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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 11/18/1998MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVENUE NOVEMBER 18,1998 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, Don Rodriguez, Kelly Ohlson, Nathan Donovan, Reagan Waskom, Randy Fischer Board Members Absent Phil Murphy Staff Present Natural Resources Dent: Terry Klahn, Susie Gordon, Tom Shoemaker CPES: Tom Vosburg Park Planning: Janet Meisel Burns Utilities: Jay Rose, Kevin McBride, Owen Randall Guests Sally Craig, Planning and Zoning Board Agenda Review Add: Rigden Farm Issue — Change to Structure Plan, Bill Miller Announcements • Reagan Waskom, Nate Donovan and Phil Friedman attended the Education Roundtable on Natural Areas/Land Preservation. Thirty or forty people attended. • Don Rodriguez showed a pamphlet from the "Leave No Trace" group. They are starting to be active in open spaces as well as wilderness areas. The program will be tested on a regional basis. • Kelly Ohlson: Leash law exemptions are on City Council Agenda for December 1. • Kelly Ohlson: Council study session on Downtown River Corridor Program December 22. • Phil Friedman: The Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse Committee submitted the final draft recommendations to the consultant. Feedback was received that Larimer County's was the most comprehensive and detailed submittal in the state on how to address listing and habitat conservation issues. From a political and biological Natural Resources Advis(._, Board November 18, 1998 Page 2 perspective it should be pretty effective. In Phil's opinion, some of the language should be stronger than words like "encourage and voluntary". Kelly Ohlson said that if the main thrust of the document is worded that way, it won't result in much. Phil said that if the document was implemented today as written, it might result in some good. Will have to see if Fish & Wildlife will see those recommendations as sufficient, or as too lax. Kelly Ohlson: The proposed County Land Use Plan is in major trouble. We all need to call and write the commissioners. The push is to weaken the plan. We need to, at the least, stay where we are. The summary at the public meetings is, "We've never heard of this and want it stopped right now". If we care about this stuff it's worth the time to email, write or make a phone call. Eight letters or phone calls will make a difference and they are keeping track of them. Final Review of LUC Changes, Tom Vosburg Tom Vosburg said he wanted to check in one last time with the Board and brought the final draft that will go to Council. There are proposed changes that are housekeeping in nature to provide clarity. Kelly Ohlson suggested that the Board review the document page by page. The Board spent considerable time reviewing the fourteen page document in detail and made numerous specific wording changes. Discussion: Buffer Zone Standards Table Fossil Creek and Tributaries: • Kelly Ohlson said that Parks had a concern that the 300 foot buffer would greatly inhibit the park. Changing to 100 feet is a big reduction, why not go to 200 or 150 feet? No one wants to rule out park concerns, but maybe they can meet their needs and we can get an extra 50 or 75 foot buffer. • Bill Miller noted that there are not many areas still left to be developed other than Fossil Creek regional park and little bit of land between the railroad tracks and Shields. • Kelly Ohlson: Parks is always able to use the appeals process for specific sites to reduce the buffer requirement. This needs to be thought about a little more. We need to get as much buffer as possible and still allow them to do their thing. We could all win. • Bill Miller: I would extend that to Spring Creek. There are areas where we should consider requiring more buffering. How about Cottonwood Glen, there's no mention of buffering in that plan? We talked specifically with Parks, and they think they can incorporate a 100 foot buffer at Cottonwood Glen. • Kelly Ohlson: Parks could say, " there are a couple spots that put us in a bind", and then those areas could be addressed. Natural Resources Advisory Board • November 18, 1998 Page 3 • Randy Fischer: When I was on Stormwater Board we did field trips and Bob Smith would often say, "I wish there was something to keep people from building all the way up to the bank", for example at Clarendon Hills along Fossil Creek. There is concern about floodplain issues along Fossil Creek and I don't know if 100' would satisfy stormwaters concerns. • Bill Miller: To summarize what Kelly's saying, don't lower standards for one situation. Allow the process to provide for exceptions. • Bill Miller: The same extension in buffer requirements could go to Boxelder Creek; it's already being looked at for commercial development. • Kelly Ohlson: This science is far from clean, but it's improving. Things are supposed to get better, and we should not just do things because that's the way we've done it in the past. • We based this as best we could on the mitigation manual which has been staffs guiding resource for setting buffer distances on past projects. The intent with this table is to articulate what's in that document and our understanding of the science. Values in the community may ask for things that exceed science, and that's legitimate. • Kelly Ohlson: Staff should say if it's 100 feet on the chart, that in some circumstances it can even be increased. Absolutely. It can be greater or lesser, it specifically says that. • Kelly Ohlson: So, even though it's called "Buffer Zone Standards", the distance can still be increased? The City Attorney's office is OK with it. We struggled with it and we think we've got it. Don't know how we can be more clear. Nate Donovan made the following motion: Move that we recommend the text, with the suggested changes that staff has said can be accommodated, but express strong preference for changing the buffer zone standards for Spring Creek and Boxelder from 100 feet to 200 feet, and changing the standard for Fossil Creek to 300 feet. The motion was approved unanimously. Update on Sheldon Lake, Janet Meisel Burns Janet Meisel Burns presented an overview of the project and updated the Board on the progress made since the last update in July. The entire west side has been restored except for some seeding. The south side is also completed. This summer they brought in a lot of dirt and concrete piers (recycled from the pickle factory). There is some erosion because the seeding is not in. The wetlands are helping to break the waves and stabilize the shore area. Water Utilities and Stormwater and Parks crews did a substantial amount of the work. The big thing this winter will be to install 8-foot concrete sidewalks. The last thing will be the improvements to the north shore. What has changed from the original scope is that we are not doing aeration at this time. We're waiting on Stormwater to complete the master plan. Stormwater is looking at the Natural Resources Advis. , Board November 18, 1998 Page 4 possibility of using the lake for stormwater detention. They would have to dredge the lake, removing about 18-24 inches of sludge. The water quality would be improved and aeration would not be required right away. The north shore will look more urban and link into characteristics of the pool. Discussion. • Kelly Ohlson: The plan looks great. Ten to fifteen years ago there was a gas -leak problem. Are there any leaks now? As far as we know, that's entirely cleaned up. • Rick Harness: What will adding storm water do to the water quality? It will be more of a holding area and we may be using aeration with biological augmentation. • Randy Fischer: Is Sheldon Lake in the Old Town Basin? No, it's Canal Importation. What is the source of water for Sheldon Lake? It's from the canal that comes out of the golf course. • There are eighty-four parking spaces on Mulberry, that's too much parking. We'd like to do restoration and make the south side more aesthetically pleasing, but we can't do that until the stormwater issues are resolved. • Randy Fischer: Don't want the lake to be a sludge digester. Sludge doesn't just disappear. Those solids will go to the canal and eventually cause water quality problems. I would prefer dredging. So would we, but there is no money. The estimate for dredging is $500, 000. Dredging may still come up as a stormwater project. • Phil Friedman: How successful have the wetlands been? Very successful, we collected a lot of the plant material from existing natural areas around town and saved a lot of money. Worked closely with the NRD folks. • Phil Friedman: I like the natural restoration process. It's an urban park, but the natural component is good. • Kelly Ohlson: I understand the dollar thing, but we don't want to make other water dirtier to clean this up. That's a good point and worth discussion, right now the big thing is to finish the stabilization. The lake will probably sit one more summer before we know what we're going to do. Have you got much positive publicity from this project? Some. • Bill Miller: It will be interesting to see if the wetlands are big enough to establish red - winged black birds. Howes Street Outfall, Kevin McBride, Jay Rose, Owen Randall Jay Rose, here at the suggestion of Karen Manci, presented an overview of the project. Currently in the process of designing a storm drain to go from Laporte Street and outfall at the east end of Lee Martinez. Will begin June 1 and finish September 1, with the stormwater detention pond to be built next fall. Natural Resources A visory Board • November 18, 1998 Page 5 Jay Rose explained that a detailed study of the drainage and flooding problems in Old Town identified a problem with the Howes Street outfall. There is a collection point of water from the western portion of the basin at Howes and Laporte. Attempting to lower Laporte Street and divert flows to the north toward the river. In the conceptual design, wanted to minimize disruption to the area. There are lots of beautiful trees. Also need to introduce water quality measures. Have designed a water treatment pond shaped into the contours of the area. Karen Manci recommended planting native shrubs to discourage human activity and wildlife disturbance. The proposed pond would have forty hours of retention. We're on a pretty fast track, but there is still time to address issues. Discussion • Bill Miller: Will you be relocating the bike path? Would leave alone except to get flows under trail. Looking at utilizing existing wetland, there are only three or four trees that will be disturbed and they're little ones. This pond will probably see water twice a year; the berm will act as a spillway in bigger events. After planting, will hardly see difference from what's there today. We will probably plant cattails, more ofa wetland area. • Reagan Waskom: What fill material will be used in the berm? Will have to look at the soil type, the berm will need some type of reinforcement. Will probably use buried riprap. It won't be visual and would provide protection in a big storm. • Phil Friedman: When the pond is dry how much relief is there from ground level to the lowest point in the pond? There will be some "nuisance flows" so we're looking seriously at having a permanent wet pond. Another thing Karen would like to see is a boardwalk to provide access to the park. • Bill Miller: What would be the maximum depth? Highest part of berm is five feet, designed to hold 1.28 acre feet. Looking at the possibility ofgetting more volume, can probably squeeze in a little more. • Randy Fischer: What kind of energy dissipater will be used? Plunge pool, concrete baffle block maybe natural grouted boulders would look better. • Don Rodriguez: Great project, good use of natural area. • Phil Friedman: Building a boardwalk and diverting people is a good idea. Don't want to impact the natural area. That follows closely with what Karen and I discussed. • Bill Miller: This would be an "el primo" opportunity to add signage to explain the function of this pond and of the wetlands. • Phil Friedman: Should always seize opportunities to educate and make people aware of what the benefits are. This is exactly what we should be doing, and we need to continue to reinforce that stormwater management in Fort Collins is way above the curve. • Randy Fischer: Have you estimated how much additional flow there will be through the wetland? Not sure at this time, don't know what the "nuisance flows" will be. It shouldn't be a big problem unless it gets to be a really large amount of water. If the Natural Resources AdvisL_ j Board November 18, 1998 Page 6 base flows get excessive it will be addressed. The concern is, if it's a stagnant pond it will change the character. We'll have to rely on staff to make sure it doesn't become excessive. There will be some shift in aquatic species because there will be more water. • Don Rodriguez: The bio-diversity will probably be enhanced. • Bill Miller: Will change the slough from a stagnant one to one that has a more constant flow of water, but in major storm events this system will take water that would have been piped right into the river. It will be diverted into the pond and go through a wetland before it goes into the Poudre. This will enhance the water quality in the Poudre. There will be an aquatic life change that is yet to be determined. • Kelly Ohlson: The majority of the Board thinks it's a good thing. Was this brought to us early enough that if we hated it we would have adequate time to respond? Yes, we just completed the conceptual plan. We are on a fast track though, and that's why we're here now. • Phil Friedman: Is there any particular thing about the project that has come to your attention that should be brought to our attention, any part that you're concerned about that we haven't picked up on? We have looked at this hard and feel good about it. Right now all floodwaters are going right into the river with a large pollutant load. This is an opportunity to address flooding issues, control over water and introduce water quality measures. • Reagan Waskom: Does Stormwater have ongoing monitoring that would quantify that? The only monitoring is on Spring Creek In -stream monitoring is very problematic and expensive. The short answer is no? The answer is no, but we are trying to do more bio-monitoring. • Randy Fischer: It's reassuring that you're taking this approach. This is a legitimate function of a natural area. This will be beneficial to the Poudre as a whole. Review Future Agenda Items December 2, 1998: Begin meeting at 4:30 Add: Natural Areas Acquisitions, Tom Shoemaker Downtown River Plan East Prospect Rezoning Review memo: Horticulture Center Review memo: E. Prospect Rezoning Move: Air Quality Action Plan to January 6 Committee Reports Natural Areas: Don Rodriguez said that the Horticulture Center Site Selection Committee met today (Nov. 18). Jim Clark and Tim Buchanan no longer feel that Lee Martinez is a viable site. At the Lee Martinez neighborhood meetings there was a lot of concern and, to a person, opposition. Not a single person at the CSURF neighborhood meeting opposed the Horticulture Center. There is some support for a horticulture garden at High School Park. Marty Hefferman is drafting a proposal for an easement and exchange of Natural Resources *sory Board • November 18, 1998 Page 7 land that would be part of a deal. There was discussion that Parks & Rec Board is considering a subcommittee of both boards to discuss contentious issues. Growth Mana eg ment: • E. Prospect Rezoning: Proposed change from RC to Employment. Sally Craig and Bill Miller will meet and put together background information fdr the Board on Dec. 2. Downtown River Corridor: Timothy Wilder met with the committee and talked about the need for additional buffering around the river area, possible acquisition. Need to move quickly to get through existing Council's policy agenda before April. Review Action Log See update in packet. Other Business Rigden Farm, Bill Miller: • Request has been made for the area's Urban Estate be changed to LMN, which allows for higher density. • LMN violates the concept of buffering, decrease of density, which will impact the river corridor. • Phil Friedman: If they change the Structure Plan doesn't that imply a change in the zoning? • Kelly Ohlson: If don't want rezoning, we'd better voice an opinion on change to Structure Plan. • Bill Miller: Sally Craig's concern is we don't know what's going to happen to the SW area. • Randy Fischer: People do what they want anyway, we need to weigh in against this or it will make it too easy for them. Motion: Write a short memo to the P&Z Board stating opposition to the proposed changes in the Structure Plan in the area involving Rigden Farm. The motion was approved unanimously. Natural Areas Acquisitions, Tom Shoemaker Postponed to December 2, 1998 meeting ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.