Outline of Green Streets - courtesy of the Town of Fraser

Outline of Green Streets – courtesy of the Town of Fraser

There’s a lot going on in the Town of Fraser, and it is looking like the summer is going to filled with a number of projects that are moving ahead.

US Highway 40 Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project

On Wednesday, March 7th, the Town of Fraser hosted an open house for the US Highway 40 Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project. Interested members of the community viewed a series of informational posters describing the project and gave feedback on preferences for the medians to be installed on Highway 40. Bowman Consulting presented the designs, which were exhibited at about 30% completion. The Town and Bowman will utilize feedback received at the open house and working to reach 90% plan completion by the end of March to meet an aggressive timeline of beginning work on the project by August 2018.

The Project objectives include implementing traffic calming measures to promote lower vehicle travel speeds and highway safety. The Town will install medians and curb bump outs for shorter/safer crossings and provide pedestrian refuge within the medians. It will also include landscaped features within the corridor to promote a vibrant environment, following a Green Street initiative approach. ADA ramps meeting current codes and specifications will be installed along with improved signage for pedestrian safety.

The length of the project is about 3,800 feet (.75 miles) and will be located in the commercially zoned downtown corridor on US Highway 40. It is estimated at a total cost of $1,100,000, with grant funding in the amount of $775,000 and $325,000 to be funded by the Town.

Kim Hannah, owner of the Fraser Quick Stop, pointed out that placement of a median in front of her business on Highway 40 would prevent her customers from being able to turn north/west onto Highway 40. She asked the Town to reconsider placement of the median, due to the hardship it presents if placed in the currently proposed location.

Fraser River Corridor Master Plan

Fraser River Corridor plan rendering - courtesy of the Town of Fraser

Fraser River Corridor plan rendering – courtesy of the Town of Fraser

At the March 7 Board of Trustees Meeting, Brandon Parsons with THK Associates presented an updated draft Master Plan for CozensRanch Open Space. He thanked the Trustees, the Town’s Public Arts Committee, the Planning Commission, Town staff and stakeholders for working closely with THK on the project design. Parsons stated that the draft reflected the Town’s vision and goals for the project.

Starting  in Fall 2017, the Town held several open houses on the Fraser River Corridor project, seeking input from the community on what they felt was most important to include in the 120-acre open space area. The study and Master Plan was funded by a $65,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Planning Grant.

The parcel of land features 3 miles of Fraser River frontage and the Plan’s Environmental recommendations focus on protecting the existing floodplain capacity, implementing Best Management Practices (BMP) for storm water runoff by working with GCWIN, enhancing fish passage and aquatic habitat, constructing and maintaining wildlife habitat features and establishing a wildlife management plan.

Recreational recommendations include improvement of existing amenities along the Fraser River Trail, creating gateways and increased parking at key locations, partnering with the Headwaters Center and the Town of Winter Park on updating educational signage, construction of a new pedestrian bridge, an expanded “pedestrian friendly” trail system, and activating a year-round riverside park. The Lion’s Pond Area will include a riverside park with passive activities close by.

Trail connectivity was an important area of focus. Comments received stated the current trails have conflicts, with cyclists (going too fast) and unleashed dogs and the plans seek to resolve these issues. The project’s western trail will be pedestrian friendly, but would not be designed to be cyclist free. Possible installation of traffic calming devices such as ballards that require dismount was discussed.

Based on feedback received, the Plan also recommended construction of a small, skills-related “bike playground” and an earthen amphitheater, which were both popular suggestions. The plan also recommends installation of pet waste and recycling stations in the corridor. A Dog Park was a popular suggestion, but it would not be good for river health to place one so close to the Fraser River. THK supported creation of a Dog Park, but recommended it not be placed within the Fraser River Corridor development.

The Plan was presented with six projects outlined:

Projects Estimated Cost
Riverside Park $4,180,200
Western Regional Trail $708,300
GCWSD Fishing Ponds $878,500
Pedestrian Bridge Crossing $496,900
Hiking/Biking Trails $65,700
Rendezvous Road Trailhead $262,875

It is estimated to cost about $7 million to complete all projects as rendered. The project would be done in increments, starting with a Pilot Project, constructing ADA compliant access, planting trees and landscaping, and, building momentum for the project.

Parsons advised the Trustees that there are multiple grants and leveraging grants available through agencies such as GOCO and CPW which will help fund the projects. THK also provided a list of available grants with timelines to assist the Town in seeking funding.

Fraser updates Town Land Use and Zoning Codes

Fraser’s Revised Zoning Map - courtesy of the Town of Fraser

Fraser’s Revised Zoning Map – courtesy of the Town of Fraser

At the February 28th combined Board of Trustees and Planning Commission meeting, consultants Martin Landers and Gerald Dahl of Plan Tools LLC presented a draft of the Town’s revised Municipal Code, concerning land use and a revised Town Zoning Map. The process began In September 2017, when the Town and consultants from Plan Tools held interviews with members of the community and current code users, following up with an Open House in November, to determine the needs of the community as they pertain to land use and zoning. Plan Tools next performed a Town Code diagnosis which was completed in December and presented to the Town in January.

As a result, they created new regulations that are easier to understand and reference, reducing regulatory barriers to development. They also created 2 new zoning districts (Riverwalk Mixed Use and Victorian Village Overlay Districts), consistent with Fraser’s downtown strategic plan of creating a unique, walkable neighborhood.

The recommendations included repeal of Chapters 15 (Annexation), 16 (Zoning), 17 (Subdivision), and Article 4 of Chapter 18 (Flood Damage Prevention), and, adoption of the newly created Chapter 19 of the Fraser Municipal Code. The revised Zoning Map incorporates changes in Town Zoning district boundaries, the renaming of certain zone districts, creation of the Open Space zone district along with the newly created Overlay Districts, primarily increasing density in key areas of town.

During the meeting, members of the Planning Commission, Trustees and Town staff worked through items such as current non-conforming lots, lots identified as multi-family zoned within single family zoned areas, lot accessibility, conditional vs. permitted clauses and myriad building regulations. In the end, Plan Tools took the feedback and promised a new draft by mid-March.

At the March 21 Board of Trustees meeting, the Town approved both the Fraser River Corridor Master Plan and the Town’s Land Use and Zoning Code revisions. The Town has planned a Celebration on April 10th at the Crooked Creek Saloon, which will include an Open House exhibiting the revised Zoning Map and initial plans for the Fraser River Corridor improvements.

Fraser Mural Program expands to all Town buildings

The Fraser Mural Program is back for 2018 and better than ever. An important distinction of the 2018 program is that all buildings in Fraser are now eligible, not just businesses. The updated application will be finalized by early April. The program was initiated by Fraser’s Public Arts Committee (PAC) last summer. The PAC works with building owners in Fraser to come up with a mural depictions of the Fraser Valley to paint on a wall of a building, garage, shed, etc. If you have any questions about the mural program, contact Business Development Specialist, Allie Heon, via email: aheon@town.fraser.co.us, or, at (970) 726-5491 ext. 218.

EVSE Grant Award

The Town of Fraser has been awarded a grant from the Colorado Energy Office for the installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Enhancing the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is a priority for the state of Colorado and is facilitating this effort through this grant funding through a program called “Charge Ahead Colorado.”

The goal of Charge Ahead Colorado is to foster economic development and boost tourism across the state, while reducing air pollution. Installation of an electric vehicle charging station in Fraser will provide an excellent economic benefit and encourage the use of EVs and help in reducing greenhouse gases in the Fraser Valley.

Doc Susie Emergency Waterline Replacement Project

Following the emergency waterline repair along Doc Susie Ave on February 23rd, the excavation work for this replacement project began on Tuesday, March 6th. ATH Specialties was contracted for the work on a time and materials basis as they had a crew and equipment already established and ready to hit-the-ground-running.

Temporary water services were connected to the six Divide condo buildings by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 7th, utilizing local plumbing contractors, at which time the main was shut down and drained.

Pipe replacement commenced on Thursday morning, March 8th through Friday evening, March 9th, resuming on Monday morning, March 12th.

To date, over 200 linear feet of C-900 PVC pipe and fittings has been installed along with a new fire hydrant assembly and three new isolation valves. The cost for the emergency replacement is right around $100,000. As pipe was replaced north of the break, each old length of pipe was found in the same deteriorated condition, therefore also requiring replacement.

The next phase of the work will replace the pipe section to the south of 92 Doc Susie Ave into the intersection of Elk Creek and Doc Susie. It is anticipated this work will take approximately two days. Asphalt replacement in roadways and driveways will occur once the asphalt plants open for the summer.

For the curious, you can have a look at the two pipe sections in the display case at Fraser Town Hall for a comparison of what a new steel water pipe looks like compared to 40 year old water pipe.