BOULDER COUNTY - The Boulder County Commissioners held a Town Hall meeting at the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association Community Center on June 17, 2025, to engage with their constituents about issues of local interest to Coal Creek Canyon residents. Commissioners Claire Levy and Ashley Stolzmann were in attendance along with staff members and Commander Randy Wilber from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

The first part of the meeting was a presentation by Barbara Halpin, Boulder County Special Projects & Community Engagement Coordinator, regarding a recent property purchase in Coal Creek Canyon.

Boulder County purchased the Bearberry property for $1.65 million using funds from the Land Preservation Section 5.1 of the Denver Water vs. Boulder County Settlement Agreement.

The property is 80 acres with a portion in Gilpin County. It is at the top of Coal Creek Canyon and the County is considering linking it with the Elk Tracks property.

There is still $3.5 million left in the Settlement Fund for additional open space purchases. Halpin’s presentation can be viewed at assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bearberry_Gross-Settlement-Section-5.1-Land-Preservation-Funds.pdf.

Commissioner Levy gave a brief update on the Gross Reservoir expansion project, noting that the construction of the dam is proceeding but there are still uncertainties about when the tree removal and water diversions will begin. The County is not a party to the current litigation but is monitoring the situation.

A comments and questions segment comprised the majority of the meeting, with topics ranging from housing regulations to trailhead congestion and speeding dump trucks.

The commissioners were asked about the new land use codes which limit residential home sizes. It was pointed out that the building fees are fixed costs and don’t vary with the size of a new home. The permitting process along with these additional zoning regulations were considered a burden for home builders.

Levy responded that the County is constantly evaluating their operations and trying to find the right balance with community values and norms.

Speeding dump trucks from the dam construction was another concern, with both the road danger and the dust being a big problem for residents. Stolzmann said that Denver Water is responsible for the safety of their operation, and that the commissioners would contact the Sheriff’s office and inquire about additional patrols in the area.

The deterioration of the county’s dirt roads was another concern that residents said needed attention. In some places, county roads are down to bedrock and residents sometimes have to drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid the gullies and washouts.

Stolzmann said that this is a budget priority issue that is very complex because of pending federal and state funding cuts in the coming years. The commissioners are anticipating significant cuts from both and are trying to determine what the highest priorities are in this area.

She recommended calling the Road and Bridge department to report on these areas, but didn’t want to make any promises that the County couldn’t keep.

Parking congestion around the Green Mountain West trailhead was a safety and nuisance concern for North Shore Park residents. The condition has become worse as the trailhead has become more popular. “No Parking” signs and ranger attempts to ticket vehicles have not been successful.

Levy said that the County has the same problem in Sunshine Canyon at the Lions Lair Trailhead. The County is looking at the situation, but simply adding more parking spaces isn’t considered a permanent solution.

One resident spoke about the danger of dead trees along Highway 72. It is the only egress route in the event of a wildfire, and burning dead trees along the road could pose a threat to safe evacuations if they fall across the road. It was recommended to contact the Colorado Department of Transportation to get them to do some tree removal.

The subject of wildfire mitigation and insurance was brought up along with the Wildfire Partners certification program. Jim Webster, the Wildfire Partners Program Manager was at the meeting, and he spoke about the difference between ISO ratings and the County certification program.

ISO ratings are based on fire districts. An individual property certification will not change the  property’s ISO rating, but insurance companies are being encouraged to view certifications as hardened homes with better survival chances.

The commissioners ended the meeting by thanking the residents for showing up and vowing to review the issues that were brought up. Additional questions and concerns can be emailed to commissioners@bouldercounty.gov.