John Scarffe, Nederland. The Nederland Board of Trustees approved a Public Arts Plan for the town during the regular meeting on April 20, 2021, at 7 p.m. The Board also approved paid parking in the central business district.

Public Arts Master Plan

Town Administrator Karen Gerrity introduced the proposal for a Public Arts Master Plan. The plan is in accordance with the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) 2017 Master Plan.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority recognized the installation of artwork in the Downtown District as a potential beautification project for the NDDA. The NDDA Board agreed that developing Public Art projects would help support economic vitality in the downtown district, as well as the Town of Nederland. The NDDA reached out to community members to gauge their interest and participation.

The NDDA collected contact information and continued to learn more about Public Art.

On February 18, the Board of Trustees approved a $5,550 loan funding the development of a Public Art plan, and the Board accepted Mandy Vink’s proposal to develop a plan. A community-wide public art survey was conducted, with feedback forming contents of the final plan.

In September, a community-based Public Art Committee was established and engaged in monthly meetings. Throughout the year, Vink and the Public Art Committee engaged with the community, other boards and Town administration both broadly and through one-on-one conversations.

Public Art Committee members include: Danielle Crouse, Judi Anderson, Normandie Rainwater, Naomi Edelberg Janches, Patrick Marold, Carrie Evans, NDDA board members Rea Orthner and Karina Luscher and NDDA Executive Director Hope Jordan. The first draft of the overall plan was distributed and discussed in January and the final plan was reviewed in February along with drafting the first public art call for murals.

The plan is written in three focus chapters: History and Overview, Public Art Program Experience, and Guidelines for Programming and Administration. The second chapter, Public Art Program Experience, will be highlighted as the primary content in the final plan design as it showcases the Mission and Goals, Key Experience Zones, Types of Projects, Five-year Plan, and Funding Recommendations.

Chapter three, Guidelines for Programming and Administration, includes nation-wide best practices. The plan closes with a recommendation to transfer oversight of the program to Town as a means to grow opportunities.

The NDDA Board approved the final draft of the Public Art Plan in March.  

Vink told the Board that the town can utilize art to focus the downtown. The plan has a five-year trajectory, mainly within the NDDA boundaries.

Regarding the location for a mural, Vink said by the end of next week she will share that with the community. This is an opportunity to tell the whole story of Nederland.

They haven’t set hard budgets yet, but the NDDA has approved funding for this year, and they hope to get grants. The mural will cost $2,500 for prepping the wall and getting it up and usually runs about $3.50 per square foot.

The Board approved adopting the Public Arts Master Plan.

Paid Parking

The Board conducted a public hearing and Special Review Use (SRU) Application related to paid parking at multiple locations between East 1st Street to Highway 119 and to Snyder Street for Ron Mitchell, the representative for Nederland Central Business District Redevelopment (NCBDR) LLC.

The applicant owns multiple properties between East 1st Street north to Highway 119 and east to Snyder Street. Mitchell proposes to install parking kiosks or meters for paid parking on lots throughout this area. The zoning for this property is the Central Business District (CBD).

The proposed use is under the Commercial Use groups for outdoor sales, eating and drinking, or other outdoor commercial activities or establishments, which is allowed via SRU in the CBD district. The spaces at 100 East 1st Street would not qualify for paid parking as the lot is located in the High-Density Residential district, which prohibits this type of use, according to the background summary.

Town Clerk Miranda Fisher showed a PowerPoint presentation. The applicant went before the Planning Commission four different times and was open to concerns. He has 105 total parking spaces.

The goal is to support the businesses and increase the customer base and ensure greater economic stability. People park in the places all day, and then go elsewhere.

At first, the lots will have an attendant who will meet the visitors and give them a card, and direct them to the best places. The visitor will pay the attendant directly.

After six months, he plans to move to kiosks and meters with signage, and a driver will enter their license and provide parking keys if their space is walled in. The applicant is interested in being able to pay into the Commercial Parking Fund.

In response to Board questions, Mitchell said he will have two attendants, one in the morning and one in the evening. Phone numbers to reach an attendant will be on all the signs.

Large vehicle delivery will be behind Ubon, east of Ubon and where the Pioneer Inn has previously blocked the spots. It will service all three restaurants. It’s a three-year plan to be fully implemented.

In response to three public comments, Mitchell said business owners would have cards to identify them only. Signs would be posted as to which is public property and make sure parking spaces are for residents.

After much discussion including recommending elimination of back in parking, Larsen said this is clearly a Special Review Use consistent with the downtown area. We don’t have a basis to deny this proposal, and it should be approved.

The questions the Trustees have to decide are do they recommend accepting payment into the Commercial Parking Fund for use of the seven spaces partially on Town ROW? Does the Board want to direct Town in asking CDOT to remove a parking space west of Nature’s Own in their ROW? Does the Board approve Town staff making 20% of less changes to the SRU agreement? Does the Board have any questions about the Paid Parking SRU application? Does the Board approve the SRU agreements? If so, are there any conditions?

Board members expressed concern that it is not consistent with Town Code and they have no evidence it will not have a negative impact. After  further discussion, the Board approved a motion to vote no on whether the Town will allow accepting payment into the Commercial Parking Fund. The Board also approved a motion to not direct town to remove the parking space in the CDOT parking space.

The Board approved a motion not to allow an administrative review to update the SRU agreement in the amount of 20 percent or less, with Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Baumhover voting no. The Board approved a condition that employee parking is provided on 100 East 1st Street, according to Town Code.

The Board approved a motion that parking spaces be clearly marked and that the parking fees be included on signage, and the Board approved a motion for employee parking to be clearly designated for employees within hours they are designated.

The Board considered a motion to approve the SRU, and the Board voted in favor with Trustees Eric Coombs Esmail voting against it.

(Originally published in the April 29, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)