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Home My WebLink AboutBOCC.packet. 05142014 Moore Parcel Acquisition AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY MEETING DATE: May 14, 2014 AGENDA ITEM TITLE: AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO AUTHORIZING ACQUISITION OF THE MOORE RIVER PARCEL STAFF RESPONSIBLE: Dale Will and Matthew F. Adeletti SUMMARY OF ISSUE: Should the BOCC ratify a contract to purchase an approximate 36 acre parcel of vacant land that is bisected by the Roaring Fork River and Rio Grande Trail, located 1 mile west of the Aspen Airport, and is adjacent to the Airport Ranch Open Space? BACKGROUND: The Moore Family and their partners desire to sell the County an approximate 36.61 acre parcel of vacant land. The property is contiguous on its south and west borders to Airport Ranch Open Space. This property's southwest corner is adjacent to SH82 and the Roaring Fork River and Rio Grande Trail cross through it. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program has identified the western slope sage shrubland habitat as imperiled globally and vulnerable in Colorado. The acquisition of this property was identified as a priority in the Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan adopted December 3, 2013 [http://www.pitkinostprojects.com/roaring-fork-gorge-management-plan.html]. The property includes a portion of the Roaring Fork River and touches SH82 just west of the airport runway. The portion of the property that is located northeast of the Roaring Fork River is zoned RS 20 PUD and the property located southwest of the Roaring Fork River is zoned AFR 10. County ownership would allow additional lands along the Roaring Fork River to be preserved as Open Space. The $1,150,000.00 price is based on an appraisal dated October, 2013. The Open Space Board is recommending funding for this purchase. There are no immediate maintenance needs, and future uses will determined by Open Space staff pursuant to the Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan. LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN: This project strongly supports the Strategic Plan Goal to “acquire and/or preserve lands with significant recreational, wildlife, agricultural, access, scenic values, and wilderness qualities.” KEY DISCUSSION ITEMS (ALTERNATIVES): If the County does not purchase the property, the private owners may pursue other options open to them under applicable laws. BUDGETARY IMPACT: The purchase price and transaction costs are well within the available capacity of the Open Space Fund. RECOMMENDED BOCC ACTION: Staff recommends that the Board of Pitkin County approve the attached Ordinance on first reading, and set for public hearing on May 28, 2014. ATTACHMENTS: Maps 1 Mills Denver andRio GrandeRailroad AirportRanch AirportRanch Ü 0 1,100550Feet Moore R iver Parcel H W Y 8 2 Ü 0 440220Feet Moore R iver Parcel W/JArea"E"WiltonJaffeeSr. ParkMills W/J Area"D"/JaffeePark CozyPoint AspenMass CozyPointSouth Droste Denver andRio GrandeRailroad Denver andRio GrandeRailroad AirportRanch AirportRanch Ü 0 2,7001,350 Feet Moore R iver Parcel AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO AUTHORIZING ACQUISITION OF THE MOORE RIVER PARCEL ORDINANCE # , SERIES OF 2014 RECITALS 1. The Voters of Pitkin County and the Pitkin County Commissioners established an Open Space and Trails Fund for the purposes of preserving and providing open space and trails resources, and established an Open Space and Trails Board of Trustees to guide the expenditure of those funds. 2. The Open Space and Trails Program is charged with protecting agriculture, open space, habitat, scenic view planes, water rights and river access. 3. The Moore River Parcel (the “Property”) includes significant western slope sage shrubland habitat and a critical reach of the Roaring Fork Gorge that is surrounded by County Open Space. 4. The Property is traversed by the Rio Grande Trail and was identified in the Rio Grande Gorge Management Plan as having high value for other recreational uses. 5. The OSTB has recommended this purchase. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County, Colorado, that: 1. The Board approves an expenditure of $1,150,000 for the Moore River Parcel property of approximately 36.61 acres and transaction costs up to $10,000. 2. Upon approval of the form by the Open Space Director and County Attorney, the Chair is authorized to execute the contract. 3. Upon approval of the form by the Open Space Director and County Attorney, the Chair is authorized to execute other documents needed to consummate this transaction. 4. That adjustments be made to the year 2014 budget as follows: OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS FUND Previous Revised Budget This Change Project Budget Moore River Parcel Property Acquisition Acquisition Cost $0 $1,150,000 $1,150,000 Estimated Transaction Costs $0 $ 10,000 $ 10,000 Total Expenditure $0 $1,160,000 $1,160,000 INTRODUCED, FIRST READ, AND SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 14th DAY OF MAY, 2014. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND TITLE AND SHORT SUMMARY OF THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN THE ASPEN TIMES WEEKLY ON ____________, 2014. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL PITKIN COUNTY WEBSITE POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL PITKIN COUNTY WEBSITE ( www.aspenpitkin.com ) ON THE ______ DAY OF_______________2014. ADOPTED AFTER FINAL READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ______DAY OF _______________ 2014. PUBLISHED BY TITLE AND SHORT SUMMARY, AFTER ADOPTION, IN THE ASPEN TIMES WEEKLY ON THE ______DAY OF_______________2014. POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL PITKIN COUNTY WEBSITE POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL PITKIN COUNTY WEBSITE ( www.aspenpitkin.com ) ON THE ____ DAY OF ___________2014. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO ______________________________ ______________________________ Jeanette Jones Robert A. Ittner Jr. Deputy Clerk Chair Date: _________________________ 3 APPROVED AS TO FORM: ______________________________ _____________________________ John Ely Jon Peacock County Attorney County Manager _______________________________ Dale Will, Director Open Space and Trails Program Ordinance _______-2014 4