The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 7 p.m. to discuss Eldora’s partnership with the Town to turn Fisherman’s Lot into a wetlands area. The BOT also examined the route options for the Big Springs Egress project and how best to move forward with detractors who object to the route chosen as most optimal by the Nederland Fire Department.

Town Administrator Miranda Fisher presented the BOT with their first Discussion Item on the Agenda, which was a review of SAFEbuilt, the organization handling Nederland’s building code enforcement. A public survey of SAFEbuilt was released on Friday, March 11, 2022, and was completed by 31 people. The BOT was tasked with reviewing the results of the survey and determining whether or not Nederland should continue forward with SAFEbuilt, look for another agency, or if the Town should handle these matters internally.

SAFEbuilt Building Official Dan Wester spoke to the BOT on what changes his agency will make to address public concerns about their service raised in the survey. Though the survey generated mostly positive results, SAFEbuilt did receive negative remarks in regards to their turnaround time for business plan reviews. Public comments on the survey also pointed to dissatisfaction with SAFEbuilt’s inspection process, with most small business owners desiring just a single inspector to be assigned to their business.

Wester detailed to the BOT how implementing Design Review Committee (DRC) meetings would help educate and guide people through the permitting and inspection process. DRC meetings would be held twice a month and would give those wishing to open their own small business a chance to meet with SAFEbuilt representatives, the Fire Marshal, and Town staff about their project plan. The BOT also suggested to Wester to include anonymous surveys on inspection tickets, and Town staff stressed the importance of SAFEbuilt improving their turnaround time for solar permitting.

Though some trustees wished to see Nederland have its own in-house building department, lack of facility space and salary/budgetary restraints makes that an unrealistic option at this time. With Wester having more than 10 years experience with Nederland’s sometimes unconventional structures, and SAFEbuilt making a commitment to consistency and educational efforts, the BOT moved for Nederland to continue its relationship with SAFEbuilt.

Ecologist and Botanist Rea Orthner and Eldora Mountain Resort (EMR) General Manager Brent Tregaskis led the BOT in a discussion about the status of the Fisherman’s Lot Wetland Area project.

In 2019 EMR entered an agreement with the town of Nederland to create a wetlands area as required by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the wetland impact created by EMR’s construction of their Ignite Adaptive Sports building. Ignite is a non-profit organization that provides adaptive snow sport lessons to children and adults with disabilities.

Fisherman’s Lot is a small dirt parking lot at the corner of East 1st Street and East Street, adjacent to Teens, Inc., and close to Barker Meadows Park. In 2019 Fisherman’s Lot was determined as the best parcel to restore back to a wetland area. However there are now more options available, as well as the Town’s own parking concerns, which EMR would like the BOT to assess before making an actionable decision to move forward.

Orthner and Tregaskis had already met with Parks, Recreation, Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB) and the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB), who both voted to continue with the project at Fisherman’s Lot. The project ultimately will help with flood mitigation and wildlife protections, as well as restoring Nederland’s watershed. Alternatively, the USACE has approved a Wetland Bank, a preservation and restorative effort meant to offset the adverse impacts created by the construction of the Ignite building.

Tregaskis noted that the project would be ready to break ground in April or May of 2023, and is estimated to cost $60,000 to $80,000; with Nederland’s contribution being no more than $10,000 as an in-kind match. Once USACE approves the completed wetlands, responsibility for continued maintenance would fall on the Town.

Trustee Tania Corvalan noted that Nederland’s parking problem, and lack of land with which to fix that problem, is a reason not to move forward with the wetland construction. Despite Trustee Corvalan’s warning that the wetlands may be voted back into a parking lot in 10 years’ time, the BOT moved to approve the Fisherman’s Lot Wetland Area project.

Fisher spoke with the BOT about the hindered progress of the Big Springs Egress project. In 2019, Boulder County Commissioners approved the construction of an emergency egress route, stipulating that the route chosen creates the least amount of environmental impact. The route that was chosen, referred to as the ridge line route, provides an exit from the Big Springs subdivision through Boulder County Open Space lands and is the optimal route for the Nederland Fire Department (NFD).

The ridge line route unfortunately would need to utilize a driveway currently in use by 4 residences. Former Fire Chief Rick Dirr previously spoke with the owners of the homes about use of their driveway for an emergency egress route and was met with “varying responses.” Town staff unfortunately does not have any specific information in regards to what the residents’ concerns may be.

Construction of the ridge line route is estimated to cost over $700,000. Town has until June 20, 2022 to apply for a FEMA loan which, if awarded, would cover $525,000, with a 25% match of $175,000 required from Nederland. Due to this deadline the BOT was tasked with making a decision on how to move forward with the Big Springs Egress project.

The BOT recognized that, though the steep cost would most likely postpone the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan for Nederland, the emergency egress route is a high priority. Trustees all agreed that the chosen ridge line route is the best option, especially since it is in the zone of needed fire mitigation. Fire Chief Mike Scott assured the BOT that there will be an educational focused campaign about the egress route for the public, and that a practice evacuation could be done once construction on the route is complete. The BOT moved for Town staff to move forward with the FEMA loan application and will also begin working on an emergency access egress  agreement with the 4 residences impacted. 

Fisher and Parks Manager Nikki Dunn presented to the BOT the need for proper written regulations for Nederland’s parks, trails, and open spaces. Currently, the Nederland Police Department (NPD) have difficulty enforcing at town parks because there aren’t any official laws written. The desired regulations cover the dumping of trash in Town parks, vandalism and trespassing, open alcoholic beverages, wildlife damage, and recreational usage of any lake, pond, or stream.

The BOT moved to approve the ordinance; Fisher and Dunn hoped to begin enforcement of these regulations by July.

Fisher and Dunn continued with a discussion about the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan. Trustees gave their thoughts on what should be included in the master plan. Though Trustees had their own visions for what to include for the social, physical, and environmental health of the community, the BOT was in full agreement that an interconnected trail system should be a priority. An interconnected trail system is in the works, which is expected to help walkability throughout town as well as connect somewhat disparate buildings like Caribou Room and NedRink.

Trustees suggested many other ideas, ranging from a dog park to an outdoor performance space. However, space throughout town is very limited. Dunn spoke on the construction of a pump track in Chipeta Park which will be located between the parking lot and the basketball court. A pump track is a loop of banked turns designed to maximize momentum for bicyclists; the Chipeta Park pump track is designed to be an instructional track for children to learn bicycling skills.

The Nederland Board of Trustees meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Their next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. and can now be attended online or in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information go to https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/ board-of-trustees.