Background
On Sept. 5, 2023, the Boulder County Commissioners adopted a six-month moratorium (view Resolution 2023-079) on processing applications for development in higher intensity (Commercial, Business, Transitional, and General Industrial) zone districts within a three-mile radius of the Town of Lyons in unincorporated Boulder County. The moratorium allowed the county to determine if the existing county zoning map and regulations meet the needs of Boulder County and the Lyons community. The rezoning of 19 properties is under consideration.
The county zoning on the properties that are subject to the rezoning have been in place for decades, during which time there have been changes to development patterns, comprehensive plans, and intergovernmental agreements concerning growth and development. The area was heavily impacted by the 2013 Flood and considering the appropriateness of the current zoning in these flood prone areas is the evolution of flood recovery and a component of hazard mitigation and resiliency planning. Current county zoning allows development within unincorporated areas that may conflict with the orderly growth and development of the Town of Lyons and the adopted Comprehensive Plans. The potential rezoning would implement the updated vision for development and growth in these intense-use zoning districts while the lands they encompass remain under Boulder County’s jurisdiction.
The moratorium associated with the comprehensive rezoning project does not apply to residential and by-right agricultural development applications or to any complete development applications currently being processed by Boulder County’s Community Planning & Permitting Department. The moratorium affects only unincorporated properties and will not affect properties within the Town of Lyons.
Comprehensive rezonings are considered at public hearings before the Boulder County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. Comments can also be made during upcoming public hearings before the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. Written comments should be sent to hhippely@bouldercounty.gov.
