July 2020

Hi everyone – I hope you are all doing well.  Here’s my mid-month update for things going on in and around Superior for July 2020.  Read on for updates on the Airport Roundtable, Marshall Bridge, Chili Fest, and most importantly… GOATS! 

Last call for the GOATS

If you haven’t visited the goats and guard llama Vinny, this will be their last week in Superior.  Mutton Mowers can be found in the fields north of Castle Park, to the East of Eldorado PK-8 on Indiana.  Also, you can purchase Vinny the Guard Llama t-shirts (modeled by yours truly in the picture) through the Town’s website.  Thank you to Town Staff for organizing this amazing program with Mutton Mowers and we look forward to seeing you back in Superior next summer!

#8Can’tWait

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle attended the June 22, 2020 Town Board meeting and gave a presentation on the Sheriff’s Office’s Response to #8Can’tWait, which is a campaign to bring change to police departments and make policing safer.  Specifically, the policies adopted by the BoCo Sheriff include: (1) banning chokeholds & strangleholds; (2) requiring de-escalation; (3) requiring warning before shooting; (4) requiring the exhausting of all alternatives before shooting; (5) imposing a duty to intervene on other officers witnessing the excessive use of force; (6) banning shooting at moving vehicles for the sole purpose of disabling the vehicle; (7) requiring a use of force continuum; and (8) requiring comprehensive reporting of the use of force.  A link to additional materials from the BoCo Sheriff regarding this policy is available here.

Airport Roundtable

Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, along with neighboring local governments, federal and state agencies, and airport users are in the process of forming a Community Noise Roundtable, to address noise issues caused by airport operations.  The Roundtable’s express purposes are to: identify the dimension of noise issues, discover possible mitigation actions, find opportunities for implementation, and evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigations; share up to date data in order to identify potential voluntary noise reduction opportunities; identify potential operational changes that would require federal approval; work to build consensus around recommendations for noise reduction measures, whether voluntary or mandatory (requiring Federal approvals); and review available data regarding noise reduction measures.  This will include strategies to route aircraft away from residential areas; increasing aircraft altitudes, and the development of preferred routes to/from the practice areas north of RMMA. 

While this will be a voluntary program, I am encouraged that RMMA is taking the issue of noise impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods seriously and I look forward to seeing proposed solutions by the Roundtable.

CenturyLink Property Closing – Boulder County Funding $2.25 million

In mid-June, the Town closed and officially became the owner of the 182-acre parcel of land at the southern edge of Superior commonly known as the CenturyLink Property.  A huge thank you to Boulder County for contributing $2.25 million towards the $15 million purchase price!  Consistent with the purchase agreement, rezoning of the property to “Open Space-Natural” is scheduled for the July 13 Town Board meeting and work continues on a conservation easement agreement.  We are also excited to partner with Jefferson County and the City and County of Broomfield on a similar financial contribution towards the conservation easement.

Pickleball Courts

6 pickleball courts are currently under construction in Autrey Park.  In addition to the courts, small shade structures and benches will be installed with this project.  Completion is anticipated for early this fall.  I am excited for this amenity to be added to our town and anticipate the courts will get a lot of use based on feedback from the community.

Verizon Macro Tower

Installation of a macro tower facility in Community Park — to address widespread spotty cell phone coverage throughout Superior — has been delayed due to COVID-19.  We anticipate the project will be completed this fall.  For more information about this project, I wrote about it in July 2019, December 2019, and February 2020.  

Marshall Road Bridge

On June 13, the Town Board approved plans to build the Marshall Road Bridge.  The Bridge, which will connect Marshall Road near the Element Hotel with Downtown Superior and cross over Coal Creek, is a significant piece of the infrastructure for the Downtown Superior development and will facilitate the construction of Parks 1 and 2 as well.  Construction on the bridge and parks is slated to begin later this year.  A link to a presentation to the Town Board about the bridge is available here.

Zaharias and 88th Street

On June 29, 2020, the Town Board denied the residential rezoning request for the Zaharias Property, which is located directly east of 88th Street and to the north of the Hodgson-Harris Reservoir.  Please note this parcel of land remains private property and is zoned RAC (Regional Activity Center), which allows various types of commercial uses.  The property is not owned by the Town and is not open space. Thank you to all members of the community who spoke during public comment and/or wrote to the Town Board.  This public hearing spanned three different Town Board meetings, but if you’d like to hear the final Board discussion, please see the link where our discussion starts at at 4:09.  

88th street reconstruction is continuing as planned and is on track for re-opening in August.  During the next few weeks work will include installation of storm drainage and sanitary sewer facilities as well as construction of curb & gutter along the entire east side of the project. Please note that the sidewalk along the west side of 88th Street will be closed for a few days in order to install a storm pipe — a detour will be provided during that closure.

Chili Fest and Virtual Meetings

Due to COVID-19, the Town Board has elected to cancel Chili Fest this fall.  Similarly, the Town Board and advisory committee meetings will continue to be held virtually until further notice.

Fences

Did you know that the Town maintains the majority of the fences throughout Rock Creek?  Every year, the town paints and performs general maintenance on these fences on a 4-year rotation (25% of the fences are painted every summer.)  

This year, the Town’s contractors  will be painting the area south of Coalton (see map included here).  New this year will be a change in the color.  Based on feedback from the community wanting a change, the town will be painting Cabot Dune Gray instead of “Rock Creek Yellow.”  The HOA has included some history on the fence color issue here and will be eager to hear your feedback on the new color. 

Virtual “Lowdowns”

Would you like to meet with me one-on-one to discuss anything related to the Town of Superior?  Residents have told me that “public comment” at Town Board meetings can be frustrating since it’s not a back and forth conversation.  Sign up for a virtual or socially distanced coffee with me and let’s discuss what’s on your mind.  Please shoot me an email at markl@superiorcolorado.gov and we can arrange a time.