Niwot Master Plan detailed at LID meeting

The proposed Niwot Community Master Plan was presented at Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) community meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, at The Wheel House in Niwot.

Approximately 60 attendees, including Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy, listened to the presentation by Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of Fletemeyer & Lee Associates, a Niwot architectural firm hired by the LID to create a long-term blueprint for the physical, economic, and social development of Niwot.

Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer explained that the Master Plan is designed to ensure sustainable development that aligns with the community's needs, values, and long-term goals, often extending out 20 to 30 years. These include identifying how different areas, such as commercial versus residential, will be used, and addressing roads, public transit, and other critical infrastructure.

The Niwot Master Plan strives to enhance the area's functionality, safety, and aesthetic appeal. For example, the plan emphasizes better connectivity between Second Avenue businesses and Cottonwood Square and improvements to safety at Niwot Road and Second Avenue, and Niwot Road and 79th Street. It also creates a more welcoming environment with effective lighting and signage to encourage foot traffic to local businesses, including a gateway sign along the Diagonal Highway.

Based on community input and a review of previous strategic planning processes, the Master Plan identifies 10 improvement areas. These areas include Niwot's signage from the Diagonal Highway, improvements at Whistle Stop Park and the Niwot Children's Park, the lower Second Avenue streetscape, Niwot Hall outdoor spaces, the upper Second Avenue streetscapes, the Cottonwood Square shopping center event plaza, the Cottonwood Square and Niwot Road interface, Left Hand Valley Grange Park at Niwot Road and 83rd Street, Niwot's "gateway" signage, and a new Village Green and Town Park connective hub.

Participants in the community meeting shared their concerns and new ideas. Their primary interests were creating safe and inviting connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians from Second Avenue businesses to Cottonwood Square and enthusiastic support for the Left Hand Valley Grange Park improvements, including a proposed tented structure to protect the restored statues carved by Eddie Running Wolf, including Spear Lodge Man, Eagle Catcher, and Cheyenne Holy Man.

Participants prioritized establishing better connectivity between Second Avenue businesses and Cottonwood Square, particularly including aesthetically pleasing elements such as improved lighting, signage, and brick pavers.

When asked about Niwot areas that may often be overlooked, participants emphasized the need for additional pedestrian safety, including new crosswalks between Niwot Liquor and Niwot Square Drive, and another crosswalk connecting Niwot Square Drive to Cottonwood Park West.

Although the overall support for the Master Plan as presented was positive, participants expressed little enthusiasm for a grand entrance sign visible from the Diagonal Highway and modifications to the former Excel Electric building at Second Avenue and Murray Street.

Currently, funding for Master Plan projects is limited to contributions from Boulder County, privately raised funds, non-profit organization fundraising activities, and a small amount from LID funding.

However, additional funding could become available through a Niwot Community Service Area Planned Improvement District (NSAPID) under discussion, which would require approval by the Boulder County Commissioners and a vote of Niwot residents.