July 2014 Recap – In and Around Jeffco Open Space

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Well, since I don’t monitor the news feeds every day, there’s a lot that I’ve missed…but this is what I’ve been able to glean as I career through my work-week. Please feel free to participate by commenting on the events and adding things that I’ve just plain missed.

Cheers,

Michelle

 Golden Gets Grant For West 44th Avenue Trail (Golden Transcript, July 1st, 2014):

“The City of Golden received a $210,386 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) in order to build the West 44th Avenue Trail. Partnering with Jefferson County Parks and Open Space, the City of Golden applied for the grant through GOCO’s Path to Parks Program in March…”

Read the whole story at http://goldentranscript.net/stories/Golden-Awarded-grant-to-build-West-44th-Avenue-Trail,160956?

 

Team Evergreen Proposes Bike Series in Jeffco Open Space (Canyon Courier, July 23rd, 2014):

“Members of Team Evergreen Cycling are exploring the possibility of holding biking events at Jefferson County open space parks. The Mountain Bike Series of the organization would raise funds for trail construction and renovation, said Tom Hoby, director of Jeffco Parks and Open Space.’’

Read the whole story at http://www.canyoncourier.com/content/team-evergreen-proposes-mountain-bike-series-jeffco-open-space (subscription may be required)

 

Working Group Recommends Arvada Site for Outdoor Shooting Range in Jeffco (Canyon Courier, July 23rd, 2014):

“A working group charged with finding an acceptable location for an outdoor public shooting range in Jefferson County has narrowed the choices to a former quarry in Arvada or another site within that city.

Tom Hoby, Jefferson County Parks and Open Space director, said issues regarding proximity to residents and impacts on natural resources have made the selection process difficult, during a presentation about the shooting-range study to the Jeffco Open Space Advisory Committee on July 10…”

Read the whole story at http://www.canyoncourier.com/content/working-group-recommends-arvada-site-outdoor-shooting-range-jeffco (subscription may be required)

[This section of the article has me a little concerned…] Hoby said that a funding source for the shooting range has not been determined, but it would possibly be a public-private enterprise. If the county commissioners decide to move forward with the project, grants would be pursued along with proceeds from the state lottery, he said.

Development cost for the facility is estimated at $200,000 to $1 million, plus operational, insurance and staff costs, Hoby said.

If the county commissioners decide to hire a consultant to work on the shooting-range project, Hoby said he would recommend that the cost be shared between the county and open space.

Hoby is planning to present the working group’s finding and recommendations to Jeffco commissioners on July 22.  [Note that BCC meetings most often take place at 8AM…but check the website http://jeffco.us/bcc/meetings/ for a full schedule]

Most members of the Open Space Advisory Committee listened quietly to Hoby’s presentation on the shooting range.

However, committee member Tookie Nemchak expressed concern about a perception that the shooting range may be an open-space project.

“The public is going to think this is an initiative we have undertaken. That’s a shame,” Nemchak said.

 

Neglected Trails in No-Man’s Land (YourHub, July 24th, 2014):

“JEFFERSON COUNTY —At the Morrison exit of Interstate 70, signs direct travelers to a point of geological interest. But anyone who follows the signs finds destruction and neglect, and local agencies do not seem to know who is responsible for addressing the situation…”

Read the whole story at http://www.denverpost.com/News/ci_26194768/Dinosaur-Ridge-trails-near-Morrison-showing-signs-of-vandals-neglect

[Is this an example of left-hand, right-hand, and no one really knows what’s going on?]

Representatives of CDOT initially said the path was likely part of Jefferson County Open Space, but that agency’s communication manager said the trail is not within its park system and, if it were, it would be better maintained.

The property likely does fall within CDOT right-of-way, public information officer Bob Wilson said after looking into the situation further.

Wilson said that if CDOT does conclude that the trails are its responsibility, it will look into the next steps toward maintaining the property.

Group Earns Oil Income Despite Pledge on Drilling

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This is a link to a disturbing article in the New York Times about the Nature Conservancy. I’m not sure what to make of it; I’d appreciate your feedback. Read the article and comment on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/PLAN-Jeffco/129286367169585

Changes to Zoning Resolution Section 35, Drilling & Production of Oil & Gas

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I suspect this update to our zoning regulations is in response to the recent Colorado Legislature ruling which stated that city and county regulations cannot override State. That was specifically in regard to fracking, but our county, ever on the leading edge of caving in to big industry, is obviously ready to fold. Read for yourself the the red-lined regulation with proposed changes: ZR Section 35 D&P O&G 073114 draft 14_107842AM

and the email cover letter follows. If you have any concerns regarding these changes to the drilling offsets from residences, or any of the other proposed changes, please contact Patrick O’Connell at poconnel@jeffco.us or 303-271-8707, and plan to submit comments by August 13, 2014. If you plan to attend the hearings, the Planning Commission hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2014 at 6:15 pm, and the Board of County Commissioners hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2014 at 8:00 am.

From: Pat OConnell [mailto:poconnel@co.jefferson.co.us]
Sent: Friday, 01 August, 2014 11:16 AM
Subject: Jefferson County Zoning Resolution Section 35, Drilling and Production of Oil and Gas, Proposed Amendments – Case No. 14-107842AM

The County is proposing changes to the Zoning Resolution, Section 35, Drilling And Production of Oil And Gas

Jefferson County staff is drafting an amendment to Section 35 of the Zoning Resolution regarding the Drilling And Production of Oil And Gas. This Section is being amended to clarify the process for drilling and production of oil and gas in different zone districts and to address the discrepancies between setback requirements with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rules and regulations.  The setbacks are being amended to match those in the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rules and regulations.

The remarked version for the following Section is available for public review and comment, Case Number 14-107842AM:

  • Zoning Resolution – Section 35 – Drilling And Production of Oil And Gas

Information can also be found on the Regulation Revision webpage which can found here: http://jeffco.us/planning-and-zoning/regulations/regulation-revision/

For more information contact Patrick O’Connell at poconnel@jeffco.us or 303-271-8707.

Please submit comments by August 13, 2014. Planning Commission hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2014 at 6:15 pm. The Board of County Commissioners hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2014 at 8:00 am. Both hearings will be held in Hearing Room 1 of the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Building, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden. Public testimony is encouraged at both hearings.

Pat OConnell, poconnel@co.jefferson.co.us

“50 Years of Conserving America the Beautiful”

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The LWCF (Land & Water Conservation Fund) coalition published a report July 23, Land & Water Conservation Fund 50 Years of Conserving America the Beautiful, under the signatures of former Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Beveridge & Diamond PC Senior Counsel Henry Diamond.  The report is available at: http://lwcfcoalition.org/

front and center on the home page. Click the link on that page to download a PDF copy of the report, or Click here to view the 50th Anniversary Report of LWCF

House Votes to Make Conservation Tax Incentive Permanent

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Land Trust Alliance
Website: www.landtrustalliance.org

Land Trust Alliance - House Votes to Make Conservation Tax Incentive PermanentIn a show of bipartisanship, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the House bill to make permanent an enhanced tax incentive for conservation of farmland, rangeland, woodlands and other important open spaces. The bill, which included other charity provisions, passed by a vote of 277-130.

This has been a priority for the Land Trust Alliance since 2006, and it represents a huge victory for conservation that reflects the strength of our community, which came together to urge Congress to act. This would not have been possible without land trust leaders from across the country reaching out to their representatives and their congressional staff to demonstrate the importance of this legislation to voters in their district.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where we have strong support, but will face new challenges in breaking through a legislative logjam.

So please join me in taking some time to celebrate, and then stay tuned for next steps on the march to permanence.

Your Help Needed to Make the Easement Incentive Permanent. … learn how to get involved »

Don’t Miss Rally 2014 (Sept. 18 – 20) in Providence, RI… more info and register online » 

PJ Gets Busy With Facebook Fotos

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Be one of the first to check out the new photo albums and pix that I’ve just finished posting on our PLAN Jeffco Facebook page…https://www.facebook.com/pages/PLAN-Jeffco/129286367169585

As you can see, these are not professional photos. They’re simply snapshots taken by ordinary folks who like to visit these Open Space parks. And that’s what we’re looking for…photos of your favorite OS park that you’d like added to the albums.

If you have photos that you’d like us to post, please attach them to an email message and send to me at mapoolet@ix.netcom.com. Write a brief description of each photo, including at which OS park it was taken at, and a rough timeframe when the photo was taken – for example, circa 2010.

By doing this, you’re giving us permission to post your photos on our Facebook and web pages, which is why we want to credit you with the work. You may think it’s just a snapshot, but to us, it’s a way to show how beautiful and accessible our Jeffco Open Space Parks truly are.

See you in the park,

Michelle Poolet, PLAN Jeffco Board Member

Trails Through Time: A Geologist’s Guide to Jefferson County Open Space Parks

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Jefferson County straddles one of the most conspicuous and important geographic and geologic boundaries in western North America, the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains. To the east you can travel 1,100 miles across Great Plains and Central Lowlands before you sight the western foothills of the Appalachians. If you travel in the other direction you will cross or skirt mountain range after mountain range until you sight the Coast Range near San Francisco, more than 900 miles to the west. Many of these mountains have different ages and origins than the Colorado mountains, but they are all part of the great mountain belt called the North American Cordillera that extends along the western edge of the continent from Alaska through Mexico.

What is the reason for the remarkably straight and abrupt eastern flank of the Colorado Front Range? The brief answer is that it marks the edge of a block of ancient metamorphic and igneous rocks that has been uplifted relative to younger flat-laying sedimentary rocks that underlie the plains to the east. During the uplift, the sedimentary rocks along the boundary have been uplifted and tilted eastward to form the discontinuous line of hogback ridges that parallel the mountain front. Erosion during and after the uplift has removed the sedimentary rocks that once lay above the harder rocks of the mountain uplift, carved the scenic peaks and mountain canyons in the hard crystalline rocks of uplifted block, and worn away the softer layers of sedimentary rocks of the plains, but left a few of the harder upturned layers along the mountain front as hogback ridges.

Jefferson County Open Space Parks, as well as other nearby parks and National Forest lands, offer marvelous opportunities to explore the geologic story behind this singular landscape. At first the distribution of rocks of different ages and types seems almost random, but careful study of the rocks and landscape features reveals a captivating geologic story, a history that tells of the building of the foundations of the continent, the rise and destruction of long vanished mountain ranges, the ebb and flow of ancient seas, and the constant shaping and reshaping of the landscape in response to the never-ending interplay between uplift and erosion. This historical account is constantly being improved and expanded as new evidence accumulates and new interpretations evolve.

To read the rest, please download the full PDF.

Rocky Flats Update, the 25th Anniversary of the FBI raid on Rocky Flats

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What’s Happening at Rocky Flats Today?

For nearly 40 years the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant near Denver produced plutonium pits for nuclear weapons, with extensive toxic and radioactive contamination on- and off-site.

Colorado continues to struggle with the long-term environmental and historical legacy of Rocky Flats. Upcoming events include an unprecedented symposium at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities June 6-8, community organization meetings, meetings for citizens concerned about a new dog park on contaminated land, and more. Find out what you need to know at http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b091790d7900d4ee97eaee42b&id=8deb35ca37&e=7a743fe88a

Calling All Nature Photographers!

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The Clear Creek Land Conservancy is holding its Summer Solstice Photography Workshop with professional photographer Larry Caine on June 21st, 2014 from 6am – 10am.
Where:  Clear Creek Canyon (precise meeting place to be determined)
Level:  Beginning to Intermediate
Cost:  Suggested $50 tax-deductible donation (No charge for 2012 or 2013 CCLC calendar contest winners!)

Space is limited, reservations are required, closes June 1st. Call 303.718.9546 or email info@clearcreeklandconservancy.org.

CCLC Solstice Photo Workshop 2014

To print your own flyer, download CCLC Photo Workshop Poppies

Open Space Local Grants

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On February 11, the Board of County Commissioners approved the 2014 Local Grants as recommended by the Open Space Advisory Committee. Funds for the grants come from the County share of Lottery proceeds and Open Space Sales Tax Funds. Non-profits, recreation districts, and cities are eligible to apply for grants. Grants from the lottery proceeds must be used on publicly owned lands. Approximately $1.2 million are available for these annual grants.

Grants to non-profits included:

Beaver Ranch Community, $10,125 for improvements to the caretaker residence at Conifer Community Park (Beaver Ranch.) The improvements include insulation, some mold remediation, kitchen renovation with new appliances, and a new water heater.

Evergreen Audubon Society, $5,475 for a sign at the entrance to Evergreen Lake Park, two mural panels, and two new exhibits.

Grants to Park & Recreation Districts and Cities included:

Apex Park & Rec. Dist., $225,000 to partially fund 8 pickle ball courts, restrooms, and shelters at the Simms Street Center ( at 82nd).

Columbine Knolls Rec Dist., $11,375 to partially fund improvements at Marker Park including new swing set, Freenote outdoor instruments, and a separate water line to the restrooms.

Evergreen Park & Rec Dist., $79,000 to partially fund replacement and expansion of the boardwalk along the lake and to hard surface the trail to the Nature Center.

Foothills Park & Rec Dist., $100,000 to partially fund replacement of the playground at the Ridge Recreation Center.

Ken-Caryl Ranch Metro Dist., $42,733 to partially fund replacement of the playground at the Community Park.

South Suburban Park & Rec Dist., $6,125 to partially fund a port-o-let enclosure at TrailMark Park.

City of Arvada, $55,000 to partially fund development of Griffith-Station Community Park, 52nd & Carr.

City of Golden, $223,788 to partially fund a trail along 44th Avenue between Golden and Salvia Street.

City of Lakewood, $100,000 to assist in remediation to Bear Creek Lake Park from the 2013 flood damage.

Five weeks after the Advisory Committee had recommended the Master Plan on January 9, a group from the “development community” expressed concerns to the Commissioners and testified at the February 11 Commissioner meeting where approval of the Master Plan was scheduled. The expressed concern was that they had not had time to review the maps. The Commissioners then delayed approval until they could convey specific concerns to Open Space. They were then invited by Tom Hoby to meet personally and that was declined. Tom then requested that they have comments to Open Space by February 24, prior to the March 6, OSAC meeting. The comments were received February 27.

One of the concerns was that some of the balloons surrounding areas containing rare plants and wildlife could be interpreted that all of the land within the balloon was potential for acquisition by Open Space. As such could impact property values and would be considered during rezoning. In actuality, the balloons were from the biodiversity study done by Natural Heritage Program at CSU and are used so that the exact location of the rare plant or wildlife is not shown. Also the Open Space Master Plan is never considered during a rezoning application.

A second concern was the ability of a land owner who did not want Open Space to consider their property, to have the Master Plan maps show exclusions. Open Space has had a policy since the 2008 Master Plan than any landowner could request that their property not be considered. Until this February, no land owner had requested exclusion. A statement to this effect is included in the 2014 Master Plan text. Since the maps are conceptual, staff and OSAC felt that showing these exclusions on a map would serve no purpose.

At the March 6, OSAC meeting language was added to the Master Plan explaining that the maps contained information relative to all of Jefferson County and that the Open Space Acquisition Criteria focus on land that usually is different than lands suitable for commercial and residential development.

At the Board of County Commissioners on March 18, one of the developers testified that there should be no policy of exclusion, and thanked Open Space for the language that they developed to meet his concerns. The person who asked to have his lands excluded thanked Open Space for agreeing to exclude his lands and to show this on the maps when they are finalized. The Commissioners then approved the Master Plan as presented by Open Space.