Planning Commission (PC)

Planning Commission

The Boulder County Planning Commission (PC) conducts public hearings and takes action on Land Use Code Updates and Development Applications Under Review and advises the County Commissioners of those actions and on planning matters. The PC has statutory responsibility to make, adopt, and amend the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan.

The commission also has a role in reviewing and acting on revisions and amendments to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan as authorized under the four-body intergovernmental agreement between the City of Boulder and Boulder County.

See Guidelines for Planning Commission Hearings for more information and meeting protocol.

Meeting Schedule

The Planning Commission usually meets on the third Wednesday of each month.

Public Meetings and Hearings

Planning Commission Public Meeting, Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 1 p.m.

The meeting will include a Joint Workshop with the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission regarding the 2025 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update.

Watch the Meeting
Meetings are streamed live through eSCRIBE. Video will display on the agenda page as soon as the meeting begins.

View the livestream beginning at 1 p.m.

Attend In-Person
Boulder County Planning Commission meetings are convened in a hybrid format where attendees can join through Zoom or participate in-person at the Downtown Boulder County Courthouse, 3rd Floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder. In-person speaker registration is available starting at 1 p.m. at the hearing.

Register to Attend Via Zoom

Registrants will receive an email from Zoom with the link to join the meeting online AND the optional call-in number and meeting ID. Optional call-in information: Dial 1-833-568-8864 (toll free) | Meeting ID: 160 759 7981

View Zoom Support Center for help using Zoom. For assistance in joining meetings, please email CP&P Tech Support or call 720-564-2619.

View the Boulder County Planning Commission agenda, July 17, 2024

Agenda Items Include:

Joint Workshop With the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission Regarding the 2025 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update (1-2 p.m.)
Staff will provide an introduction and overview of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and review the workplan that has been developed for the 2025 Major Update. Informational & Discussion Item Only. Public testimony will not be taken at this time.
Staff Update on Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Maps
Staff have finalized updates to the Comprehensive Plan maps that were approved in 2023. Staff will provide a brief overview to the Planning Commission of the updated and reformatted maps. Informational & Discussion Item Only. Public testimony will not be taken at this time.
Docket SU-24-0002: Pivot Solar Energy Facility
Public testimony will be taken.
Request: Special Use Review for an approximately 4-acre solar energy facility on a 13-acre parcel.
Location: 9215 Arapahoe Road, located on the north side of Arapahoe Road approximately 0.3 mile west of the intersection of Arapahoe Road and N. 95th Street, in Section 29, Township 1N, Range 69W.
Zoning: Rural Residential (RR) Zoning District
Owner: Dewire Family Trust
Applicant: Pivot Solar 48 LLC
Website: https://boco.org/SU-24-0002
Action Requested: Recommendation to BOCC
Staff Planner: Pete L’Orange
Docket DC-19-0003: Land Use Code Text Amendment to Articles 3, 9, and 18
Public testimony will be taken.
Request: Update language in Article 9 (Building Lots, Mergers, Subdivision Exemptions & Exemption Plats) to simplify and streamline the SE/EP process. Introduce a definition for Townsite in Article 18 to help resolve issues around what a Townsite is considered in the County. Make necessary revisions in Article 3 of the Code to incorporate the changes made in Article 9.
Website: https://boco.org/DC-19-0003
Action Requested: Recommendation to BOCC
Staff Planner: Jack Sheehan

Boulder County wants to ensure that everyone has equal access to our programs, activities, and services. To request an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation, please email ADA@bouldercounty.gov, or call 303-441-1386. Submit your request as early as possible, and no later than two business days before the event.

If you need help in another language, please email CPPfrontdesk@bouldercounty.gov or call 303-441-3930. Contact us as early as possible, and no later than three business days before the event.

Please note that the County Commissioners’ agenda is subject to change. To receive updates to the agenda, please subscribe to the Boulder County Commissioners Agenda list.

Past Meeting Agendas, Information Packets, Minutes and Video Recordings

Live streaming and archiving of Planning Commission meetings began on Nov. 16, 2016, and past meeting agendas, information packets, minutes and video recordings are available on the Boulder County Open Meeting Portal. Video recordings of meetings held from April 15, 2020 to Oct. 19, 2022 are posted to the Community Planning & Permitting YouTube channel.

Past Special Sessions and Subcommittee Meetings

Joint Study Session. Oct. 15, 2019

The Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission held a Joint Study Session on Telecommunications Planning Topics on Oct. 15, 2019. Planning Commission (PC) requested a joint study session with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to address the following topics:

Understanding the relationship between height, density, and emissions for macro-cells and small cells;
Feasibility, analysis, and incentives for co-location;
Third party verification; and
Small Cell Wireless Facilities Design Requirements and Guidelines associated with proposed Small Cell Wireless Code provisions (Docket DC-19-0001).

The study session outcomes will informed changes to the Design Requirements and Guidelines that staff presented to the BOCC when seeking approval for the proposed Code provisions for Docket DC-19-0001: Proposed Boulder County Land Use Code Amendments to Article 4-514 Small Cell Telecommunication Facilities. The session also helped identify additional steps that may be appropriate regarding potential future policy or Land Use Code amendments related to telecommunications.
Documents: Staff report for Oct. 15, 2019

Joint Study Session, March 5, 2019

The Board of County Commissioners and the Planning Commission held a joint study session on March 5, 2019 concerning the E-Bike Pilot Study for Open Space Trails.
Documents:

Public Meeting: Planning Commission Subcommittee Consideration of input for draft Boulder County Regional Affordable Housing Strategic Plan – Sept. 7, 2017

Planning Commission was presented with an overview of the Draft Boulder County Regional Affordable Housing Strategic Plan in May. The plan is currently undergoing revision based on input from stakeholders. At its August meeting Planning Commission determined it would like to submit comments on the draft plan as an entity and decided to hold a subcommittee meeting to discuss topics in greater depth. At the September 20 Planning Commission meeting the subcommittee reported back on outcomes and provided a draft of comments for the Planning Commission to finalize prior to submitting. View more information about the draft plan.

Meeting Materials:

For older Planning Commission agendas, please submit a request via the Ask a Planner Form.

Current Members

Appointed Volunteer Participants (Citizens)

Chris Whitney, Chair (term ends Feb. 28, 2025)
Sam Libby, Vice Chair (term ends Feb. 28, 2026)
Mark Bloomfield, Second Vice Chair (term ends Feb. 28, 2027)
Conor Canaday (term ends Feb. 28, 2025)
George Gerstle (term ends Feb. 28, 2026)
Ann Goldfarb (term ends Feb. 28, 2025)
Rachel Lee (term ends Feb. 28, 2027)
Rita Manna (term ends Feb. 28, 2026)
Gavin McMillan (term ends Feb. 28, 2027)

Staff Participants

Dale Case, Director
Kim Sanchez, Deputy Director – Planning
Hannah Hippely, Long Range Planning Manager
Richard Hackett, Communications Specialist
Others as needed

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Planning Commission (PC)