City Council Minutes 2021 08 17 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes August 17, 2021 Page 9 of 12 Jan Prokop, 637 West Street, stated she doesn't support the proposal as it is too big and without dedicated tenants. She encouraged Council to require more open space. She urged a no vote. Lara Parks Pederson, 2297 Cliffrose Lane, stated this is a critical wildlife habitat that should be protected. She stated residents don't want this and urged a no vote. Chris Barr, 601 Spruce Circle, urged a no vote stating there is no longer a demand for office space and we have unused office space in town already. He stated the development would only contribute to climate change and impact the wildlife. Mayor Stolzmann asked for the applicant presentation. Geoff Baukol, applicant, asked Kristen Oles to address the plans for habitat on the site. Kristen Oles, High Plains Environmental Center, stated her company works with developers to balance habitat protections in development plans. She reviewed sections of the management plan noting their goal is to find ways for the development to enhance the existing habitat particularly in the riparian areas and the wetlands around the ponds. The highest impacts on habitat are from cars and people and they recommend ways to use the buildings to shield habitat areas from these impacts. The management plan includes saving all trees in the wetlands unless they are a safety concern. Bill Fox, traffic consultant, stated putting in the Campus Drive extension eliminates the need of the City to widen Dillon Road and 88t" Street. He stated the alignment as proposed is preferable to aligning it with Paradise Lane so as not to combine the office and school traffic with the residential traffic and Boulder County does not want it to do that as well. Additionally, their models do not show a queuing problem at the east intersection at the Northwest Parkway. He stated their report shows that the offsite improvements at the various intersections are likely needed regardless of whether this site is developed or not. The site brings traffic that accelerates the need for the improvements but they will be needed either way. He stated the four -lane roads that are recommended are just in the first block between Sorrel Drive and Rockcress Drive and the Northwest Parkway to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic then distribute it throughout the site. It allows for the needed double left turn at those intersections. The remaining streets are two-lane. Mayor Stolzmann asked what use groups are proposed in the GDP. Director Zuccaro reviewed the use groups being proposed by zoning; there are no special review uses being proposed. Mayor Stolzmann suggested removing gas stations and nonprofit uses on this site. Councilmember Fahey stated she supports electrification and EV stations on the property.