If you’re thinking about popping open a cold one while enjoying Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, better make sure your beverage of choice is non-alcoholic.
The Boulder City Council on Tuesday outlawed alcohol in the idyllic park lands.
“The Mission of Open Space and Mountain Parks is to preserve and protect the natural environment and land resources that characterize Boulder,” according to the staff report accompanying the new ordinance. “We foster appreciation and use that sustain the natural values of the land for current and future generations.
“Enforcement of alcohol restrictions on Open Space is in line with the mission and is paramount to ensuring environmental preservation of Open Space land.”
Open spaces, mountain parks have own ecosystems
The Open Space and Mountain Parks areas contain their own fragile ecosystems. People need to be on their best behavior to be good stewards of the land.
“The open space lands teem with native plants and wildlife and are home to threatened and endangered species,” the parks department explains on its website. “They serve as a buffer between Boulder and nearby development. They sustain agriculture uses and add untold benefits to the natural environment - clean air, water, and earth.
“The lands shape the urban mosaic of the Boulder Valley and provide residents with passive recreation opportunities. Trails are used by walkers, hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, dog walkers and other passive recreational uses.”
Alcohol already outlawed in most parks
State law already outlaws alcohol in public places unless a municipality specifies areas as exceptions. The current exceptions in Boulder included Coot Lake, Boulder Reservoir, Flatirons Golf Course, East Mapleton Ball Fields, and Stazio Recreation Complex. There has never been an exception to Open Space and Mountain Parks lands, according to a staff report. Coot Lake is removed from the exception list in the new ordinance.
The way laws currently are written, the legality of drinking alcohol in some areas could be open to court challenge. “There is a need to amend the current code because although it prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public it specifically defines jurisdiction as within the City limits,’ according to a staff report. “The majority of OSMP land is located outside of city limits and therefore this can present a challenge for enforcement.”
People transporting alcohol in their cars in sealed containers in the trunk would not be in violation of the new law.
Exceptions to the law also can be made when granted an alcohol permit by the city manager.
Marpa House will be 16 units, up to 48 residents
Also Tuesday, the council allowed a new use for Marpa House, a historical property. The hilltop gem will be made into 16 three-bedroom units or hold a maximum of 48 tenants. The surrounding neighborhood is zoned low-density.
Several neighbors spoke against the proposed use of the property as apartments. The feared it will become just another college party house. One resident played a video of a wild party at a property owned by the same landlord.
City council members and staff discussed safeguards in place to prevent Marpa House from becoming a party house. There also is a 24/7 house supervisor who in theory never would allow a party to develop.
The agreement calls for the house to have “quiet hours” from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.