John Scarffe, Black Hawk. The Black Hawk City Council approved seven items regarding park plans and improvements on Miner’s Mesa during a regular online meeting on March 24, 2021, at 3 p.m. The Council also approved the Gregory Street Comprehensive Sign Plan.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann introduced an ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Black Hawk and the Black Hawk-Central City Sanitation District regarding planning, construction and financing of the Miner’s Mesa Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Line. 

The City lacks sanitary sewer service in or accessible from the Miner’s Mesa subdivision to the Black Hawk-Central City Sanitation District, which hinders development of the property, according to the request. As a result, the City has partnered with the Black Hawk-Central City Sanitation District to construct a sewer line from Bobtail Road, extending within the right of way of Miner’s Mesa Road to the Mesa to support the proposed development and future development. 

The new sewer line will also benefit the Lake Gulch Whiskey Resort Planned Unit Development should they elect to connect to the sewer line. The City will split the project’s construction cost with the District, with the City paying about $1,079,885 and the District contributing $900,000 according to the request. 

After final acceptance of the new sewer line, the line will be conveyed to the District. The District will charge all connection, tap, user and other fees. 

If an owner of property within the Lake Gulch Whiskey Resort Planned Unit Development requests a connection to the sewer line, they will pay an amount equal to one quarter of the total project cost, with the City receiving 55 percent and the District receiving 45 percent of the reimbursement.

The Council approved the agreement.

Vincent Harris with Baseline Corporation introduced a resolution approving a variance to allow a reduction of the required parking spaces from 86 Parking Spaces to 66 Parking Spaces at 990 Miner’s Mesa Road. 

On February 7, 2021, Black Hawk received an application request for a parking variance from Ventana Capital, Inc., and Rick Engineering on behalf of the property owner Club Vista Properties II, LLC. The request would allow the reduction of required parking spaces for the proposed Hawk’s Landing Airstream RV campground planned.

The proposed campground includes 50 permanently installed Airstream trailers that will be available for nightly rental, a check-in office, and an Airstream bar with outdoor seating. 

The parking request does not injure any adjacent property owners, so staff recommended approval with conditions, and the Council approved.

Hoffmann introduced a resolution conditionally approving the Black Hawk Park Preliminary and Final Plat, which was continued from February 10, 2021, and March 17, 2021.

The applicants requested the subdivision of Lot 1 Block 1 Miners Mesa Subdivision Filing No. 4 into nine commercial lots and one tract to develop the property with an Airstream RV Campground, a distillery and other commercial uses. The City Council continued the decision to the February 24, 2021, meeting, and then to the March 17, 2021, agenda, and finally to this March 24, 2021, agenda. 

The reason for no decision was that a Subdivision and Development Agreement was not yet signed on those dates. Hoffmann said they have signed the subdivision agreement, so staff recommended approval. 

Baseline staff presented this item, and the public hearing was opened and closed at the March 17, 2021, City Council meeting. The Council agreed to make both motions together and approved them both. Alderman Hal Midcap said, “This is going to be a great project.”

City Manager Stephen Cole introduced a resolution approving the agreement regarding cost sharing for water and sanitary sewer line construction between the City and Andrianakos Limited Liability Company and recommended approval. Andrianakos Limited Liability Company agreed to pay a portion of the construction costs of a new waterline from Bobtail Road to a connection point adjacent to the property owned by Andrianakos not to exceed $366,492 in exchange for the City of Black Hawk agreeing to provide a four-inch water tap or four two-inch water taps for the future development of the property. The Council approved the resolution.

Public Works Water Manager Jim Ford introduced a resolution accepting the JBS Pipeline Bid and Baseline Engineering Construction Management Proposal for the Miner’s Mesa Road Construction Project. The Council approved the resolution.

Mayor David Spellman said they have been working on this for a year, Baseline and staff have put in heart and soul on this project. 

This will create the Black Hawk artisan point for smaller distilleries, and they have the first artisan distillery. It is a huge accomplishment. “We look forward to being highly successful. We have a unified vision and that’s why we work so good together because we know where we want to go.”

Julie Esterl with Baseline Corporation introduced a resolution conditionally approving a certificate of architectural compatibility for the Gregory Street Comprehensive Sign Plan. In conjunction with the Gregory Street HARD District Plaza project under construction, PEH Architects, BSC Sign Company, City staff, and Baseline Staff have worked together to develop a sign plan for the development, according to the request. 

This plan includes signs for the buildings and signs have been designed to be consistent with the historic style of the Gregory Street Plaza. The sign plan will guide all future development in the Gregory Street HARD District. 

It can be amended in the future as the need arises. Staff recommended a resolution conditionally approving a Certificate of Architectural Compatibility for the Gregory Street Comprehensive Sign Plan. 

The Council approved the sign plan with conditions.

The next Black Hawk Council meeting will be on April 14, 2021, at 3 p.m. For more information go to https://site.cityofblackhawk.org/.

(Originally published in the April 1, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)