Tag: Department of natural resources

Open Space Master Plan Community Workshop

The department of Public Works & Natural Resources is in the process of updating the City’s Open Space Master Plan. The intent of this comprehensive plan is to evaluate Longmont’s open space needs to proactively plan for the future.

The City has engaged the services of GreenPlay LLC, a nationally renowned park / open space and recreation consulting firm, to help in analysis and development of the updated plan. GreenPlay LLC drafted the initial Open Space and Trails Master Plan in 2002.

  • The meeting will consist of a presentation and interactive work stations. Participants will be asked a variety of questions to evaluate the open space accomplishments over the past 15 years and to assess the needs of the community that should be addressed in this updated comprehensive plan.
  • Dinnertime snacks will be provided during a welcome period from 5:30 – 6pm just before the meeting.
  • Participants should plan to attend for the full time.
  • Youth participation is encouraged.
  • Spanish translators will be available.

Open Space Master Plan Community Workshop

Longmont’s Department of Public Works & Natural Resources is in the process of updating the City’s Open Space Master Plan. The intent of this comprehensive plan is to evaluate Longmont’s open space needs to proactively plan for the future. To that end, the city is holding an interactive community workshop on February 22, 2018 from 7-9pm at the Natural Resources building located at 7 South Sunset Street Longmont, CO 80501. 

The original plan is 16 years old (2002) and a lot has changed since then.  Let your voice be heard as the city revises its plan for Longmont’s Open Space!

  • The meeting will consist of a presentation and interactive work stations. Participants will be asked a variety of questions to evaluate the open space accomplishments over the past 15 years and to assess the needs of the community that should be addressed in this updated comprehensive plan.
  • Dinnertime snacks will be provided during a welcome period from 6:30 – 7pm just before the meeting.
  • Participants should plan to attend for the full time.
  • Youth participation is encouraged.
  • Spanish translators will be available.

Variance Requests for Development

On Wednesday, October 25th, the Planning and Zoning Commission heard a development request for the Harvest Junction shopping center regarding an 8-foot variance to the 150-foot riparian setback required by the City Code. It was clear from the discussion that many questions could have been answered if staff from the city’s Department of Natural Resources had been present at the meeting. Such questions involved the ecology of the riparian area, the reasoning behind the setback, and the work being done as part of the Resilient St. Vrain flood mitigation project.

Currently, there is no procedure in place to refer variance requests to the Department of Natural Resources when the request may impact a natural area such as the St. Vrain Creek corridor. In order to learn of variance requests, the Department of Natural Resources must either hear of it through word of mouth or through another informal channel.

It doesn’t strike Stand With Our St. Vrain Creek as productive for the left hand to not know what the right is doing when it’s the left hand that has the needed expertise. Therefore, we suggest that a standard operating procedure be put into place requiring the Department of Natural Resources be consulted when variances are requested that may impact wildlife or sensitive ecological areas such as the St. Vrain corridor.