For Immediate Release | June 8, 2016                                     
Contact: Matt Pielsticker, Planning Director
970.748.4413 | mpielsticker@avon.org
 

AVON'S TRAILS MASTER PLAN UPDATE TO BE PRESENTED AT A PUBLIC MEETING JUNE 15TH

Public comment will be encouraged during the review and adoption period

Avon, CO –The Town of Avon’s Recreational Trails Master Plan (Trails Plan) has undergone its first review and update since the Trails Plan’s adoption in 2009.  Retaining Olsson Associates, as consultants to the Town, the review began with a comprehensive assessment of all Town-owned lands for environmental and visual qualities.  The mapping facilitated the evaluation of where new multi-use trail development could and should not be considered based upon the sensitivity mapping. 
 
A key objective of the Trails Plan Update is to identify an integrated set of soft and hard surface trails throughout the entire Town, with connections to other trail networks in the Vail valley.  The planning effort also has included assessing trails which should be considered for redesign to achieve sustainability and locations for new parking lot development.  Other basic components of the updated plan include estimates to build new trails, criteria for prioritizing new trail development, overall annual cost estimates for trail maintenance and trail etiquette standards.   The plan has been guided by a steering committee representing hikers, mountain bike interests and motorized users.  Private landowners, the Eagle Valley Land Trust, Avon Recreational Trails Advisory Group and Walking Mountain Science Center were identified in plan development outreach as important stakeholders in trail development and use. 
 
The public will be afforded several opportunities over the next two months to participate in the significant review of the Trails Plan Update through the adoption process.  All meetings will provide for public questions and comments. Email communication and letters will be accepted into the public record, at any time, by sending comments to Avon’s Town Clerk Debbie Hoppe at dhoppe@avon.org.
 
Public review of the Trails Plan Update will begin on the evening of June 15^th, followed by the required formal review by the Avon Planning and Zoning Commission and, based upon the Commission’s recommendation, consideration by the Town Council for adoption through two readings of an adopting ordinance.  The schedule, to date, is as follows.
 

June 15 – Avon Town Hall Council Chambers

5:30 pm                Introduction of the Meeting Order – Planning Director Matt Pielsticker
                             Presentation of the Plan – Olsson and Associates
6:15 pm                Public Questions and Comments – Matt Pielsticker -Facilitator
 

July 6 - Avon Town Hall Council Chambers

5:05 pm                Planning and Zoning Commission Review and recommendation to the
                             Avon Town Council
 

July 26* – Avon Town Hall Council Chambers

5:30 pm                 First Reading of an Adopting Ordinance – Town Council
 

August 9* – Avon Town Hall Council Chambers

5:30 pm                 Second Reading of an Adopting Ordinance – Town Council


The Trails Plan Update - Abstract can be found at www.avon.org/trails. Additionally, trails proposed in the Upper Metcalf Drainage and north of and along Nottingham Road have been flagged to provide interested residents and trail users’ visual references prior to the meetings.
 
*Subject to change should the Planning and Zoning Commission require additional time to review the plan.