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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate April 1, 2006Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Boulder City Council members approved appointments to boards and commissions at their March 20 meeting. Following is a record of voting by Council on board appointments:
Roster of Boards and Commissions
Bruno Proposes Corporate Subsidies
Boulder taxpayers may spend over $1.3 million to subsidize local businesses and attract relocating companies if City Council approves a proposal from city manager Frank Bruno. The proposal features various "economic vitality" programs, including City tax rebates to corporations. Another of Bruno's suggested programs would put the City of Boulder in the real estate business by providing loans to corporations wishing to buy commercial or industrial buildings.
Since Boulder residents generally have not supported city efforts to encourage growth or subsidize corporations Bruno's proposal may generate considerable opposition. City Council members nonetheless appeared favorable to the subsidies concept at a March 9 study session. Final consideration of Bruno's proposal will come before council within several months.
CURP: Retention Deficit Disorder:
Attracting Economic Development, At What Cost?
Incentives - The Debate Continues
Links for smart growth and sustainable development
Council Rejects Citizen Annexation Petition
A request by a citizen's committee to have an annexation referendum placed on Boulder's November election ballot was rejected by City Council on a 6 to 3 vote. The proposed referendum would require public votes on major annexations once they are approved by City Council.
The sponsors of the proposal include 6 former members of Boulder City Council, and other long time civic leaders, including founding PLAN-Boulder County member Al Bartlett. With the rejection by council members the citizens group will now seek enough signatures on a petition to place the issue on the ballot as an initiative.
The vote at Council's March 20 meeting was on a motion by Shaun McGrath to have city staff members bring back to Council a draft ordinance for consideration. Voting with McGrath were council members Gray and Schultheiss. Voting against the motion were council members Ageton, Bohannon, Eldridge, Polk, Ruzzin and Stoakes.
NAIOP on Growth Management
Rocky Mountain West, 2025
Growth Management in Boulder, Colorado
Erie Drops Controls on School Overcrowding
Citing a desire to be "fair to developers", Erie's Town Board gave unanimous initial approval to a measure to eliminate a provision in the development code that did not allow new residential development resulting in overcrowded schools.
Under the previous rule new development that would create school enrollment in excess of 125% of capacity would not be allowed unless additional classrooms were planned by the St. Vrain Valley School District. Town board members felt it was unfair for the Town of Erie to have stricter requirements than neighboring cities in Weld County that have few growth management requirements.
Overcrowding, Condition of America's Public Schools
Growth Management, Smart Growth and Affordable Housing
Superior Tightens Growth Controls
The Town Board of Trustees in Superior voted on March 20 to tighten growth controls. In adopting the five-year update of the town's comprehensive plan the trustees voted to eliminate most residential development options west of McCaslin Boulevard, instead designating most of those properties for open space or agricultural uses. Under Superior's revised comprehensive plan most future development in the town will be concentrated around Original Superior.
Superior Comprehensive Plan
March 20 Council Meeting Minutes
Boulder Council Approves Comp Plan Process
Boulder City Council members unanimously approved further implementation of the update of the city's comprehensive plan. At their March 20 meeting council members approved several minor changes to the land use map, rejected two attempts to enlarge the city's service area, accepted city staff's recommendations on open space trail and habitat conservation area designations and approved the implementation plan.
The most controversial of the map changes rejected by Council was an effort by the owners of agricultural land along 55th Street south of Baseline Road to have their property moved from Area III to Area IIA designation to allow development of low-density housing. That change was strongly opposed by neighbors and rejected by the Planning Board.
Boulder Valley Comp Plan
March 20, 2006 Council Minutes
Speaking at a city council meeting
Commissioners Prohibit Dogs on Open Space Near Lyons
At their meeting on March 14 Boulder County Commissioners voted unanimously to prohibit dogs from trails in the Hall Ranch and Heil Valley Ranch open space near Lyons. Some dog owners had sought to permit dogs on leash to be allowed on at least some trails in Hall Ranch but commissioners made permanent a ten-year moratorium in order to protect wildlife habitat and vegetation.
The decision by commissioners Tom Mayer, Ben Pearlman and Will Toor to keep parts of Boulder County's trails free of dogs comes in contrast to the vote by Boulder City Council in 2005 to loosen regulations designed to preserve city open space from impacts of dogs and off-trail hikers in some areas designated for habitat conservation.
Open Space Dog Moratorium
Watch County Commissioner meetings online
Boulder Council Delays North Broadway Bike Lanes
The Boulder City Council threw at least a temporary roadblock into plans to add bicycle lanes to Broadway between Iris and Norwood avenues in north Boulder. The $1.6 million project was "called up" by Councilman Richard Polk, reacting to complaints by some Norwood Avenue residents about plans to eliminate one traffic lane along Broadway between Norwood and Linden to provide a bicycle lane.
At its March 7 meeting the council voted 7 to 2 to delay consideration of the project, with council members Ageton, Bohannan, Eldridge, Gray, Ruzzin and Stoakes joining Polk. Voting against delay were council members McGrath and Schultheiss. The effect of "calling up" the project means that council will hold a public hearing and subsequent vote at a future, as yet undetermined, date.
North Broadway Bike Lanes
Public Comments on North Broadway Bike Lanes
March 7, 2006 Council Minutes
Council Refuses to Intervene in Mapleton Dispute
At the Boulder City Council meeting on March 20 residents of Mapleton Hill asked for a "call-up" of the Landmarks Commission approval of Mapleton Place, a development project on the site of the former Howe Mortuary at 2121 11th Street. Representatives of the neighborhood voiced concerns about the mass and scale of the project.
Council member Crystal Gray offered a motion to call up the project so that consideration could be given to the issues raised by the Mapleton Hill neighbors. Council voted 6 to 2 against Gray's motion with only Andy Schultheiss adding support. Council members Ageton, Bohannon, McGrath, Polk, Ruzzin and Stoakes voted against Gray's motion. Council member Tom Eldridge was recused himself from the vote because he owns nearby property.
Council March email hotline
City of Boulder Planning Board see Action Item, 5
Reviving a Dead Building
Initial Approval Given to Feeder Canal Trail
Boulder City Council members gave unanimous approval at their March 7 meeting to initial plans for the Boulder Feeder Canal Trail. The 11.5-mile trail will follow the canal between Lyons and the Boulder Reservoir and will be funded by both the City of Boulder and Boulder County.
City staff gave council members several options on how to proceed with a community environmental assessment process. Council voted to accept the least-restrictive option, allowing dogs and horses on the trail in addition to bicyclists and pedestrians. Concerns were voiced by some nearby residents, ranchers and farmers about access, trespassing, parking and potential pollution of water in the canal, which provides about 30% of Boulder's water supply.
The final say in allowing the trail to be built adjacent to the canal rests with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. NCWCD board member Ruth Wright cautioned council members that approval by the district was not assured. She recommended that City staff work closely with NCWCD staff to alleviate concerns.
Boulder Feeder Canal Trail
Watch County Commissioner Meetings on Line
Commissioners Approve Dairy Expansion
One of Boulder County's largest dairies will be allowed to expand under an agreement approved by county commissioners. Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy will move to an 80-acre site at 63rd Street and Oxford Road from its smaller site on Niwot Road. The move will allow the popular cheese producer to increase its goat herd by 800%.
Boulder County will acquire 49 acres for $950,000, leasing the property to Haystack Mountain for growing alfalfa and grazing and retaining a conservation easement on all 80 acres. Haystack Mountain will buy the balance of 31 acres and build a new facility on the property by 2007. Commissioners Pearlman and Toor voted in favor of the proposal. Commissioner Tom Mayer was absent.
Haystack Mountain Dairy Homepage
Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy Report
Dairy Signs $1.6M Deal
PLAN-Boulder County is pleased with the response from Boulder County residents to the Peoples Advocate. We'll keep working to let you know how your city and county representatives are voting on important issues, and we'll continue to provide detailed information on the nuts and bolts of public process.
In order to spread the word we encourage those of you who are receiving this publication to pass it around. Please forward the Peoples Advocate to your friends and associates. Encourage any community organizations in which you are a member to distribute the Peoples Advocate to their membership.
If you like what you read, please sign up to receive the newsletter directly to ensure continuity and simplify our process by contacting PLAN-Boulder board member David Cook. And most importantly, let us know what you think about the publication and the issues we cover.
| The Boulder County Peoples Advocate is published monthly by PLAN-Boulder County and distributed free to persons interested in local public affairs issues. Eric Karnes, Editor
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