Niwot Master Plan - community prefers underpass Option 4

The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) held a community meeting Monday, Dec. 2, at The Wheel House in Niwot, with approximately 60 people in attendance, including Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy.

Niwot Business Association President Eric Bergeson welcomed the crowd, then turned the presentation over to Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of Fletemeyer & Lee Associates, a Niwot architectural firm hired by the LID to create a long-term vision to guide future development in Niwot, especially in relation to the business community.

Lee presented a slide show, which included a vision for improvements to the downtown business district, including the Niwot Hall (formerly Left Hand Grange) property, the sculpture park at the intersection of Niwot Road and 79th Street, and Cottonwood Square. Lee said, "We want to bring Niwot out to the median, and improve signage."

Lee noted that the Master Plan has been presented previously to various groups in Niwot, including the Niwot Business Association and the Niwot Community Association, with refinements informed by the community response.

Other areas included in the plan presentation were Left Hand Valley Grange Park, including the pond. Lee and Bruce Warren, president of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, spoke to a proposed plan to build a tipi-like structure at Left Hand Valley Grange Park between the parking lot and the LoBo Trail, to shelter the restored tree carvings of the late artist Eddie Running Wolf. Relocation of the restored tree carvings from their previous location along Niwot Road is part of the Master Plan.

Warren noted that Dustin Wolf, son of Eddie Running Wolf, has completed restoration of Spear Lodge Man, and is in the process of restoring Cheyenne Holy Man and Eagle Catcher with assistance from Jeff Wolcott. Both Wolf and Wolcott were present at the meeting.

The meeting then turned to an in-depth presentation of two options for construction of an underpass into Niwot from the planned Bikeway-Pedestrian Path in the median of the Diagonal Highway. Although funding for an underpass connecting the path to Niwot by going under the Longmont-bound lanes of the Diagonal Highway is not yet available, the Boulder County Commissioners have instructed the Boulder County Public Works Department to work on the design.

Option 3a, which was selected by county staff as the preferred design, was presented by Boulder County project manager Stacey Proctor, who noted that it was preferred by a small majority of Niwot respondents at an early presentation of alternatives. "We looked at three different alignments at a meeting at the Grange a year ago," she said. She was accompanied by two representatives from CDOT, which are also involved in the project. This option includes an underpass that leads to an at-grade crossing of the Burlington-Northern Railroad tracks at the 2nd Avenue entrance to Niwot.

Lee spoke to Option 4, which is the design preferred by the LID and the Niwot Business Association leadership. He noted that Option 4 was developed after the initial presentation of Options 1, 2, 3 and 3a at the earlier meeting. Option 4 includes an underpass under both the Diagonal Highway and the railroad tracks, leading to an entry to Niwot at First Avenue, as well as a pedestrian path to Second Avenue on the east side rather than the west side of the tracks.

LID member Heidi Storz said, "Since our first discussions, we've had communications with Burlington Northern. They prefer to go under the railroad tracks, not over the railroad tracks." She said the railroad indicated that it shouldn't take more than two years to complete the project.

Lee said the other concern with Option 3a is that pedestrians at the Park-n-Ride will not be able to see the underpass at Second Avenue. "We don't think it will be visible [from the Park-n-Ride]. People are not going to walk 100 yards if they can't see the underpass," Lee said, noting that the bus stop will be relocated to the median sides of the Diagonal Highway. Fletemeyer added, "The whole idea is safety....You don't have bikes or pedestrians going across the railroad tracks [with Option 4]."

Commenting on Option 3, Niwot resident Bunny McClave said, "People are going to have to walk across Second Avenue? That doesn't seem so safe." Responding to questions about a long fence between the parking lot and the Second Avenue underpass, CDOT representatives said, "Fencing will be low enough to not obstruct the view."

The cost of Option 3a was estimated at $4M, while the cost of Option 4 could be as high as $8M.

Niwot resident Steve Lohr summed up the meeting, saying that after listening to all of the options, he supported Option 4. He said, "Go for the good one. The only shot you miss is the one you don't take." The entire room applauded Lohr after he spoke.

Those in attendance were asked to complete a short survey about the underpass options, and to offer any feedback on the rest of the information presented. The survey was also made available to other community members who could not attend the meeting.

Storz reported that survey responses collected by Dec. 9 showed over 50 respondents favoring Option 4, while only three favored Option 3a.