John Scarffe, Nederland.  Ron Mitchell brought proposals to create an entertainment district and for reverse-in parking on First Street to the Nederland Downtown Development Authority meeting on September 17, but the Board couldn’t get excited about either

Resident Property Owner Ron Mitchell had proposed creating an entertainment district at the August meeting of the Board. Mitchell said that in 2010, state legislators passed a law allowing downtowns to form an entertainment district to have entertainment on the street. It’s been highly successful and sales tax revenue has increased 25 percent in cities where it has been implemented.

He proposed that the Town cordon off 25,000 feet of space, and visitors would be allowed to carry alcoholic drinks within those boundaries. Restaurants would move seating space into the street as in Greeley and Westcliffe.

Fort Collins and Longmont are also hosting family events. In Greeley, they had three different bands in the evening, as well as events like a hula hoop artist and allowing children to write with chalk on the sidewalks. In Westcliffe, 2,000 people turned out.

Mitchell proposed that the DDA provide tables and umbrellas. Restaurants would pool resources to hire bands, so costs go down but revenues go up.

At the September meeting, Mitchell told the Board he had talked with some of the businesses and had a positive response from the Thai Restaurant, the Pioneer Inn, and First Street Pub. The Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery is on the fence.

Greeley had an event every Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. after Memorial Day. Sales tax revenues have increased 25 percent. It has increased the table space for businesses. Westcliffe has a Saturday afternoon bazaar. “The personality of the community and topography makes a difference. It’s pretty beneficial all the way around,” Mitchell said.

In Nederland, the Town could do it on both sides of Highway 119. “I think it’s worth investigating,” Mitchell said. “I will get signatures on a letter of intent. I think there is sufficient interest.”

Board Member Susan Schneider said they need to have owners of five licensed premises on a board. “Until we have that we don’t have much of anything,” she said.

Mitchell said he is asking restaurants for $1,000 and will ask the NDDA Board for a $5,000 match. Board Chair Katrina Harms asked Mitchell, if he was having such a hard time tracking down business owners, how would they have time to sit on a board?

Mitchell said he personally will fund more than his share because he wants to see restaurants in the town be successful. Town Administrator Alisha Reis explained that creating the district would be kind of like a liquor license.

“We did have the Town attorney review it,” she said. Harms asked: “Do people want to continue this? Do we have enough information?”

Schneider said the DDA had just finished a budget work session, and they don’t have $5,000. Board Member Peter Marshall said: “I think we’re putting the cart before the horse. We need to hear from businesses and have people who are willing to spend their time and energy.”

Trustee Liaison Kevin Mueller made a motion to table this until they see further desire from businesses, and Mitchell said he would work hard on this for the next meeting. The proposal was tabled.

Back-in Parking

Chair Harms said Mitchell would like the NDDA to endorse a trial period for back-in parking. Mitchell said he would like to see a test period on the north side of First Street. They would have to paint new stripes next spring and he will be glad to have it done and pay for it.     “We’d be doing it for safety,” Mitchell said. “We have lots of accidents on First Street and lots of blocked views.”

Mitchell introduced Peter Swift, an engineer and designer and an expert on back-in parking. Semi-retired, Swift worked for 40 years in civil engineering and traffic engineering. Back-in parking is most effective, he said. Rear-end accidents are reduced and you have enhanced visibility.

Other advantages include having the trunk at the sidewalk and not having to walk into the street to get into your vehicle. In reverse-in parking, children are blocked from getting into the street.

Signage is important, Swift said, and the parking spaces need to be wider than conventional spaces – from six inches up to a foot. “If you just have that portion of First Street restriped for reverse-in with appropriate signage, you will have a significant decrease in accidents,” Swift said.

Harms said that, according to her research, back-in parking should be done on back streets first and not on major arteries. “Is First Street wide enough to accommodate that?”

Board Member Amanda Kneer said the way it is now there is congestion on that road. “My experience with the back-in is, it’s harder, and I think people who are traveling through would have a problem.” Just the other day she saw a truck loading on First Street.

“I don’t think there’s that much room for maneuverability,” Kneer said. “I think we would lose two or three spaces. The test part would be really hard.”

Mueller said: “I generally don’t like the idea. I think there are issues on First Street. With bikes on back of the car they would be up against the wall. I don’t know if First Street is the best place.”

Harms said: “I think it can be used successfully in towns where it’s way wider, but on First Street I’m not confident it would work.”

The Board made a motion to table this topic for another year per staff recommendation and to have to have further discussions about reverse-in parking as they develop the overall parking recommendation.

The next meeting of the Nederland Downtown Development Authority will be on Wednesday, October 15, at the Nederland Community Center.