The Lyons Board of Trustees this week approved one of the major components of Planet Bluegrass’ slew of proposed changes — granting the music venue the ability to let people camp on its south grazing property during major events.
The vote came Tuesday night, after Planet Bluegrass made several alterations to its original proposal, based on feedback at prior public hearings.
“We really did take to heart all the concerns that were shared by the board members and some members of the public, who got up to speak,” said Zachary Tucker, Planet Bluegrass operations director, during the meeting. “We hope that our new application here is within the scope that can be supported by everyone.”
The amended proposal included dropping the number of requested campers on the south grazing area from 1,000 to 600. The south grazing area is on Planet Bluegrass’ Farm property, 19680 N. St. Vrain Drive. The Farm, annexed into Lyons by voters in 2017, is one of two Planet Bluegrass’ properties. The second includes the stage, pavilion and location for music concerts and is called the Ranch, 500 W. Main St.
Camping was already permitted on 4.2 acres of north campground Farm property and on Planet Bluegrass’ Ranch property. The music venue had also historically used space at the neighboring wedding venue, River Bend, for about 600 of its campers.
But, this year, River Bend said it was not going to allow Planet Bluegrass to use the space for its campers, in an effort to better protect the grass for weddings. This spurred Planet Bluegrass’ request for additional camping space to make up the difference.
Tucker said Tuesday that Planet Bluegrass had also curbed the number of requested mid-tier events from 10 to five. A mid-tier event is typically a one-night only concert. Part of their request also included increasing the capacity of mid-tier events from 1,000 to 3,000 people.
The amended proposal also included cutting back the number of major events, which have a capacity of 4,500 people, down from 12 to 10.
Before voting on the camping, Trustee Greg Lowell said that while he appreciates the changes Planet Bluegrass had made to its proposal, the south grazing area “should never be developed in any fashion.”
Lowell said that when voters decided in 2017 on whether to annex that property into Lyons, it was with the understanding that the south side wouldn’t be developed.
“Our trust with the voters is now being compromised if we change this agreement to allow camping in this area,” Lowell said. “My fellow trustees will note there were at least five comments and emails from residents or Apple Valley neighbors opposed to this expansion on the south side, precisely because they were led to believe that originally this area wouldn’t be developed.”
Lowell’s motion to leave the south grazing area undeveloped didn’t garner enough support, though. Mayor Nicholas Angelo also voted in favor of it, but the five other trustees voted in opposition.
Trustees then cast their votes on the original motion, which included allowing the additional camping on the Farm, and it passed unanimously.
While trustees showed support for the mid-tier events, some elements of the proposal will have to be discussed at an April 4 meeting for it to gain approval. The decision to continue it came after Mayor Pro Tem Mark Browning said he had concerns about utility infrastructure.
Browning noted Planet Bluegrass’ “sincere effort to try and address concerns expressed by the board and public.”
“I think those are big steps in the right direction,” Browning said. “My focus remains on the utilities.”
He made an amendment asking that Planet Bluegrass comply with all requirements of the Lyons municipal code in regards to utilities. Before any building permit can be issued for the Farm property, including a proposed bath house, Browning asked that water share requirements be determined, as well as the types and amounts of connection tap fees and that base and usage rates be determined. Browning’s motion got unanimous support from trustees.
Tucker also explained to trustees that Planet Bluegrass has been working with a wildlife biologist and ecologist. A rough boundary for the wetlands that are in the south grazing area on the Farm site have been determined. Those boundaries will be solidified in the spring and a snow fence will be installed to protect the wetlands.
Tucker said that Jerry Powell, a wildlife biologist working with Planet Bluegrass, noted that there was no evidence of the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse in the south grazing area. The mouse is listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tucker said they found that the vegetation isn’t dense enough to provide adequate habitat for the mouse and that there isn’t enough contiguous habitat to make it a suitable environment.
Tucker said Planet Bluegrass has reached out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to get confirmation of this and has not yet received a response. He said that according to Powell, it would be unusual for them to not concur with the original finding.
Reflecting on the outcome of the meeting on Friday, Tucker said he is happy that Planet Bluegrass had the chance to work with the community and have open discussions with residents.
“I think we got to a point with our agreements that I think it’s very fair for everybody,” Tucker said. “It kind of lets us do more and replace the camping that we lost and be more flexible for the future, without putting undue burden on the community.”