By Rudy Hemmann

The Surveyor

The Berthoud Board of Trustees gave a go-ahead nod to two developments during Tuesday evening’s meeting.

The Farmstead development was the first to come under the scrutiny of the board. The Farmstead development is located east and west of County Line Road immediately to the south of Highway 56.

The applicant, TB Group, acting as the agent for Painted Sky LLC, requested the approval of approximately 80.3 acres of the roughly 280-acre development to be re-zoned R-2 (Limited Multi-Family District) from three tracts which were zoned PUD and Transitional. The applicant also requested approval of a Preliminary Plat for the 80-acre tract.

Community Development Director Curt Freese presented the item to the board, explaining from where within the larger development the initial 80 acres were derived. During a period of public comment seven residents took the podium to give their views regarding the project. Five of the seven spoke against the development and two spoke in support of it.

Those who spoke against the project cited concerns of an overstressed infrastructure, narrow streets in adjacent developments, and parking issues. The two residents who supported the project spoke in favor of the requested R-2 zoning, which would allow the developer to construct housing which would be more affordable than could be achieved under R-1 zoning.

Kristin Turner of TB Group answered the questions and concerns brought by the citizens who spoke.

Board discussion revolved about the question of zoning, with a push by a board member to require the more restrictive R-1 zoning for the project.

In the end a motion to approve the R-2 zoning requested by the applicant was made, seconded and unanimously approved.

A second motion to approve the Preliminary Plat was also seconded and approved unanimously.

The trustees also considered a Preliminary Plat for the Creekside development which is located along Eighth Street between the Berthoud High School athletic fields and the Nielson Greenway.

TB Group was again the agent for the applicant, Creekside Development LLC. Freese presented the item to the board, and the item was opened for public comment. Only one resident stood at the podium to lodge a complaint on an unrelated issue.

Following a relatively brief period of discussion by the board a motion approving the Preliminary Plat was made, seconded and passed unanimously.

In other board action the trustees approved on second reading an ordinance establishing the Berthoud Municipal Court as a qualified Municipal Court of Record.

Again, on second reading, an ordinance amending the town’s municipal code pertaining to compensation for town trustees and the mayor was passed unanimously by the board.

According to the new compensation schedule “Each member of the board who takes office on or after April 3, 2018, shall be paid $150 for each regular board meeting, special board meeting or board study session that he or she attends, provided however that in no month shall a trustee be paid more than $450. When more than one of the above meetings are scheduled, or take place, during one meeting session the compensation paid will be $150. Trustees do not receive additional compensation for meetings such as attendance at seminars, participation in the activities of the Colorado Municipal League, intergovernmental meetings or public appearances.”

The new compensation schedule for mayors is: “Each mayor who takes office on or after April 3, 2018, shall be paid $200 for each regular board meeting, special board meeting or board study session that he or she attends, provided however that in no month shall a trustee be paid more than $600. When more than one of the above meetings are scheduled, or take place, during one meeting session the compensation paid will be $200. The mayor does not receive additional compensation for meetings such as attendance at seminars, participation in the activities of the Colorado Municipal League, intergovernmental meetings or public appearances.”

The trustees also heard first reading presentations regarding development code updates and the adoption of new water rights dedication requirements and updating the water rights dedication ordinance.