Draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 2010 Major Update available for review
Apr 6th
The draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) 2010 Major Update is now available for review at www.bouldervalleycompplan.net; paper copies can also be obtained by calling 303-441-4293. To learn about the various feedback opportunities, visit the draft plan website. Comments received by Friday, April 29 will be reflected in future public hearing materials.
An open house will be held on Wednesday, April 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Lobby, 1777 Broadway. Staff will be available to answer questions and take feedback.
The draft plan is currently scheduled for consideration at the following public meetings:
· City Council and Planning Board joint public hearing on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
· Boulder County Planning Commission on Wednesday, July 20 at the Boulder County Court House. 1325 Pearl St.
· Boulder County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 26 at the Boulder County Court House, 1325 Pearl St.
These dates/times are subject to change. All meetings will be posted at www.bouldervalleycompplan.net.
For more than a year, the city has been collecting community feedback for the BVCP 2010 Major Update. The major update process happens every five years to reflect changes in circumstances and community desires. The BVCP indicates the preferred long-term use of land in the Boulder Valley and provides guidance for zoning and development decisions. It is adopted by four bodies: The City of Boulder Planning Board, the City Council, the County Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.
For more information, visit www.bouldervalleycompplan.net.
Fourmile Canyon Fire aerial mulching to begin Thursday, April 7 (weather permitting)
Apr 5th
Boulder County, Colo. – With increased potential for flooding, debris flows and weed invasion in the Fourmile Canyon Fire area due to loss of vegetation and bare slopes, the Boulder County Fire Rehabilitation Implementation Team is conducting a series of treatments aimed at reducing erosion and weeds in the areas hardest hit by the fire that burned more than 6,000 acres and destroyed 169 homes last September.
Aerial mulching treatments will consist of certified weed-free straw and WoodStrawÓ being dropped in pre-determined areas from helicopters. Target areas were determined by a set of criteria that includes slope, burn severity, flood/debris flow risk, and values downstream (including human life, safety and property). In total, approximately 1,960 acres will be aerially mulched inside the fire boundary.
Aerial operations will begin on April 7 (weather permitting) in the vicinity of Sugarloaf Road and Fourmile Canyon Drive and move to areas within Sunshine Canyon on or after April 12. Flights will operate for about two weeks (up until April 23) depending on weather conditions throughout the mulching period.
Helicopters will be flying during daylight hours only beginning as early as 7 a.m., and residents can expect temporary road closures as helicopters fly overhead. Additionally, heavy truck equipment will be used in the vicinity of Sugarloaf Road and Sunshine Canyon to deliver straw and support equipment for the aerial flights.
Hand seeding is taking place along roads and driveways in areas that were moderately to severely burned, and with less than 60 percent slope. Roads and driveways are targeted because vehicles are a common way that weed seeds are transported. In total, approximately 500 acres will be seeded utilizing the help of volunteers.
Call the Fourmile Rehabilitation Hotline at 303-413-7010 for the latest updates on seeding and aerial mulching activities. Message boards or flaggers will be located in the vicinity of work being performed to alert residents of any delays or modifications to traffic patterns.
Safety issues
Due to safety regulations and FAA requirements, no one can be in the immediate areas where mulch is being dropped.
Residents and workers in the mulching areas for Gold Hill, Four Mile Canyon, Sugar Loaf and Sunshine Canyon will be asked to leave the area for the day, and bring in pets/livestock while their specific block or neighborhood is being mulched.
Boulder County Sheriff’s patrols will be active in the area to maintain public safety for the duration of the treatments. The Sheriff’s Office asks everyone to be mindful of the following privacy and public safety rules:
- Motorists must not block traffic on any public right of way.
- Everyone must stay at least 200 feet outside of the perimeter of active aerial mulching treatment areas at all times so as not to impede operations.
- No trespassing is allowed on private property including driveways, turn-offs, private roads or other private property.
- Cyclists are asked to avoid Sugarloaf Road, Fourmile Canyon Drive, and Sunshine Canyon Drive while helicopter flights are occurring (April 7-23).
Information resources
For additional information and maps showing the treatment areas go to: www.bouldercounty.org/fourmilefire.
County offering forestry trainings and workshops in April
Apr 5th
Boulder County, Colo. – As part of its Forest Health Initiative, Boulder County is offering community forestry trainings and workshops this spring to help residents.
“Bark beetle management is complicated, but people will leave these trainings with a solid understanding about how to fight beetles on their land,” said Ryan Ludlow, Boulder County’s Outreach Forester.
Key Steps to Managing Your Backyard Forest
When: Thursday, April 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72 North
Info: Free forestry training shows how to fight bark beetles and create better defensible space around homes.
The Beetles are Coming: A Call for Community Action
When: Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: Jamestown Town Hall, 118 Main St.
Info: Free training will focus on what landowners and communities can do to aggressively fight bark beetles as they arrive in our forests.
The Beetles are Coming: A Hands-on Training About Beetle Identification and Management
When: Wednesday, April 13, 6 p.m.
Where: Camp Eden, 11583 Camp Eden Road, Coal Creek Canyon
Info: Free field workshop will focus on effective landowner actions and best, current beetle management strategies.
Boulder County is also offering two wildfire preparedness workshops for residents interested in learning more about creating defensible space around their homes.
“These workshops will give folks an in-depth understanding of actions they can take to help increase the chances of their home surviving the next wildfire,” Ludlow said. “We live in a fire-dependent ecosystem and it is not a question of if a wildfire is going to occur, but when.”
Wildfire Preparedness and Planning Session 1
When: Thursday, April 21, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Courthouse, Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 1325 Pearl St, third floor, Boulder
Who should attend: Those living at lower elevations (below 7,500 feet, in ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir dominated forests)
Wildfire Preparedness and Planning Session 2
When: Saturday, April 30, 1-4 p.m.
Where: Gilpin County Community Center, 250 Norton Drive, Black Hawk
RSVP: Pre-registration is required. Call 303-582-9106.
Who should attend: Those living at higher elevations (above 7,500 feet, in mixed conifer and lodgepole pine forests)
Please visit www.BoulderCounty.org/ForestHealth to find additional details about upcoming forestry trainings in your area. Contact Ryan Ludlow at 720-564-2641 or pinebeetle@bouldercounty.org for more information about upcoming trainings and forest management.
