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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 05/20/1998Call Meeting to Order: The special meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Vice President Jessica MacMillan. Board Members Marilyn Barnes, Diane Thies, and Paul Van Valkenburg called to say they would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Rebecca Chavez, seconded by Lance Freeman, the Board unanimously (6-0) voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of April 22, 1998. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda. Mike powers expressed the importance of the regular meeting next week. Recommendation of Building Community Choices Site Selection: Community Horticulture Mike Powers explained that on Tuesday, May 26, the Council at its study session will provide direction on the site selection of the horticulture center. City Forester Tim Buchanan and Horticulturist Jim Clark distributed a map and addressed the natural resources concerns for the Lee Martinez site. They said they will review the top three sites: Lee Martinez, Resource Recovery, and the Nix property. They also informed the Board that CSU will have a proposal for the Council next week. Tim first reviewed the Lee Martinez site. He pointed out the specific areas where the horticulture center is proposed. It has natural woodland marsh and that will be preserved. Visibility of Cherry and College Avenue corner is a plus for the center's site and a formal garden will be designed on this corner. Jessica MacMillan pointed out that this was the number one choice at the open house and also the most negative comments at the oven house (27 nositive comments and 10 negative Parks and Recreation Board Special Meeting May 20, 1998 Page 2 Center could assist on this project. This 15-acre site has mature trees, a varied topography, is near downtown, and close to active recreation area. These amenities are some of the reasons the sub- committee rated this site highly. The woodland area would be preserved. There is a buffer zone around the perimeter. Storm water ponds will be creatively designed and will become part of the horticulture gardens. The formal gardens will be closer to the facility; informal natural gardens would be along the protected woodland marsh, and a fence would be built around the perimeter of the site for security reasons. Tim explained that the Natural Resources environmental concerns have been met in this plan as follows: • Building in the flood plain -- There will be no building of large structures or buildings in the flood plain. • Forcing the bike trail to be closer to the river -- The east/west trail will remain in its current location. • Areas used for birding --- Areas will continue to be provided for birding. • Site fencing would be designed to preserve the wildlife corridor. • Concern of the negative impacts of the woodland marsh area -- There will be no alteration to the woodland marsh, and no intrusion of humans. The existing trail next to the woodland marsh will be moved east and the current parking area removed. • Green herons have nested in this area -- The green herons are rare in the Colorado and the relocation of the trail will help protect their nesting area. Tim reviewed the City Code for development adjacent to a natural area and we are in compliance with the codes. Special species are not being disturbed and the wildlife corridor will be preserved. The building would be appropriate for the site architecturally. It will be a greenhouse type building with windows to the south. This meets all the criteria of the City Plan. Marty Heffernan added that the Natural Resources Board is concerned that the staff (Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources) worked together to make this area in Martinez Park a natural area and now we are building on it. Marty said the Open Lands Guidance Team and the Open Lands Natural Area Team discussed including the area of the park between the river and the east/west trail in the Natural Areas Management Plan for the river. Staff agreed to include this area in the plan because there were no existine plans to develop this part of the park. However, it was understood Parks and Recreation Board Special Meeting May 20, 1998 Page 3 that future use of this area for park purposes may be needed and that recreational uses not allowed in other natural areas would be allowed on this area, including a dog park. Marty also said that the Community Horticulture Center is not utilizing any of this "natural area" because it will be located south of the trail and will buffer and preserve the woodland area. Del Price, who was a member of the Site Selection Sub -committee, said that Tim gave a thorough presentation. He wanted to address some of the concerns. The parking lot at Martinez will be moved and this will substantially reducing the traffic along the natural area. It would have less impact on the wildlife than currently exists. Del further added that the sub -committee agreed unanimously that they recommend to the Board that we go forth with the Lee Martinez Park site as the number one recommendation. Del said when we initially looked at this site, we included the ponds. He said we could improve this site immensely. If we could move the trail along the ponds, it would enhance the trail and the horticulture site 100 percent. The horticulture center could introduce aquatic plantings. However, he reiterated that the recommendation of the Site Selection Sub -committee is to go with the plan as presented to build the community horticulture center in the Lee Martinez site without moving the east/west trail. Lance Freeman replied that the Natural Resources Board does not want any development along the river in the downtown area. Del said the subcommittee has met with some of the natural area people who said they would consider the Nix property by Riverside. Natural Resources staff said that it (horticulture center) couldn't extend over the hillside. The site has a very limited access. Jessica said it is in the area that people won't want to visit. With these restrictions the subcommittee felt the Nix site is not a viable site. Del said CSU is a partner in the Resource Recovery Farm area along with the State Parks, the Geologic Park and the Visitors' Center. Lee Martinez is the committee's recommendation. He reiterated the overwhelming and unanimous recommendation is Lee Martinez Park site. The PERC site (CSU proposal) ranked 6th out of 10 choices. Dean asked where Natural Resources would like this horticulture center to be built? Answer was the Resource Recovery Farm. Jessica asked how many years would it take to get the Resource Recovery Farm to an esthetically pleasing state? She asked what is the best site for the community? Answer from the subcommittee members was the Lee Martinez site. Jessica further stated that the Resource Recovery site would have to be accessed by vehicles by 95% of the population. One more aspect of the Martinez site is that brings vitality to the downtown area to visit and bring back some of that old town feeling. Noise concerns with the interstate is a problem with the Resource Recovery Farm. The project should be primarily a community horticulture center and secondarily a tourist attraction. Parks and Recreation Board Special Meeting May 20, 1998 Page 4 Mary said the Martinez location provides a way to clean up this area. It is presently not very attractive. It would enhance the north area of Fort Collins. He further said we have been asked by Council to give them a recommendation. He said it is our recommendation to go with Lee Martinez. Dean asked if CSU wants to partner, can they partner with the City at Lee Martinez? Lance replied that they can become involved with internships and class projects by utilizing a master garden site for CSU. Dean said that's the way to fulfill both of our missions. Lance said that if this building is constructed on the CSU Campus, it must meet their review committee's criteria on the campus and it would have to be their design. Del stated that CSU doesn't have the funding for a horticulture center. A motion to accept the Lee Martinez site for the community horticulture center as presented by staff tonight was made by Rebecca Chavez, seconded by Dean Hoag, and the Board voted unanimously (6-0). The subcommittee ranked the Resources Farm as their second choice and the Board supports that recommendation. To include this in the Board's recommendation, Rebecca's first motion was repealed. A new motion was made by Rebecca Chavez to strongly support Lee Martinez Park site as the number one choice for the community horticulture center. In addition the Board endorses the rankings of the subcommittee with regard to the other sites, and feels the natural resources issues have been satisfactorily addressed at the Lee Martinez site through the conceptual plan. The motion was seconded by Dean Hoag, and the Board approved it unanimously (6-0). Mike Powers reminded the Board that the Study Session on the site selection for the Horticulture Center will be Tuesday, May 26, at 6:00 p.m. and the formal Council meeting will be Tuesday, June 16. The Horticulture item will be the second item discussed on May 26 and is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Meeting Attendance Parks and Recreation Board Special Meeting May 20, 1998 Page 5 Board Members Rebecca Chavez Lance Freeman Dean Hoag Jessica MacMillan Mary Ness Del Price Staff Tim Buchanan Jim Clark Marty Heffernan Mike Powers Jackie Rael