City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2004 04 27

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Summary & Status Report Open Space and Trail Requests From Boulder County Communities March 2004 Each year, the Parks and Open Space Director solicits input from the communities in the count regarding open space and trail projects, fulfilling a commitment made in the 1993 open space tax proposal. These suggestions are considered when setting open space acquisition and trail project priorities. Below is a summary of the most recent requests submitted from each community, and the status of each project. We look forward to visiting with you about ongoing projects and your desires for future open space projects. CITY OF BOULDER (2001) A. Open Space requests: 1. Northern tier, north of current city open space. Includes Table Mountain, Haystack Mountain, and the North Foothills Highway to Lyons. Important for vegetation, habitat, scenic preservation, geologic features, agriculture preservation and urban buffer. Status: Boulder County purchased the Cemex property (115 acres west of North Foothills Highway near Lyons) and the Etter (35 acres west of the North Foothills Highway and adjacent to Heil Ranch). Boulder County and City of Boulder jointly purchased the Imel property (575 acres east and west of N. 63 north of Nimbus Road). In 2002, the City and County jointly purchased the Lopez Conservation Easement (83.5 acres on the east side of N. 49 St. In 2003, the. County purchased the DeLuca property (21 acres on the east side of Hwy 36 north of Neva Road adjacent to the Faivre /Sutherland Conservation Easement and City open space) and the Hansen Hwy 36 property (106 acres on both sides of Hwy 36 just south of Hygiene Road. 2. Boulder Creek east of 95 Street. Important for riparian habitat, wetlands, wildlife (great blue herons, black- crowned night herons, great egrets), scenic preservation, agriculture preservation. Status: Most of the area is open space. City and County plan to jointly purchase the MMS property, consisting of 134 acres on the south side of Boulder Creek. Will pursue remaining opportunities as they become available. 3. Boulder /Longmont Diagonal. Important for scenic preservation, wildlife habitat (Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse), agricultural preservation and urban buffer. Status: The County and City jointly purchased the IBM property (185 acres between Monarch and Mineral Rd.), the Suitts property (142 acres at the southwest corner of 75 Street and Nelson Road) and the Turunjian property (58 acres south of Highway 52; County purchased a conservation easement on an additional 20 acres). The City and County jointly purchased the Washam property (80 acres) on Gunbarrel Hill on the south side of Hwy 52 in 2002. Will pursue remaining opportunities as they become available. B. Trail Requests: 1. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Feeder Canal. Develop the canal as a trail corridor from Lyons to Boulder Reservoir. Status: The NCWCD Board of Directors approved a policy allowing trails along its canal system in June 2000. NCWCD policy restricts recreational use to the opposite side Page 1