LID Master Plan for Niwot unveiled

Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID), made up of nine community members appointed by the Boulder County Commissioners, unveiled a Master Plan for Niwot, focusing primarily on the business district, at a meeting of Niwot's primary community non-profit organizations Nov. 6.

The first meeting of Niwot organizations took place in the fall of 2021, when each organization had an opportunity to describe its mission and planned projects. The Nov. 6 meeting was a followup to the initial meeting, and sought input from community leaders regarding development of a Master Plan for Niwot.

Former LID member Biff Warren gave a brief history of Niwot's previous planning efforts.

Warren noted that the LID created a Transportation & Connectivity Plan in 2012, with the assistance of the Boulder County Transportation staff and professional traffic engineering firms, Fehr & Peers, and firm Fox Tuttle Transportation Group. Community members who participated in developing that plan included Warren, along with Will Hentschel, Kathy Koehler, Laura Skaggs, and Carrie Wise.

The 2012 plan was funded in part by the LID, and in part by Boulder County. Warren noted that many of the transportation improvements listed in the 2012 plan have been completed, including realignment of the intersection of Franklin Street and Niwot Road, sidewalk connections on Neva Road and Fifth Avenue, marked pedestrian crossings, and sidewalk improvements to provide ADA accessibility all over Niwot. Some of the plan's elements, however, were not implemented when affected property owners did not lend their support. Among the proposals not implemented were changes to the intersection of Niwot Road and Second Avenue.

The Master Plan was introduced by Niwot Business Association president Eric Bergeson. Bergeson, who is also vice-president of the LID and a member of the LID Master Plan subcommittee, along with Scott Firle, Jeff Knight, Cornelia Sawle and Heidi Storz. Other LID members in attendance included Sarah Cioni, Lisa Rivard and Keith Waters.

Bergeson described the master planning process and introduced David Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of Fletemeyer & Lee Associates, a local architectural firm with extensive planning experience throughout the country. Bergeson also asked for feedback from the approximately 41 people in attendance, representing the Niwot Community Association, the Niwot Business Association, the Niwot Future League, the Niwot Historical Society, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, the Niwot Community Connections, the Left Hand Grange, and Cottonwood Park West Homeowners Association. Also in attendance were several commercial property owners, including Tim Harrington, Pat Murphy, Alex Chlebek, Euvaldo Valdez, Dayna Roane, Nancy Bureau, Anne Postle, Cornelia Sawle, Dayna Roane, Bruce Warren, and representatives from David Meisner's family.

Hannah Hippely, Long Range Planning Manager for Boulder County Planning & Permitting, was in attendance, along with Alexandra Phillips, Bike & Employee Transportation Manager from Boulder County Public Works.

Bergeson emphasized that this was just the start of the process, that nothing was set in stone, and that the projects described would need "champions" to see them completed.

Among the recommendations were to realign the Niwot Road intersection with Second Avenue to create a safer walking experience for pedestrians, and one that would naturally connect Second Avenue businesses with Cottonwood Square, including an unimpeded visual connection with colored brick pavers.

Other aspects included improving signage at the various entrances to Niwot, or at least that part of Niwot which consists of the business district and contiguous subdivisions. Discussion of a new protected location for the restored tree carvings of the late artist Eddie Running Wolf, possibly in Left Hand Valley Grange Park, was included as part of the plan, with the possible addition of metal replicas on pedestals at the key intersections of Second Avenue. Lee also described the need to slow traffic on Niwot Road and on Second Avenue, and various methods to do so for pedestrian safety.

Among the plans suggestions were a train station type of development at the Second Avenue entrance to Niwot from the Diagonal Highway,

"The largest goal of the connectivity plan is to make it walkable, so it (downtown and Cottonwood Square) feels more connected," Lee said. He noted that cars often "fly down Second Avenue," and that "It's wider than it needs to be."

Fletemeyer described one aspect of the plan as creating a "yellow brick road" with pavers and creating a triangular plaza at the intersection of Second Avenue and Niwot Road.

Lee said, "Perhaps the most radical idea is to create a town park or village green at 79th and Niwot Road." Much of that area is owned by the Cottonwood Park West HOA, and he described the need for "passive uses" of the property which would not impact adjacent homeowners with noise or large gatherings.

Changes to Cottonwood Square Shopping Center were also discussed, including continuation of street pavers into the parking area, and adding more pedestrian walking areas in front of shops by shrinking the drive lanes somewhat.

Lee noted that Boulder County is discussing improvements to the Niwot Road area along Cottonwood Square, and the need for sidewalk improvements, with possible street trees from the Diagonal Highway all the way to 83rd Street, perhaps on both sides of Niwot Road. "It changes the character," he said.

The iconic tree carvings by the late Eddie Running Wolf, which are being restored by his son, Dustin Wolf, were also mentioned, with a possible location under a raised tipi-like structure in Left Hand Valley Grange Park, near the LoBo Trail. Lee noted that a tribute to Native Americans could also be included, as well as a gathering place for tribal events.

The "not so attractive pond" in Left Hand Valley Grange Park was also discussed as a possible improvement project, as well as the installation of more passive recreation opportunities on the south side of Niwot Road near Dry Creek on county-owned land.

The last phase of the plan discussed was the need for improved signage at various entrances to Niwot. Lee recounted his own conversations with people on the LoBo Trail, saying, "Outsiders can't figure out how to get to Niwot."

One of the primary movers of the planning process was Boulder County's Highway 119 Improvement Project, which includes a bikeway in the median of the Diagonal Highway. One of the most important aspects of the plan has been to include an underpass into Niwot from the new median bikeway, a 9-mile trail connecting Boulder and Longmont.

Original plans called for an at-grade crossing from the bikeway into Niwot, but intense lobbying efforts by Niwot representatives convinced the Boulder County Commissioners to direct staff to include a design for an underpass under the Longmont-bound lane of the Diagonal, due to the dangerous nature of the existing intersection of Niwot Road. Funding for completion of that portion of the project is still being sought.

The response to the Master Plan by the community representatives was overwhelmingly positive. After a few comments and questions, Bergeson invited those attending to submit written feedback. He noted that this was the first step in the planning process, and that the next step would be to seek input from the larger community.