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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDApacket__01-05-22_1205_307       NOTICE OF MEETING SPECIAL MEETING MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION      Chairman Scott Grzybowski  Vice Chairman Tom Barberic Commissioner Thomas Aiello Commissioner Bill Craig Commissioner Janice Holden Commissioner Steven Nurney Commissioner D.J. Willard      TIME:4:30 P.M. – SPECIAL MEETING WHEN: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022 WHERE:FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS 16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ Commissioners of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call; a quorum of the Town’s Council,  various Commission, Committee or Board members may be in attendance at the Commission meeting. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9, subject to certain specified statutory exceptions, parents have a right to consent before the State or any of its political subdivisions make a video or audio recording of a minor child. Meetings of the Commission are audio and/or video recorded and, as a result, proceedings in which children are present may be subject to such recording. In order to exercise their rights, parents may either file written consent with the Town Clerk to such recording or take personal action to ensure that their child or children are not present when a recording may be made. If a child is present at the time a recording is made, the Town will assume that the rights afforded parents pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9 have been waived.    REQUEST TO COMMENT   The public is welcome to participate in Commission meetings. TO SPEAK TO AN AGENDA ITEM, please complete a Request to Comment card, located in the back of the Council Chambers, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion of that item, if possible. Include the agenda item on which you wish to comment. Speakers will be allowed three contiguous minutes to address the Commission. Verbal comments should be directed through the Presiding Officer and not to individual Commissioners. TO COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM IN WRITING ONLY, please complete a Request to Comment card, indicating it is a written comment, and check the box on whether you are FOR or AGAINST an agenda item, and hand it to the Executive Assistant before discussion, if possible.                 1.ROLL CALL     2.CALL TO THE PUBLIC Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to review a matter, or (iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.     3.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Trail Master Plan     4.ADJOURNMENT       CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF NOTICE The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing notice was duly posted in accordance with the statement filed by the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission with the Town Clerk. Dated this 28th day of December 2021. ___________________________________________ Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant   The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5199 (voice) or 1-800-367-8939 (TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or to obtain agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the Commission with this agenda are available for review in the Community Services' Office.    McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Meeting of January 5, 2022 2 of 2 ITEM 3. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT    Meeting Date: 01/05/2022 Meeting Type: McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Special Meeting Agenda Type:                   Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant Staff Contact Information: Rachael Goodwin, Community Services Director Request to McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Special Meeting (Agenda Language):  CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Trail Master Plan Staff Summary (Background) The purpose of this Trail Master Plan is to determine and specify what additional trails may eventually be added to the Preserve over time while maintaining an appropriate balance of the criteria specified by the Town, the 2004 Preserve Master Plan, and the MMPC Guidelines. The mission of the Trail Master Plan is to preserve this setting for present and future residents as an open space-conservation Preserve.   Attachments MMP Trail Master Plan Draft  Discussion Questions - Trail Master Plan  2004 Master Plan McDowell Mountain Preserve  Form Review Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 12/22/2021 04:29 PM Final Approval Date: 12/22/2021  Dec 10, 2021 December 10 Draft – Part 1 Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve Trail Master Plan Purpose It is generally acknowledged that trails in the Preserve are a significant benefit to the Town and add to the quality of life in Fountain Hills. However, at some point the Preserve trail system will be “built out”. The purpose of this Trail Master Plan is to determine and specify what additional trails may eventually be added to the Preserve over time, while maintaining an appropriate balance of the criteria specified by the Town, the 2004 Preserve Master Plan and the MMPC Guidelines. It is anticipated that no additional trails will be constructed in the Preserve beyond those presented in this Master Plan. Background In 1996 the Town of Fountain Hills established the McDowell Mountain Preserve Commission to “provide trails, trail head locations and safeguard the Preserve”. Specifically, the Town’s stated intention is, in part, to “maintain the existing, undisturbed desert landscape” and accomplish the following: 1. Provide for the development of a trail system within the Preserve 2. Grant public access into the Preserve 3. Limit human encroachment to specific areas within the Preserve 4. Protect wildlife habitat In 1997 the MMPC voted to establish the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills, with the stipulation that their Board must include one or more MMPC Commissioners. Trail building was a high priority, with all work and programs in the Preserve based on MMPC requests and approvals. In 2004 the FH Town Council approved a comprehensive Preserve Master Plan which provides further detail regarding their intent. The 2004 Preserve Master Plan mission statement is: The mission is to preserve this setting for present and future residents as an open space-conservation Preserve. Pertinent to the development of this Trail Master Plan is an action item from Goal 4 of the 2004 Preserve Master Plan: “Construction of specific walking trails to provide the public with opportunity to explore all directions within the Preserve”. In 2020 the MMPC adopted “Guidelines for the Management of the FH Preserve”. They are consistent with the 2004 Preserve Master Plan. The Guidelines anticipate further trail development and include additional criteria for trail design and trail density: 1. Provide a diversity of experiences on Preserve trails 2. Consider trail density and usage 3. Be sensitive to impact on neighboring communities To add perspective and basis to the Trail Master Plan, a forward-looking document, it is helpful to first assess the current state and character of the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve. The existing trail system evolved prior to the current MMPC vetting criteria. The Promenade, Overlook, Western Loop, Easy and Sonoran trails were the “foundation” trails in the Preserve spelled out in the 2004 Preserve Master Plan. In the last eight years the Andrews-Kinsey, Lower Sonoran, alternate Bike Route, and Ridgeline trails were constructed by the Trailblazers. The Lower Ridgeline trail will be completed by early 2022. The chronology of current trails in the Preserve: Date Trail Name Distance 2002 Promenade 0.8 (existing Jeep trail) 2003 Overlook 0.6 2006 Western Loop 1.3 2007 Easy 0.1 2009? Sonoran 1.8 2010? Sonoran to Dixie Mine 0.6 2014 Andrews-Kinsey 0.5 2017 Lower Sonoran 2.1 2018 Bike Loop 0.5 2019 Ridgeline 1.3 2022 Lower Ridgeline 0.8 Until 2010 access to the Preserve was restricted to guided hikes only, led by SCFH members. Hikers were then allowed to park about one mile from the Preserve entrance and hike up an unpaved road to the trailhead. Public access over an unpaved road to the Adero Canyon trailhead was allowed beginning in 2012. This was then limited to weekends only during early construction of the Adero Canyon housing development. Construction of the Adero Canyon Trailhead (ACT) was completed in 2018. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held November 17, 2018 to celebrate the opening of the trailhead. The road to the Adero Canyon Trailhead was paved in 2020. The MMPC and the SCFH have been very supportive of the addition of these trails. The MMPC believes the existing FH McDowell Mountain Preserve trail system adheres to the intent of the Town, the 2004 Preserve Master Plan and the MMPC Guidelines and would pass the vetting process to which future trails are subject. Some neighborhood concerns have been expressed with previous trail additions. Eagles Nest residents expressed concerns relative to the Lower Sonoran trail when it was proposed. Meetings with the Eagles Nest HOA and some minor rerouting of the trail alleviated those concerns. One outcome from those discussions was that a 0.1 of a mile separation between a dwelling and a trail seemed to be an acceptable offset. One Shadow Canyon homeowner expressed his concern regarding the Lower Ridgeline trail, but only after the trail was approved and well under construction. Neighborhood impact is clearly a sensitivity that must be managed prior to the building of any new trails in the Preserve. The MMPC believes the current public view of the Preserve is highly positive. Community input to the Community Services Master Plan of 2021 has indicated a strong desire for additional trails. However, there is a recognition by the MMPC that there is a limit to how many additional trails, if any, are appropriate in the Preserve. The challenge the MMPC has is to maintain a balance between keeping the current character of the Preserve with providing additional public access for its enjoyment. This Master Trail Plan contains the MMPC’s analysis and recommendations regarding a long- term vision of future trails in the Preserve. It does not address the timing of trail additions, other than recommending the next trail to be built. Trail Options The geographic footprint of the Preserve and the existing trails in the Preserve suggest three possible areas for additional trail development: 1. North Leg – a trail, either out and back or a loop trail, from the Promenade trail extending into the north arm of the Preserve. 2. Upper Sonoran Trail – a trail providing an additional option from the Sonoran Trail with a possible connection to the Western Loop trail. 3. Sunridge Loop – a loop trail from near the end of the Ridgeline Trail. A fourth option, a new access to the Preserve at the junction of Sunridge Drive and Desert Canyon Drive, would accommodate an easy connection to the Sunridge Loop. This additional access point to the Preserve is part of the long-term Trail Master Plan. However, it is contingent on the completion of the Sunridge neighborhood park and parking lot by the Town, as well as obtaining access to the Preserve via an easement through Sunridge HOA property. The timing of these is highly uncertain. Therefore, assessment of a trail from a Sunridge Access point has been tabled until the uncertainties and timing of the Sunridge Park, parking lot, and HOA easement is resolved. Sunridge access Process for Trail Master Plan development The various options were considered, both individually and in aggregate, and vetted via the MMPC Guidelines vetting process (see Appendix). Additional factors included in the analysis are: • Impact on the image of the Town of FH • Impact on Trailhead parking • Impact to wildlife • Impact on neighboring communities • Impact on trail density • Difficulty level of building the trail • Ability to use professional trail builders, i.e., equipment access Analysis of Trail Options Each of the three trail options are geographically separated. Therefore, each trail is considered on its own relative to trail density. Criteria common to all Options Many of the vetting criteria and additional factors apply equally to the remaining three trail options considered: Do they meet the Guiding Principles? • The Guiding Principles are to: maintain the natural beauty of the Preserve, minimize human impact, and provide public access. The additional trail options meet these criteria. Do they complement or conflict with the mission to Preserve the Preserve? • The additional trail options complement the mission. Do they take into consideration Town input? • The Town of Fountain Hills has tasked the MMPC with, among other things, to “provide for the development of a trail system within the Preserve”. Community input to the Community Services Master Plan of 2021 has indicated a strong desire for additional trails. What problem or need do they satisfy? • The addition of trails in the Preserve serves to help accomplish the Town of Fountain Hills desire to provide for the development of a trail system within the Preserve and serves to help fulfill community input for a desire for additional trails. • They also help to achieve the 2004 Preserve Master Plan vision of “construction of specific walking trails to provide the public with opportunity to explore all directions within the Preserve”. What are the funding requirements? • Funding requirements are minimal. Labor to build and maintain the trails is done on a volunteer basis. Minor funds will be required for signage and updating of on-line trail maps. What is the potential impact on the image of the Town of FH? • One of the appeals of Fountain Hills is the Preserve and the ability of people to enjoy the Preserve via a trail system. Additional hiking options in the Preserve will enhance that image. What is the impact on Trailhead parking? • Hiking activity in the Preserve is very seasonal. Parking capacity at Adero Canyon Trailhead may be reached on weekend mornings during the high hiking season (mid- November through March). This is approximately 5 per cent of the time the Preserve is open for hiking. Additional trails in the Preserve will incrementally add to this. This can be mitigated by the Town by allowing parking on Eagle Ridge Drive on weekend mornings during the peak hiking season. What is the impact on wildlife in the Preserve? • Given the existing trail system and the Preserve’s proximity to developed land, addition of any of the trails under consideration in this Trail Master Plan would have minimal impact on wildlife in the Preserve. What is the input from SCFH? • [This section waiting on SCFH input] APPENDIX IDEA FLOW AND MMPC IDEA VETTING PROCESS The following idea qualification process was adopted by the MMPC in 2019. This process would be applied as additional consideration filters following compliance with the Guiding Principles and used by the working groups to assess new ideas and issues. Step 1 - VETTING: 1. Does it meet the Guiding Principles? 2. Does it complement or conflict with our mission to Preserve the Preserve? 3. Does it take the source into consideration - Town, Community, SCFH, within MMPC? (Town source should take priority) 4. What problem does it solve or what need does it satisfy? 5. What are the funding requirements? (both capital and expense as well as necessary or long-term funding sources) 6. What is the level of effort to pursue? (Is it achievable within the means of the MMPC?) Step 2 – APPROVAL (presented by Working Group at a monthly MMPC meeting) 1. Outline the problem or need. 2. Provide several possible scenarios with pros and cons for each. 3. If appropriate, provide a recommendation for approval/disapproval. Step 3 – PRIORITIZATION (once approved) 1. Are there time constraints in implementing the idea? (budget deadlines, seasonal considerations, resource availability, etc.) 2. Will funding complexities affect completion? MMPC Special Meeting Discussion Questions January 5, 2022 Please review the questions below, before the special meeting, to further discuss. 1. Is the 2004 Preserve Master Plan still appropriate as the vision for the Preserve? 2. Are there changes that should be made, and approved by Town Council, to the Preserve Master Plan? 3. Are the Guidelines consistent with the Preserve Master Plan? 4. Review of the Trail Master Plan Part 1 and seek approval as modified at the meeting.