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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/05/19960 MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. JUNE 5,1996 For Reference: Phil Murphy, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Gina Janett, Council Liaison - 493-4677 Tom Shoemaker, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Bill Miller, Phil Murphy, Craig McGee, Kelly Ohlson, Linda Kirkpatrick, Jan Behunek, Phil Friedman, Katy Mason Board Members Absent Ed Secor Staff Present Natural Resources DgZ: Tom Shoemaker, Sally Maggart Engineering Dent.: Marc Engemoen and Mike Herzig; Transportation Services: Ron Phillips Gary Diede, and Kathleen Reavis Guests Evan Manvel, citizen The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. Review and Approval of Minutes With the following changes, the minutes of the May 1, 1996 Meeting were approved as written: Kelly Ohlson said that his announcement on Page 2 should have read "Earth Day" instead of "birthday". Jan Behunek clarified that his sentence in the last paragraph on Page 6 referred to the City Plan, Structure Plan and Master Transportation Plan. He questioned the statement that said Timberline is part of the CIP. Marc Engemoen explained it was a capital improvement program but is not part of the current CIP. Agenda Review Because of miscommunication, an Advance Planning staffinember was unable to attend. A memorandum from Peter Wray updating the City Plan Structure Plan was distributed. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 5, 1996 Page 2 Announcements Phil Friedman reported that there was a good turnout for the Friends of the Poudre festival. Recommendation on Timberline Extension, Jan Behunek, Ad -hoc Committee Boardmember Jan Behunek said that the committee (Linda Kirkpatrick, Phil Murphy, Ed Secor and Behunek) met with Marc Engemoen, City Engineer, on May 9. He referred to the draft memo in the board packet and noted that the majority of the committee felt that, if the City is to grow to the northeast, there is a need for a transportation corridor. The main concern is how the natural area values will balance out; once Timberline is built, there are certain impacts that cannot be mitigated. Behunek noted that the committee's recommendation to Council is to proceed with the design phase of Alternative C and seek additional public comment and review by applicable boards and commissions prior to authorizing construction. He added that the main details in the memo are to maintain a wide corridor and restore degraded areas, replace wetland and wildlife habitats, maintain wildlife movement corridors and minimize light and noise. Bill Miller said that he agrees with the committee's recommendation. He added that in order for development to the northeast to happen, something needs to be done now. Kelly Ohlson said that he would rather go with a "no recommendation". He noted that the employment centers and major shopping are in the south. Katy Mason felt that the electorate was confused with the original ballot language. She reported that there is a petition to get this on the November ballot and let the public vote again. She suggested that the Board wait until after November 5 to make a decision. Ohison recommended a memo to Council incorporating suggestions on mitigation concerns and increasing mitigation funding. Craig McGee said that he thought the committee conscientiously identified the issues. He added that thorough public participation generated the executive summary and he felt there was no need for another vote on the issue. He noted that costs will increase with delays. Phil Friedman said that Alternative B will provide a north -south arterial and will solve traffic congestion without fostering growth in the northeast. He added that there will be less development by not extending Timberline beyond Highway 14. Friedman suggested awaiting the outcome of the petition. Miller said that nobody can forecast development in the northeast; it has not yet happened because of the difficulty in providing utilities. He added that north is the only way growth can go and the Natural Resources Advisory Board June 5, 1996 Page 3 most favorable alignment of Timberline will provide the opportunity to create employment centers in the northeast. Linda Kirkpatrick noted that employment centers were identified in the northeast quadrant in the City Plan Structure Plan. She added that the intent of the ad -hoc committee was not to argue growth issues but to provide Council with information on the consensus of the Board. Phil Murphy said that the committee is not telling Council to go ahead with construction. The committee wants to see the road design. He added that the issue has already been voted on and passed by the voters. Ohlson suggested emphasizing that $150,000 will not be adequate mitigation funding and stressed that the natural area tax funds will not be used for mitigation. He wants the mitigation concerns to go to Council this Tuesday. McGee and Miller agreed. Miller noted that the area will be developed whether or not there is a bridge over the river. He added that not a lot of natural resources will be lost because of the beet drop area and the rip rap by the river. He said that building employment centers to the north is a positive action. Craig McGee made the motion to accept the memorandum as drafted by the committee and send it to Council with the mitigation concerns outlined Bill Miller seconded the motion. The motion did not pass with a tie vote (4-4): For: McGee, Miller, Kirkpatrick and Murphy; Against: Ohlson, Behunek, Mason and Friedman. Craig McGee moved that the Board does not formally take a position on the Timberline Extension, however the Board wants to express the following concerns regarding the proposed extension if and when Timberline is constructed. • Maintain as large an area of open lands along the river and around the proposed road as possible. • Do not increase access to the open lands in the area such that human disturbance becomes a significant impact • Enhance the wildlife habitat and natural area values of surrounding lands by restoring areas that have been degraded in the past • Replace all wetland, rare plant, and wildlife habitats impacted by the project • Maintain wildlife movement corridors. • Assure continued stormwater capacity in a way that maintains or enhances aquatic habitat • Maintain open views of the foothills and mountains to the west • Plan lighting of the roadway so that it does not impact adjacent areas. • Minimize noise impacts on surrounding areas. • Make the bridge and roadway as attractive as possible from an aesthetic standpoint. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 5, 1996 Page 4 Katy Mason seconded the motion. Ohlson proposed a friendly amendment to the motion: Given that the Board did not come to a majority viewpoint on the proposed Timberline Extension, we want to express the following concerns regarding the proposed extension if Timberline is constructed..." McGee and Mason accepted the amendment The motion passed unanimously (8-0). It was decided to have staff "wordsmith" the memo and Murphy will review it tomorrow. Behunek asked for a straw poll on board support for a motion opposing the building of the road. Five board members (Miller, Murphy, McGee, Kirkpatrick and Friedman) could not support the "no build" Alternative A. Master Transportation Plan, Transportation Staff Tom Frazier, Transportation Services, explained the integration of the Pedestrian Plan, the Bikeway Plan, the Transit Plan and the Parking Plan into the City Plan process. Once standards have been set for street design, the Master Streets Plan will tie into the Master Transportation Plan. It is important to think about the street system being for all modes of transportation, not just cars. Street Standards Gary Diede, Transportation Services, gave a brief overview of the proposed street standards. Residential streets will be 30' instead of 36', parkways and sidewalks will be wider, bike lanes and medians will be added and there will be landscaped strips the whole length of the arterial mile rather than just at intersections. Ohlson noted that landscaped medians are aesthetically wonderful, but the costs are very high for maintenance. Diede responded that the Parks Department estimates it will cost $10,000 a year to maintain one half mile. Mike Herzig, Engineer, said there is a median streetscape committee working on the element of maintenance costs depending on the level of landscaping. Phil Murphy noted that there are valuable reasons for medians, e.g., noise abatement and heat dissipation. Diede said that ground cover and wood chips would be used instead of grass for water conservation. Ohlson asked if these standards are requirements or suggestions. Diede responded that this will be the new street standard; 36' will no longer be allowed except on collector streets. Linda Kirkpatrick asked why there were no bike lanes on connector streets. Herzig replied that the proposed traffic volumes will be light enough on those to allow both bicycles and cars to function. Phil Friedman asked if thought had been given to the increase in maintenance costs with the addition of bike lanes and pathways. Diede responded that another sweeper will be purchased and liquid de- icers will be used instead of sand to reduce unsafe conditions. 0 Natural Resources Advisory Board June 5, 1996 Page 5 Friedman said it is critical to have better education and enforcement on bicycle safety. Kathleen Reavis, Transportation Services, said funding has been received for a Bike Education Coordinator. Craig McGee commented that light bars are used in Canada to illuminate pedestrian pathways. Kirkpatrick noted that crosswalks are inadequate. Reavis said that the City is looking at the connectivity and continuity of the system. Pedestrian Plan Kathleen Reavis, Transportation Planning, explained that design standards, ordinances, education, and enforcement components from the pedestrian perspective are included in a comprehensive pedestrian plan. This is tied to the Master Transportation Plan schedule and should be finished in August. Katy Mason noted that right turn lanes make it difficult for pedestrians. She suggested considering no right turns on red lights with busy pedestrian crosswalks. Reavis said that mid -block crossings are being considered along with timing lights. Bill Miller asked if the City can pass an ordinance to give pedestrians the right of way. Reavis responded "yes". She will check with other communities that have a pedestrian ordinance. She added that there is a lot more work to do on the plan and she will keep the Board updated. Master Street Plan Update Tom Frazier, Transportation Services, said that the Master Street Plan has direct ties to the preferred Alternative C in the City Plan. He noted that the traffic flow modeling has not been completed. Frazier explained that changes to Alternative C include more single family in the southeast, limited rural residential development in the north and elimination of the urban reserve in the south. The big concern in the Special Study Area is the receiving area for transfer development rights. The County is looking to trade off other land not being developed. Frazier noted that this goes to the Council Work Session on June 11 and will be voted on July 2. Mason suggested having a Growth Management Committee meeting before next Tuesday's Council Work Session. Frazier said that he will return to give an update after the June 11 Work Session or he will meet with the subcommittee. He noted that the Transportation Board is meeting on June 19 and this will be discussed again then. Natural Areas Update, Tom Shoemaker Shoemaker noted that there is a placeholder in the capital improvement process for additional natural Natural Resources Advisory Board June 5, 1996 Page 6 areas and open lands projects. One of the projects is getting the natural areas and parks into the GIS data base system. He will give more details at the July meeting. Shoemaker reported on the following pending acquisitions: • Not giving up on the areas around Timberline • Close to contract on two parcels around Pineridge • Donation of 41 acres of foothills property • Working on Poudre River acquisition related to the GOCO grant • Active negotiations in the Wren Pit area • Nix Farm under contract - will close the end of the year • Serious negotiations on a 17 acre parcel adjacent to McMurray Ponds. This is generating a lot of controversy because of the five trailer homes located on the property. An offer has been made but there is no contract. • Provincetown is going through the development process. 160 acres would stay in City ownership. • Addition of 140 acres to the Cathy Fromme Prairie is under contract with the contingency that the owners have the ability to pull out if it is not economic viable. There are issues related to the design. A computer model of the Harmony Ridge development produced by EDAW was presented. • Fossil Creek Estates Phase 1 has been sold and will be constructed. Acquisition of Phases 2 and 3 is still viable. Other Business Phil Friedman and Phil Murphy will attend the Transportation Board meeting on June 19 at 5:45 p.m. Bill Miller said he did not know if his term will be extended. If it is not, the Board will need to appoint a representative to the Larimer County Advisory Board. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m.