City Council Minutes 2003 04 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting April 15, 2003 Page 8 of 14 Matt Jones, 265 Dahlia Drive, Louisville, CO, Chairperson of the Louisville Open Space Advisory Board, reported several members of the Board would also testify. He explained the Board does not believe the trail is located to have the least impact on the ecosystem. He referred to the ordinance, creating the Open Space Advisory Board and establishing their responsibilities. He stated the trail does not have the least effect on the ecosystem and is directly through the tree canopy. He noted the City and County Staff has done a good job environmentally at the site, however a buffer would lessen the effect of the impact. The Board recommends moving the trail further away from the riparian zone. Pat Hombostel, 655 W. Hawthorn Street, Louisville, CO, reviewed an aerial photograph of the trail area, which was not available at the June 2002 meeting. At the meeting, he suggested moving the trail to Avista Hospital and under US36, to avoid the riparian area. He referred to the ordinance, dictating minimal damage to the ecosystem and felt there are problems with the current plan. He addressed the slope of the bridge, noting it was not ADA compliant and stressed soft trails are not wheel-chair friendly. He asked Council to move the trail away from the riparian area. Cary Tengler, 584 W. Sagebrush Court, Louisville, CO, Secretary for the Louisville Open Space Advisory Board, clarified a City memo, which mentioned the Board's universal approval of the Coal Creek project. Referring to the minutes of the June meeting, he noted neither a motion nor a vote was taken on the trail project. He agreed the four members in attendance were very enthusiastic about the completion of the trail. He quoted from the Coal Creek inventory, which state, "the Coal Creek riparian corridor is the jewel in the crown of Louisville open space in terms of wildlife use." He stressed the importance of avoiding construction of trails, and the preservation of the canopy. He stated the parcel is valued and asked that the trail be rerouted to a more northern route. Bob Muckle, 1101 Lincoln Avenue, Louisville, CO, Opens Space Advisory Board member, addressed the memos, and stated the Board was enthusiastic about the trail but did not universally approve the project. He noted the Board discussed alternate routes and debated whether the trail would impact the riparian trail. He referred to the City Ordinance, which asserts the ecosystem could not be impacted by trails. He stated if the ordinance is to be followed, serious consideration should be given to rerouting the trail. COUNCIL COMMENT Brown asked City Attorney Light to review the language of the Ordinance, as it relates to the duties of the Open Space Advisory Board. City Attorney Sam Light reviewed the Louisville Municipal Code: Section 4.02.030 B (d) Initial Duties of Open Space Advisory Board Members - Open space master plan, "In the instance where the available information indicates that the location of a trail as recommended in the existing Trails Master Plan is not appropriate, the Board shall recommend an alternative location for such trail as is necessary to mitigate the adverse environmental affects of the originally suggested location." He noted the section referred