klahn Parks Planning: Wally Piccone and Craig Foreman Guests Fred Haberecht, Consultant with Jim Sell Design; Rick Harness, citizen; and, Sally Craig, Planning and Zoning Board After a presentation to outgoing Boardmember Ed Secor, the meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Agenda Review Add: Committee Reports at end of meeting Announcements Tom Shoemaker reported that the City closed on the purchase of the Timberline Lakes property. Spring Creek Landscaping Plan: Fred Haberecht, Jim Sell Design ISSUE • A portion of the Spring Creek channel will be rerouted and retaining walls will be added by the fire station on Spring Creek Drive. The trail experience will be the same as it was before the flood. • The channel realignment calls for some areas of rip rap. • Native grass will be planted and native trees will be used to replace damaged trees. • The City Forestry Department will attempt to save as many trees as possible. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 17, 1998 Page 2 QUESTIONS • Were there any Natural Resources staffinembers involved in the project? Karen Manci and Rob Wilkinson were involved in the early phases. The Natural Areas Team has looked at the planting plans throughout the process. • Has this been overly engineered? Yes, but the lack of engineering before the flood had a negative impact on the stream and caused bank erosion. • Why are non-native trees being used? They have short roots and can be planted on top of the sewer lines. • What happened to the drop structures? They were scoured during the flood. They will be replaced and buried to stop the backcutting. • Have property owners bordering on the existing natural areas ever been approached regarding proper planting? A project is planned to work with the landowners to get improved vegetation for wildlife. It might be possible to provide planting materials as an incentive or to use conservation easements. COMMENTS Native grasses should be planted in specific areas. The additional wetland will be a good improvement. The plan looks great. DECISION • Staff will look at replacing bluegrss with short native grasses. • The plan will be implemented soon. Cottonwood Glen Park Design: Wally Piccone Parks ISSUE • The planned park is located on six acres of the Southwest Community Park site. It will have a soccer field, baseball field, and a core area with a shelter, restroom, playground and parking area for thirty cars. • Neighborhood comments have been good. The plan is to incorporate the comments in the conceptual plan, and present them at a neighborhood open house. • An asphalt trail will be built to link the park with Olander School. • A local street will be needed at some time to access Southwest Park. Parks staff would like to see Overland Trail extended as a meandering connector street. QUESTIONS • Are the development fees paid by Silver Oaks being used for the park? Yes, Neighborhood Park Funds will also be used. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 17, 1998 Page 3 • Will any trees be removed? The russian olives will be the only ones removed. The City Forestry Department will make sure the existing cottonwood trees are safely maintained. • Had anyone considered locating the park behind Olander School? No, there is a recreation center proposed to be built behind the school. • Could a fence help control access to Pineridge? A fence won't keep people out. There needs to be patrolling and continuing education, along with building trails in the right location. • Are the fields lighted? There will be some security lighting, but this is a day -use park DISCUSSION • A few of the neighbors on the east side of the area have owned their homes for thirty years and do not like the location of the park. • A big concern is the impact of increasing human use next to a fairly sensitive area containing native vegetation, 50-60 species of birds, foxes and racoons. • Buffering along the Pineridge area is needed. • The cattail marsh needs to be cleaned out. It used to be open water that attracted shore birds. • The cottonwood trees are old and could become a safety issue if the public is going to be using the area in proximity to the trees. • It might be worth looking at joint turf between the soccer and baseball fields. DECISION • Parks Planning Department will work with the Natural Resources Department on the habitat impact and the possibility of a buck and rail fence along the Pineridge area. • The NRAB will see the final plan. • The final plan will be taken to the Parks & Recreation Board for approval. The bid should go out by the end of the year, and construction will start next spring. Master Trails Plan: Craig Foreman Parks Trail Asphalt to Concrete Conversions: 1. Centre Avenue Road Project: Dirt will be moved this summer. Parks Planning is part of a City team working on this project. 2. Spring Creek Trail/Cottonwood Glen Park: The plan is to align the trail away from the trees and Spring Creek. 3. Poudre River Trail West of College Avenue to Taft Hill Road: There are safety concerns because the old asphalt has cracks, tree roots and deterioration. The Natural Resources Department is looking at purchasing the gravel land on the west end. The plan is to move the trail back in places, and if possible find landowners willing to cede a little more land for the trail to be away from the river. 4. Poudre Trail at Kingfisher Point Natural Area: The realignment has not been determined. Construction will occur after the management plan has been written. rI Natural Resources Advisory Board June 17, 1998 Page 4 5. Poudre Trail at Link-n-Greens Golf Course: The trail will be patched until the new developer comes in and then it will be realigned and made of concrete. New Trail Construction 1. Fossil Creek Trail west of Taft Hill Road: This is contentious but will be resolved by fall. The focus is on people management, resource management, and construction. 2. Union Pacific Railroad Trail, Edora Park to Drake Road: GOCO money will be used to start the concrete trail and fencing at Edora Park. Easements have been received from the railroad. 3. Union Pacific Railroad Trail, Drake Road south: This will provide a good connection to the Harmony corridor by following the power line, and ultimately connecting with the Loveland Trail. 4. LaPorte Trail Connection: Easements are being secured along most of the railroad line west of Taft Hill. The safest way to go would be into Lions Park. LaPorte's planning commission is supportive. 5. Spring Creek Trail at Taft Hill Road: This is the final underpass piece of the Spring Creek Trail. 6. Poudre River Trail at Lemay: Studies continue on the handicap ramp and bridge across the Poudre River on the downstream side of Lemay Avenue. 7. Fossil Creek Trail West of College Avenue: Public access will be restricted through the area that has a nesting red-tailed hawk. 8. Fossil Creek Trail East of College Avenue: The scheduling will go along with that of the Fossil Creek Community Park. 9. Regional Trail Connection to Boyd Lake: This will be brought to the Board in the fall. Loveland Has ISTEA money that has to be used in 1999, and the County's plans are unknown at this time. The sidewalks along Lemay Avenue or on the power line might be used as connectors. 10. Regional Trail to Timnath: This is a five year program dependent on regional trail money. The gravel operations and the ELC are factors. 11. Northeast Trail Layout: This could be 15-20 years out because it will follow development. A feasibility study might be done in a year or two and a community park site might be purchased in the next five years. Environmentally sensitive areas will be avoided. 12. Canal and Railroad Trail Evaluation: A feasibility study of the right-of-way, environmental concerns, trails value and analysis is needed to determine if there are areas that would provide pedestrian/bike linkages. DISCUSSION It was suggested that the trail connection with Loveland and the County not be rushed because of their timelines for spending funds. The Board would like to have a presentation on the Master Trails Plan. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 17, 1998 Page 5 DECISION • Craig Foreman and Wally Piccone will be attending a trails conference in the fall and will return to the Board with more information. COMMITTEE REPORTS Growth Management • Will review material on Natural Area features and prepare a list of concerns related to the land use code. Trails The next meeting is Monday, June 22. Members went on a field trip to the Timberline project area. There will be a field trip on June 18 to Arapaho Bend. Natural Areas • Comments from the last two meetings have been consolidated and will be sent to the boardmembers. • The committee will have one more meeting before a presentation will be made to the full Board. Don Rodriguez is representing the Board on the Horticulture Site Selection Committee. He will be soliciting suggestions from the Board regarding sites that would be appropriate for the Horticulture Center. Council will receive an alternative plan on September 9. Lee Martinez is still a possibility. Front Range College might donate 10 acres on the southeast side of the campus for the Horticulture Center. Review Action Log Add: Craig Foreman and Wally Piccone will be returning to the Board sometime in the fall. Review final design of the Cottonwood Glen Neighborhood Park. Tour Meadow Springs Ranch. Delete: Amendment 1 Review Future Agenda Items: Include Work Plan on July 1 meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.