Golden’s two largest Resort Municipality Initiative projects (in this funding cycle) have gotten the go-ahead from Town Council to proceed with more detailed plans.
The Highway Corridor Project, with a budget of more than $1 million, received unanimous support from council to move forward.
Coun. Keith Hern said he was “totally in favour of work happening on the highway,” but had some concerns about the specific design.
MMM Group (the firm hired for the designs) proposed a lighting concept on the centre median. Hern thinks the operating costs for this piece of the project is “impractical.”
The operating costs were worked into the proposal, and council will look at the project again when the detailed concepts are in.
The second project, the Spirit Square Amenity Hub, drew a bit more discussion from council.
The conceptual designs for the project were presented by Len Brown at the last regular council meeting, and included a permanent stage, seating built into the edge of the dyke, structures for shade, and a new placement of the bathrooms.
The designs addressed the priorities that were determined by a committee, however Coun. Hern was not satisfied with the planning process.
“I don’t feel that the stakeholders have been engaged,” he said. “Most of the people I’ve talked to would not support this.”
Conversations Hern had with residents (which he says were limited) revealed concerns about the concept hindering other activities in the square, as the design caters primarily to one activity, says Hern.
Coun. Mike Pecora, who was part of the committee, says the concerns can be attributed to misinformation. With the new stage backing onto the alley, and the permanent seating outside of the square, it actually opens it up to more activities including the start and finish of races, says Pecora.
“I believe there will be strong support for this project if the information gets out,” said Coun. Ron Oszust.
Council voted to start detailed plans for the amenity hub, with Coun. Hern opposed.
