Draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan now available

The City of Boulder has released a draft of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan on the City of Boulder’s website. The draft plan is now available for review and comment at https://bouldercolorado.gov/bvcp/draft-boulder-valley-comprehensive-plan. The public can review policy changes and is encouraged to provide comments about the updated plan via an online comment form, which will remain open until April 21, 2017.

The plan states the community’s core values, commitments and long-term vision for the Boulder Valley. It also guides decisions about growth, development, preservation, environmental protection, economic development, affordable housing, culture and arts, urban design, neighborhood character, and transportation. The plan update is conducted every five years. Core values of the plan have been largely intact since the 1970s, but each update provides an opportunity to address new trends and current community needs.

Over many months, city and county staff have engaged with community members to gather ideas and hear thoughts on how the plan should evolve. Staff gathered input through online polls, surveys, listening sessions, workshops, meetings with city and county elected and appointed officials who ultimately adopt the plan and other events. The highly useful input has been incorporated into multiple sections of the updated plan.

Following this final round of input, staff will prepare final revisions for an adoption draft. The plan is scheduled for adoption by City Council, Planning Board, Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners beginning in May and through the summer.

Upcoming Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan open house and meetings

Please visit the city’s website for additional BVCP city meetings.

Open House - April 3, 2017

This open house event will provide opportunities for community members to receive information and provide specific feedback on multiple projects related to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) Update and the city’s Inclusionary Housing program. The open house is informal and community members may drop in any time from 6 to 8:30 p.m. A brief presentation from city staff about the CU South project will take place at 7 p.m. Information on the following items will be available at this open house:

• Draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan - After more than two years of community dialogue, the initial draft of the update to the Comp Plan is now complete. Following input from community members and at study sessions in April, staff will prepare a revised draft plan for adoption. City and county bodies are scheduled to adopt the plan update this summer.
• 3303 Broadway - Share your thoughts about a staff recommendation for land use changes for 3303, 3345, 3505 – 3517 Broadway and 1160 – 1194 Juniper Ave.
• Inclusionary Housing Program - Learn how the current program works and share your thoughts about potential updates aimed at increasing affordable housing in Boulder.
• CU South - Learn more about the CU South project, including an updated suitability analysis. Provide input about potential future uses and guidelines for the property’s future. City staff will also be available to answer questions about the South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation Study as it relates to the CU property.

Date and Time: Monday, April 3, 6-8:30 p.m. A brief presentation from city staff about the CU South project will take place at 7 p.m.
Location: CU Boulder Research Park, 4001 Discovery Dr. (Colorado and Foothills Pkwy.) in the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Complex (SEEC) auditorium, room C120. Free parking is available in parking lots north of the building.

Open Office Hours for BVCP and Inclusionary Housing - April 5 and 13, 2017

The open office hours are offered to provide opportunities for community members to receive information and provide specific feedback on multiple projects related to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) Update and Inclusionary Housing program. These events are another opportunity to learn more and provide specific feedback, similar to the Monday, April 3 Open House. These are informal drop-in events to talk one-on-one with city and county staff. The open office hours are offered twice:

• Wednesday, April 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Boulder Main Library, 1000 Arapahoe Ave., Flagstaff Room
• Thursday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Dr., Eldorado Room

More information about these topics:

• BVCP - The 2015 update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan is nearing completion. Proposed changes reflect community input and preferences on a wide range of policy areas including: housing affordability and diversity, managed growth – future jobs and housing, resilience, subcommunity and area planning, and more. Community members are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft plan through April 21. Adoption hearings are scheduled starting in May. For more information, visit www.bouldervalleycompplan.net to view the draft plan and access the online feedback form.
• Inclusionary Housing - The city’s inclusionary housing program has demonstrated considerable success since 2000, but new challenges are prompting an update to the program. The city is considering adding a middle income requirement, incentivizing more on-site affordable development, and other minor changes. City staff are requesting feedback these initial concepts from the community. For more information, visit www.HousingBoulder.net to view the March 21 City Council Study Session materials.

Study Session - Board of County Commissioners – April 5, 2017

The Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Boulder and Boulder County is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2017. The Board of County Commissioners will discuss topics for consideration related to the renewal of the IGA. Study Session - No public testimony will be taken.

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 5, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Boulder County Courthouse, Commissioners Hearing Room, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder

Study Session - Board of County Commissioners & Boulder County Planning Commission – April 19, 2017

Study Session for the County Commissioners and Planning Commission to provide input on the BVCP Draft Plan and key policy areas. No public testimony will be taken.

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 19, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Boulder County Courthouse, Commissioners Hearing Room, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder