William Mead, Nederland.  The Nederland Board of Trustees participated in two meetings on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at the Nederland Community Center. The evening began with a dinner discussion at 5 p.m. between Nederland's Board of Trustees and the Boulder County Commissioners.

The Commissioners noted County projects that involve Nederland, which are ongoing, or in the planning phases. The County is working with Wild Bear to exchange five acres to help correct an issue with mining claims on Wild Bear’s current site. The Commissioners support their programs and are very excited about their mission, new location and are working on the exchange and conversation agreement.

The Commissioners support the Doe Trail emergency egress at Big Springs so everyone has a way to safely evacuate if needed. Nederland Trustees asked if Boulder County could help with funding for the egress trail.

The Commissioners are working on the Eco Pass project to make sure the Eco Pass program is a sustainable project. The Eco Pass provides free bus rides for Nederland residents, and they are working with Eldora Mountain Resort to get more service.

Another huge success is allowing Eldora Mountain Resort to expand and prosper. The Magnolia trails were classified as the largest current effort out of these four. Boulder County is working with several partners to create expanded Magnolia Trails that will connect many of the social trails used in the Nederland area.

With regards to fire emergency plans, the Board expressed concern that Nederland has "dodged a few bullets" when it comes to natural disasters. Despite unfortunate devastation from recent fires, there is a need to prepare for a potentially worse event.

The Nederland Board and the County Commissioners discussed affordable housing at length, focusing on the regional goal of classifying 12 percent of housing as affordable. The Board discussed efforts to thwart the influx of short-term rentals and vacation homes, which have proven to negatively impact the local real-estate market.

Mayor Kristopher Larsen expressed three particular goals for the town of Nederland. The first priority is to combat the affordable housing crisis. Another focus is to improve local infrastructure, specifically regarding the waste water treatment plant.

Lastly, the Board is concerned with jumpstarting economic development, hoping to leverage tourist value and sales tax to create job opportunities. Both the Commissioners and Trustees expressed a desire to meet more frequently.

The Board of Trustees called the regular meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Issues on the docket for the evening included revisions to the Boulder County Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), the Caribou Ridge Planned Unit Development and Ordinance 778 Addressing Affordable Housing and Code.

Public comment on non-agenda items indicated a concern regarding Nederland's available resources if new housing increases the population. Another comment, from resident Ron Mitchell, indicated a need to create parking alternatives on First Street.

Most public commenting on agenda items was related to the draft Ordinance 778 on housing. The Board reached a nod of four that this legislation will be sent to the Planning Commission for further review.

Citizens expressed concern about tweaking the density requirements of the ordinance, citing a need to protect property value. Other residents made it clear to the Board that preserving the town's character is of utmost importance. In general, the consensus amongst residents was that some form of action is needed to combat the affordable housing issues in town, and the Board is aware of this.

The PUD at Caribou Ridge was a major topic of discussion since its deadline was extended during a November 21, 2017, meeting. Keenan Tompkins, representing Cornerstone Homes Development Company, proposed building-footprint changes, potential revisions to the fencing requirements, and a request for the Caribou Ridge Home Owners' Association to take over road maintenance.

Much of the discussion on January 16 regarded the fencing requirements. First, Cornerstone is willing to work with the Nederland Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Advisory Board (PROSAB) to make a small connection to the neighborhood utilizing 15 feet of space and avoiding lots, something that will improve accessibility.

The Board is adamant about implementing wildlife-safe fencing while including native plants in the landscaping. The Board reached a nod of four requiring the use of native plants. The PUD was eventually approved with a vote of 4-3, with Trustees Julie Gustafson, Topher Donahue and Kevin Mueller voting against it, highlighting some contesting points of view amongst the Board. For now, the development project is clear to move into its next stages.

(Originally published in the January 25, 2018 print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)