HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 10/7/2014 - Memorandum From Trudy Haines, Land Conservation And Stewardship Re: Downtown Poudre River Master Plan � Agenda Item #17Natural Areas Department
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Memorandum
To: City Council
From: Land Conservation and Stewardship Board, Trudy Haines, Chair
Date: October 2, 2014
Re: Downtown Poudre River Master Plan
The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board has carefully considered the Downtown Poudre River Master
Plan. At the October 1st, 2014, meeting of the Board, the Board moved to make several recommendations to
Council for its consideration on October 7th, when the Council will be considering the adoption of the Plan by
resolution.
The entire Board believes the overall Plan is a good document and appreciates the effort that has gone into
its development and supports the majority of recommendations. The Board particularly appreciates the fact
that staff responded to its previous concerns about the plan and made various improvements to the Plan
especially to Reach 3 of the Plan. However, the Board still has concerns for the Council’s consideration.
Reach 3 whitewater play waves: The Board was split over the whitewater play waves that are part of the
Reach 3 conceptual design. Three Board members voted to support the play waves while three Board
members voted to oppose the play waves. In general, supporters felt staff had done a good job of balancing
various interests in Reach 3 given the more natural bank structure redesign and while not ideal from a habitat
perspective, the wave elements would help reconnect aquatic habitat. On the other hand, three Board
members felt that the play waves were not an appropriate feature in this reach of the river and still has
concerns about the bank structures: that the design of the play waves will have negative habitat impact and
the bank structures will still encourage too many people to congregate in the same place, also negatively
impacting habitat.
The Board also considered the financial plans for Reach 3. The Board unanimously voted in favor of a
motion to recommend to the following to Council:
1. That no Natural Area’s funds should be used for any of the proposed improvements to Reach 3 for
play waves or for the construction of a bank structure to support the play wave park (terraces or
platforms along the banks). The Board believes strongly that the proposed improvements in this
reach for play waves and supporting bank structures are not aligned with the core mission of habitat
and land preservation of Natural Areas.
2. That no Natural Area’s funds should ever be used in Reach 3 for replacement or maintenance of the
proposed improvements either for the play waves or for the structures along the banks.
3. The motion also recommends that no public monies be spent on the white water play waves in Reach
3, but should be paid for entirely by private funds. Public funds should be directed to other more in-
demand amenities. For example, trails are heavily used by the public as opposed to the play waves
which will only be utilized by a small segment of the public. Survey results also support this: in the
Our Lands, Our Future survey, when asked, the majority of citizens would like to have more land
preservation and trails; kayak waves represented a very small minority interest.
The Board appreciates this opportunity to share its views with Council.
Agenda Item #17 - Oct 7, 2014 Council Meeting
CC: Darin Atteberry, City Manager