Canyon Area Residents for the Environment
25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB-203, Golden Co. 80401-5701

MEETING MINUTES- CARE MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

Attending:
NAME                                         AREA

Bill Astle                                                Chimney Creek II

Deb Carney                                          Paradise Hills

Jeff Holland                                          Pinecrest Road

Cecelia Joy                                          Colorado Department of Transportation

Cal Judson                                            Pinecrest Road

Walt Kaesler                                        Genesee Village

Pat Keller                                              Mount Vernon Metro District

Michelle Li                                            J.F. Sato and Associates, Littleton

Carole Lomond                                   Lookout Mountain Park

Don Patton                                            Paradise Hills (alternate)

Linda Pierce                                         Lookout Mountain Crest

Joan Schwarz                                      Columbine Glen Trail

Linda Shanks                                        Friends of Colorow Hill

Introductions:

Special Presentation:
    Park-N-Ride presentation by Michelle Li, associate manager (797-1200) of Environmental Services, J.F. Sato and Associates, Littleton, the firm hired by Colorado Department of Transportation to do environmental assessment of possible expansion/improvement of four public parking lots surrounding intersection of I-70 at Morrison exit and C-470 at hogback at head of Mount Vernon Canyon.  Cecilia Joy, CDOT planning and environmental manager (757-9112) , reported bids have been let for paving, striping and other improvements to these lots in anticipation of ski season.
    CDOT also is promoting use of the lots with new signage to alert drivers to parking at the four sites, as well as at a new winter ski parking area on weekends at Heritage Square. Joy also requested CARE and citizen comment as CDOT prepares an environmental assessment of the Park-N-Ride sites’ problems to help agency improve and expand them and encourage more citizen use of the lots. CDOT also will be publishing an I-70 corridor newsletter. CARE has consistently opposed CDOT parking lots and the development of increased parking at exit 259 for a variety of reasons, including: visually parking lots detract from this scenic mountain gateway, increased mountain snow and weather hazards are a recurring danger, and added parking will hasten nearby development. CARE recommends CDOT parking be moved to Heritage Square or off Rooney Road.

Approval of Minutes:
  Motion made to amend minutes of the July 8 meeting to reflect that CARE and area residents have sued JeffCo for permitting Fox Channel 31’s additional HDTV antennae on Lookout Mountain and that CARE also opposed the tower proposal on Mt. Morrison.  Minutes approved as amended.

Treasurer's Report:
    Treasurer’s report at end of July showed a current balance of $1,199.31. This does not include cash and check contributions received for T.H.R.E.A.T. (Tower Hazards & Radiation Exposure Above Tolerance) account of Antenna Tower Committee. Those funds are being accounted for to the board.

Delegates' Reports:

Paradise Hills–  Annual social planned in August.

Chimney Creek I and II–  Residents having disagreements with developer over his driving trucks on neighborhood driveways.

    ENABLE–Plans are under discussion for a new recreation center of more than 40,000 square feet near Bergen Park.

    Central Mountains Community Plan–CARE takes position that JeffCo should authorize funds sooner than in 2001 budget in order to finance and prepare an update to the Central Mountains Community Plan before 2001.

    CARE sent letter to Clear Creek commissioners in opposition to their proposed Beaver brook watershed settlement with City of Golden.

    CARE received polite replies with no promise of action from Colorado Gov. William Owens and State Rep. Tom Tancredo in response to CARE letter recommending environmental impact report on proposed Northwest Parkway through Golden.

    Pine beetle considered an serious threat. Residents urged to watch for and control infestation. Can call JeffCo government offices for remediation advice.

    Bubonic plague–Infected prairie dogs reported near Morrison.

Committee Reports:

HOA (Homeowners’ Association) Mentoring:  No Report

Wildfire:  Joan Schwarz reported volunteer firefighters responded to numerous traffic accidents on I-70 west between exits 256 and 254 caused by rain mixing with construction material on highway pavement producing a slippery surface.
    A new wood sign indicating low, medium or high fire danger has been erected at I-70 exit 254. First 500 residents who request them can obtain a free uniform house number sign recommended by fire department. Call Joan at 526-0017.

Beaverbrook watershed/Chavez Trail:  Don Patton reported that Clear Creek County commissioners are restating their July conditions in a proposed agreement with City of Golden. The lawsuit is continuing.

Transportation:  CARE continues to be interested in meeting with Colorado Intermountain Fixed Guideway Authority’s chief, Sally Hopper, to learn more about the proposed rail corridor from DIA to Eagle County Airport along I-70.

Land use:  Bill Astle reported on proposal to improve Guanella Pass Road.
    Also cited passage by JeffCo commissioners of two protective land-use issue affecting mountains. These amended land development regulation and a zoning resolution.

Antenna Tower Committee/T.H.R.E.A.T.:  Deb Carney reported JeffCo commissioners voted 3-0 to deny rezoning request by Lake Cedar Group to erect a new supertower and maintenance building on Lookout Mountain. Reasons for denial included that the proposal:

• Does not substantially conform with the Central Mountains Community Plan regarding visual resources, public services/facilities and site design.
• Does not substantially conform with the Telecommunications Land Use Plan regarding tower siting.
• Does not meet minimum standards for telecommunications facilities and does not demonstrate that no alternative existing site is available at a reasonable cost or other business terms, and does not contain sufficient setbacks, and does not demonstrate that NIER emission levels are met.
• Is incompatible with residential uses in the surrounding area.

    The Committee is writing thank-you letters to JeffCo commissioners for their decision to deny the rezoning and especially for their careful consideration of CARE residents’ opposition to the new tower and building.

    Committee members participated in Buffalo Bill’s Day parade in July.

    Committee members are meeting with representatives of Cheyenne, Arapahoe and Ute tribes native to the Lookout Mountain area who are indicating the mountain long has been a sacred area to several tribes.

    A neighborhood meeting will be planned to advise citizens of status of antenna issues and to encourage residents’ continued financial support and active opposition in tower/antenna matters.

Lariat Loop/Heritage Gateway (CHAPS):  Jeff Holland reported for Cynthia Pougiales that alliance has received a support letter from Open Space Advisory Committee and made a presentation to Colorado Heritage Area Partnership nominating the LLMG as a heritage area which is to be recognized by the state and by the governor.  On Aug. 18 the group will go before the JeffCo commissioners. The group’s fund-raising barbecue was a great success. The next meeting is Aug. 30 at Humphrey Museum in Evergreen at 7 p.m. (Call to confirm meeting 526-9128.)
 

CARE Artist Studio Tour:  Carole Lomond reported it is postponed, likely until spring 2000.

    UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR (Advise Jeff of updates and additions)

8/30/99–Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance meeting, 7 p.m. @HumphreyMuseum in Evergreen.
9/9/99–Regular CARE meeting, 7 p.m. @ Mount Vernon Country Club.

Respectfully,

Linda Shanks
303 526-9567
lcshanks@denver.infi.net

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