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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate Feb. 1, 2008Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Council Repeals Approval of Washington Village Plan
The Boulder City Council voted unanimously at their January 22 meeting to repeal the previous Council's approval of Wonderland Hill Development's plan for Washington Village. The project involves the redevelopment of the vacant Washington School and adjacent land into a co-housing residential community with a small amount of retail and community space.
Residents in the neighborhood surrounding the site at Broadway and Cedar Avenue objected to Wonderland Hill's plans, citing density concerns and the inclusion of commercial space. They successfully gathered enough citywide signatures on a petition that, under the Boulder City Charter, obligated Council to repeal the approval by the previous Council or put the issue to the people on the November 2008 ballot.
On a motion by Councilman Matt Appelbaum members of Council voted unanimously to repeal the approval. Wonderland Hill, however, can resubmit plans for the project. In order to develop a process by which neighbors and others could have more input into the project Council approved the first step in a process to inform a revised site plan.
On a motion by Mayor Shaun McGrath the Council unanimously approved a two-step approach. The initial step will involve the appointment of an ad hoc committee to recommend to Council an out-reach process to bring all the parties together. McGrath's motion set a deadline for the process plan of March 4.
Council will then use the process plan to create a method by which a new site plan, acceptable to all or most parties, can be submitted to the Planning Board. That process is due to be completed no later than April 15. If everything went according to schedule the final vote on a revised Washington Village plan could come before Council in September.
Council members set guidelines for City staff, including composition of the ad hoc group, on what issues Council may be flexible on required community benefits and on funding for a possible park on part of the site. Due to other park projects that are higher on the City's priority list Council refused to consider funding for a park at Washington Village, citing also the proximity to two other neighborhood parks.
Council Investigates Planning Board Member
Responding to a formal complaint filed by several citizens, the Boulder City Council initiated an investigation into a possible conflict of interest by Planning Board member Adrian Sopher. The complaints allege that Sopher, an architect involved in the design of the proposed Washington Village co-housing development on Broadway, should not have spoken in favor of the project at several City Council meetings.
Sopher recused himself for voting on the project in his role as a member of the Planning Board. Council asked Stephen Roy, City Attorney for the City of Fort Collins, to serve as a special counsel to investigate the allegations. Roy advised that Sopher had indeed violated the City of Boulder ethics code by speaking before City Council but found his actions not to be willful but rather a mistake in judgment.
Following release of Roy's opinion several of the complainants then asked Council to instruct the counsel to consider additional issues, including whether the City Charter allows Council to remove a board member for other than willful actions.
At their January 8 meeting members of Council debated the request. Some Council members felt that asking Roy to expand his investigation would properly respond to citizen concerns. Others called the allegations ÒdemonizingÓ of a volunteer board member and filed solely because of his support for the Washington Village project.
Council member Crystal Gray moved to ask Roy to examine the issues brought up subsequent to his report. Her motion passed on a 6 to 3 vote, with Council members Suzy Ageton, Shaun McGrath and Ken Wilson opposed. Supporting the Gray motion were Matt Appelbaum, Macon Cowles, Angelique Espinoza, Lisa Morzel and Susan Osborne.
Sosa Resigns From Planning Board
In a matter completely unrelated to the controversy over allegations of conflict of interest against Boulder Planning Board member Adrian Sopher another member of the board tendered his resignation. Richard Sosa was appointed to a five-year term on the Planning Board in 2006.
Sosa's resignation, and the expiration of the term of Planning Board chair Elise Jones, will mean that there will be two vacancies for City Council to fill in March. A third seat could become vacant should Council remove Adrian Sopher from the board.
Guidelines Set for Northwest Commuter Rail in Boulder
At their January 22 meeting members of Boulder City Council adopted a series of recommendations to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) board regarding the environmental aspects of the proposed commuter rail line from Union Station in downtown Denver through Boulder to Longmont. The northwest line will likely initiate service to Boulder in 2014.
On a motion by Councilman Macon Cowles the Council approved the City staff's recommendations. Included in the guidelines are topics such as:
PLAN-Boulder County Holds 48th Annual Meeting
Nearly 200 people attended PLAN-Boulder County's annual dinner meeting on January 27 at the Spice of Life Events Center. The program featured a presentation on affordable housing options by University of California professor Karen Chapple, an expert in the field.
Members attending approved the election of PLAN-Boulder County officers and board of director members for 2008. Pat Shanks was re-elected chair, as were Susan Morris (vice chair), John Spitzer (treasurer) and Alan Boles (secretary). Board members elected were Ray Bridge, Megan Davis, Gwen Dooley, Carolyn Dulchinos, Dick Harris, Suzanne Jones, Eric Karnes, Mary McQuiston, Joan Peck and Morgan Rogers.
The members also approved an amendment to the PLAN-Boulder County bylaws to allow increasing the board of directors to a maximum of 20 members. PLAN-Boulder County has recently added more board members from outside the city of Boulder and is also focusing on involving more young people as board members.
PLAN-Boulder County presented two awards during the meeting. The Jim Crain Award went to Mike Figgs for his long advocacy of open space acquisition. A posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the family of the longtime PLAN-Boulder County activist and former Boulder City Council member Janet Roberts, who died in 2007.
Council Voting Records Available Online
PLAN-Boulder County has been tracking since 2005 all votes by members of the Boulder City Council. Often amendments and procedural motions are as important as final decisions on major issues and we wish the people of Boulder to know how their Council members vote on issues of importance to the community. Included in our tracking is how Council members voted on appointments to City boards and commissions.
The votes are recorded on a spreadsheet that can be found on our website, www.planboulder.org. PLAN-Boulder County encourages you to keep informed about how Boulder's City Council represents you and your views.
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.
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| 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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