HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Visioning Committee 2011-01-05Transportation Visioning Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2011
In attendance:
Members: Kimberley Campbell, Charley Dickey, John Ericson, Wayne Groome, Jacquie
Halburnt, Cory La Bianca, Fred Mares, Rex Poggenpohl, Greg Rosener, Frank Theis,
Annika Van der Werf.
Absent: Stan Black, Peggy Campbell, and Jerry Miller.
Trustee Ericson presented meeting minutes from the November 17 (revised) and December 1
TVC meetings. They were both accepted and adopted.
Trustee Ericson mentioned that Suzy Blackhurst from the Local Marketing District will be going
to New York to meet with some travel writers to discuss Estes Park and vicinity. Director Peggy
Campbell had mentioned doing this type of activity in her presentation at the December 1
meeting.
He also told the group about a presentation that Frank Theis will be making to the Town Board
Study Session on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. Frank has been working with the Elkhorn Lodge
on redevelopment options and will be revealing the latest plans. These plans will have an effect
on transportation; if anyone has the time, they are encouraged to attend the Study Session. The
Session begins at 5 and usually ends around 6:30 p.m.
Town Administrator Halbumt provided more information about the project. There are regional
tourism dollars available from the state of Colorado in the form of rebated increment financing.
They are awarding $50 million for up to two projects. To qualify, submitters (government
entities) need to show that their project will bring incremental sales tax revenue to the state in the
amount rebated. The Elkhorn development plan will include a ski and adventure area. She
reminded everyone of the NASCAR project that was proposed for the Denver area a few years
ago. The submitted projects need to be on that scale — quite large that would bring substantial
tourism to Colorado. The Town of Estes Park will hear his presentation and consider if the Town
would submit an application which would involve hiring a consultant, doing studies, etc.
Trustee Ericson asked the group to focus on the Committee's process for the next few months.
The Committee should work on developing a timeline and factor in public involvement and
presentations. Kimberly Campbell offered to work on a timeline for the group, with the
assistance of Trustees Ericson and Miller.
The group reviewed the results of the last meeting and suggested the need to consolidate the
items on the topics of Assumptions, Issues, Goals, and End Results. These will then be finalized
and adopted.
Next, there was discussion regarding the Bond Park redevelopment and Transit Hub project as
items listed under Assumptions. The Bond Park redesign will have minimal impact on parking,
as there will be only a few spaces lost. The Transit Hub has been budgeted, and the group should
assume it will become reality. One member cautioned about making assumptions, but everyone
agreed to keep the Hub as an assumption, however if it appears to become redundant verbiage
later on, it can removed as an assumption.
Items listed under Issues were reviewed. The group felt that consolidating and prioritizing them
would be helpful and bring focus to the more important ones. The YMCA and CDOT must be
included as contributing factors as important and integral as RMNP. All of these groups should
be involved and efforts coordinated between them.
Greg Rosener re-emphasized that the YMCA has significant impact on transportation. They have
5,000 beds — what is the number of beds available in the rest of the valley? We don't know what
the YMCA plans are for the future; they have a lot of potential for growth. Transportation is
impacted as the traffic counts indicate about one-third of the inflow goes out Highway 66, but
that does add to the downtown congestion.
Fred Mares provided the group with a breakdown of the topics into just three categories. He said
it helped him to clarify the issues. He asked the group to consider his breakdown and add
secondary and supporting issues to each item. His three categories were: parking, traffic to town,
and traffic through town.
The group agreed, and suggested that a subcommittee be formed to work on Fred's list. Fred was
nominated to be the chair, with Wayne Groome and Cory La Bianca as members. Trustees
Ericson and Miller will assist. The Vision of the Committee is important and must be kept in
mind. Working with Fred and Wayne, Cory will ensure that the Vision is included prominently
in the Issues document.
Frank Theis presented the Data Collection Subcommittee's findings to the group. Rex researched
and found, based on studies already conducted, that any growth in the permanent population of
the Estes Valley will have minimal impact on transportation issues. However, growth along the
northern Front Range over the next ten years will increase the number of visitors we see over the
1 million we now see. The infrastructure is set up to handle almost all of the current peak levels;
any improvements to transportation will easily accommodate the local population.
Greg said that according to the information provided by the LMD, 35 to 40% of visitors have
never been here before. He thinks that the growth projection is a low estimate of the number of
visitors we will see.
Further discussion reviewed the fact that RMNP stated in their presentation they are not trying to
grow visitors' numbers and there are other reasons for people to come here. Due to increased
gasoline costs, we may see more day-trippers and weekenders from the Front Range. Recalling
the impact of the redesign of the downtown area after the Lawn Lake flood, the demographics of
our visitors will change over the next 20 to 30 years. There will be a push to develop new
businesses near the Transportation Hub. The group needs a comprehensive plan to define where
these will be and exert "upward pressure" on the Town to implement the plan that the Committee
pulls together. They need to be proud of the plan they submit at the end of the year.
The Committee determined that there is a need for information about CDOT, the Town's
comprehensive plans and limitations for inflow coming from Highways 34 and 36. Land use and
transportation issues will overlap. If there is a plan that the YMCA provided to the Town with
their recent redesign, it will be helpful to consider it as well. Trustee Ericson said Director Scott
Zurn can let us know what information is available.
Special guests from Jennifer Taylor's 21 ' Century Learners' class at the Middle School
presented their proposal to use the Middle/High school parking lot for overflow in conjunction
with the Transit Hub and the Visitor Shuttles during the summer months. Volunteers Cole Watts,
Kelley Dennison and Daniel Menger represented the class of 15 students. These students
explained how they conducted their research and developed transportation ideas. Their proposal
included suggested routes, signage and advertising. Everyone agreed that the class did a very
good job.
Due to the Subcommittees' need to meet and work on their tasks outside of the TVC meetings, as
well as several members who will be out of town the next few weeks, it was agreed that the
January 19 meeting not be held.
Next meeting:
February 2, 2011
Time: 3 to 5 p.m.
Location: Town Hall Training Room 130