John Scarffe, Black Hawk. The Black Hawk City Council approved the Golden Gilpin Mill Site Minor Subdivision and a variance for the property during a virtual, regular meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at 3 p.m. The Council also approved architectural plans for the Grand Staircase on Gregory Street, installation of a cellular tower on Miners Mesa, a Licensing System for retail marijuana hospitality and sale establishments and an ordinance relating to tobacco age limits. 

Vince Harris and Julia Esterel with Baseline Corporation introduced a resolution approving a variance to allow a lot size of 2.94 acres and a lot depth of between 200 and 100 feet for the proposed Lot 1 of The Golden Gilpin Mill Site Minor Subdivision and a resolution approving the Minor Subdivision plat titled “The Golden Gilpin Mill Site Minor Subdivision” with conditions. 

Conditions included that the plat shall not be effective until it is certified by the appropriate parties and recorded at the Office of the Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder, and the applicant comments from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are to be addressed with the next phase of development including the Site Development Plan (SDP) process prior to the milling use starting on the property.

CDOT has no objections to the consolidation of Millsite #10 and Millsite #11 into one lot for the purpose of developing the property. The minor subdivision is required prior to the proposed improvements to the site that will enable re-operation of the existing mill, once a Site Development Plan (SDP) is reviewed and approved for the property.

Staff from Baseline Corporation evaluated the application for the minor subdivision submitted by Matt Collins, Black Fox Mining. The intent of the application is to consolidate two Millsites into one lot. 

The minor subdivision process is the appropriate process for this action as the proposed plat creates no more than four lots and no new right-of-way dedication. The minor subdivision plat titled “The Golden Gilpin Mill Site Minor Subdivision” has been submitted and processed as required.  

The Council approved the variance and a resolution conditionally approving the Golden Gilpin Mill Site Minor Subdivision. 

Vince Harris introduced a resolution approving a Certificate of Architectural Compatibility for the Grand Staircase at 251 Gregory Street. The City has received an application from BSC Signs requesting review and approval of a Certificate of Architectural Compatibility (COAC) for the construction of the Grand Staircase. 

The City, in conjunction with PEH Architects and BSC Signs, has developed plans for the Gregory Street HARD District pedestrian plaza. The Grand Staircase will serve as the eastern entryway to the plaza, which is currently under construction, according to background. 

The project also includes a sidewalk, lighting and signage. Harris told the Council that the Grand Staircase will be located adjacent to Church Street off of Gregory Street near the St. Charles Carriage House. 

It will include a four-foot-wide stair well and will be a meandering sidewalk and staircase on the eastern portion of the block with landscaping to the left and an arch over the stairs. 

Mayor David Spellman said the landing at the upper staircase looks bare, but they plan to construct a livery building there and have some picnic areas. The lights match the Bobtail building and Crooks Palace.

Plans call for a large clock, and Spellman said he can see a lot of photos being taken there. The problem they have is the grade, so they have adornments to draw people up the stairs.

“It will be a signature piece for the city,” Spellman said. “It’s going to be an expensive project. We may have an elevator in the future. Its shoehorned in there but it works.”

The Council approved the resolution. The Council also approved the Amended and Restated Option and Lease Agreement with Vertical Bridge Development, LLC, for the installation and maintenance of a cellular tower facility on city property on Miners Mesa.

Recently City Council approved the COAC for the 55-foot-tall tower, which will look similar to an elevated water barrel on a four-legged structure/tower. The City has coordinated with Vertical Bridge to accommodate the original location of the 50 foot by 50-foot lease area for the faux water barrel tower for cell providers and provide a revised access route to the tower lease area to better allow the City more access to its own property, according to background. 

The original agreement for the cell tower facility was approved by the Black Hawk City Council on January 23, 2019. Staff requested approval of the license agreement. 

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann introduced a bill creating a licensing system for retail marijuana hospitality and sale establishments. In addition to location limitations. no new marijuana hospitality establishment application shall be accepted for filing in the event one marijuana hospitality establishment or one retail marijuana hospitality and sales establishment is already licensed as of the date of the proposed new application.

Hoffmann said the City previously adopted an ordinance allowing marijuana tasting. This would authorize by state law that marijuana can be sold on premise and has to be consumed on premise. 

A business can only have one of each. The Council approved the ordinance, and an ordinance relating to tobacco age limits. Hoffmann said this is just clean up to make City ordinances conform to state law. 

Federal law has changed for those purchasing tobacco to be over 21 years of age. This just brings the City into compliance with those changes.

Hoffmann introduced a request to waive petitioning requirements for Chicago Dogs Eatery, Inc.’s change of location. The restaurant, which has a liquor license, is currently housed in the Monarch Casino, and they will be moving 1,000 feet in the same building, but they still have to go through a change of location review. 

Normally they would have petitioning requirements. Hoffmann requested those be waived, and the Council agreed. They still have to come back for a public hearing. 

The Council discussed the reorganization of the Police Department Records Division and associated job descriptions. The City Manager has worked with the Management Team during the past two years to review each department’s structure and organization to establish the most effective and efficient use of staff, according to background. 

All departments have been reviewed or reorganized except for the Police Department Records Division. While a new Police Recruit position was approved in 2020, they decided to wait for a new Police Chief and let the Chief determine if the department’s operations needed further adjustments. 

Chief Michelle Moriarty was hired on October 5, 2020, and after a time of observation, is recommending the reorganization of the Police Records Division, moving the Property Evidence Technician position from reporting directly to the Administrative Commander to reporting to the Police Records Supervisor. 

The reorganization will free the Commander’s time and provide for more efficient operations. The Police Records Supervisor will have two direct reports with the reorganization.

The Council approved the reorganization and job descriptions. The Council also approved establishing a designated public place for the posting of meeting notices and two resolutions approving Service Agreements for Calendar Year 2021.

(Originally published in the January 21, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)