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Alpine planning commissioners recommend expanding Lambert Park south parking with gate option
Summary
The Alpine City Planning Commission recommended approval of a proposed expansion of the South Parking Lot at Lambert Park, asking staff and engineers to consider moving stalls south and adding a lockable gate to control access.
The Alpine City Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a proposed expansion of the South Parking Lot at Lambert Park, asking staff to move some stalls farther south and to consider adding a gate that could be locked for safety or seasonal closures.
Commissioners said the trails committee requested the expansion to increase parking capacity for events and everyday use. Ryan Robinson, Alpine city planner, presented aerial images showing the existing lot and the proposed additional spaces and described the matter as a legislative item requiring a public hearing because the change affects a park subject to a conservation easement.
Robinson said current counts varied in the discussion but that the site now has roughly 23–32 spaces and the proposal would add roughly 23 more; he also said the change is considered a material modification to the park and would require Council action, including a city-council vote that the staff described as needing a majority or supermajority (four of five council members) because of the conservation easement. Commissioners asked about fences, gates and how motorized access would be controlled. Robinson said signage and permit/pass procedures could be used to restrict motorized vehicles beyond designated points, and that gates or bollards might be needed to deter motorcycles.
Commissioners debated whether more parking could increase nonresident visitation and overuse. Some commissioners suggested sliding the new stalls south toward the existing restroom to reduce encroachment into vegetated areas and to allow a gate to be sited more effectively. The commission also discussed seasonal or event-based locking of a gate and the possibility of adding a gate to support closures for fire season or other protections.
After public hearing (no public respondents), Commissioner Greg Butterfield moved to recommend approval of the expansion "with the modification that we move the parking further south and take into consideration of adding a gate so it could be locked off"; Troy Slade seconded. The motion passed on an affirmative vote; all present commissioners voted in favor.
The commission's recommendation now goes to the Alpine City Council, which must complete the public hearing and any conservation-easement approvals before construction or formal adoption of the change.
A separate engineering review and a public hearing before City Council are required because the site is in a park covered by a conservation easement. The city staff said additional steps and coordination with the council will be needed before any physical work begins.
