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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate June 1, 2008Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Council Sets Planning Priorities for 2008
Boulder City Council members set priorities for the Department of Planning and Development Services at their May 6 meeting. The planning staff listed a number of projects that could be undertaken this year. On a motion by Councilman Macon Cowles the Council unanimously decided on the following priorities in the land use code area:
City Council Meeting Minutes May 6, 2008
Grainger Named Acting City Manager
Assistant City Manager Stephanie Grainger was selected as Acting City Manager by the Boulder City Council on May 6. Grainger's appointment is effective June 3 with the resignation of Frank Bruno, who will become Vice Chancellor for Administration at the University of Colorado/Boulder.
Grainger has over 20 years experience with City of Boulder government, including service as an Assistant City Manager since January of 2005. A process to recruit a permanent manager is currently underway, using a professional executive recruiting firm that specializes in government administrators.
On a motion by Council member Crystal Gray, Grainger was appointed on a unanimous Council vote.
Development Excise Tax Study Underway
The City of Boulder retained a consultant to study the effectiveness of the current development excise tax in funding capital improvements necessitated by new residential and commercial construction. At their May 20 meeting the Boulder City Council gave guidance to the staff on the scope of work for the study.
The City of Boulder currently imposes the development excise tax on construction of new residential and non-residential buildings and on non-residential additions. The proceeds from the tax are used to fund capital items in categories such as public safety, libraries, parks, human services, transportation and affordable housing. Concerns raised about whether the taxes were high enough to require "growth to pay its way" caused the City Council to initiate the study.
The City staff recommended that the current categories be retained and that possible additions, such as open space land acquisition, not be included. The staff also suggested operating costs not be considered. They recommended that the Adequate Public Facilities concept used in some cities not be included in the excise tax study.
Council member Susan Osborne offered a motion to accept the staff recommendations. Councilman Macon Cowles offered an amendment to include open space in the categories, but that was defeated on a 7 to 2 vote, with Council member Lisa Morzel joining Cowles in support.
Council members then passed the Osborne motion on an 8 to 1 vote, with Councilman Matt Appelbaum in opposition. Appelbaum was concerned that the study did not include all options for the City's excise taxes, including the educational excise tax.
The consultant is scheduled to complete his study by the end of July. Depending on Council action, changes in the development excise tax may be submitted to voters in the November general election.
Daily Camera, 'Boulder gives go-ahead to study tax questions,' 5/28/08
Plans Proceed for Valmont Park
Development of the first phase of the 130-acre Valmont Park in east Boulder may begin in 2009. Most of the $4 million first phase will be located in the section of the park north of Valmont Road and east of Airport Road.
At their May 20 meeting members of City Council discussed in great detail, and at considerable length, some of the concept options for the park. On a motion by Councilman Macon Cowles the Council voted unanimously to support the concept plan for the first phase. They then proceeded to discuss some of the remaining issues posed by staff, including:
Colorado Daily, 'Peace Train: Valmont Butte: It's a Steal,' 5/23/08
Diagonal Plaza Redevelopment Off the Table
At the May 6 meeting members of the Boulder City Council showed no interest in any of the options offered by City staff that could lead to the redevelopment of Diagonal Plaza. The 175,000 square foot shopping center at 28th Street and Iris Avenue has multiple owners and has been the source of discussion about its possible redevelopment.
City staff presented Council with the options, including the possible creation of an urban renewal district to force the owners into replacing the center, which some consider run-down, with a mixture of uses. Staff was especially concerned about the decrease in sales tax revenues generated by the center, mainly due to the departure of one of its anchor tenants, an Albertson's Supermarket.
Council members felt it best to simply postpone any action and allow economic nature to take its course. Several cited the need to support retail development at the proposed Transit Village at 30th and Pearl streets instead of creating more competition for local retailers by using government powers or funds to redevelop Diagonal Plaza.
Committee Formed to Select "Pops and Scrapes" Consultant
A six-member committee was created by Boulder City Council to develop a request for proposals from consultants to develop a policy on the impact of large houses and additions in existing residential neighborhoods. The committee will be composed of two members each from Council, the Planning Board and the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board. It would also recommend to Council a consultant after reviewing the responses to the RFP.
At the May 6 meeting Council members voted unanimously for a motion by Mayor Shaun McGrath to appoint Macon Cowles and Angelique Espinoza as the Council representatives on the committee.
Council Weekly Information Packet 5/8/08: Monitoring Building Permit Activity
Landmark Lofts Call-Up Rejected
A proposed multi-family project near CU will not be "called up" for consideration by the Boulder City Council. The site plan for the 130-unit condominium and apartment project had been approved, with several waivers, by the Planning Board. Landmark Lofts is located at 970 28th Street, south of College Avenue.
Chanin Development is constructing Landmark Lofts, which is being built in three phases. The initial phase of 105 units is currently under construction. The second phase of 130 units would be located to the south along the 28th Street access road. A third phase of about 165 units would incorporate and preserve at least part of the existing modernistic First Christian Church.
Council member Susan Osborne asked that Council call up the Planning Board's approval of the site plan. She sought discussion of issues such as density and the waivers provided for the project, including allowing a height of 55 feet. Several Council members agreed that the current zoning category allowing high density development along 28th Street between Arapahoe Avenue and Baseline Road might need to be reconsidered. They felt, however, that it was unfair to the developer to reject a project that met the current City requirement.
Council member Crystal Gray offered a motion to call up Landmark Lofts phase 2. The motion was defeated on a vote of 6 to 3, with Council members Osborne and Lisa Morzel in support. Council members Suzy Ageton, Matt Appelbaum, Macon Cowles, Angelique Espinoza, Shaun McGrath and Ken Wilson voted against the motion.
Neighborhood Parking Permit Program Expanded
Five new or expanded neighborhoods were brought under the City of Boulder's Neighborhood Parking Permit program. The program controls the number of non-resident vehicles that can be parked on the street for more than two or three hours in a designated block(s). For the most part, the neighborhoods included in the parking permit program are close to downtown or the CU campus, both areas that generate non-resident parking issues.
At the May 20 meeting of Boulder City Council a motion by Mayor Shaun McGrath was approved unanimously instructing staff to change the Neighborhood Parking Permit program to add parts of Goss Grove, Columbine, University Hill, West Pearl and the Eastridge/Pennsylvania Avenue areas.
As part of the McGrath motion, residents of a 16-unit condominium building under construction at 1280 28th Street will be ineligible for on-street resident or visitor parking permits in the adjacent Eastridge/Pennsylvania Avenue district. The building has 32 on-site parking spaces and Council members felt that the proximity to the CU campus across 28th Street limited the need for additional street parking permits.
Daily Camera, 'City Okays Parking Restrictions," 5/21/08
Two older houses on Cherryvale Road in east Boulder were annexed to the City of Boulder by City Council on May 20. The houses are on large lots and were built when the area was rural and agricultural.
The property at 1545 Cherryvale Road, just south of Arapahoe Avenue, was annexed under an emergency ordinance due to a failing septic system. The vote, on a motion by Councilman Susan Osborne, was unanimous, with Council member Crystal Gray absent (out of the room at the time of the vote).
On a motion by Councilman Macon Cowles the nearby property at 1435 Cherryvale Road was annexed, with all members in support. The septic system at that house was not an issue so an emergency provision was not necessary for the ordinance.
Under the annexation agreement both properties were redefined as being in Area II-B under the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and zoned Rural Residential-1. Due to the size of the lots no new construction will be allowed under that designation.
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. 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.
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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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