Staff will request a decision to amend the definition of passive recreation in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Parks & Open Space staff will present options to the Planning Commission for amending the definition of passive recreation in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan to include e-bikes on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.

Staff will request a decision to amend the definition of passive recreation in the Open Space Element of the Comprehensive Plan.

What: Planning Commission Public Hearing on Docket BCCP-19-0003
Staff will present updated recommendations for amending the passive recreation definition based on the Planning Commission study session discussion and input from the Board of Commissioners. Public testimony will be taken.
Action Requested: Decision
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019
Time: *1:30 p.m. NOTE: While the Planning Commission meeting begins at 1:30 p.m., the BCCP-19-0003 portion of the meeting is the fourth item on the agenda. The actual start time of the BCCP-19-0003 hearing depends on the length of the three previous agenda items. *The ESTIMATED start time of the e-bikes/passive recreation hearing is approximately 3 p.m. View the Planning Commission agenda for Dec. 18.
Location: Commissioners’ Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, Third Floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
Documents: Staff report (including proposed definition options) for Dec. 18, 2019

Background

In the Open Space Element of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, passive recreation is defined, in part, as non-motorized. In the wake of a 2017 change in Colorado state law addressing how e-bikes are classified and where they are allowed, county staff conducted public outreach about e-bikes in 2018 and conducted research and outreach during an e-bike pilot project in 2019. Based on research and outreach results during the e-bike pilot, the Boulder County Commissioners made a policy decision to allow e-bikes on plains trails where conventional bikes are allowed.

For more information, please visit boco.org/e-bikes or contact Tina Nielsen, Special Projects Manager, at tnielsen@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6279.