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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 06/14/2023 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting | Primrose Studio, 4300 Michaud Lane, Fort Collins June 14, 2023 Members: Ross Cunniff, Chair Holger Kley, Member Scott Mason, Vice Chair Elena Lopez, Member Denise Culver, Member Joe Piesman, Member Andrea Elson, Member 6 /14 /2023 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Holger Kley, Denise Culver, Joe Piesman, Elena Lopez, Ross Cunniff, Andrea Elson Excused: Scott Mason NAD Staff: Katie Donahue, Julia Feder, Mary Boyts, Kristina Ostrowski 3. AGENDA REVIEW: No changes to the agenda 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS: Mark Sears. Mark Sears stated he was present this evening to observe and get ready to join the Board next month if Council approves his appointment. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Piesman made a motion to approve the April 2023 LCSB Retreat meeting minutes and the May 2023 regular meeting minutes. Member Culver seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved 6-0. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS Former Hughes Stadium site Chair Cunniff opened the discussion by stating the purpose of today’s tour was inform any recommendation made to Council regarding the proposed future use of the former Hughes Stadium site; specifically, compatibility use adjacent to existing natural areas. He reminded everyone that it has been the intent of the LCSB to make a recommendation to Council as the decision for possible use scenarios draws closer. Chair Cunniff asked staff for an update on the City’s acquisition of the property. Katie Donahue reported the City is under contract to purchase the property with the closing scheduled for later this summer. It is understood that Real Estate Services is doing standard due diligence, including environmental review, but no details have been made available. Katie reiterated the direction from Council during their work session was that they are not in a rush to decide on use scenarios. The City Manager’s Office has tentatively planned for additional public engagement later this fall. Member Piesman asked for confirmation of the proposed $2 million contribution required of the DocuSign Envelope ID: E718DF03-DDBD-40F3-82BC-3A64F8D64464 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 6 /14 /2023 MINUTES Page 2 Natural Areas Department. Katie Donahue confirmed and noted the NAD has their contribution amount held in reserve with the total purchase balance being bonded. Final financial obligations across City departments will depend on the final property management and use decisions made by Council. Chair Cunniff noted some members of the public attended the tour and their questions were centered on future restoration, soil contamination, any remaining foundation of the stadium structure, water rights, and the source of the fill dirt. Member Culver asked if the public was there because of the potential for a mountain bike park and stated it was interesting to hear questions from the community. Member Elson said it seemed like the LCSB was holding back and asked if other groups interested in future use were also waiting to see what happens; did anyone have a sense of the interested groups actively lobbying Council. Chair Cunniff replied he thinks bike advocates are lobbying for a structured bicycle sports venue on the site. Member Piesman asked if there was a natural demarcation that set off the west portion of the property which is of higher value as a future natural area. He recalled the number of trees on the west side that provide habitat for birds, and the many flowers and pollinators but recognized the habitat value drops going east across the property. Member Culver agreed on the value of the trees. She commented on the presence of yellow clover and Western Wheat grass and reported she heard Spotted Towhees, Goldfinches and Chorus frogs. She suggested if something is built on the site, it might make sense to put it atop any remaining underground stadium structure. Before contributing to the discussion, Member Lopez explained she is a member of the Planning Action to Transform Hughes Sustainably (PATHS) group and contributed to co-organizing the ballot initiative to acquire the site. She stated the importance of the legislative intent of the ballot measure. The provision of a wildlife center was presented to the public as one of the uses of the property and she cited the language in the ballot for “wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.” Member Lopez voiced concern the property is being described as contaminated and cautioned against that label as a false talking point. She also mentioned that CSU reported a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment did not indicate soil contamination. Member Kley described the property as roughly quadrants: the stormwater retention and disc golf course; the southwest corner where most of the trees are located; the northern half with the stadium structure site; and the mowed areas to the east. It’s logical to consider converting the northwest back corner to a natural area because of its proximity to Maxwell Natural Area. He recognized it is also the most disturbed portion of the site. Member Kley stated one of the challenges will be figuring out how best to partition the property. Member Piesman wondered if it made sense to establish native vegetation atop the existing debris; create a shortgrass prairie. DocuSign Envelope ID: E718DF03-DDBD-40F3-82BC-3A64F8D64464 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 6 /14 /2023 MINUTES Page 3 Member Elson expressed her concern about the potential for a mountain bike skills park, with its accompanying lights and vehicle parking. Member Lopez stated that was just one of the components. It has also been proposed to create intersecting trails that would traverse the property. Member Culver asked, given the ballot language, how bike advocates can have a seat at the table. Several members replied that because the ballot included “recreation” as a use, the definition is open to interpretation. Member Lopez reiterated the intent was to maintain the site as much as it exists today, with some low-impact recreation and a wildlife center. Member Elson stated there seems to be two components for consideration by the LCSB: providing a buffer for and protecting the existing natural areas, and to identify how much of the site to incorporate into natural areas. Member Lopez added a third component is the collective value of the LCSB regarding restoration of disturbed lands. Member Piesman recounted his wildlife observations at and near the site, including a bobcat, moose, golden eagles, and bald eagles. He expressed the parcel is a rich wildlife habitat and asserted there is no doubt about the value of incorporating part of the property into Maxwell Natural Area. He asked if the Board wants to weigh in on the use of entire property. This led to a brief discussion of the historic use (sledding and disc golf) and the potential for maintenance costs to the City for some of the proposed uses. Chair Cunniff described the portion of Spring Canyon Park as intentionally designed (including boulders, hills, and native vegetation) to be more compatible with the adjacent Pineridge Natural Area example of a possible buffer. Member Piesman stated the memo to Council should highlight the advantages of incorporating the western 1/4-1/3 of the site into Maxwell Natural Area and emphasize the importance of any adjacent activities to be low impact; a mountain bike venue would be incongruous. Member Kley pointed out the unintended impact of a connector bike trail and that it should be carefully considered. Member Lopez reported the staff of the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center and the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program stated high intensity recreation use would not be compatible with their work. Member Culver explained it would be important to include these details in the memo to inform Council about things they might otherwise not be aware of. Member Piesman proposed that some members of the Board volunteer to start writing a draft memo which would include the items discussed. The draft would be shared with the LCSB in the July packet to be finalized during the regular meeting. Members Piesman and Lopez, and Chair Cunniff agreed to draft a memo on behalf of the LCSB regarding future use at the former Hughes Stadium site. 7. BOARD UPDATES Bicycle Advisory Committee No update due to Member Mason’s absence. DocuSign Envelope ID: E718DF03-DDBD-40F3-82BC-3A64F8D64464 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 6 /14 /2023 MINUTES Page 4 Member Lopez inquired if Kirk Longstein was going to present to the LCSB on the Draft Oil and Gas Regulations reverse setbacks. 8. DEPARTMENT UPDATES Katie Donahue Land Conservation Natural Areas staff will present the quarterly Land Conservation update during next month’s regular meeting. Katie Donahue noted the small 8-acre addition to Crossline Canyon has closed and staff will be closing on a parcel within the city limits later this week. Master Plan update NAD Planning staff is moving into the cycle of revising the existing NAD Master Plan, including no longer using the term “master” due to its negative connotations. Staff is proposing a new title and subtitle and would appreciate LCSB member’s feedback via an online poll. Staff will send the link to Board members in the next week. Easements Katie Donahue informed the LCSB of three easement requests that will be coming before the Board in the near future. Katie Donahue emphasized Tawnya Ernst is working to minimize easement requests with a thorough vetting process which includes requiring applicants to provide viable alternatives. Chair Cunniff stated applicants can go directly to Council for approval rather than having City staff make a request to advisory boards for a recommendation. Heaven’s Door Katie Donahue and Julia Feder reminded the Board about the Heaven’s Door Ranch tour with Larimer County Department of Natural Resources on June 26, 2023. Staff will send a follow up email with the meeting time and location for carpooling. 9. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m. Ross Cunniff, Chair Date DocuSign Envelope ID: E718DF03-DDBD-40F3-82BC-3A64F8D64464 7/17/2023