Westminster staff says dog-off-leash plan will not shrink protected acreage; council presses for clearer cost and Greenway routing answers

Westminster City Councilors pressed staff on Aug. 18 over the scope, costs and trail routing in the Westminster Hills area specific management plan (ASMP), seeking clearer estimates of maintenance costs and whether the regional Greenway Trail could be rerouted to reduce conflict with the planned 440-acre dog off‑leash natural area.

The ASMP is intended to define short- and longer-term management options for the city’s Westminster Hills open space, including the 440‑acre dog off‑leash natural area. Eric Hetzelberger, Westminster’s parks, recreation and libraries director, told the council that “the area specific management plan will not be reducing the acreage for the dog off‑leash natural area in any capacity,” and that the plan’s scope is focused on the existing 440 acres and short‑term measures to mitigate user conflicts.

Councilors and residents had earlier cited a figure of $1.2 million in annual maintenance costs for the area. Hetzelberger said that figure is not in the city’s budget and appears to have resulted from “apples and oranges” mixing of capital and ongoing operations numbers. He described recent one‑time items and staffing additions tied to the open space program and said staff could break out operations versus capital to produce clearer annual maintenance estimates. He also noted specific one‑time allocations in recent planning discussions, including a $150,000 set‑aside for trail improvements and $200,000 for planning and design tied to the ASMP, and four added open‑space staff positions this year.

Councilors pushed staff to address how rerouting of the regional Greenway Trail—partly funded by a federal grant and extending through Westminster Hills and neighboring jurisdictions—might affect user conflicts if adjoining jurisdictions change trail access. Hetzelberger said any substantial Greenway realignment would involve multiple stakeholders and “significant costs,” and thus would likely be a longer‑term recommendation rather than a short‑term solution within the ASMP. He said the plan will consider the Greenway and trailhead improvements along with gateway and trailhead options to reduce user conflicts.

City attorneys and staff also briefed the council on land‑use protections for the Westminster Hills parcels. Deputy City Attorney Greg Graham and City Attorney Dave Frankel told the council the properties are largely protected by a mandatory comprehensive plan designation of “Open Space Creek Corridor” and deed restrictions on the land. Frankel said changing the comp plan is the city council’s prerogative but noted deed restrictions and the comp plan designation make large‑scale redevelopment unlikely without multiple formal changes.

Councilors asked for a clearer outreach plan for nearby neighborhoods, steering committee composition and a timeline for returning to council with cost breakdowns and the proposed steering committee membership. Staff said the ASMP outreach would include a listening tour and a 15‑member steering committee with neighborhood and stakeholder representation; neighborhoods would be invited to nominate members to that committee.

Councilors emphasized that the city should be explicit about what the ASMP will and will not do, produce a clearer accounting of annual versus one‑time costs, and include Jefferson County and federal partners as stakeholders where Greenway routing could be affected. The council did not take a formal vote on the ASMP on Aug. 18; staff said they would return with refined cost estimates and a public engagement schedule.

For residents: staff said short‑term measures such as signage, trailhead and gateway improvements, and targeted management actions are the most likely near‑term outcomes; larger reroutes of the Greenway would be a multi‑jurisdiction project requiring additional approvals and funding.