HomeMy WebLinkAbout0.8.22 Prior Use - PUD Master Plan & Land Proposed for Dedication for Public Use4.08.05 (7) The applicant may submit any other information or exhibits, which she/he deems pertinent in evaluating his
proposed PUD. (A. 79-132)
Mountain Park:
The Applicant requests that the Planning Staff, Planning Commission and the Board of
County Commissioners include with any recommendations or actions for approval of the
Reserve at Elk Meadows PUD a condition that incorporates the following offer.
The Applicant proposes as a condition of the approval of this PUD application, to dedicate
with the first phase final plat approximately 960 acres of the west parcel of the Bershenyi
Ranch (Mountain Park), to some type of public or private entity (county, city, special district,
non-profit corporation, home owners association) for the purpose of managing this parcel for
use by the public. In addition to preserving an enormously important area of wildlife habitat,
the Mountain Park is proposed to be available for non -motorized use by the public under the
guidance of appropriate rules that will foster a compatible relationship with the native
wildlife. In cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, some seasonal limitations
may be placed on public use of the "mountain park" to protect the wildlife values of the
property. Even with sensitive consideration for wildlife, the Mountain Park will provide an
enormous recreational resource that is readily accessible to residents in the Four Mile
corridor and Glenwood Springs.
The following description by the projects wildlife consultant attests to the diverse character of
the proposed Mountain Park. Removal of cattle grazing from the property will alone result in
a number of habitat enhancements.
On the upper parcel, the oak and mountain shrub communities are innervated by
approximately 2-40 acre meadows (some supporting big sagebrush, but most cleared of native
vegetation and planted with non-native cultivars to increase livestock forage [formerly sheep
and now cattle]) and a powerline corridor, before transitioning into aspen (Populus
tremuloides) stands generally codominated and well interspersed with mixed conifers.
Mountain shrub community composition varies with soil type and depth, aspect, moisture and
light penetration thorough any overstory. On rocky, xeric sites, Gambel oak dominates, but
all other communities generally have chokecherry, serviceberry, oakbrush, and snowberry.
Big sagebrush and rabbitbrush are also present and locally dominant, particularly in deeper
soil areas. Aspen stands generally support a chokecherry, serviceberry, and snowberry
understory with a relatively lush herbaceous component. Engelmann spruce (Picea
engelmannii) is the most common conifer interspersed in most aspen stands, but subalpine fir
(Abies bicolor) and Douglas -fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) are also common components.
Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is even present as individuals and junipers also extend into
the aspen/ mixed conifer stands. Conifer density in aspen stands is low (< 40% canopy
coverage) allowing sufficient light penetration to the understory to support a relatively lush
and diverse mountain shrub, forb, and graminoid community. On only a few localized, north -
facing slopes conifer stands occur without aspen, but even there Rocky Mountain maple (Acer
glabrum) and other mountain shrub species are common in the understory. An upper reach
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of Threemile Creek, as well as a number of intermittent creeks, flow across the upper parcel.
Water quality in the creeks varies with cattle access. Beaver are occasionally present on the
property as a result of their dispersal from larger water bodies (e.g., Hughes Reservoir) on
adjacent properties, however, aquatic habitats on the parcel are inadequate to support any
beaver lodges or bank dens.
Access to the west parcel will be via the existing ranch road across the open space lands of the
Reserve at Elk Meadows and on through BLM parcel the separates the west and east
Bershenyi Ranch parcels. BLM officials have indicated the existing ranch road may be used
for non -motorized access by the public. Access easements over the appropriate interior Elk
Meadow's road right-of-ways will be dedicated with the applicable final plat to provide public
vehicular access to a public parking area located at the north end of the Upper Meadow
(north of Lot 26 on the PUD Plan). This parking area is very near to the existing ranch road
that has provided historic access to the west Bershenyi Ranch Parcel. The existing ranch road
will be overlain with a public pedestrian easement providing access from the public parking
area across the Elk Meadows open space to the BLM parcel. Public pedestrian access to the
existing ranch road will be available over the interior pedestrian trails from the Four Mile
Valley Community Trail located on the east side of Four Mile Road in the area of the
Bershenyi Barnyard. Pedestrian easements will be in provided for public use of these trails.
Additional public parking will be available in the area of the preserved barns (Barnyard) east
of Four Mile Road from which pedestrian trails leading to the Mountain Park may be
accessed.
At the time of the dedication of this parcel, temporary pedestrian easements will be dedicated
to allow public access across un -platted portions of the PUD to provide access to the ranch
road leading to the west Bershenyi Ranch parcel. These temporary easements will be vacated
as final plats are recorded and permanent public easements are documented by the
subdivision plats. A variety of funding mechanisms are being researched to support
maintenance of the property.
PUD MASTER PLAN & LAND PROPOSED FOR DEDICATION FOR PUBLIC USE
4.08.06 Notwithstanding the rezoning of an overall area as PUL], no portion thereof shall be used or developed until a
signed subdivision plat for said portion shall have been approved by the County Commissioners as ifrequired by
the Garfield County Subdivision Regulations_ (amended 2002-12)
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NO ZUTE REVISION BY
GARNELD COUNTY
RESERVE AT ELK MEADOWS
P.U.D. MASTER PLAN &
LAND PROPOSED FOR
DEDICATION FOR PUBLIC USE
DES. YTN CIC YTN FILE NO. SREST
DA CJB DATE ailA0 250,9•01