Indian Peaks Group Conservation Committee
Draft Minutes
July 6, 2005
INDIAN PEAKS GROUP CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
1. INTRODUCTIONS. Those present were: Billie Gutgsell, Bev Baker, Kirk
Cunningham, Linda Batlin, Todd Sanford, Justin Reilly, and Michelle Krezek
2.
BOULDER COUNTY LAND USE CODE UPDATE
Michelle Krezek went over some of the basic proposed changes and took questions.
Some of the important issues raised were:
a) Commissioners Toor and
Pearlman initiated a re-examination of the Land Use Code in May, 2005,
after many years of no basic changes and
incremental additions to the code. The Commissioners would like lots
of input from County residents and interest groups, not just those
with a vested interest in development.
b) The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan would not be changed by any
changes in the Land Use Code.
c) The County website (www.co.boulder.co.us)
has a list of all the proposed changes (if not in detail then at least
in concept) that have been proposed
so far. Sierra Club members are encouraged to go to that site and add
their own comments, which can be made anonymously. There will be a
public hearing before the Commissioners during the first part of 2006.
Michelle
Krezek should be considered our primary contact with the County regarding
Land Use Code changes. Here contact points are: mkrezek@co.boulder.co.us
and 720-564-2623.
d) ISDS (i.e. septic system) issue. Would changes in the Land Use Code
allow for a more stringent regulation of ISDSs? Answer: not directly,
because the County Health Dept. regulates them under different rules,
but some carrots and sticks can be added in the form of "green building
regulations" that could push new homes to have alternative, less-polluting
systems.
e) Can defensible space for mountain homes in the Forestry Zone be encouraged
through Land Use Code changes? Answer: a wildfire mitigation plan is
already required when new homes or significant additions are built, and
local fire protection districts can also require wildfire mitigation
measures.
f) Could abandoned mines or mine reclamation be required through changes
in the Land Use Code? Answer: abandoned mines are regulated by the state
and would not be covered by the Land Use Code.
g) Could the Land Use Code be modified to require better protection
of wildlife habitat? Answer: site plan review for new and significantly
modified dwellings considers any wildlife migration corridors, which
are keyed into existing Comprehensive Plan overlays regarding wildlife.
h) Could changes in the Land Use Code weaken or strengthen County 1041
regulations regarding natural hazards? Answer: 1041 regulations are separately
determined and no effects from Land Use Code changes are anticipated.
i) The specific areas for which the County is seeking input are the
following:
- Green building and energy conservation provisions for all new
development
- Mountain lot mergers (Article 18-121 Building Lot)
- Site Plan Review
revisions including definition of neighborhood character (Article
4)
- Clarification of the Land Use Code in general, including annotation
and additional handouts
- Sign code (Article 13)
- Non-conforming uses (Article 4-1000)
- Update and clarification of
development standards in Article 7, including road standards and
erosion and sedimentation
controls
- Review processes
3. WILDLIFE - Billie Gutgsell
A. CITY OF BOULDER URBAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN
UPDATE. At its last meeting, the City Council decided to allocate $14,000
for a study of prairie dog management options. This is not likely to
involve new data, just a compendium of existing studies. Kirk was under
the impression that the Environmental Advisory Board will take a lead
role in looking at aspects of the Wildlife Management Plan, including
basic overall goals - he will consult with members of the Board to
get details.
B. WOLF REINTRODUCTION CAMPAIGN. This is in low gear now, awaiting developments
at the state and federal level. Kirk wanted to know if the numbers of
people who have expressed an interest in this campaign on the Chapter
website have been incorporated into any sort of mailing list.
C. HIGHWAY/WILDLIFE CONFLICTS. The Southern Rockies
Ecosystem Project has produced a video about how to mitigate for highway/wildlife
conflicts, e.g. the use of vegetated overpasses, but Billie has no
word as to when the video will be available for viewing. When it is,
we will try to arrange a showing at the nearest ConsComm meeting. For
example, the cement barriers put on the medians of stretches of I-70
were the major factor in the death of the wolf that was killed this
spring on I-70.
D. SAVE OLD SOUTH ROAD CAMPAIGN. A proposal for a foot trail between
Lyons and the Hall Ranch has run into a conflict with wildlife habitat.
Deirdre is following this controversy.
E. VALMONT BUTTE. The IPG has decided not to get involved with this
issue, although several City boards have looked at it and the locals
are still agitated. The interested boards have concluded that the city
staff will go ahead with the proposed developments regardless.
F. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT THREATS. HR 1266 (R-Pombo-
CA) is a serious threat to the core of this Act because it essentially
removes are the Act's requirements for the protection of habitat. The
bill is still in a House committee, but it would be worthwhile contacting
Rep. Mark Udall in opposition to it. An alert with specifics has been
sent out on this list.
4. NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT - Todd Sanford and Kirk Cunningham
A.
ST. VRAIN FUEL REDUCTION PROJECT. Kirk and Deirdre Butler attended the
latest public meeting and tour about this project, July 2nd, near Allenspark,
and had the following impressions:
The scope of project has been somewhat
reduced, with some attendant environmental benefits
- The basic goals
of the project seem to be OK, but there may be devils in the details
and questions whether there will be funds to complete
the contracted work (including road reclamation).
- Impacts on the North
St. Vrain Roadless Area will probably be small.
- There was good local
interest in the project from year-round residents, but part-year residents
were poorly represented at the meeting. They
also appear to be the ones with the most "defensible space" issues
around their homes.
- Comments on the project must be submitted by July
18th, and the work will likely commence this fall.
B. TRAIL DECONSTRUCTION
WORK PROJECT, SATURDAY,
JULY 30, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM. This project will occur in the West Magnolia
area, just south of Nederland and west of the Peak-to-Peak Highway,
which has an extensive (and largely user-created) motorized and mountain
bike trail network. The project is aimed at closing a foot (and to
some extent a bike and motorcycle) trail that leaves this area going
west. This is principally a Sierra Club project. C. PROTECTING ROADLESS AREAS. As a consequence of state legislation
this year, in response to the revocation of the Clinton-era Roadless
Rule, the Governor is supposed to create a Task Force to advise him about
what roadless National Forest lands in Colorado to request protection
for. The Governor has only 18 months to make a recommendation to the
Forest Service, which then has the option of ignoring that input. The
Task Force is in the process of being chosen, but the actual roster is
turning out to be a waiting game between the Governor, state legislators,
and environmental groups. Todd is working with Adriana on the Task Force
and related issues and will have more information to report at the next
ConsComm meeting.
D. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK WILDERNESS. The
recent public meeting on the Park Service's wilderness proposal in Estes
Park was well-attended, and the proposal favorably received by Estes
Park officials and others. Todd was especially impressed by the testimony
of Edna Mills Kiley, the granddaughter of Enos Mills, one of the Park's
early promoters. There was less positive, but still generally favorable
opinion about the proposal in the Grand Lake hearing.
5. OPEN SPACE -
Justin Reilly
Criteria for establishing and siting new and existing trails on open
space is still the subject of public meetings, much of it somewhat
technical in nature. Updates of he public input can be found on the City's
website
(www.ci.boulder.co.us). 6. TOXICS- Kirk Cunningham
A. WEST
NILE VIRUS. A flyer on how to minimize exposure to the West Nile
virus and avoiding spraying of private property is available from
Kirk. Fortunately, West Nile virus has not become a big issue (yet)
this year, despite some favorable weather for its development. B. PESTICIDES ON COUNTY OPEN SPACE. There will be a site visit to the
County's Lastoka Open Space property with County Commissioners and staff
and Prof. Tim Seastedt of the EPO Biology Dept. of CU, Friday, July 15,
to view effects of insect control of knapweed. Seastedt has some important
criticisms of the County's weed control program, i.e. that they rely
too heavily on spraying and less on prevention and non-chemical methods.
C. CEMEX LAWSUIT APPEAL is on temporary hold.
7. ST. VRAIN STATE PARK/ WELD COUNTY ROAD 7 ISSUE
This is on hold while State Parks and the county negotiate an alternative route
to minimize or avoid damage to the Park. State Parks still strongly
opposes Weld County's plans to build a four-lane road through a State
Park, whose expansion has been a major Legacy Project of Great Outdoors
Colorado. Kirk Cunningham, Conservation Chair
Indian Peaks Group
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