Lori Brunswig was surprised to hear city officials' reasoning why she shouldn't apply for a tree-planting grant to benefit the Red Fox Meadows Natural Area in Ft. Collins, Colo. "[City officials] told me that it wouldn't be worth planting a tree there because the city is planning a [construction] project that is going to scrape the whole area," she said. "I was surprised because I hadn't heard anything about that."
Red Fox Meadows Natural Area, a 40-acre urban wildlife refuge and storm water detention area, was purchased in part witht open-space tax funds. The area is co-owned and managed by Fort Collins Utilities and the Natural Resources Department.
The project city staff speak of is a $20 million construction plan that would result in a larger storm water retention area in Red Fox Meadows. The key goal is to protect local residents and their homes from major floods.
According to Fort Collins City Council member Kelly Ohlson, the reconstruction will require the removal of 20,000 truckloads of dirt and various plants and trees that currently line the refuge bike path and wetlands.
Area officials say the project became necessary when the city council voted to change rainfall standards, which dictate floodplain zoning and retention area parameters, after the 1997 Spring Creek Flood. The event left five people dead and destroyed millions of dollars worth of property.
Today some city council members are questioning whether these standards are too restrictive and in need of a review. If the standards are, in fact, deemed too restrictive, the Red Fox Meadows project might prove a waste of money, Ohlson said.
"I believe we should take another look at the [rainfall standard] numbers, when it's not in the wake of the white heat emotion after the flood, before we commit to this project," she added. "A one-year delay isn't going to hurt the project."
City Manager Darin Atteberry, however, said the city risks losing time and money if the construction plans are considered unnecessary or delayed. "At a minimum, construction costs inflate in any given year by nine to 12 percent, so that could increase the project's price," he said. "But if council wants to take a look at it, then I am in favor of that and have planned an Aug. 28 study session where this will come before them for discussion."
City staff will discuss potential impacts a delay might have and the project at the study session and determine whether local rainfall standards should be reexamined.
"I think that this is a significant issue because it affects everybody, and it's an expensive project for the city," said Ft. Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson. "We need to be very careful as we consider changing the [rainfall standard] policy and the approach that has led to those kinds of efforts. We need to be very deliberate."
As for Bruswig, a frequent Red Fox Meadows visitor, she said she will gladly reapply for the grant to plant trees in the area if a council vote changes the rainfall standards and cancels the construction plans.
Source: The Coloradoan
