Floyd Hill Area Property Owners’ Association Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Clear Creek High School
Presentation
Blue Spruce, Habitat for Humanity bought land at the bottom of Floyd Hill at the southeast corner of Beaver Brook and Meadow Brook (across from the parking area). According to George Hurst, the plan is to build a 1,200 sq ft retail store to resell building materials (such as windows and doors, but not lumber) and furniture. The plan includes 200 sq ft for offices. All materials will be stored inside the building. The non-profit will use the proceeds from this venture to build more low-income houses where homeowners must provide 500 hours of sweat equity as well as make modest mortgage payments. Commencement of construction is at least a year away.
Fred Rollenhagen, Planning Director for Clear Creek County spoke about the County’s ongoing effort of creating a Master Plan 2030 (adopted January, 2004). Clear Creek County views Floyd Hill’s mixed use-zoned land at the base of the Hill as the gateway to Clear Creek County, which will formulate the public’s first impression of the County. With a 50:50 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, three Requests for Proposal are being reviewed to choose a consultant to guide the development of the Master Plan. An Advisory Committee of residents, developers, and elected officials is being formed to choose the Consultant in October and to filter input for viable land use including residential, business, retail, (zoned Commercial 1) and open space. Infrastructure needs for water, emergency services, roads and Public Works, recreation, transportation and telecommunication networks will be examined. FHAPOA Vice President, Mike Chevarria, will serve on the Advisory Board. The earliest that a County plan would be available for review would be May, 2008.
Business Meeting:
Call to Order:
President, Jim White, called the FHAPOA Business Meeting to order at approximately 8:05 pm.
Minutes from July 26, 2007 Meeting: Ken Quast motioned to approve the prior meeting’s minutes as posted on the FHAPOA web site. Mike Chevarria seconded the motion. All present unanimously approved the July Association’s meeting minutes as presented.
Treasurer’s Report: (See full report attached by
Treasurer, Jael Dale)
Balance 7/26/07
$7,610.75
Deposits (chipper fees) + $ 640.50
Debits*
- $ 932.17
Balance 9/27/07
$7,319.08
* FHAPOA picnic expenses, new business meeting sign, chipper expenses.
A motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report was made by Steve Painter, seconded by Pat Aiello, and verbally approved by those in attendance.
138 Floyd Hill property owners have paid dues to date.
Committee Reports:
Road and Bridge Committee *: (report by Pat Aiello)
Pat circulated a proposal to the Clear Creek County Road and Bridge Department written by the Association’s Committee. Phase I will urge property owners to clean their own culverts. Phase II proposes that the County clean all ditches next spring. The final phase requests that the County replace the road base, grade the road toward ditches, and get the roads back in reasonable condition. Ken Quast moved that the FHAPOA officers sign the letter to the proposal. Sigfried Manke seconded the motion that passed with no opposition. This document will be submitted to the County Commissioners along with a proposal by John Dobel that was circulated for signatures at the August 25th picnic. These documents will be posted on the FHAPOA web site.The County has the authority to ask homeowners to clean clogged culverts under their driveways. The Homeowners’ Associations’ past attempts to alert the County of problem culverts have been ignored. The Homeowner’s Association will continue to urge the County to enforce proper culvert maintenance via voluntary cooperation, fines, and/or liens.
The Committee continues to research the possibility of forming a special district to pave all unpaved roads on Floyd Hill. If favored by homeowners, road paving will be put out for bid, property owners with improved roads will help fund the road for up to a 10-year period, and the County will maintain the roads.
Playground Committee: No report
Emergency Notification Committee*: (report by Linda Berteau)
On September 28th, the Evergreen Fire Protection District published its Community Wildfire Protection Plan of 28 neighborhoods in the Fire District. It listed Floyd Hill, Echo Hills, Segar’s Acres, and Brook Forest as Extreme Fire Hazard Danger areas. Ratings were influenced by access, evacuation routes, vegetation density, water, signage, and human population. Floyd Hill’s rating and recommendations for improvement were passed out to the audience. Recommendations included creating an emergency access route, and to widen switchbacks and turnarounds. The Committee will seek the support of the Fire District to press the County to make these improvements.
Einar Jensen, Community Educator for Evergreen Fire-Rescue is proposing a mock emergency evacuation be staged on Floyd Hill next spring when roads are clear. This practice disaster training would help us access the time it would take to safely evacuate the Hyland Hills area. Einar Jensen will attend the next FHAPOA business meeting to discuss this idea.
Development Master Plan Committee:
See Fred Rollenhagen’s report above
Water Response Committee*: No report
Activities Committee*: report by
Jim White
On September 15th and 16th 27 families on the Hill hauled an
amazing amount of deadfall and slash from their properties to the roadside
for chipping by a industrial strength chipper from United Rentals which
pulverized up to 12” diameter trees and broadcasted the mulch over the
landscape. All of this clean-up was accomplished for $20 per hour ($40 for
non-members) and actually operated at a profit! Kudos are definitely in
order for organizer, Josh Lewis and his hearty band of helpers: Holly
Grangell, Travis Lamb, (who let us use his mega truck) Keith Briggs, and
Steve Byrne. We hope to offer this great opportunity again next fall and/or
spring.
Old Business: report by Linda Berteau
Kleinwachter New Development
51 homeowners from the area attended a meeting at Ski County Antiques on September 13th where Brian Kleinwachter and his Planner, Doug Reed, explained the plan to develop the 2.6 acres between the current antique store and the ride stop. Brian started talking to Idaho Springs about getting public water to Floyd Hill over a year ago. The Kleinwachters plan to start expansion with a Shell gas station and general store which could use up to 109,000 gallons of well water a year and an ISDS septic system. Double-lined gas tanks would supply 2 pumps (4 stalls), but no car wash. If Idaho Springs annexes a 6 mile corridor along I-70 up to, but not including the Antique store, construction could begin in as little as 8 months. A 100-table 2-story restaurant, office, and retail store are possibilities for later development. The Kleinwachters also own 9 acres on the north side of I-70. Another 1,500 sq ft building (in addition to the current storage warehouse) for tenants such as a home furnishings store or appliance store is visualized in a later phase. The Kleinwachters are also interested in buying the church property next to Ski Country Antiques. The Idaho Springs annexation plan also allows for a 204-unit hotel and a 401-unit apartment complex.
Concerns expressed to the Kleinwachters by the audience included: pollution and fire danger from gas tanks, traffic congestion, increased crime, decline in property values, inability of Idaho Springs to provide adequate police protection, road maintenance, and snow removal in the City’s right-of-way, and light pollution. A common concern voiced by Hill residents was lack of input into the type and method of development.
New Business: Discussion led by Jim White
Idaho Springs' annexation of the bottom of Floyd Hill (zoned Commercial 3), is not tied to a pipeline bringing water and sewage services from Idaho Springs, but will leave the area open to large-scale development. Bringing public water and waste treatment to the base of the Hill will cost a minimum of $3-$4 million, and would need to be financed by multi-developers. Annexation of the bottom of Hyland Hills will divide Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County, and will not allow for input of area residents. The best interest of Floyd Hill (including Saddle Back Mountain and Beaver Brook) is to blend residential, commercial, and government interests. John Dobel proposed the following motion:
“Be it resolved that:
The Floyd Hill Area Property Owners’ Association (FHAPOA) is opposed to the annexation by Idaho Springs of commercial property in the Floyd Hill area because Floyd Hill residents have no vote for the City Council of Idaho Springs.
This disenfranchisement leaves us no effective voice in the key decisions in development that affect our water, our safety, our access, our home values, and our quality of life.
We encourage the FHAPOA board to use the resources of the association to vigorously oppose the proposed annexation.”
The motion was seconded by Ken Quast and passed by the majority of those in attendance. Floyd Hill’s opposition to Kleinwachter annexation and zoning will be mailed to the Idaho Springs City Council via this position paper.
Area property owners are encouraged to voice their opinions in the local Currant newspaper, through editorials, and by attending the following meetings at Idaho Springs City Hall 1711 Miner Street:
October 3rd 6:30 pm Zoning public hearing
October 8th 7:00 pm Annexation and zoning ordinances 1st reading
October 22nd 7:00 pm Annexation and Zoning ordinances 2nd reading
. Closure and Next Meeting:
The next FHAPOA meeting was scheduled for Thursday, November 29, 2007 at
7:30 pm at Clear Creek High School.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Pat Aiello. Sammy Carter seconded the motion. Jim White adjourned the business meeting at approximately 9:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Berteau,
Secretary
In attendance:
*Pat Aiello
Grady Alderman
Gary Ater
*Todd Bastian
*Linda Berteau
*Marian and Mike Boyd
Keith Briggs
Linda Browning
*Sammy Carter
*Joyce and Michael Chevarria
Martin Coltrin
*Tina and Glenn Craig
*Jael Dale
*Karen and John Dobel
*David Elmgreen
*Marianne Probst Fluegel
Kerry and Sid Friedman
*David Fulton
*Holly Gangell
*Toni and Ron Gatzan
Norlene Hovland
George Hurst
*Janice and Werner Illig
*Barb and Tom Ivan
*Robert P. Johnson
*Beverly Kerr
*Steve Lane
Terry Leal
*Richard Lear
Stanton M. Levin
Pat and Erle Lewis
*Siegfried Manke
Nancy McClew
*Lou Montgomery
Paul Motz-Storey
Cathleen O’Leary
Roger Parker
Trevor Pfaff
*Diane and Ken Quast
Nick Ragain
*Chip Rich
Fred Rollenhagen
*Janet Romarine
Linda Seavey
*Richard Staller
Paul R. Thomas
Carolyn C. Ward
Paul Wesmann
*Anne and Jim White
David Young
61
* Additional volunteers are needed
