Agenda - Council - 04/25/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # 3 CONSIDER M kPS FOR PREFERRED LAND USE/TRANSPORTATION/PARKS & TRAILS ELEMENTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE By: City Administrator Ryan Schroeder Background: On March 21, 1995, the City Council conducted a public hearing regarding the proposed maps for comprehensive pla~ updates for land use, transportation, and parks and trails. At the conclusion of the public hearing~ City Staff was directed to report back to City Council on April 25 with a summary and respbnse/recommendafion to the comments submitted at the public hearing. The minutes of the pubic hearing are enclosed for your information. Background: ~ Below is Staffs su~Wanary of the comments submitted at the public hearing and our response and recommendation toisame: 1. Oppositio~ was expressed to the off-road trail system in general and specific c.bncerns wer.e raised with horseback riding and snowmobiling. Comment~l were submitted recommending an off-road rather than an on- road trail[system to get horseback riders from Traprock riding arena south and west [o the trails in Northfork. Staff RespoOse and Recommendation: The most important feature of off-road trails is their transponatiqnal element. From a public safety aspect, they get people from one destination to another ~vithout using roads. In addition, using trails to connect parks reduces the number of p~ks that are needed in the community With 16,000.'. potential walkers and 100 potential horseback riders, it is reasonable to expect that the hors[/trail will be a minor component of the trail system and the system identified at this point is! adequate. In discussions with the Horse Care Commission, they have also gone on rec&d as stating that 5 to 6 miles of horse riding trails is adequate and there are approximat41y 5 miles of horse trails proposed in the Northfork loop. The trail system should provide facets for all users and City Staff supports horse and snowmobile trails in addition to ~icycle and pedestrian trails. However, because of the numbers, pedestrian and bicycle trails are of greater importance than horse and snowmobile trails and should be considered l~igher priority. Oppos;tton~ was expressed to a trail around Sunfish Lake that would impact residential fuses in that area. Staff Response and Recommendation: Trail corridors protect and reduce these sensitive areas from tl[e impacts of development. Sunfish Lake remains a recreational focus of the community ~nd the City should maintain public access to the lake in one or more locations. In addition, 4evelopers should be encouraged to provide scenic easements around Sunfish Lake as prop.~rty develops. /35