ARTICLES OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS BOARD OF TRUSTEES July 2, 2015 Plaza One Meeting Room 530 E. Main Street, Aspen Newspaper Articles/ Letters to Editor/Public Comment: Letters Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, May 25, 2015 West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Steering Committee, May 17, 2015 Bike path dangerous west of Woody Creek, June 21, 2016, Aspen Daily News Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council, June 20, 2015 Open Space County looks to quell 'party atmosphere' at North Star Preserve, June 17, 2015, Aspen Daily News Roaring Fork River kicks it up a notch, June 18, 2015, Aspen Journalism North Star Nature Preserve drainage is under the microscope, June 24, 2015, Aspen Daily News Land Trust Aspen Valley Land Trust director prepares to step down, June 17, 2015, Aspen Times Trails RFTA delays vote on access plan, June 16, 2015, Aspen Public Radio Aspen-to-Vail Pass bike trail inches closer to reality, June 26, 2015, Aspen Times River flows Area rivers are rebounding after heavy runoff, June 6, 2015, Aspen Daily News The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, Inc. PO Box 921, Carbondale, CO 81623 May 25, 2015 Dale Will Director, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails 530 East Main St. Aspen, CO 81611 Subject: Crystal River Valley bike path Dear Dale: At the May 20, 2015 CVEPA Directors meeting, the need to inject new life into the Crystal River Valley pedestrian-bicycle path was discussed. The CVEPA Board has long supported a bike path from Carbondale to Crested Butte and we are concerned that the initial steps for the next phase of the Pitkin County portion have not yet begun. The first phase of the bike path from Carbondale to the KOA campground that was completed in 2012 has been a tremendous success and it has enjoyed significant pedestrian and bicycle use. Because of the increased Oil & Gas truck traffic and lack of adequate shoulders, Hwy 133 is no longer safe for bicycles. Completing the bike path to the top of McClure pass would solve this problem. The next phase will have a significant impact on the economy of the Crystal River Valley, especially for Redstone when the link to the top of McClure pass is completed. Accordingly, the CVEPA Board urges you to make the next phase of the Crystal Bike path a top priority and to start the initial planning and engineering work yet this year. Thanks for listening, Dorothea Farris Dorothea Farris President, Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, Inc. Board of Directors: John Armstrong Michael Mechau, Bill Spence, John Stickney, Peter Westcott, Dale Will, Chuck Downey, John Emerick, Dorothea Farris, John Hoffmann, Bill Jochems, WEST ELK LOOP SCENIC AND HISTORIC BYWAY STEERING COMMITTEE The Steering Committee works to preserve, protect, interpret, and enhance the Intrinsic Qualities of the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway for the enjoyment of the public. May 17, 2015 To: Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board From: West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway The West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Commission is reviewing and updating its management plan. During the discussion regarding trails in the designated Byway area, the Commission agreed that the trail that connects the communities of Crested Butte to Redstone to Carbondale is significant. The study by Tom Newland indicates the possibilities of the trail, its significance, and some alternative routes. Although some work has been done to accomplish this task, the trail is far from complete, and we would like to encourage the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board to work with the Byway Commission to seek ways to complete the trail that will complete the Crested Butte to Carbondale section and will connect in Carbondale to the Rio Grande Trail from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. Highway #133 from Carbondale to Redstone has a lot of commuter as well as visitor traffic. The connector of the hiking/biking/running trail to Redstone from the KOA campground is essential for safety reasons. The portion from Redstone to the top of McClure Pass will enhance the Byway experience for both residents and visitors. Gunnison County continues to do its part to extend the Byway trail from Crested Butte. We encourage the Pitkin County OSTB, Gunnison County, CDOT, the USFS and the communities of Marble, Redstone, Carbondale, and Crested Butte to work together to create a plan and seek ways to implement the completion of a trail that will both enhance the Byway experience and will provide safety for those who now need to travel along the highway, contributing to a dangerous experience for both individuals and vehicle traffic. The Byway Commission would like to meet with the OSTB to determine a course of action. Regards, West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Steering Committee John Hoffman, Chairman Bike path dangerous west of Woody Creek Sunday, June 21, 2015 Editor: When the bike path from Woody Creek to Basalt was first opened several years back, I rode that perfectly flat blacktop path. It was perfection! Over the years more and more bumps, eruptions and raised cracks have marred our path making it unsafe. Today I started biking the path that begins just west of the Woody Creek Tavern. In a very short distance I counted over 25 spray painted, raised bumps in the blacktop. One is so large, there is a small tree starting to grow out of it. I know about our hazardous bike path, but for people riding it for the first time, it is very dangerous. The government officials in charge of keeping this bike path safe and in good shape for riding are failing our community. Riders will get hurt if something is not done to improve the condition of this path. Aspen and our surrounding areas are beautiful places to be enjoyed. An unplanned trip to the hospital because of a bike accident is NOT enjoyable. Please do something to improve this path. Cheryl McArthur Aspen ROARING FORK VALLEY HORSE COUNCIL P O Box 127 Snowmass, CO 81654 www.rfvhorsecouncil.org 6/20/2015 Dear Steve, George, Howie, Graeme, Dale, Gary, and Janet , Thank you all so much for attending the Glassier site visit for the accommodation for equestrian truck and trailer parking. I have more understanding and great appreciation for your Pitkin County Commissioner and OST Staff and board member jobs. The task of balancing public wishes, preserving our environment, and making all governmental projects functional as well as beautiful is challenging. Both of you care deeply concerned about our valley and it’s residents, and I thank you for your efforts and time. The Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council is a non‐profit 501 (c) (3) organization, with all of its’ members being volunteers. No one is being paid. We represent a community of people who have been disenfranchised over the last 10 years. The horse industry, our western heritage, and the local rural character of our valley are closely linked and generate a strong sustainable economy for the Roaring Fork Valley. We are in the process of putting the data showing the income generated by this industry for our economy. We are very appreciative of your consideration to provide parking so that horseback riders can enjoy riding the 9,100 acres on “The Crown”. We are disappointed that we cannot use the parcel C lot for this summer’s temporary truck and trailer parking. The bikers and hikers have parking at the RFTA lot across from Carrecarte, and have access to the Glassier ‐Crown Trail at this time. Brett Meredith said that the equestrians could use the small, RFTA parking lot at the busy confluence of Hooks Lane and Hooks Spur, and ride our horses down Hooks Spur Lane with traffic to the Glassier‐ Crown Access Trail. During the site visit, Bret Meredith indicated that soft track could be put in on the RFTA trail to link Carrecrate to the Glassier‐Crown Trail. We met with Brett immediately following the site visit to discuss this possibility. He said although it was possible it would take years to implement, and he asked for the RFVHC to help acquire the money to achieve any unforeseen future soft tack in that area. Long story short, we would be riding down Hooks Spur Lane with traffic for an undetermined number of years. The Carrecarte parking area is a 1‐acre area, which will be constrained to only one or two horse trailer spots, mixed in with the many cars for bikers, hiker, and anglers. The crossroads of Hooks Road, Hooks Spur Lane, and RFTA Rio Grande Trail and the heavily traveled Basalt trail system connecting to the Rio Grande, make this highly congested area. We are waiting for a new alternative design for the parking and safe soft track access to the Glassier‐Crown Trail. Most equestrians no longer have the standard two horse rigs of the sixties and seventies, therefore a standard trailer size with a truck is 40 to 45 feet plus. The number of parking spots for truck and trailer parking should be equal to the cars spots for bikers, hikers, and anglers, some with boats. Each individual vehicle can accommodate multiple numbers of bikers, hikers and anglers. A truck and trailer for 3 horsemen is about 40 feet long. If you feel that you must put truck and trailer parking at the busy Carrecate acquisition property, then to be fair, you should put more parking at the brick house with overflow at Parcel C, if you are opposed to putting all the parking for horsemen on Parcel C. You have not identified one user group as having priority over another, so to be honorable you should provide equal parking for all.