[BikeLongmont] West Union annexation comments

[Brad MacMonagle]

Update from the city council meeting.

The West Union annexation moved forward for consideration with ease.  
It looked like the general consensus was that it made sense,  the it 
was going to be developed, that it may as well have been in the 
Longmont tax base since it would be part of Longmont no matter how or 
who developed it. Richard, your list of issues was mentioned as being 
in the package. There was also passing mention on the council of 
walking the tracks to the commuter train station being considered at 
the sugar mill for Fastracks. I echoed the need for the greenway to 
lead to the park and that maybe the city should consider investing in 
part of the property as a park. I also mentioned that it would be nice 
if an arrangement could be made with Burlington for some form of 
bike/walking access to the station (right past my house).

Can someone explain a "grade-separated crossing" for me?

Thanks
Brad

On Mar 7, 2005, at 12:24 PM, Richard Masoner wrote:

> On the agenda for tomorrow's city council meeting is discussion about
> the "West Union" annexation. The property owners along Weld County
> Road 1 from 17th Avenue south to the Great Western Railroad want to
> develop their property with a mix of low- and medium-density
> residential with some mixed-used/commercial in there.
>
> Development there will result in the widening of Road 1 into something
> a little more usable for bicyclists from 17th to the railroad. Road 1
> intersections at 17th & 9th will become signalized.
>
> 9th Avenue would be extended east across Road 1 then curve south to
> intersect with Deerwood Drive/Road 24.5.
>
> The property owners' concept drawings show a greenway along Spring
> Gulch from Road 1 to the railroad. The proposed greenway is 300 feet
> across.
>
> Questions and thoughts:
>
> 1. Are grade-separated crossings along Spring Gulch at Road 1 and Road
> 26 or 24.5 reasonable? Grade seperation at Road 1 seems almost
> essential to me, especially for children getting to Fall River and
> Middle School #7.
>
> 2. What about connecting the proposed greenway with the Union
> Reservoir rec area?
>
> 3. I'm thinking a path along the west shore of Union Reservoir would
> be good, especially if there's a connection across Road 1 to Jim Hamm.
>
> 4. With 1400 residential units proposed, I think the collectors as
> shown will become speedways. Traffic calming should be designed in
> from the beginning.
>
> RFM
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