Cheyenne council reviews Belvoir Ranch master plan update; trail opening expected this summer

Seth Lloyd, with the City of Cheyenne Planning and Development Department, presented an update to the Belvoir Ranch Master Plan at a City Council work session, describing the document as a targeted update focused on future goals and implementation rather than a full rewrite of background material.

Mark Christiansen, the consultant working on the update, said the effort "started this process approximately a year ago" and that the draft condenses the city’s 02/2008 master plan, recognizes changes such as the existing wind farm and trail construction, and emphasizes an implementation matrix with a five‑year time horizon.

The update organizes the ranch into four "character areas" — natural and recreation; history and interpretation; opportunity and transition; and energy and services — and lists anticipated uses and constraints for each. Christiansen said the plan recommends perimeter or tent camping rather than full RV camping, retains grazing where feasible for wildfire management, and carries forward water resources and landfill uses as priorities. "If we do wanna put this use on the Belvoir, how are we going to consider it?" he said, describing a checklist for evaluating new proposals against priority uses.

Council members asked detailed questions about access to the Big Hole and coordination with Larimer County and Fort Collins. Councilman Layborn pressed for clarity about the planned bridge or underpass across the Union Pacific line; Christiansen said the underpass was viewed as more cost‑effective but potentially more difficult to secure with the railroad. "The underpass was more cost effective, it sounded like, but more difficult, maybe with the UP," Christiansen said.

Members also raised public‑safety concerns tied to the Hunter Management Area and mixed trail uses. Christiansen noted the plan includes policy guidance to manage conflicts between hunting, hiking, biking and equestrian uses and recommended ongoing coordination with Colorado agencies and Larimer County to reconcile differing rules and seasons. He said the plan describes the hunter management process on ranch property as requiring an application and permission slip and suggested trail signage and communications to reduce conflicts.

Councilwoman Aldridge asked whether the plan accounted for Quebec 01, a nearby missile silo tourist site; Christiansen replied, "we did consider that, and I believe that's why we went the route of more limited interpretation," meaning signage and brief interpretation rather than full restoration due to cost. Councilman Esquivel added a technical distinction during Q&A, noting the silo on Belvoir is an Atlas silo rather than a Minuteman, and urged signage warning visitors of hazards around missile structures.

Several council members pressed for clarity on maintenance responsibilities and funding. Christiansen said the implementation matrix assigns tasks and relative priority and includes low/medium/high cost categories rather than hard dollar estimates; he said funding details were deferred and that some infrastructure could be pursued via developer‑funded approaches with involvement from the Board of Public Utilities. Vicky Nemechek of Public Works said the city will have a new ranch manager starting Monday who will live on site and assist with management; maintenance responsibilities for trails had not been finalized and may rely in part on volunteers in the near term.

On scheduling, Christiansen said a draft would be available to council "later today or early next week" for review, that the plan will go to the Planning Commission, and that the city council consideration is expected in May as part of the adoption process. He also reported trail construction is progressing and that the city is "still anticipating trail opening in the summer," subject to road and restroom (vault toilet) work being completed.

The consultant and staff emphasized the plan is intended as a living document to be updated periodically and used by a Belvoir Ranch steering committee to track departmental responsibilities and budgeting. Christiansen encouraged council members to submit redlines and questions and offered to meet individually to clarify site‑specific recommendations.

Next steps noted in the session: circulation of the draft plan to council for review, Planning Commission consideration, a scheduled city council consideration in May, and continued coordination with Larimer County, Fort Collins and relevant city departments on access, safety and resource inventories.