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Redstone September/October 2024

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RESIDENT / OCCUPANT PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID LYONS, CO PERMIT No 2053

VOLUME 25, NUMBER 8

LYONS, COLOR ADO

$.50

SEPTEMBER 13 / OCTOBER 24, 2024

B •R •I •E •F •S U.S. Hwy. Brief title 36 Wildlife Crossing update LYONS – text

BOULDER COUNTY – BoulBrief title has started investider County LYONS – text gating the feasibility of building wildlife crossing structures on U.S. Hwy. 36 between Boulder and Lyons, specifically between Lefthand Canyon Drive and Hwy. 66. County Parks and Open Space staff hosted a public meeting for residents to receive the latest information, ask questions, and express concerns. The recording and a two-question survey are now available on the project webpage. The boco.org/US36WildlifeCrossings webpage includes past public presentations on the importance of wildlife crossings and the specifics of this project and an email sign up link to receive updates throughout the project. Lyons Flyer Bus service

LYONS – The Boulder County Commissioners approved adding mid-day bus service from Boulder to Lyons and Lyons to Boulder for the remainder of the year. The mid-day bus departs Boulder at 12 noon on weekdays to Lyons and the return trip leaves Lyons at 12:50 p.m. The final schedule is posted on the town website. Town Utility Bill Newsletter on town website

LYONS – Did you know that the Town Utility Bill Newsletter which is mailed or emailed to all utility bill customers is also posted each month on the Town’s website? The September 2024 Newsletter is posted along with previous months in the newsletter archive. Glass Recycling Pilot Program

LYONS – Boulder County and the Town of Lyons are piloting a glass collection ONLY bin at the recycling center. The bin is specific for glass bottles and jars only and will go directly to Glass to Glass, a recycling facility in Broomfield to be recycled and create new bottles. The program is new for Lyons and is a pilot program, one of just two within the State of Colorado. Look for the big blue box that accepts GLASS ONLY. We expect the bin to be at the drop-off center for one year to Continue Briefs on Page 6

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I •N •D •E •X LYONS MAYOR’S CORNER OPTIONS CONTRAST LOOKING UP INSIGHT CONSENSUS ART & ENT NATURE CHOICES WHAT’S COOKIN’

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Spotted: Mama bear and her four cubs find comfort in the tall grass. BY CHARLES GLAZER The board also decided they want to tour the IGA Task Force reports to town board, properties. They asked staff to contact Boulder County and up with a new timeline for discusFarmers Market downtown and other issues sionstooncome the IGA and to ask the county for an By Susan de Castro Redstone Review Editor

LYONS – Lyons Town Board heard a report from the IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) Task Force at a workshop that was held before the regular town board meeting in early September. The IGA Task Force was formed to allow Lyons residents to participate in the process of deciding what county land surrounding Lyons should be annexed to the town. Boulder County creates a buffer of land around all its municipalities to make an attempt to control and/or regulate wild, out of control growth, which some counties have experienced. Cities and towns in the county can apply to annex parcels of the county land through an IGA. Lyons was in the process of having discussions with BoCo about annexing certain parcels of land when residents became concerned about the lack of open discussions, and so the town board formed the IGA Task Force to create a plan to look at the properties that were under discussion and report back to the board. The members of the Task Force are: Charles Stevenson – Confluence, Renter; Cindy Fisher – Stone Canyon; Douglas Matthews (chair) – Upper North Side; Jen Wingard (alternate) – South Side; Julie Jacobs (scribe) – Lower North Side; Martin Soosloff (vice chair) – South/West Side; Sonny Smith – South Side, Renter; Wendy Miller – South Side, Business Representative. Support Liaisons: BoT – Trustee Dave Hamrick; Staff – Town Planner Andrew Bowen; PCDC – Barney Dreistadt; Boulder County – H. Hippely. All the information is available to see, including the maps showing all the parcels that were discussed for annexation, at the Town of Lyons website under Town Government, Agenda Center, Sept. 3 Town Board meeting agenda. The maps shows nine parcels that were under

original consideration. Use this guide for understanding the planning area: RPA = Rural Preservation Area; PAA = Potential Annexation Area; PPA = Primary Planning Area. The report stated that the challenge that the Task Force faced was the approach and considerations related to which property should or should not be included in the PPA or PAA. That was the most difficult part of the process for the Task Force given the emergence of two different perspectives on the most appropriate approach to making such determinations. The report states, “As accounted for in the establishment of the Task Force, it was agreed that both perspectives (recommendations) would be presented for the BoT. The primary question came down to WHEN should particular parcels be assessed for inclusion in the PAA of the IGA and evaluated for potential future annexation.” It went on to say, “Recommendations: The Task Force therefore offers these two alternative recommendations summarized below with rationale and details expanded on the following pages: Option A Summary: Two of Seven Task Force Members preferred this option (28-Aug-24) that recommends that the BoT keep all areas (PAA properties) as defined on the Draft 2024 IGA map (Exhibit A) and allow the town’s annexation process to make determinations about annexation and development when and if such annexation application is presented by a property owner. “ “Option B Summary: Five of seven Task Force members preferred this option (28Aug-24) that recommends that the BoT apply a reasonable site selection criteria and that deliberation be applied to consider the appropriateness and inclusion of each parcel added to the PAA for potential future annexation and development before the finalized IGA map (Exhibit A) is solidified.” The trustees at the early September meeting chose not to make a decision at that meeting on the Task Force recommendations, but to schedule that discussion for the near future.

extension for the IGA. In other matters the Lyons Town Board approved, on second reading, Ordinance 1167, an annexation application for two parcels: 4545 Ute Hwy. (Front Parcel) and 4602 Highland Dr. (Rear Parcel). Both parcels have been within the Town’s planning area for several years and have been used commercially. This property is owned by Boulder developer Stephen Tebo. Town Planner Andrew Bowen presented the proposal to the board. Town staff have met several times with developer Tebo within the last four months to discuss annexation and the highest and best use for both parcels. While no formal development plans were submitted, in conversations with the applicant, the proposed development patterns for the site are commercial on the front parcel (CEC), with high-density housing (R3) on the rear parcel. Next the board went on to approve, on second reading, Ordinance 1172 to allow Farmers’ Markets in downtown zones as both a conditional and principal use. This should create a lot more excitement downtown and allow residents easy access to local produce. In another popular move, the board approved on second reading Ordinance 1171 to accept the local Historic Designation for the Depot Building at 430 5th Ave. The history of the building was presented to the board stating, “Historic Designation helps preserve the community’s unique heritage, culture, and character by protecting buildings that represent Lyons’ unique past. Preservation and historic designation honors, preserves, and protects buildings and areas determined to have a special character and historic, architectural, or aesthetic interest within Lyons. The Depot building is already on the National and State Register of Historic Places. Longmont contractor Mark Boyd built the depot in 1885 utilizing native Lyons sandstone. Used first by the narrow-gauge Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad, the depot served Continue Task Force on Page 9


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